history of ambition cruise ship

• CruiseMapper
• Ambassador Cruise Line

Former names: AIDAmira, Costa neoRiviera, Grand Mistral, Mistral

Cruise line Ambassador Cruise Line

• London-Tilbury (England)
• Newcastle upon Tyne (England)
• Dundee (Scotland)
• Liverpool (England)
• Belfast (Northern Ireland)

Ambition current position

Ambition current location is at North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 51.49342 N / -2.72138 W) cruising en route to Bristol UK. The AIS position was reported 6 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Ambition

Ambition current cruise is 6 days, round-trip D-Day 80Th Anniversary Voyage . The itinerary starts on 02 Jun, 2024 and ends on 08 Jun, 2024 .

Specifications of Ambition

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Ambition Itineraries

Ambition review, review of ambition.

The 1999-built MV Ambition cruise ship is currently owned and operated by the UK-based Ambassador Cruise Line . The vessel was previously known as "Costa neoRiviera" (until December 2019) and "AIDAmira" (until January 2022), and was built (under the name "MS Mistral") for Festival Cruises (1999-2002, now defunct ). After the company's collapse in 2004, Mistral was sold to Ibero Cruises (Spain) and renamed "Grand Mistral". In November 2013, the newly named Costa neoRiviera joined Costa Cruises after EUR 10 million drydock refurbishment . In 2019, the liner joined AIDA Cruises under the name "AIDAmira" (fleet's 14th boat), departing on its maiden for AIDA voyage on December 4, 2019 (out of Palma de Mallorca ).

The vessel (IMO number 9172777) as Costa neoRiviera was Italy- flagged (MMSI 247325300) and registered in Genova . Ambassador Ambition is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311001141) and registered in Nassau .

History and Ownership

On January 26, 2022, AIDA Cruises announced that AIDAmira leaves the fleet.

• Following the announcement, a total of 66x AIDAmira cruises (itineraries with scheduled departures between April 15, 2022, and March 13, 2023) were canceled.
• Most of the canceled voyages were 7-day "Agais Israel", 14-day long "Agais und Israel" and 7-day "Griechenland, Zypern und Israel" itineraries (both roundtrips from homeport Heraklion, Crete Greece planned thru October 7). The rest of the canceled program was based on homeporting in Cape Town (South Africa) for the 14-day "Sudafrika und Namibia" itinerary.
• When the announcement was made, the ship was docked at Port Pula (Croatia) .

On January 27th was announced that Carnival Corporation/shipowner (via Costa Crociere SpA) sold AIDAmira to Ambassador Cruise Line. The ship (renamed "Ambition") starts services for the UK-based company in 2023, joining the fleetmate Ambience (1991-built as Regal Princess).

Prior to starting operations for Ambassador, Ambition was scheduled to enter drydock for extensive refurbishment works, staterooms and machinery upgrades, including ballast-water and sewage-water treatment plants and scrubbers (reducing gaseous emissions).

In May 2021 was announced that the new brand "Ambassador Cruise Line" (UK-based company, with headquarters in Purfleet-on-Thames, Essex England) is the new operator of the "Crypto Cruise Ship" Satoshi/now Ambience . Ambassador Cruise Line targets the UK source market exclusively (50+ age travelers), trying to take the place of the popular CMV-Cruise And Maritime Voyages (2009-founded/2020- defunct ).

AIDAmira was AIDA's 14th boat and joined the "AIDA Selection" ships AIDAcara , AIDAvita , AIDAaura - fleet's smallest, and operating on longer itineraries with more unusual routes. Before its AIDA service, Costa neoRiviera was drydock refurbished and remodeled. Swimming pools were reduced from 3 to 2 (larger) with 2 large whirlpools on the sundeck. Of the 624 staterooms, 96 are Suites (80 with balconies). The refitted boat had 6 restaurants and 6 bars. AIDAmira's Maiden Voyage was on December 4, 2019, leaving from Palma de Mallorca to South Africa.

The 1600-passenger ship "MS Mistral" had a Maiden Voyage on July 17, 1999, leaving roundtrip from Venice to the Greek Islands. During the winter, Mistral offered Caribbean voyages. In 2004, the Greek company Festival Cruises experienced financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy. The vessel was sold to Ibero Cruises (Iberojet) and renamed "Grand Mistral". In 2013, it was transferred to Costa's fleet (renamed "Costa neoRiviera") joining the "neoCollection" fleetmate Costa neoRomantica .

Ambassador Cruise Line Ambition ship's max passenger capacity  (1500) is limited to 1200, which as space ratio makes her comparable to many luxury cruise ships.

Decks and Cabins

Most AIDAmira staterooms (624 total) are 13 m2 (140 ft2) Oceanview cabins (287). The largest accommodations are Sundeck Deluxe Suites (450-510 ft / 42-47 m2, with terraces sized 115-150 ft2 / 11-14 m2). There are 96x Suites (all with balconies), 12x Balcony staterooms, 287x Oceanviews, and 231x Inside cabins, including 2x wheelchair-accessible (handicap).

The boat has 13 decks , of which 10 are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.

After the refit, the Ambassador Ambition ship has 714 staterooms (max passenger capacity will be reduced from 1498 to 1428), including 125x balconies and 113x Suites (sized ~670 ft2 / 62 m2 including the balcony).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Ambassador Ambition ship has two MDRs (main dining rooms/complimentary restaurants) plus specialty dining venues, a bistro-style Lido Cafe, 4x lounges and bars, a British Pub Restaurant, Theater Lounge (with tiered seating), Casino, Card Room, Library, Craft Studio, wellness complex (Spa and Massage Rooms, Gymnasium (Fitness Center), 2x swimming pools, retail shops.

The ship's Galleria Shops (managed by Harding UK) are duty-free and tax-free stores selling luxury brand watches, fashion and costume jewelry, watches, perfumes, cosmetics, clothing, sportswear, Ambassador-logoed merchandise, gifts and souvenirs, tobacco and liquor, convenience goods. The brands include Pandora (jewelry), Swarovski (jewelry, watches, crystal decorations) Radley (women's accessories and footwear/bags, purses, shoes).

In March 2023 was announced that one of the new dining venues is Lupino’s Restaurant (honoring Michelle Lupino, Ambassador's Head of Destination Management who passed away in 2022). The Mediterranean-style eatery has max capacity 70 seats.

In April 2023 were announced more restaurants.

Buckingham Restaurant and Holyrood Restaurant are both with a la carte-priced menus that include classic British favorites like Sunday Roast (roasted meat and potatoes, mashed potatoes, accompaniments/Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, gravy, and condiments/apple sauce, mint sauce, or redcurrant sauce) and Shepherd’s Pie (casserole-made/oven-baked dish of ground lamb filling, savory vegetables, mashed potatoes).

Borough Market is a self-serve buffet-style eatery serving international cuisine, including homemade Italian pasta and Asian stir-fries.

Saffron Restaurant offers Indian dishes served in Thali/Bhojanam (round platters), fresh-baked breads and traditional desserts.

Chef’s Table is an exclusive dinner-only and reservations-only venue for a la carte (9-course) dining experience and food and wine pairing.

Alfresco Grill is a poolside bar serving complimentary fast food (pizza by the slice, burgers, hot dogs, chips).

Costa neoRiviera review

Most of the onboard dining is included in cruises' fares. With the exception of the pizza on the ship's Lido Deck, you better choose the main dining room for most of the meals. As a new ship, it promotes eat-when-you-wish casual dining. There is no assigned seating and reservations are not needed. Located on Deck 11, neoRiviera's buffet features seven stations and is smaller than the buffets on most cruise ships. Its decor is a casual cafeteria. The buffet is more popular in the summer when there is a younger crowd with more kids.

