U.S. citizens on Island cruises...what to expect

[tennisobo]

Hello all:

We are looking for a Med. cruise for summer of 2009. I discovered the website for Island cruise line and it sounds very interesting. I would describe the two of us as low-maintenance people who like a relaxed atmosphere. Can Americans book on this cruise line?

 

As you can see, we like the Princess Cruise experience but we are willing to try other lines. Would any of you be willing to give me information about what the Island Cruise experience would be like?

 

Thanks!

[Aplmac]

You could start here....

http://www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-reviews/search/?reviewcruiseshipid=152&reviewdestinationid=3&searchsubmit.x=59&searchsubmit.y=11

 

Use the Read a review drop-down-menu options thing

to select the names of the two Island Cruises ships (Island STAR and Island ESCAPE)

- and Destination MED - then click on Search

to come up with whatever reviews have been written,so far!

It's a good way to get a feel..

 

Island Star is their better ship, ranking 1,328 out of a possible 2,000

in the new Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising-2008

whereas Island Escape merits only 1,193 out of 2,000

 

 

----------------------------------------

 

Bear in mind that Island Cruises is pretty much designed by Brits for Brits.

If the like the English/Brits, and their ways, their food, etc.

chances are you'll love Island Cruises.

 

If you've ever been on Ocean Village cruises, it's going to be a lot like that!

We did Ocean Village Two back in early January - and loved it

but then my Dad was a Brit, and my wife gets along with English ppl like a house on fire!

 

If you're looking for an all-frills American-type cruise, you'll probably be disappointed.

 

Hope this helps.

[tennisobo]

Thanks very much! I'm off to check out the website you suggested.

 

Happy sailings...

[insidecabin]

For island cruises you could look at one of the UK sites for cruising,

 

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk has some good info in the cruise section

 

For pricing and booking the best option will be to do it through one of the UK agents as a package and fly down to the med from the UK.

 

Last minute the best price you can get is £299 for a 7 night cruise with air and transfers, nearly always availability 0-4 weeks to go except for peak dates ,UK school hols.

 

I won't recommend any particular agents but thay all advertise on the UK TV teletext system which is conveniently available on-line.

 

http://www.teletextholidays.co.uk/TV/Cruises/Cruising%20Mediterranean-Europe/ITV-CRY_227/print.aspx

 

Substitute 227 with 228 and 262 to get the other pages

 

If you check this once a week or so you will see what the prices are for this year and 2009 will be about the same.

[JDBD]

Hi, We are booked on the Island Star for a transatlantic cruise March 2009 and we are looking forward to it. I noticed that you have been on the Carribbean Princess and we are going on that in April 08 so it will be just the same for me going on a predominatley American ship as it will be for you going on a English ship, It makes life more interesting meeting new people from other parts of the world, I say go for it

[tennisobo]

In checking out the website that aplmac suggested, I noted that there is a lot of smoking on Island Cruises. Has that been your experience? I have asthma and others that will be traveling with us would not like to be smelling a lot of cigarette smoke, either. Other than that, it sounds like a good fit for us.

 

JDBD: On our cruise this past January on the Caribbean Princess we somehow ended up socializing with a lot of Brits. You will surely be able to do the same if you choose to do so on your upcoming cruise aboard her.

[tennisobo]

insidecabin: I tried the website you suggested and tried to find prices at the Thomas Cook site. All cruises for 2008 said N/A. I wonder if there is a problem booking U.S. citizens with a U.K. agent. Any ideas on that one?

 

Does Ocean Village have a similar product to Island and are the prices comparable?

 

Thanks, everyone, for you responses. I truly enjoy planning.

[insidecabin]

insidecabin: I tried the website you suggested and tried to find prices at the Thomas Cook site. All cruises for 2008 said N/A. I wonder if there is a problem booking U.S. citizens with a U.K. agent. Any ideas on that one?

 

Does Ocean Village have a similar product to Island and are the prices comparable?

 

Thanks, everyone, for you responses. I truly enjoy planning.

 

I could ask about US bookings next time I get a price, there could be an issue because of the bondng(consumer protection), one thing with Island is the best prices are always the week before unless it sells out.

 

Not all agents have on-line pricing and even fewer any live pricing you could try http://www.islandcruises.com/ the company website prices about 10% higher than an agent

[Aplmac]

Re: smoking.

 

Bear in mind that strict public smoking rules

have recently come into force in Britain (and the EU?)

and this applies to British ships too, eh?! :)

 

Before I did my January OV2 cruise

older reviews of OV2 had me thinking it would be like a floating ashtray

but nothing could have been further from the truth

when we were on board her.

 

OV2 turned out to be an almost smoke-free ship.

 

Oh sure you smelt it a bit in/near the Casino(a smoking area)

or out on Deck7 where they are allowed to smoke

and up on top deck you'd get the occasional whiff

but things are changing, even on Brit. ships

so I venture to suggest that Island Cruises as well

may be a lot less smoky than they were, just a year ago.

 

You may be in luck!

 

Please let us know when you get back.

[Dan Askin]

Hello all:

We are looking for a Med. cruise for summer of 2009. I discovered the website for Island cruise line and it sounds very interesting. I would describe the two of us as low-maintenance people who like a relaxed atmosphere. Can Americans book on this cruise line?

