I too was part of the Thomsons 'Christmas Carousel' Cruise, on the Island Escape from 18th December'09-1st January '10, and concur with all Eddie has said in his review. It was an absolute nightmare of an experience, certainly not the holiday I was recommended it would be when sold it by Thomsons in Edinburgh. It came highly recommended by most of the staff on duty there that day, and I bought into it on their recommendation. It was not a cheap deal either. Our cabin was small but standard apparently, the toilet/shower was a disgrace with tiles falling off in the shower area, eventually removed during the second week of our trip, but not replaced, just piled on the floor under the wash-hand-basin. The other walls in the shower cubicle were bowed, tiles there obviously been heavily glued/grouted to keep them on. The chrome on the taps and plug was almost non-existent. The bedding was marked, obviously laundered but stained of old, also evident were cigarette burn holes, and a lovely shade of grey. Towels again obviously laundered and onceupon a time white. They too regularly had tears and stains on them. We paid extra for an outside cabin. The portholes were almost opaque due to the continuing practice of slapping white paint about externally each time the ship docked, obviously to keep the rust covered. The Air Conditioning in our cabin did not work. Was reported three times and supposedly fixed three times, in the end we were given a Fan, which only served to circulate warm stale air. The corridor leading to our cabin was littered along its length with recepticles, (ice buckets, bottoms cut off plastic bottles),to catch the dripping water from above. The area outside the Lift on our floor was leaking badly through ceiling and light fittings, a hole was drilled in the ceiling panel to allow it to drain through one large hole into a large bucket. We noted that each time the ship was in Port buckets and the various recepticles were removed and the leaks allowed to just drip onto the carpet, evident by the large wet stain, and slippery carpet. Sometimes they would even put up a wet-floor sign. This practice was not just reserved for our corridor or area, this practice was evident to us throughout the ship. Walls in the corridor bore large rust marks/stains, just above floor level. The Beachcomer especially if it rained, was a disgrace also, with tablecloths and napkins spread on the floor, and used to stop-up and plug leakages, buckets used to catch water through ceiling and light fittings, in and around tables where passengers were eating. A complete disgrace, contrary to basic health and safety practices. Users of walking aids and sticks, even the able bodied had a job keeping their balance with the rocking and rolling of the vessel due to rough seas, let alone dodging drips and wet cloths and buckets all over the place. Questionable too, the fitness of the stablising mechanism of the ship. Obviously as tired and worn as the rest of that which is visible to it's passengers. Toilets out of order, for some passengers was a huge issue. Thankfully, one problem we didn't have. A couple we became friendly with had had no toilet in their cabin for three-quarters of their trip, and they were told there was no alternative but for them to use toilets in public areas, that meant during the night as well as other times. Only after this was publicly brought to the attention of the Captain, by the lady in question, at the first of his two Public Meetings did the matter for that couple improve. The Captain denied when asked, if it was true that people had left the ship at Malaga because of viral infections on board. Apparently 30 or more passengers got off the ship there, more at Gibraltar, such was the state of things on board. Had Thomsons not been so greedy, the mojority of people would have taken the opportunity to finish the Cruise after the first disasterous week. Vouchers for a future holiday to cover the second week, would have been very acceptable. This was my first cruise, and think it will be my last. It was like being a prisoner, having to endure a regime whether you wanted to or not. Plastic mugs tainting the taste of tea or coffee, eating off melamine plates, I did without Coffee and often without enduring the feeding frenzy. When in Gibrltar bought a china mug in order to enjoy a coffee, and I could have sold it over and over when other passengers and staff noticed. So know I was not alone in how I was feeling. Health and Safety / Public Safety pretty dubious. Rubber treads on external stairs broken, chipped and missing. Public Toilets never saw any fully functional, always 2 out of 3 not useable/working. No baby-changing areas, witnessed wash-hand basin area in public toilet used. When things got rough outside, conditions got even rougher inside. The cabin shook like a washing machine on high spin, walls & pictures rattled, creams, shampoo etc., even towels and clothes hanging in the wardrobe took a dive. The ship lurched so badly at times the beds felt like they were on wheels. Not at all condusive to restful sleep. Was also sea-sick. Two other Cruise ships on the same Route as us, abandoned their trip due to bad weather conditions, putting their passengers first. They waved to us on deck as our ship left Port. Our Captain would not comment when asked about this at his public meeting. We missed three Ports in the first week due to bad weather. Bad weather no-ones fault. The practice of