Costa neoRiviera's restaurants and food bars included:

• Ristorante Cetara (forward Dining Room; complimentary, with round-shaped windows and extensive wine list for dinner, with 2 fixed seatings at 6:30 or 9 pm, open seating breakfast and lunch)
• Ristorante Saint Tropez (complimentary aft Dining Room with 2 fixed Dinner seatings)
• Ristorante Buffet Vernazza (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary; offers breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea at 4-5 pm, and dinner; in the evening is transformed into Pizzeria, complimentary, with waiter service)
• Grill Manarola (fast food station, complimentary)
• Pizzeria Monterosso (lunch & dinner only pizza restaurant, complimentary).

Costa neoRiviera had 3 restaurants (including the buffet Grill & Pizzeria), 6 bars, a show lounge and disco nightclub, two shopping arcades, a spacious wellness complex consisting of Spa & Beauty Salon, Fitness Center (modern gym), a hydrotherapy pool, spa pools/hot tubs, treatment rooms (for massages).

The ship has 3 swimming pools plus a splash pool (for children).

Follows the complete list of Costa neoRiviera lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Teatro Ravello (2-level main show lounge for grand musical and show productions, ballets, classical concerts, circus shows)
• Bar Anacapri (foyer bar)
• Atrio Riviera (2-deck high Atrium and central ship area with live entertainment, served by Positano bar)
• Amalfi Lounge (Cigar Lounge & Bar, also selling cigars and fine liquor)
• Cafe Positano (wine bar)
• Sala Carte (cards room)
• Casino Saint Maxime (served by Porquerolles bar)
• Biblioteca & Internet Point (combined library Biblioteca Conca dei Marini and Internet computers room)
• Galleria Shops Sorrento; Gallery Shops Grasse (duty & tax-free shops for brand watches, jewelry, perfumes, fashion clothes, Costa-logo merchandise, sportswear, gifts, tobacco and liquor)
• Cafe Eze (patisserie & specialty coffee bar)
• Saint Paul de Vence Lounge & Bar (stage for live shows, band music in the evenings)
• Bar Corniglia (smoothies, ice cream)
• Photo Gallery Cannes
• Video Games Arcade
• Discoteca Portofino (Disco & Nightclub)
• Squok Club (kids lounge with Mini Club (3-6 yo) and Maxi Club (7-11 yo) playing rooms; with complimentary kids program and supervised activities; complimentary babysitting)
• Teen Zone (teenagers' lounge with Teen Junior (12-14 yo) and Teen Club (15-17 yo) rooms; complimentary supervised activities, themed parties, sports contests)
• Centro Benessere Portovenere (Spa & Wellness complex, with Fitness and separate Spinning/Aerobics Room; Salone di Bellezza Framura Beauty Salon, Massages and Treatments Rooms, Japanese TeaRoom, Relaxation Room, Thermal Suites, Solarium, Laconium, Aroma Steam Baths, Thalassotherapy pool, Solarium, Sauna)
• Lido Via dell'Amore pool area (with 2 small pools, 2 Whirlpools, foosball table, ping pong table; served by Bar Riomaggiore)
• Outdoor playing zone for kids (with a paddling pool)
• Multi-sports court (volleyball, basketball, mini football, golf putting area)
• Solarium (open-air relaxation area).

Ambassador Ambition itineraries

Details on Ambassador Ambition ship's itinerary program for the inaugural summer 2023 season were announced in May 2022, including the boat's UK homeports ( London-Tilbury , Newcastle Port Tyne , Liverpool , Avonmouth-Bristol , Falmouth , Dundee Scotland , Belfast ). Ambition also offers Transatlantic crossings (roundtrip from the UK) to the Caribbean islands Barbados, Grenada, the Grenadines, Curacao, Aruba, St Lucia, St Kitts, St Maarten, Antigua.

MS Ambition's inaugural season was originally planned to start with the Maiden Voyage on March 4, 2023 (6-night Tilbury-London roundtrip to Kristiansand, Copenhagen and Gotheborg). However, as the ship was 6-month contracted (September 2022 thru March 2023) for housing Ukrainian refugees in Glasgow, and due to the following drydocking, MS Ambition's inauguration was postponed for May 12, 2023 (14-day "Hidden Gems Of France and Spain" itinerary). The roundtrip from Newcastle visited ports in France (Cherbourg, Brest, Saint-Nazaire, Le Verdon), Spain (Bilbao, Gijon, La Coruna) and France (Le Havre-Paris).

AIDAmira itineraries

AIDAmira itinerary program was based on winter deployment in South Africa (leaving roundtrip from homeport Cape Town ) and summer Mediterranean deployment with homeporting in Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Spain) .

Following the Coronavirus crisis, AIDA planned to homeport AIDAmira in Heraklion Crete Greece , to be followed by a South Africa program (in 2023) with homeporting in Cape Town . However, these plans were canceled in January 2022, after the announcement that the boat leaves the fleet by March. For more info on the canceled voyages see the ship's Wiki page .

Costa neoRiviera itineraries

Costa neoRiviera itinerary program featured exotic routes around the world with unusual ports and more overnight port stays.

• In December 2018 through March 2019, Costa neoRiviera had scheduled voyages in India - with homeporting in Mumbai and call ports in India (Mangalore, Cochin, Mormugao-Goa), Sri Lanka (Colombo) and Maldives (Male, Kaafu Atoll).
• For the rest of 2019, the ship had scheduled Western Mediterranean itineraries departing roundtrip from homeports Savona (Italy) and Toulon (France) .
• However, both programs were canceled after the decision was made for the liner to be transferred to AIDA.

Ambition - user reviews and comments

Photos of ambition.

Ambition ship related cruise news

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Other Ambassador Cruise Line cruise ships

Ambition wiki.

In mid-September 2019, AIDA announced the name of Mira ship's godmother - Franziska Knuppe (1974-born German fashion model and actress). The liner's christening ceremony was held on November 30 (2019) in Port Palma (Mallorca-Majorca Island, Balearic Spain) .

Mira's naming ceremony was a charity event with all proceeds donated to "AIDA Cruise & Help" - a partnership with Reiner Meutsch Foundation FLY & HELP (since 2018) for collecting donations in order to build schools in newly industrializing and developing countries. The ship's naming ceremony featured a 20-min fireworks show, live performances by Johannes Oerding (German singer-songwriter), over 1000 cruise passengers (on the ship) and the Mary Amiri-hosted charity event.

Fan fact is that Franziska Knuppe is also the godmother of the fleetmate AIDAluna (2009). AIDAmira's last Master was Captain Manuel Pannzek (Captain on AIDA Selection boats since 2017).

In January 2023, Ambassador Cruise Line announced that MS Ambition's godmother will be Shirley Ann Robertson (1968-born Scottish sailor and Summer Olympic gold medallist/Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004).

The ship's christening ceremony was held on May 11, 2023, in Port Tyne/Newcastle . On the next day (May 12th) started the Maiden Voyage (14-day "Hidden Gems Of France and Spain"/Newcastle roundtrip).

The vessel (hull/yard number J31) was built in France (by Chantiers de l’Atlantique Shipyard in Saint-Nazaire ) and has volume 48123 GT-tons, weight 4923 tons, max draft 6,9 m/23 ft. The powerplant is based on two Wartsila marine diesel engines (models 8L46B and 12V38) with total output 18 MW.

Ambassador Ambition refurbishment 2023

On April 4, 2023, Ambassador's ship Ambition arrived in Bremerhaven (Germany) to enter drydock at Lloyd Werft Shipyard.

The drydocking (April 4 thru May 7th) was for an extensive refit as well as for regular maintenance and technical works, machinery upgrades (including ballast water and wastewater/graywater treatment plants), rebranding and renovation of venues, including new furniture and carpets.

The project also included hull cleaning and painting with Ambassador's new livery.

Ambassador Ambition inaugural cruise 2023 review

MS Ambition's inaugural season was originally planned to start with the Maiden Voyage on March 4, 2023 (6-night Tilbury-London roundtrip to Kristiansand, Copenhagen and Gotheborg).