 

As you can see, we like the Princess Cruise experience but we are willing to try other lines. Would any of you be willing to give me information about what the Island Cruise experience would be like?

 

Thanks!

 

Hello,

 

Hopefully my reply isn't too late. Another suggestion would be to check out Cruise Critic UK's (www.cruisecritic.co.uk) coverage of Island Cruises. Not to toot our own horn ...

 

Corporate Profile: http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/reviews/cruiseline.cfm?CruiseLineID=92

 

Reviews (member and editorial)

 

Island Escape: http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=359

 

Island Star: http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=403

 

Island Cruises is also featured in our Best Choices for First-Time U.K. Cruisers piece: http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/features/articles.cfm?ID=634

 

Thanks,

 

Dan

[Stitchman]

Hello all:

We are looking for a Med. cruise for summer of 2009. I discovered the website for Island cruise line and it sounds very interesting. I would describe the two of us as low-maintenance people who like a relaxed atmosphere. Can Americans book on this cruise line?

 

As you can see, we like the Princess Cruise experience but we are willing to try other lines. Would any of you be willing to give me information about what the Island Cruise experience would be like?

 

Thanks!

Hi Tennisobo.

After seeing the ships you've been on you may be a bit disapointed. Both ships only have 1 pool and due to the all inclusive drinks packages it attracts alot of drunken idiots with loads of rowdy teenage kids.

But thats what i experienced.

You might love it........but i doubt it.

Good luck!

A little note to aplmac. Its nothing like OV

Stitch x

[insidecabin]

Re: smoking.

 

Bear in mind that strict public smoking rules

have recently come into force in Britain (and the EU?)

and this applies to British ships too, eh?! :)

 

I though all ships were exempt from the new rules even in british waters.

 

To pick up another point outside UK school holidays the numbers of kids will be limited.

[Aplmac]

Hi Tennisobo.

After seeing the ships you've been on you may be a bit disappointed.

Both ships only have 1 pool and due to the all inclusive drinks packages

it attracts alot of drunken idiots, with loads of rowdy teenage kids.

But thats what i experienced.

You might love it........but i doubt it.

Good luck!

A little note to aplmac. Its nothing like OV

Okay! Thanks for the warning. ;)

(I'm assuming your inference indicates lesser rather than greater

quality of cruise experience, than OV/OV2..)

 

Select cruises were offered here,locally, in the newspapers

and I was tempted. Something told me not to bother.

Now you've said what you have...

[MrsTW]

I've experienced both OV1 and Island Star and there is very little to choose between them. I didn't experience drunken idiots or rowdy teenagers on either and I sailed in the height of the British school summer holidays. I believe the all inclusive drinks package is available only on Island Escape.

 

If anything Island just has the edge because of the wonderful crew and captain who are to be seen frequently on board and who participate in various events! ;)

[Stitchman]

I've experienced both OV1 and Island Star and there is very little to choose between them. I didn't experience drunken idiots or rowdy teenagers on either and I sailed in the height of the British school summer holidays. I believe the all inclusive drinks package is available only on Island Escape.

 

If anything Island just has the edge because of the wonderful crew and captain who are to be seen frequently on board and who participate in various events! ;)

And you are totally right MrsTW. I can only judge the Escape as that was the only 1 in service at the time, as was OV.

You are also right about the lovely staff. at the time it seemed to attract the wrong type of customer and believe me i'm no snob. Still if they have changed i'm happy to stand corrected.

Aplmac would like the star as opposed to the escape from an engineering point of view. But only 1 swimming pool on each ship between 1800 people is a bad ratio.

Stitch xx :D

[ukbritsontour]

Hi,

 

I've been on the Island Star twice and am booked to go on it again this June. I have also been on it's sister ship the Escape 5 or 6 times.

 

I have always found Island Cruises to be a great cruiseline and the Star is a great ship.

 

The ship has a very relaxed and informal atmosphere. There are no formal nights (there is a ladies night where ladies get the opportunity to put on their sparkly tops) and there are no set meal times (I would aim to eat earlier [6pmish] if eating in the main Island restaurant as we have found when we leave around 7pm after our meal there is always a queue of people wanting to eat. I would also suggest that you ask to be seated at a small square table as the oblong tables seat 8? people and are close together so can be tricky to get in and out of).

 

I've found the food to be good and plentiful (I am hard to please as I am a very picky veggie!) and there is always a good choice. The wait staff are great and very helpful.

 

The entertainment is really good and is geared up to the UK audience rather than the American audience but if you appreciate the British sense of humour you will be OK.

 

The whole ship's company right from the captain, to the officers, to the staff and crew are so friendly and nothing is ever too much trouble. It's not unusual for the captain to join you for breakfast in the Beachcomber!

 

I have stayed in an outside cabin on deck 5 and a balcony cabin on the pool deck. Both cabins were great - obviously the balcony one had the edge but it was more expensive. The cabins have always been cleaned to a very high standard and the ship in general is kept very spick & span.

 

I have travelled on NCL and Island Cruises compares very well and I think it has the edge because of the food, the informality and friendliness of the captain, officers, staff and crew.

 

I hope this info helps.

 

UKBritsOnTour