ISLAND STAR MEDITERRANEAN ESSENCE CRUISE SEPTEMBER 16TH

I have recently returned from this, my first Island Cruises cruise. I have to say that the product really is, like the curate’s egg, good in parts. On the plus side, the ship herself is extremely pretty and very well maintained. Her original Celebrity art collection still looks wonderful and the layout and design of the Public Rooms is exquisite. The other fantastic plus point about the ship is her crew – a highly engaging, efficient and pleasant group who provide an exceptionally high level of service and genuine hospitality. In addition to this, both the itinerary and the weather were flawless.

On a slightly less positive note, there are several aspects of the operation which I find either bizarre or unacceptable or both.

For instance, why adopt a ludicrously penny-pinching attitude towards revenue generation? £20 to visit the bridge, £2.00 for a wallet for your key and – worst of all and widely decried by the passengers on my trip - £10 to use the safe in your own cabin all smack of stupid “nickel and diming”. Why not put the fares up a bit and include these items.
Another thing, which I believe has eroded the atmosphere on board, are the extra cabins. Presumably Island Cruises don’t want to tell people that the “standard” cabins on Three Deck are former crew cabins and that’s why they’re packed in and on such narrow corridors. Similarly, the replacement of the America’s Cup Bar with 20+ extra cabins seems to have caused the ship to pitch excessively. On our one day at sea, even a moderate swell forced the crew to empty the swimming pools and persuaded hundreds of seasick passengers to jet the jab. (Or is this a really Machiavellian piece of revenue generation?)

This same upping of capacity provided me with the thing that I really hated about the ship… Queuing for food. The Island Restaurant often had thirty minute queues for a place, and whilst the queues were never as severe in the Beachcomber, the evening ambience has all the appeal of the Crossroads Motel. Both restaurants also featured a fairly good display of food; ALL OF WHICH WAS TEPID AT BEST and often so cold that I doubt it would pass a UK Public Health Inspection.

The extra tariff restaurants were, once again, a bit of a dog’s dinner. The Steakhouse is warm and welcoming with an impressive antipasto bar. But my steak was like leather. In the Oasis Restaurant, I ordered a rare Beef Wellington. When it arrived well-done, I pointed this out to my steward who said, “Oh, they all come that way”. If that was the case, why bother to ask, or why not tell me that it would be well-done in which case I’d have ordered lobster instead.

I also had a great evening of entertainment with Andy Martin, the pony-tailed guitarist featured in the Pub. I was there on the second night of the cruise and talking to friends at the bar. I asked the barman why the music had to be so deafening that conversation thirty feet away from the stage was impossible. Three minutes later the guitarist stopped playing and said loudly: “Right. Someone in here has complained about me and I am not playing another note until I know who it was”. After a couple of moments of pin-dropping silence, I put my hand up. “There we are you see,” the guitarist snarled, pointing me out to everyone in the room. “You always get one like that ruining it for everyone else”. To say that I was livid, embarrassed and furious would be an understatement. Later in the evening, presumably having been alerted to my anger, Mr Martin came over and said he was sorry that he had appeared to be aggressive.

Delightful.

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I know I am going to sound like a real old misery guts again

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Not really as you make the same points as most of the other reviews I have read [except those by 1st timers]. The biggest complaint is always the tepid food; you'd think by now they would have addressed the problem. [Grubby carpets and vibration in the aft low cabins are other points often mentioned].

Are Island Star prices reasonably cheap?

[ 09-26-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

[ 09-30-2006: Message edited by: glynn ]

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Originally posted by glynn:
We are going on RCI's Legend in October, I really do hope this turns out to be good.

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I think RCI offer a good all round 'mass market' experience. Although it is a very American one, adapted a little for the UK market.

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Originally posted by glynn:
They even charged each passenger £1 for their on board card.

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Originally posted by mec1:
I am sure you could book via the ineternet though.

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The 'global village' often has many locked gates!

Thomson say: To make an online booking, we do require a UK address. However, you can book with us through our Call Centre - please contact + 44 870 165 0079 and one of our experienced consultants will be happy to assist you further.

However, the on-line discounts do not apply to phone booking. However, the supplement is not a fortune. However, if you live abroad you pay more.

Everything seems to be focused on onboard revenue this days. And what ever new inventions or refurbishment a cruiseline comes up with it's solely based to get more money out of us.
For instance, Oriana where they will change the Curzon Lounge into a Restaurant just to generate more revenue.
Last year on RCCL they closed down the dining room for lunch while in port . They gave us the impression they didn't want us during day time at all. They rather want you to go upstairs and trof out at the buffet
I can even see it in ferries to Copenhagen, where the arcade is now taken over by restaurants and bars.
Island Star seems like the nightmare future of cruising, where you can eat inclusive at a ghastly buffets or pay more if you want it better.

I have to agree with the initial reviewer in terms of his analysis of the overall cruise experience.

My positivity is helped by the fact that we had superb weather, mill pond seas and only paid £460.00 for the week, this for an outside cabin, gratuities, flights and a wheelchair accessible taxi transfer from the airport, NOT BAD!!

For us the really positve aspects were the open deck space and the amazingly happy and helpful crew, not exactly what you would call polished, but certainly one of the best vibes on any ship that I have cruised on.

Food wise, yes I have had far better{Celebrity fan}, but then again I,ve had worse, it was sufficiently edible not to spoil what was really a very pleasant week.

I was happy with the ship overall, very clean, not too crowded for a budget cruise, just a tad on the eclectic side when it comes to interior design and function.

I'll quickly zip through a few key points and file a proper review later... there are a few pictures at http://www.steve-read.co.uk/IslandStarOct2006

The cabin... I was in 1021, a premium balcony, port fwd. Spacious cabin, loads of storage, comfortable (twin) beds and, joy of joys, a shower in which the curtain didn't try to wrap me up. Whoosh-bang vacuum toilet with enough power to slam the door and make your ears bleed.

The ship... One the one sea day there was plenty of deck space, although the earlybirds always grabbed the best places around the pools. Everywhere spotless - I bumped into one guy whose entire day, every day, was spent polishing! Some of the alleyway carpets are looking a bit tired but I understand they're being replaced soon.
One thing I hope they NEVER replace is the chime in one of the lifts - instead of "ding dang dong" it goes "ding bang dooiiinggg" like a strangled cat! A great talking point for repeat passengers.

The bars/entertainment... Captain's Club is an oasis of calm, with barman Milan clearly proud of "his" bar. The Pub is, well, just like a pub! Bounty Club is the ship's second showroom (like the Oklahoma Lounge on Sunbird but with more atmosphere).
In-house shows were slick. Guest entertainers - a Liverpool comic (best gag: Scouser at the purser's desk asks How many Euros to the Giro?) and a magician - weren't my cup of tea but those who went seemed to enjoy it.
Cruise Director Rob Boyd is a real asset, held everything together well.
Senior officers also joined in, doing a mad dance overlooking the pool deck.

The food... Sorry mec1 but my experience was completely different from yours. Steakhouse served up one of the best steaks I've ever had at sea. Oasis, the other premium restaurant, also great value. Beachcomber buffets had a good variety and Mikele at The Grill definitely makes the best burgers at sea! Yes there was a bit of a queue for the Island at peak times but once in, I couldn't fault the food.