docking then leaving port later to dump waste and then returning to port, common practice. Why the waste could not have been dumped on the way into Port who knows! A theory given by one passenger re this practice, was to let shops on board open and make money?! Thomsons clearly have/had no contingency plans in place for anything. No-one can prevent bad weather, but the sensible thing would've been to stop the cruise. The ordinary staff, e.g., cabin and waiting staff for me were the only thing worthy of praise from this experience. Poor souls, I don't know how they do it, and keep smiling. To anyone thinking of going on this ship...........PLEASE do yourself a favour ....DON'T!! The vessel is a 'leaky colandar' not a Cruise Ship, as one lady at the public meeting put it, earning unanimous applause. The best thing Thomsons could do is take this vessel out of commission NOW, and stop robbing people of their hard-earned cash. It is not fit for purpose! I heard there's to be media-worthy coverage re this cruise, which will nodoubt give more detailed accounts of what a lot of people endured on this Thomsons Christmas Carousel, Cruise from Hell. To round things off, those of us on the early flights to Newcastle and Glasgow on Friday, were further lied to at the Airport regarding our flight home. Yes there was bad weather, but Newcastle Airport was Not Closed, as we were initially told after the let us check-in. There was no Thomsons Rep visible at the Airport at any time after that, and passengers had to keep going between Iberia Desks for information. Iberia staff in the main were not helpful, mostly pretty resentful. At 6.30pm on Friday 1st January, we were told we would be flying to Glasgow, and bussed back to Newcastle. Next, we were informed we were being flown to Manchester and bussed back to Newcastle. Then we were told that this would not be happening as Crew would be out of 'time'. After the later Thomsons flight 1539 to Newcastle announcement to proceed to boarding gate came over the tannoy, it caused an uproar by those of us sitting there all day. Proving Newcastle was not closed. But most of us already knew that was not true, by phoning home. At 10pm we heard after seeking information again ourselves from the Iberia desk, we were being taken to a hotel until the following evening. All being well, we might be leaving at 12.30am. We were then herded and traipsed through the airport to re-claim our bags, the only thing missing from this process was the lack of a sheep-dip. The elderly and infirm, some pushing partners in wheelchairs were left to get on with it. The disruption/delay also meant some people had run out of their medication. Thomsons rep at the hotel when we arrived said the rep in the morning would sort things out. It had to be brought to her attention that there were elderly standing in the long queue to check in who were tired and needed assistance. Other passengers in the queue had already sought chairs for these people observing their plight. The Rep in the morning was initially oblivious to his extra arrivals, and on being made aware of the need of some for medication due to the delay, made contact with his office. He came back and informed those of us affected, Doctors were private in Spain and a call-out fee of around £60 payable (but we could claim it back from our holiday insurance), for a prescription. When it was pointed out to him that after paying the Excess on Insurance, people would be out of pocket. After fierce protest by those involved he went back to his office and later announced that Thomsons would absorb the doctors call-out fee. It cost one man £98 to get his prescription filled, for the sakwe of one days tablets. We waited around all day in a Thomsons Hotel, to be informed by reps if/when we would be picked up and taken to the airport. At 10-10.15pm we were picked up for the airport. 12.30am we were bussed to a plane off-stand, climbing stairs to board. Again this process causing the elderly and infirm added difficulty and stress. The flight was an amalgum of two flights. The original 1523 to Newcastle and 1527 to Glasgow. Despite pleas from those people from Scotland wishing to go to Glasgow, some had, now expired, return train tickets due to the delay. With the weather and road conditions north from Newcastle it would have been much more convenient/ easier to get home from Glasgow, but we were refused. The flight would be going to Newcastle first, and after re-fueling(whilst on the tarmac and occupied), continue onto Glasgow. Apart from one young Rep saying why we scots couldn't all have gone onto Glasgow was for security reasons!?! No other explanation was offered for the refusal. When we got on board the chaos continued, because two flight had been put together, same seat numbers for both flights had been issued. By the time the crew got that sorted out, identified the booked meal details, reliant totally on the honesty of the passengers, we were on our way. At Newcastle we landed off-stand, and ushered down a very slippy ice-covered stairway, onto the deep snow covered tarmac, onto yet another bus to the terminal, at 4.30am. For the fit and able this was a daunting enough experience, but for those elderly and infirm again, it was a disgrace. It could've been, "a scene from a war film with the Nazi's hearding the Jews", certainly what it felt like, and I quote that statement as overheard and uttered by a few of those around me. Shame on you Thomsons!