However, as the ship was 6-month contracted (September 2022 thru March 2023) for housing Ukrainian refugees in Glasgow, and due to the following drydocking, MS Ambition's inauguration was postponed for May 12, 2023.

Next table shows the Maiden Voyage's itinerary (14-day "Hidden Gems Of France and Spain").

The next scheduled voyage was the 8-day "Majestic Fjordland" (departure May 26th) roundtrip from Newcastle visiting Norway's Eidfjord, Bergen, Flam, Olden.

Costa neoRiviera-AIDAmira refurbishment 2019 review

In September-November 2019, Costa neoRiviera was drydocked in Port Genoa (at San Giorgio del Porto Shipyard) for a major (EUR 50 million / USD 55 million) refurbishment project . The 1-month drydocking (October 30 through November 28) transformed Costa neoRiviera into AIDAmira.

The project involved ~1000 workers, of which 150 shipyard employees. The shipyard works included technical maintenance, hull and superstructure repainting (also adding AIDA's livery), renovated public areas, adding new cabins - including 19x balcony and 3x inside (in the area of the former Discoteca Portofino / disco nightclub) plus numerous staterooms on Deck 7.

Next table shows neoRiviera's last voyage for Costa (10-day Mediterranean itinerary) priced from USD 980 pp.

On Oct 30, the vessel arrived in Port Genoa for the drydock refurbishment (October 30 through November 28). The renovated neoRiviera arrived in homeport Palma (Balearic Spain) on November 29 for the christening ceremony in which was officially renamed AIDAmira.

Costa neoRiviera was Madeira- flagged (MMSI 255803860), while AIDAmira is Italy-flagged (MMSI 247325300).

AIDAmira itineraries 2022-2023 (canceled)

Next tables show the canceled (in January 2022) voyages part of AIDAmira's 2022-23 program, which was originally based on homeporting in Heraklion Crete and Cape Town .

14-day "Agais und Israel" itinerary

7-day "Agais" itinerary

7-day "Griechenland, Zypern und Israel" itinerary

(repositioning from Europe to South Africa) 28-day from Mallorca to Cape Town

14 day "Sudafrika und Namibia" itinerary

AIDAmira inaugural itineraries 2019-2020

Next tables show AIDAmira's inaugural itineraries (maiden voyages by destination/homeport).

(2019) 19-day repositioning from Europe-Mediterranean to South Africa

(2019) 14-day inaugural itinerary "Sudafrika und Namibia 2"

(2020) 14-day inaugural itinerary "Sudafrika und Namibia 1"

(2020) 19-day relocation from South Africa to Europe-Mediterranean

(2020) 7-day inaugural Eastern Mediterranean itinerary "Griechenland Ab Korfu"

(2020) 7-day inaugural Eastern Mediterranean itinerary "Mittelmeerinseln Ab Korfu"

(2020) 14-day inaugural B2B (back-to-back cruise) itinerary "Griechenland und Mittelmeerinseln 1"

(2020) 14-day inaugural B2B itinerary "Griechenland und Mittelmeerinseln 2"

Costa neoRiviera itineraries 2016 changes

Costa neoRiviera's itinerary program for 2016 (March 28 through November 8) was changed. All originally scheduled calls to Istanbul Turkey were replaced with Rhodes Greece . Passengers booked with embarkation from Istanbul boarded the ship in Rhodes (instead of Istanbul).

Next, are listed Costa neoRiviera's scheduled Savona roundtrips for 2019, that were later canceled.

11-day "Italy, Spain, Balearic Islands, Malta" - prices from USD 1100 pp

13-day "India, Maldives, Sri Lanka" - prices from USD 1900 pp

Ambassador Cruise Line Ships: What To Expect

This post may contain affiliate links. if you click one, i may earn a commission at no cost to you. as an amazon associate, i earn from qualifying purchases..

New cruise line Ambassador Cruise Line has two ships – Ambience and Ambition. The first ship, Ambience, was launched on 20th April 2022 while the second ship, Ambition, set sail in May 2023.

In this guide, I’ll give you a closer look at each of Ambassador Cruise Line’s ships, including their history and the differences between them.

Ambassador Cruise Line’s first ship, Ambience, made her maiden voyage on 20th April 2022. She offers cruises from London Tilbury to a wide range of destinations including the British Isles, the Baltics, Scandinavia, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, and even as far as Cuna and the Caribbean.

Ambience ship was originally set to join the Cruise & Maritime Voyages fleet as Amy Johnson, but CMV went bust before the transition could occur. Ambassador Cruise Line was formed by the former CEO of Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Christian Verhounig, who took the opportunity to buy the ship as the first ship for his new cruise line.

Ambience was built in 1991 and originally intended for an Italian cruise line by the name of Sitmar Cruises. The cruise line was sold to P&O Group in 1988 and so when the ship was completed she instead began sailing for Princess Cruises with the name Regal Princess.

She sailed with Princess Cruises until 2007 when she was sold to Carnival Corporation. She began service for P&O Cruises Australia as the country’s first superliner, with the name Pacific Dawn.

In 2019, it was announced that Pacific Dawn would be sold to Cruise and Maritime Voyages in February 2021 and renamed as Amy Johnson. However, CMV went bust in July 2020 and so the ship was put up for sale in September of that year.

In 2020, Ocean Builders Central Inc bought the ship for $9.5 million and renamed it Satoshi. The plan was to anchor the ship off the coast of Panama and use it as a floating community for over 2000 digital nomads.

However, the company was unable to get insurance for the project and so in December 2020, the ship was sold to be scrapped.

Shortly afterwards, a new cruise line – Ambassador Cruise Line – came to the rescue and purchased the ship that we now know as Ambience. In October 2021, work began on an extensive refurbishment in Croatia.

The initial launch was delayed for a couple of weeks due to supply chain issues, but Ambience finally set sail for the first time on 20th April 2022.

The On-Board Experience

A medium-sized cruise ship, Ambience has 789 cabins with options of inside, outside, balcony and suite to suit all budgets. Single travellers will be pleased to know that this ship does also have some single cabins.

Ambience offers a good blend of spaciousness and intimacy. The ship features 11 bars and lounges, including The Purple Turtle pub, Raffles Bar and The Botanical Lounge.

Drinks on board Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience are very reasonably priced with cocktails costing only £5.

Click here to see the Ambassador Cruise Line Drinks Menus . There are also various drinks packages available.

Ambience has a multi-tier theatre where you can enjoy entertainment from the onboard team and guest artists as well as a late-night disco in the stylish Observatory.

Ambience also offers a wide range of daytime activities with a card room, casino, crafting studio, library, gym, spa and shopping gallery. On the top deck, you’ll find a swimming pool, two hot tubs and a large outdoor movie screen.

On board Ambience, you’ll find plenty of places to eat, including the Buckingham main dining room, the Borough Market buffet and the outdoor Alfresco Grill.

There are also three speciality restaurants – Saffron, Sea & Grass and the luxury Chef’s Table.

Destinations

Departing from London Tilbury, Ambience offers a wide range of cruises from 3 to 42 nights. So, whether you fancy a short Christmas markets cruise or to make the most of retirement with a month-long voyage to Canada or the Caribbean, you can do so.

The ship offers a range of themed cruises such as bridge, crafting, comedy, gardening and wildlife, British broadcasting legends and cricketing legends.

Ambassador Cruise Line primarily serves the over 50s . However, in the summer, grandchildren are invited on board for a series of multi-generational cruises during the school holidays.

Ambassador Cruise Line’s second ship, Ambition, entered service in May 2023 and I was lucky enough to spend the night onboard just before the maiden voyage.

Ambition was built in 1999. The ship was originally ordered by Renaissance Cruises, but the order was withdrawn and taken over by Festival Cruises who named the ship Mistral.

Festival Cruises went out of business in 2004 and Mistral was sold back to the builders to be chartered to Ibero Cruises with the name Grand Mistral in 2005.

