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MS Island Sky

Formerly known as Renaissance VIII, MS Island Sky was is a deluxe vessel and ranks among the finest small ships in the world. Throughout the year there is a wide variety of itineraries on offer from cruising around the British Isles, voyages in the Med and Baltic and more exotic journeys to India, Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean.

For the full cruising calendar see Prices and departures dates

Your space

Due to the generous size of the suites, the maximum number of passengers is 116. The spacious public rooms include a large lounge, elegant bar with piano, library stocked with fiction and reference books along with a selection of games and a single sitting dining room.

Outside, there is a rear sun deck where meals are served in warm weather under shade, a bar and comfortable deck furniture for sun bathing or relaxing with a book. On the top deck there is a further observation and sun deck. There is also a small hairdressers on board with appointments made on request.

Your dining

With only one sitting and a maximum of just over 100 passengers, the galley is able to provide delicious meals. In the main restaurant, breakfast is served buffet-style, with certain items cooked to order. Both lunch and dinner is à la carte. When weather permits, breakfast and a buffet-style lunch are also served on deck. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge and tea and coffee are available 24 hours. With sufficient notice, most diets can be catered for on board.

Your suite

MS Island Sky offers exceptionally spacious and well designed cabins. All cabins are in fact suites with a sitting room area and some have private balconies; twin suites range from 21 to 30 square metres. The passenger accommodation is arranged over five decks and all suites have outside views. Those on the lower deck have portholes, the middle two decks have large picture windows and the two top decks have patio doors leading on to a private balcony.

Each suite affords considerable comfort with en-suite bathroom, large wardrobes, vanity table with large mirror and stool and excellent storage. There are mini-fridges, television and a telephone in each suite. Bottled water, towelling dressing gowns and slippers are also provided for your comfort. Other facilities include a programmable electronic safe, hairdryer, assorted toiletries and individually controlled air-conditioning and heating.

For your comfort & security

The vessel is equipped with the latest safety, navigation and communications equipment along with roll stabilizers to minimize the ships motion. The captain and officers operate an open-bridge policy that allows passengers onto the bridge at most times with the exception of arrival and departure from port and during times of complicated navigation.

Here you can check the ship's progress by charts and learn more from the officers about your journey. On board you will also find a clinic and doctor and a lift that serves all decks. Smoking on board is restricted to outside decks only.

Going ashore

In most cases, Island Sky will go alongside in port but in more remote areas or places with restricted access, the vessel's tender is used. During the winter months when the vessel is operating expedition cruises or in areas such as the British Isles, Zodiacs are used. These are inflatable craft with exceptional manoeuvrability allowing access to otherwise impossible landing places. A full safety briefing regarding the use of Zodiacs is given on board.

Day to day life on board

The daily programme on board is in the capable hands of the Cruise Director and staff who coordinate with the Captain and officers to make the most of each day. Briefings and talks are provided throughout each voyage together with a 'Daily Programme' that is distributed every evening to your suite outlining the next day's activities.

Dress on board is casual and relaxed. There will no 'black tie' evenings although there will be an evening or two when a jacket and tie are requested. There is no organised entertainment, fancy dress, deck games or any of the usual big ship experiences. The atmosphere on board is more like a private yacht or country hotel.

MS Island Sky Deck Plan