CURRENTLY, ALL CRUISES FOR THE REST OF 2020 ARE CANCELLED AS THE SHIP, ISLAND PASSAGE, HAS BEEN SOLD, AND THE NEWLY DESIGNED AND SPECIALLY BUILT VESSEL IS DUE FOR DELIVERY BY APRIL 2021.  THIS NEW 54 METRE LUXURY CRUISER WILL HAVE A HELIPAD, STABILISERS, TENDER BOATS, ECO-FRIENDLY ENGINES AND A CONTEMPORARY, STYLISH INTERIOR.  IT WILL ACCOMMODATE UP TO 32 GUESTS AND SPEND THE SUMMERS AROUND NEW ZEALAND BEFORE SPENDING THE WINTER MONTHS AROUND THE ISLANDS IN TAHITI.  OBVIOUSLY, THE NEW SHIP WILL HAVE DIFFERENT CABIN LAYOUTS AND AMENITIES, PUBLIC AREAS AND SPECIFICATIONS.  AS WE GET FURTHER INFORMATION, WE WILL UPDATE THIS PAGE.

 

Island Escape Cruises are a privately-owned small ship cruise company, based in New Zealand who offer 7 and 10-night cruises around New Zealand and French Polynesia.

 

The company was started by Peter Bissett in 2004, after he retired from owning major shipping companies, and wanted to start his dream company of a small, luxury cruise business. He worked with maritime professionals to design and build his unique vision, a luxury small ship cruise vessel, with spacious cabins and public areas for just 24 guests, within the 42 metres they had to play with. They achieved this by utilising a catamaran-style hull, giving the additional width needed, nearly 13 metres, to provide the desired space. This also provided a stable vessel small enough to get into small bays and shallow estuaries, but big enough to provide the large cabins and bathrooms he wanted, spacious lounges and dining room, an expansive aft sundeck, a rooftop helicopter, two motorboats, a transfer tender plus numerous kayaks and paddleboards for guest use. And thus, the 'Island Passage' was born!  Once he had the ship, Peter put together itineraries around 2 of his favourite places; the gorgeous coastline of New Zealand and, initially, the South Pacific islands of Vanuatu, and starting in 2016, changing the routing to cruise around beautiful French Polynesia.

 

Fine dining and excellent wines are offered on all their cruises, with a gourmet menu serving local seafood (maybe even caught that day by you or another guest), organic New Zealand lamb, local poultry and beef, and fresh produce from the local farmer's markets, along with an extensive wine cellar of award winning Australian and New Zealand wines. One of their Reislings has been voted one of the best in the world!  All drinks, including premium spirits and champagne, are now included in the price.

 

Although the ship looks functional on the outside, inside, the accommodation has been designed to feel more like a luxury yacht than a small cruise ship. The light and airy Cabins and Suites are spread across 3 decks, with 5 Castaway Cabins on the main deck, 1 Castaway Cabin, 3 Hideaway and 1 Runaway Suites on the Promenade Deck and 2 Runaway Suites on the Bridge Deck.

 

The Castaway Cabins are 16sqm/175sqft with wide portholes with ocean views, hotel-style Queen or Twin solid wood beds with luxurious linens and bedding, individual bedside lights, an ensuite bathroom with shower and complimentary premium toiletries, a roomy wardrobe with wooden hangers, individual air conditioning and a 26" flat screen TV with 250 on-demand movies. The Hideaway Suites are 18sqm/195sqft with a large window and opening door to the Promenade Deck, and provide the same same facilities and amenities as the Cabins.  Suite 4, the Motutapu Suite, has an accessible wet-room style showerroom. The 2 Runaway Suites are located at the front of the Bridge Deck with fantastic views from the large picture window and the opening door to the Bridge Deck, and offer 22sqm/235sqft of space, a King bed with luxury bedding, a 32" flat-screen TV and bathrobes in the spacious ensuite bathroom. The Runaway Suite on the Promenade Deck offers the same facilities as the Bridge Deck Suites, but has 1 Queen bed. Each night, regardless of room catagory, they provide a turndown service, with complimentary chocolates and bottled water.

 

The Cruises offer the best of each destination, providing journeys between 7 and 10 night journeys. There are 2 tours around French Polynesia and 3 around New Zealand.  The French Polynesia cruises operate from May round to October and visits a number of beautiful islands in the Society chain on each tour.  Please see the detailed itineraries below for more information.

 

The New Zealand cruises operate between December and April, and offer 7 night cruises around the North and South Island.  Between February and April they visit the World Heritage site of Milford Sound and the Fiordland National Park, on the west coast of the South Island, and between December and early February, the beautiful Bay of Islands and the islands around Auckland, on the north coastline of the North Island. For more information on these cruises please click HERE or visit our dedicated New Zealand section.

 

To visit Island Escape Cruises own website, please click HERE

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