In 2013, the ship was acquired by Costa Cruises and after a €10 million renovation, she was renamed Costa neoRiviera.

In October 2019, the ship was transferred to AIDA Cruises and underwent a further $55 million transformation to become AIDAmira. Cruising paused globally in March 2020 and then in January 2022 AIDA Cruises sold the ship to Ambassador Cruise Line.

Ambition is a little smaller than Ambience, with three fewer decks and 200 fewer guests.

The ship features two main restaurants, a casual bistro-style cafe and several speciality restaurants available for an extra fee. There are also four bars and lounges plus a pub.

In terms of entertainment, guests can enjoy watching shows in the theatre, playing games in the card room, library and casino or crafting in the craft studio.

Leisure facilities include a wellness centre, gym, a swimming pool and a splash pool. There’s also a range of retail shops.

For a closer look at Ambition, head over to Instagram and check out my story highlights where I have lots of photos that I took onboard the ship.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cruise Mummy | Jenni Fielding (@cruisemummy)

Ambition offers cruises from Newcastle and Dundee. The voyages will include European destinations such as France and Spain, Norway, Iceland , and the Scottish Islands.

As Ambition is a relatively small cruise ship, she is able to fit down the River Seine. French river cruise experiences will depart from Belfast and Liverpool in the summer, followed by more European itineraries from these departure ports.

In the Autumn, Bristol and Falmouth will be Ambition’s departure ports and by the winter, Ambition will relocate to London Tilbury.

In January 2024, Ambition will embark on a 42-night adventure from London to the Amazon and West Indies.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Ambassador Cruise Line offers…

Ambience Vs Ambition

Here’s how Ambassador Cruise Line’s two ships stack up against each other…

Is Ambassador Cruise Line the same as CMV?

Ambassador Cruise Line is a new British cruise line. It was launched shortly after Cruise & Maritime Voyages went bust. The management team includes CMV’s former chief executive, chief commercial officer, chief information officer and chief financial officer.

Read more: Who Owns Ambassador Cruise Line?

Ambassador Cruise Line’s first ship is Ambience, a ship that was set to be launched by Cruise & Maritime Voyages before the company went out of business. This, along with the same management team, has led to some people referring to Ambassador Cruise Line as the ‘new CMV’.

I had previously booked two cruises with Cruise & Maritime Voyages before the company went into administration and was sad that I never got the chance to experience a CMV cruise.

So, with Ambassador Cruise Line featuring a beautiful-looking ship, some interesting itineraries and some very exciting prices from as little as £25 per night, this is one cruise line that I certainly want to try in the future. My one-night stay was amazing and I can’t wait to return.

Related Posts:

• How Much Does A Cruise Ship Cost To Build & Operate?
• London Tilbury Cruise Terminal Parking Guide
• How to Book a Cruise Online (And Is It a Good Idea?)
• NCL Ships By Age And Size

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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4 thoughts on “Ambassador Cruise Line Ships: What To Expect”

I’d booked to do a taste of fjordland on board Ambition late march 2023 and had booked 2 cabins. ROL cruise lines made such a mess of the booking and after many phone calls rectified the matter only to advise us that cruise is being cancelled. ‘No compensation’. and still waiting for deposit back. Complete shambles!

Oh no, so sorry to hear that Sally. I hope you get your deposit back soon so you can choose something else.

We have just been looking at that offer sorry to hear about your problems Which date/cruise was that for?

Yes, this is good news ! I was sad to hear about the ending of CMV cruises. So far, i was a passenger on 3 cruises and they were all with CMV. In 2015 i was on the Magellan, in 2017 on the Astoria and the last one was with Columbus in 2019. It was quite emotional for me to see reports about Magellan and Columbus being scrapped. I liked the atmosphere on the CMV cruises, the fact that even a single cruiser like me could get reasonable prices and being Dutch, that the ships also came to Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

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Home » Cruises » Everything you need to know about Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition

Everything you need to know about Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition

Ambassador Cruise Line specialises in the British market and was launched in 2021 after the end of the UK’s Covid restrictions. Its first ship, Ambiance, was renamed in 2022 at its home port London Tilbury. Ambition, built in 1999, was renamed by double Olympic Gold Medal godmother Shirley Robertson OBE at Newcastle’s Port of Tyne cruise terminal. Both ships offer affordable mostly no-fly cruises for adults only, except for a few school holiday multi-generation itineraries.

Covid protocols

Since June 2023 there has been no requirement for vaccinations or pre-departure testing, although updates will be posted on the cruise line’s website in the Before You Sail section.

What’s it like onboard?

There’s a pleasant buzz on board, with passengers keen to explore the ports but also happy joining in with sea day activities. Most are over-50 and British or Irish, so the atmosphere is comfortably relaxed.

The lounge bars fill up before dinner but are never packed, the main dining room is bright and the waiters are fun – and passengers dress smartly rather than being over-dressed.

There’s nothing super-trendy to see or do, it’s not a foodie experience and it’s never going to be a TikTok sensation, but life on Ambition is pretty chilled.

READ MORE: Cruise guests warned to stop common buffet behaviour

The WOW factor

Ambition has been beautifully refurbished so every lounge bar is a real destination, whether you want a coffee or pot of tea during the day or reasonably priced pint of draught beer or cocktail at night.

The Angel Bar, named after The Angel of The North sculpture at Gateshead, has a subtle rust-red décor, while The Cavern Bar has a Liverpool vibe and the Purple Turtle is an unexpectedly vibrant wine bar.

But it’s the quality entertainment that is entirely unexpected for such a small cruise line. The Palladium Theatre offers proper musicals as well as song and dance reviews – on my Iceland cruise Wouldn’t It Be Luvverly was a fantastic version of My Fair Lady – and there were even a couple of plays, with excellent comedy game shows in The Cavern and live classical music in The Clifton Lounge.

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Ambassador Ambition has 679 cabins and suites to take a maximum 1,200 passengers, all refurbished and featuring at least one UK electrical socket as well as European and American, in-cabin tea and coffee facilities and really comfortable beds.

As the ship was built in 1999 there are only 12 balcony cabins, although the 44 suites all have balconies including 10 Junior Suites reserved for solos.

Most are Ocean View and Inner Cabins, which are around the same size – 13sqm – and 78 of these are also for solo passengers. There are only two accessible cabins.

Many have brand new bathrooms and all have lovely shower units – no soggy curtains – although suites also have bath tubs.

Other facilities include a wall-mounted flat screen TV, hairdryer, toiletries in wall-mounted bottles, a safe and USB ports for charging phones but only suites have fridges and mini bars.

There are seven dining options including three paid-for speciality restaurants, although you can also pay for room service and buy ice cream from a pool deck trolley.

Ambition’s main dining room is Buckingham Restaurant, a light filled caramel and cream room on Deck five, which offers breakfast and lunch as well as two waiter-served dinner sittings.

The more intimate Holyrood Restaurant at the back of Deck six is mostly for suite guests and generally only open for dinner, again with two sittings. Both serve exactly the same food.

The buffet at Borough Market, which is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner also has the same options and it’s a firm favourite with those who prefer casual dining – especially as it has an outdoor seating area.

Also on Deck 11 is the Alfresco Pizza Grill, open at lunchtime and from 3pm-6pm for anybody off the ship at lunchtime – or just very hungry.

Speciality restaurant Lupino’s has a Mediterranean menu for £14.95 that starts with a delicious shared mezze, then a choice of four exceptional main dishes and a trilogy of mini-deserts. It’s in a covered section on Deck 11, which works well in sunnier destinations but needs heaters in cooler weather.

Saffron is an Indian restaurant on Deck six next to Holyrood Restaurant and a much more flamboyant affair with staff dressed in gorgeous gold jackets and turbans. For £16.95 you get set starters and desserts, with a choice of main courses.

Finally, Chef’s Table is £89 for 10 courses with wine pairings. It’s in a curtained off section of Buckingham Restaurant and takes up to 12 people. Unless you’re in a group the best way to book it is to join a list kept at Reception.

One word sums up the lifestyle on Ambassador Ambition: relaxed. If you’re not getting off to visit a port there are plenty of places to sit reading, having a coffee or drink – both inside and out.

Deck six has a Promenade with deck chairs and there are loads of loungers around the two Deck 11 pools and the splash pool on Deck 12, with plenty of sheltered seating including cabanas on Deck 11.

What you won’t find is anything noisy: no aqua park and children’s play areas, and there were no pool games on the way to Iceland – although that could be different for warmer itineraries.

Some cruises will also have staff from marine conservation charity ORCA on board, helping passengers spot whales, dolphins and porpoises from Deck 12 as well as giving talks in the Cavern Bar and Palladium Theatre.

Sea days also mean lectures from other experts – on our Iceland cruise we had a geologist and a West End producer. This is when arts and crafts lessons are available. You can buy paints, paper and a brush for £19.99 or just pack your own and the art lessons are free. Paid-for bingo and free quizzes are also popular.

You can also start your day with free Morning Stretch sessions in the gym, led by one of the dance team as part of Ambassador Ambition’s Mind Body & Soul programme, which also includes Choir Class in the Pendennis Bar and beginners’ Spin Class in the gym.

The gym is a good size, free to use and next to Green Sea Spa at the front of Deck 11, where there’s a free sauna and steam room. Spa treatments, hair and nail sessions are excellent and very reasonably priced.

Entertainment

For a small ship Ambition really punches above its weight and that’s thanks to having its talented Theatre@Sea group as well as excellent singers and dancers and well-chosen individual performers.

Stand-out shows at The Palladium, which fills up early for its twice-nightly performances, were its fantastic version of My Fair Lady – Wouldn’t It Be Luvverly – and a clever staging of Simon & Garfunkel songs in All Aboard, set on a train.

There were all-singing all-dancing shows too, with fantastic costumes for Cirque de Luminaire, and a couple of very welcome plays such as the farce A Birthday Blunder.

Evening games shows including We Are The Champions and The Hit List, at The Cavern, were also a treat and this club-like bar was the place to go for live music and dancing. The ABBA tribute show was particularly good.

And, in the spirit of something for everyone, it was hard not to love the enthusiasm of Kazakhstan identical twins Alina and Marina, who played the piano and violin every night at The Clifton Lounge.

Ambition will sail from Belfast, Liverpool, Bristol Royal Portbury, Falmouth, London Tilbury, Newcastle Port of Tyne, Dundee and Edinburgh Leith throughout 2023 and 2024.

Itineraries will focus on northern Europe destinations including Britain, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, northern France and northern Spain.

However, there will be a few Mediterranean and Iberian cruises, two no-fly winter Caribbean cruises and themed cruises such as school holiday multi-generation cruises and Christmas markets.

* Ambition’s 10-night Maritime Cities & Scenic Waterways cruise, return from Bristol Royal Portbury on October 15, 2023, calls at Falmouth, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Rouen and Honfleur from £549pp, two sharing. (0808 102 8111; ambassadorcruiseline.com).

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Ambition cruise ship review: Guaranteed best value at sea

Author: Calum Brown

Published on: 15 May 2023

Updated on: 16 May 2023

Everything you need to know about Ambition, the second cruise ship to join Ambassador’s growing fleet

Ok. It’s time for some honesty. On paper, Ambition – the new flagship for Ambassador Cruise Line – shouldn’t work. The ship has been passed between cruise providers following a difficult birth some quarter of a century ago , with varying degrees of success under a plethora of different names. Renovation of an older vessel is also, arguably, more difficult than crafting a new ship from the keel up. There’s an age-old powerplant to modernise for emissions and efficiency, an older structure to restore and the remodelling of vast communal spaces and cabins to undertake. Furthermore, basing cruise inventories out of Britain’s lesser-celebrated ports remains chancy. If you follow cultured influencers and their quick-burning trends, popular departure destinations usually rest under the warmth of far-flung destinations or British metropolitan juggernauts – including Southampton or Dover . And yet, staring right into the face of Brexit-sponsored supply chain issues amid fuel shortages and a turbulent post-Covid landscape, Ambassador has trumped all the odds to produce a masterpiece of style and demographic appreciation. Ambition may have originally set sail as Mistral before the turn of a new millennium, but she’d fool you. The 1200-passenger vessel – renamed during a tasteful ceremony at Newcastle’s Port of Tyne on May 11, 2023 – offers all the convenience of contemporary cruising, but with an intimately old-school charm largely ignored by time’s clinical march towards design banality. The best bit? By modernising a mature ship over the pricey construction of a new vessel, Ambassador has hit the sweet spot; offering quality cruises at a less-exclusive price band. The company tagline is “Best value at sea”, and we are inclined to believe it.

Style and character Ambition is the second liner to join Ambassador’s cruise fleet , and she follows the trail set by her sister ship – Ambience.

The ship’s style has been heavily influenced by British hotels; draped in an easy-going mantra that offers bright and airy communal spaces alongside a mixture of glass, brass and smart carpets. The onboard visuals mix a perfect blend of intimate comfort with understated furnishings. The ship’s complexion doesn’t scream about overbearing efforts to assault your senses, which is a relief. This feels like a breath of fresh air compared with all-too-common 'try hard' voyages. Instead, interiors remain homely with clean lines, muted regality and an abundance of nautical allure.

There’s a healthy dollop of artwork to complement proceedings, too. A particularly nice touch can be found in the ‘ Angel Bar ’, where funky installations showcasing Newcastle’s iconic Angel of the North are on display. The ship’s character is very much that: a ship. With Ambassador’s plan to refurbish a 25-year-old cruise liner, efforts could have taken a recurrent route and gone for the clinical ‘hotel at sea’ approach.

Instead, we were hugely impressed by Ambition and delighted that her identity has been retained.

Accommodation You’ll find 713 cabins on board Ambassador’s new flagship, incorporating De-Luxe, Premium, Superior Junior, Junior, Premium Balcony and Standard Suites. Balconies are available with De-Luxe, Premium, Superior Junior and Premium Balcony cabins. Other cabin types – including Premium Twin and Single Inner – are also available. Regardless of which cabin you choose, the high-quality fixtures and fittings push each room well beyond the expectation afforded by such an attractive price tag. World of Cruising stayed in a Superior Junior Cabin. Want a shock? It offered everything a passenger could possibly need.

Wardrobe and cabinet storage was more than generous for two people’s worth of stuff, while the bed proved comfortable enough to defy the alarm clock. Our cabin was such a home-from-home that locking the door for the final time prior to disembarking felt genuinely difficult. From the well-equipped in-room facilities to the cosy climate, Ambassador has successfully made each suite more than a simple cabin.

If you find fingernail marks in the doorframe, that'll be the cabin we had, such was the force required to turf us out. Security is covered, too, from a lockable safe carefully hidden from view to a fridge that’s perfect for storing chilled items (such as insulin), while the couch (which folds out to make another sleeping option) is accompanied by a dual-purpose footstool/table. You’ll find chocolate-coated strawberries there upon arrival. Ours didn’t last long. The bathroom supplies ample room for manoeuvre, and although a couple of tardy eyesores regarding the bathroom grouting made themselves apparent, everything was clean and fully functional where it counts.

Food and drink You’ll want to board Ambition with an appetite. There’s a great range of restaurants and bars to enjoy (or, in our case, gorge upon). Ambassador’s top-deck Borough Market remains the perfect place to transform from passenger to freight tonnage. Each serving offers a wealth of different options in a casual buffet format that ensures you won’t leave hungry. We can assure you that breakfast is not to be missed. Neither is lunch or dinner, for that matter. Then there’s the Buckingham Restaurant, which normally functions in an identical manner to the Borough Market, but transforms into a Gala venue on certain sailings. If you seek up-market surroundings for your meal, then this is the place to go; especially if you fancy Buckingham's exclusive five-course à la carte experience. When it comes to drinking establishments, Ambition has every taste catered for. The Purple Turtle is more than worthy of your time when hunting down a crisp glass of wine, whereas the Pendennis Bar provides all manner of fine beverages alongside classy live music. The food and drink on board, regardless of venue, is more than the typical cruise fare. Ambassador has gone above and beyond to provide a dining experience more commonly found in swanky city establishments. Why not book a longer inventory, so you can try everything? Here's the full list of bars and restaurants available:

• The Cavern - live music venue with cabarets, gameshows and quizzes
• Clifton Lounge – classical music
• Consulate Bar – poolside outdoor bar
• Purple Turtle Wine Bar
• Pendennis Bar – with pianist/vocalist entertainment
• Buckingham Restaurant – breakfast is buffet-style with a daily special served to your table. Lunch is also buffet-style for salads, soups and desserts, with a served main course. Dinner is a five-course a la carte experience.
• Holyrood Restaurant – serving dinner
• Borough Market – serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner
• Lupino’s – Mediterranean speciality restaurant serving dinner
• Saffron – speciality Indian fine dining restaurant serving dinner
• Chef’s Table – intimate, exclusive dinner experience
• Alfresco Grill – serving casual eats

Dietary requirements including vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free, low cholesterol, low fat, low salt, vegan, Kosher & Halal can be catered for. If you ask nicely, they may even allow you to carry a tray of hash browns to your cabin. Not that we know that from experience...*cough*.

Service and facilities Although we were only aboard for one night, we took it upon ourselves to experience everything that Ambition had to offer. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. And Ambassador certainly made it tricky; courtesy of an irresistible array of services and facilities. Besides the open-air swimming pool and accompanying bars (recommended), Ambition offers an extensive library (also recommended) alongside a well-equipped gym and spa (wildly recommended).

Although drawn in by the offer of herbal tea, we remained in the Green Sea Spa to sample the exquisite treatments for research purposes. Honest. We’d encourage you to sample the sauna and make use of the onboard relaxation chambers. These warm, glass-fronted rooms provide unparalleled views of the outside world – making the perfect escape from dangerous thoughts around the next buffet serving. Sessions in the spa area aren’t always complimentary with your ticket, so best check your package or enquire with Ambassador. You won’t regret it.

There’s plenty of chance for exercise within the confines of the ship, too. A walk-around promenade deck spans the length of Ambition for those looking to stretch their legs in the open air, with a splash pool to be found towards the front.

There’s also a great number of toilets throughout each public space, with disabled access facilities easy to find, when nature calls. Sounds strange to mention that, perhaps, but with so much fine food and drink - you are bound to get caught out! Take that advice for free. Finally, a shopping galleria can be found on deck five for all your impulse purchases – including confectionary, soft drinks and souvenir trinkets.

Entertainment Cabaret? Musicals? Comedy? If you must. Enrichment, education and fulfilment? Oh, go on then. It can never be claimed that Ambassador lacks diverse range when it boils down to entertainment. Firstly, there’s an army of onboard theatrical talent who appear to take great pride and joy in demonstrating their skills. Then there are the Broadway-style shows that have been choreographed to avoid the stereotypical tackiness commonly associated with such acts. Further to that, the onboard Cabaret venue – named The Cavern – provides enough scandalous humour, glamour and elaborate staging to set the senses alight. If you are seeking a quiet evening to appreciate a conversational nightcap, there are a number of quieter drinking areas peppered throughout the vessel. The auditorium is also the perfect place to enjoy stand-up comedy or a lecture, depending on the itinerary Ambassador provides for each voyage. We could only sample a small portion throughout our visit, but we’ve been promised there’s lots more to be announced.

Value for money Ambassador took a sizeable risk plunging £10 million into a refurbishment plan. Yet, the British start-up has succeeded with merit. The ship’s parentage was perhaps chaotic, but its new purpose and character feel wholly unadulterated. While the price range for Ambassador’s cruise inventory may leave those with a double-barrelled surname assuming a subpar level of quality, it won’t leave more realistic individuals reaching for the smelling salts, either. A typical 12-night voyage around the British Isles can be had for £599, whereas a 21-night trip to the Mediterranean retails for £1499. If you fancy splashing out, a 120-night world cruise costs £8579. The entire mantra for Ambassador revolves around 'best value at sea', and we firmly believe they have cracked it. Ambition gives some dignity back to the 'value' term. Ambition’s deep luxury stems from the ship’s space and capabilities, mated to a level of facility and care largely unseen in the “value” price bracket.

Not all drinks are part of the ticket price, but almost all of the food can be had without dipping into your bank account. And it’s good food, as attested to by our new-found relationship with the serving staff in Ambassador’s Brougham Market. One great benefit also stems from UK-based destinations. You don’t have to hop aboard long flights to far-flung locations before the cruise starts, taking that stress off your shoulders.

Courtesy of self-service laundry and complimentary WiFi, not to mention excursion vouchers and gratuitous entry to certain sporting events along your journey, there’s literally no reason to stress.

One passenger summed it up perfectly. As we begrudgingly headed for the exit, he asked: “Is there any reason to leave?” We couldn’t find one.

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Competition: win a seven-night mediterranean cruise with princess cruises, about calum brown.

Calum holds a deep interest in all things heritage and remains one of Britain’s most enthusiastic historians. As a seasoned journalist, he has spent considerable time abroad and relishes all forms of transport. Shipping is in the blood, with a family connection to Stena Line embedded in his DNA. He also refuses to admit that 21st Century music exists.

Calum has developed a skill for bringing history alive, and always insists on making heritage accessible for everyone.

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Cruise Review

Ambassador cruise line: ambition is a ‘renovation success story’.

Cruise Trade News stepped aboard Ambition, the latest ship from Ambassador Cruise Line, to discover how £10 million transformed a 25-year-old vessel into a contemporary masterpiece. Calum Brown reports.

Renovations are all the rage. From classic cars to Georgian houses, we’re told that restoration and refurbishment prolongs lifespan. So, what about reconditioning a cruise ship?

It’s not uncommon for lines to breathe life back into a mature vessel and Ambassador Cruise Line is the latest to prove that new ships don’t always mean better value.

Britain’s youngest cruise line (established only two years ago) has succeeded in taking the original Mistral of 1999 and upgrading her into a strong and exciting second act, following Ambience’ s smash-hit debut .

The verdict? We believe Ambassador Cruise Line has succeeded with merit. There’s no sign of difficult second album syndrome. In fact, it’s very difficult to find fault with Ambition once on board.

The cruise line has spent its money wisely and cracked the code for premium value, without compromising on quality or service.

A ‘sense of calm’ with Ambassador Cruise Line

From the moment I step into the swish foyer of deck five, the décor’s airy and easy-going mantra lulls me into a sense of calm.

There’s a varied mixture of glass walls, brass railings and smart carpets to provide the kind of soothing welcome usually reserved for swanky hotels.

And just like the most welcoming of hotels, Ambition offers bright and spacious communal areas, mixed with intimate comfort and understated furnishings.

It could have been oh-so-different should efforts have become overblown in a vain attempt to impress, but thankfully that’s not the case here.

In fact, the ship’s atmosphere is a breath of fresh air within a crowded market.

Interiors and cabins feel homely with clean lines and a healthy dollop of nautical glamour, providing a sense of dignified regality that transcends the ship’s premium value stance.

The same story applies to the dining experience.

Delicious dining

Ambassador has pushed the boat out (excuse the pun) to provide nourishment that outstrips the usual experience afforded to premium value travellers.

There’s an all-encompassing range of eateries and bars to suit all tastes and moods, from the Asian-inspired Saffron Restaurant specialising in Indian cuisine, to the buffet-style Borough Market and the oh-so-fancy Buckingham Restaurant – offering à la carte dining.

Looking for a drink? The Purple Turtle is perfect for hunting down a crisp glass of wine, whereas the Pendennis Bar provides all manner of fine beverages alongside classy live piano music.

A mix of entertainment

Seeking entertainment? Well, Ambassador has that covered, too. There’s an army of on-board theatrical types who appear to take great pride in demonstrating their talents.

Some productions aboard rival ships can hit with the sour twang of a shrapnel bomb, yet the Ambassador Theatre Company put their heart and soul into each lyric and dance manoeuvre.

Further to that, the on-board Cabaret venue – named The Cavern – provides enough scandalous humour, gameshow glamour and elaborate quiz staging to set the senses alight.

However, it’s not all about riotous nightlife.

If rest and relaxation are required, the well-stocked Bronte Library is a great place to find solace from the busy world, or the Green Sea Spa – offering massages and sauna exploits to boost circulation and stave off yet more daydreaming about the Borough Market’s next serving.

A triumph for Ambassador Cruise Line

All these aspects are neatly housed within a ship that’s had more than just money thrown at it. There’s a sense of installed loyalty to passengers that oozes from each design trait and every delineation.

The entire mantra for Ambassador revolves around ‘best value at sea’ , and I firmly believe they have cracked it with Ambition .

The upgraded ship gives some dignity back to the ‘value’ term.  So, don’t knock Ambition purely because of her original launch date prior to the new millennium.

She’s been transformed into the blueprint for success in this sector. It’s as close to Rolls-Royce service for Ford Mondeo money as you can get.

Ambassador Cruise Line took a hefty risk in restoring Ambition for the masses, but they have succeeded where others faltered.

Unlike other ‘heritage’ ships that remain landlocked in a museum capacity or as a floating hotel, Ambition can be enjoyed where she belongs – at sea.

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TERMS PRIVACY

Ambassador Ambition Ship Guide, Photos And Facts

I have recently enjoyed a short ship visit exploring Ambassador Ambition. One thing I found pre cruise was there are not many ship photos, and I am a cruiser who likes to know everything about a ship before I cruise. So there must be others like me who like to get a visual picture of a ship before they set sail.

Unlike some larger cruise lines, Ambassador Cruise Line’s ships are more compact, creating a chilled atmosphere for travellers. This personalised setting allows guests to enjoy various amenities, including entertainment, excellent service, and exceptional cuisine. So grab a cuppa and enjoy a little tour of Ambassador Ambition.

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About Ambassador Cruise Line

Ambassador Cruise Line, a British cruise company based in Purfleet, England, set sail in May 2021 with their flagship ship , Ambassador Ambience. This relatively new company has swiftly established itself as a great value cruise line, providing unique port experiences to its passengers.

About Ambassador Ambition.

Ambassador Ambition was built in 1999 as Costa neoRiviera until December 2019, then AIDAmira until January 2022. She was bought, rebranded and refit in 2023 and Ambassador Ambition. She is a petite ship at 48,123GT, which is tiny compared to many Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Ships. But this has bonuses, such as the ship being easy to navigate and get around. Plus can get into more intimate ports. She has 679 cabins holding up to 1200 guests and a guest-crew ratio of 2.55-1.

Ambassador Ambition Ship Photos

The pool deck.

The two pools were only partially full during our visit, likely due to the sea conditions. However, the space was bright and cheerful. With a couple of hot tubs and sunbeds dotted around, again, these were not all out but ready on the sidelines to go in case of a change of weather.

The deck was turfed with faux grass and had a lovely vibe, with pod, sofa areas and a comfy chair plus bar to chill at on a sunny day on deck.

Bars On Ambassador Ambition

Ambassador Ambition has 8 bars onboard. The bar staff were quick, efficient and friendly we never had to wait long for drinks. Some of the bars were themed, which was a nice nod to UK towns and cities, and the decor was brightly coloured but tasteful.

• Pendennis Bar, Deck 5
• Purple Turtle Wine Bar, Deck 5
• The Palladium, Deck 5
• Clifton Lounge, Deck 6
• The Angel Bar, Deck 6
• The Cavern, Deck 7
• Consulate Bar (Weather Permitting), Deck 11
• The Pool Bar (Weather Permitting), Deck 11

Drinks Prices On Ambassador Cruise Lines

Drinks are pretty reasonable onboard; some of the cocktails were quite small but delicious; however, it worked out in terms of the prices of cocktails on other cruise lines, which cost a lot more. Soda and mixers are charged on top. I was charged £8.85 for a wine and soda, so I am guessing that was for a large wine and £1.25 for soda.

Drinks Prices On Ambassador Ambition

• Heineken 330ml, £3.55
• Guinness 440 ml £4.25
• Strongbow Pint £5.45
• Kir Royal £5.45
• Pina Colada £6.00
• Aperol Spritz £5.45
• White Wine 250ml £7.60, 125 ml £3.85
• Disaronno 40ml £4.25
• Irish Coffee £4.50
• Bombay Saphire £4.95
• Cappuccino £2.25
• Diet Coke 330ml £2.55

Dining And Restaurants On Ambassador Ambition

You will find seven restaurants onboard, three of which are Speciality—offering great value.

Free Dining on Ambassador Ambition

• Borough Market Buffet Restaurant
• Buckingham Restaurant
• Holyrood Restaurant
• Alfresco Pizza and Grill

Speciality Dining on Ambassador Ambition

• Lupinos Al Fresco Dining ( £14.90 per person)
• Saffron Indian (Speciality £16.90 per person)
• Chefs Table in the Buckingham Restaurant( Speciality costs £89.90 with wine included)

We dined in the Holyrood restaurant and the Borough Market Buffet. The food was great, and the staff were very attentive, ensuring I had gluten-free options which tasted delicious.

My Inside Cabin On Ambassador Ambition

I stayed in an inside cabin , and I have to say I loved the cabin. It was simple but stylish, had everything I needed, including a hairdryer, and was spotlessly clean. The plug sockets were in the vanity area and included Euro and British plug sockets plus USB ports. Plus, the bathroom had shower gel, shampoo and hand soap.

The bed and pillows were comfortable, and my room was quiet. As this was a four-berth cabin, there were also 2 top bunks. There was plenty of storage, a small safe, spare towels and two pool towels.

You had a choice of still and sparkling water, which was £1.50 per bottle and could be refilled. Plus, a complimentary tea and coffee tray with a kettle.

Room Service Breakfast on Ambassador Ambition

If, like me, you like to avoid the buffet restaurant in the mornings, then you can book breakfast to be delivered to your cabin. The tray charge is £8.95 or complimentary for suite guests and give you a great choice or breakfast options, including …

• Full English Breakfast
• Ham & Cheese Omelette
• Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce
• Smoked Salmon Bagel with Cream Cheese, Onions & Capers
• Bacon & Poached Eggs on Toast
• Scotch Pancakes, Butter & Maple Syrup
• And a Choice of Teas and Coffees
• Plus Toast, Pastries, Fruit and Juice

Laundry Service Prices Onboard

Another thing I always do when I cruise is iron one shirt for the first night and send the rest of Hubbies shirts to be ironed. Plus, any dresses that will crease during travelling. It takes the stress out of packing , and prices are always reasonable. It’s also handy to get items washed and pressed on longer cruises to save carrying extra luggage.

Ambassador also offers a magic bag deal, which is washed, dry and folded for £14.95. I don’t know the size of the bag, but taking home clean clothes is very appealing.

Other Public Areas And Photos of Ambassador Ambition

In Conclusion

The diverse selection of itineraries Ambassador Cruise offers includes destinations such as the British Isles, Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, and Nordic Treasures. And whilst I can’t share a cruise line review as I was only onboard overnight, first impressions were great.

It’s not an all-singing dancing ship for families ; however, it’s a beautiful warm, friendly ship which offers exceptional value for couples wanting a no-fly cruise chilled-out experience who want to explore some wonderful ports.

Chat with Kieran at Magical Traveller for the latest deals and offers for UK cruisers to book. Also, check out his thoughts on Ambassador Cruise Lines. Please note I was invited onboard as a guest for an overnight sailing.

Sarah also writes for Mini Travellers Family Travel Blog and Extraordinary Chaos Craft and Lifestyle Blog. Both are award-winning blogs with a travel and family focus. She is married and has two boys, aged 18 and 22, who all love cruising as a family. Nothing is better than waking up every day in a new port with new and exciting things to explore. She aims to share how cruising as a family with young adults is the perfect choice for family travel. Her boys are sporty and love the activities, sports and dining options cruising offers. Sarah has worked with brands such as Walt Disney World, Mark Warner, Ikos Resort, Center Parcs, Laura Ashley, Belling and Next.

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MV Ambition – Past and Present

Imo number: 9172777.

MV Ambition

Ex aidamira, costa neo riviera, grand mistral, mistral.

Artists Impression ( Ambassador Cruise Line )

Steel twin screw “ Mistral Class ” motor vessel built in 1999 by STX (Chantiers de l’Atlantique)  STX France SA (former STX France Cruise SA ; former Aker Yards) Nantes – Saint Nazaire, France (Yard No J-31) as a Passenger (Cruise) vessel for Festival Cruises

Technical Data

• Original Cost: – $245 million
• Length: 216 m (overall) 187 m (between perpendiculars)
• Breadth: 28.80 m
• Depth: 37.95 m
• Draught: 6.85 m (Summer)
• Tonnage: 48200 gross/2516 net/4923t deadweight
• Engines:  4 x Wärtsilä – 4 stroke 12 cylinder diesel engines
• Power: 31680 kW/HP
• Speed:   21.6 knots (Service)
• Passenger Decks : 8
• Capacity: Lower beds: 1.196/All berths: 1.670 (Max)
• Crew: 480/553
• Call Sign:  V7GD3, ICGX, CQNK, IBDU, C6FL6
• MMSI Number: 311001141
• IMO Number:  9172777
• Port of Registry: Mata-Utu/Wallis and Futuna, France (overseas territory) 🇫🇷, Majuro/Marshall Islands 🇲🇭, Genoa/Italy 🇮🇹, Madeira/Portugal 🇵🇹, Genoa/Italy 🇮🇹, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸

Current AIS Location

Please note that this specific vessels AIS position data may be over an hour old and that the vessels position will only be displayed when it is within range of the VesselFinder AIS system. The AIS transponder/ship position data featured on this page is intended for information purposes only and it is in no way related to the 'Safety of Navigation at Sea' . All the AIS ship position data featured within this article is provided by VesselFinder  and we are therefore not responsible for its content or its accuracy.

1996: Ordered by Renaissance Cruises but the order was withdrawn. The yard and bankers together held ownership of the ship through a company called Auxiliaire Maritime. The order was then taken over by Festival Cruises who chartered the ship for the first 12 years, with the option to purchase the ship after the first six years.

January 2nd 1999: Floated out.

June 23 rd 1999: Completed.

June 25th 1999: Delivered to Festival Cruises, Mata-Utu, France.

© Benoit Donne

July 17th 1999: Maiden cruise from Genoa and then cruising in the European Market (operating 7-night Mediterranean cruise from Italy during the summer and autumn, and 7-night Caribbean cruises during the winter.).

February 20th 2001: Ran aground just off the Caribbean island of St. Kitts & Nevis. No passengers were injured. The ship was now reported to be stuck on a sandbank 900 feet offshore. The passengers spent the night on the ship, and authorities hoped rescue crews could free the vessel from the sand bank. Divers were investigated the damage but said they could not make a proper assessment until the ship was towed clear of the obstruction. 

© Brian Fisher (Corfu, 2001)

February 21st 2001: Re-floated. Two locally-based tugs stationed in St. Eustace island, succeeded in pulling the vessel off the sandbank at 4 a.m. and she continued her cruise with the next port of call being Antigua.

August 8th  2001: Suffered a propulsion malfunction that necessitated repairs and cut short her 4 cruise from Marseilles.  The ship was subsequently repaired and resumed her regularly scheduled service on August 11.

© Nigel Thornton (Dover, 23/09/2003)

January 2004: Festival Cruises won approval of the Marseille court to have the vessel arrested as security against damages the line said it incurred when creditors immobilized the vessel in the port.

September 1st 2004: Sold to Auro Shipping, SA, Majuro, Marshall Island.

May 31st 2005: Sold to Mistral Shipping, Majuro, Marshall Island. Refitted and renamed GRAND MISTRAL .

© Rogério Cordeiro (São Paulo, Brasil 04/12/2005)

September 2007: Sold to Societa Di Crociere Jupiter, SpA, Italy for Ibero Crucero.

© Ken Larwood (Dover)

December 16th 2008: Management Costa Crociere SpA.

© Marcel and Ruud Coster (IJmuiden, 30/08/2010)

June 2011: Registered Owner Grand Celebration, Madeira, Portugal (Care of Costa Crociere SpA).

© Marcel and Ruud Coster (IJmuiden, 04/09/2012)

November 2013: Renamed COSTA neo RIVIERA . 

January 2014: Cruising from Dubai.

July 2015: Registered Owner Costa Crociere Spa, Genoa, Italy.

© Will Weijsters (Split, 15/06/2016)

© Carsten Dettmer (Heraklion, 03/07/2016)

October 29th 2019: Completed its last Costa Mediterranean cruise in Savona.

October 30th 2019: Sailed to Genoa, San Giorgio del Porto shipyard for a month-long, $55 million drydock to refurbish the vessel and convert her for AIDA service.

November 29th 2019: Arrived in Palma de Mallorca.

November 30th 2019: TV host Franziska Knuppe christened the ship in Palma de Mallorca.

December 2019: Transferred to AIDA Cruises and renamed AIDAmira .

December 2nd 2019: Her inaugural cruise from Palma de Mallorca to Sete and Barcelona was scheduled to leave but was cancelled last-minute due to continued renovations.

December 4th 2019: Left for her maiden season in South Africa.

© Ken Malcolm (Durban, 09/01/2020)

March 16th 2020: In Cape Town suffered a COVID-19 scare and 1,700 passengers were confined on the vessel pending results of tests.

March 19th 2020: All tests having been returned “negative” and passengers allowed to disembark.

April 6th 2020: Left Cape Town.

April 25th 2020: Arrived in Palma de Mallorca, Spain

May 2020: Scheduled to return to the Mediterranean cruising although the COVID-19 pandemic caused AIDA to suspend its operations through the summer. 

© Alex Marrero (Anchored in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 14/07/2020)

© Mike Peel (Playa de Las Teresitas, Tenerife, 2021)

November 2021: Remains, at anchor, off Tenerife.

December 2021: Application made to change her Port of Registry. “AIDA Cruises has already confirmed that there have been inquiries about the acquisition of the ship. However, no agreement has yet been reached with a potential buyer.” . 

January 15th 2022: Arrived in Pula Port, Croatia.

January 27th 2022: Ambassador Cruise Line announced the purchase of its second ship, to be named Ambition, entering service in 2023.

Purfleet, 27th January 2022 AMBASSADOR CRUISE LINE DEMONSTRATES ITS AMBITION WITH FLEET EXPANSION Signalling its confidence in the British tourism and cruise market, Ambassador Cruise Line has announced the purchase of its second ship, to be named Ambition, entering service in 2023. Ambition, like her sister ship Ambience will offer no-fly sailings predominantly targeting the 50-plus market with a premium-value, authentic cruise experience. In addition to London Tilbury, she will also offer a summer 2023 programme of regional departures from ports such as Newcastle, Dundee, Belfast, Liverpool, Bristol and Falmouth, enabling guests across the UK to have a shorter distance to travel before experiencing Ambassador’s onboard service. The full programme is being finalised and will be on sale from Q2 2022. Ambition will carry up to 1,200 guests in considerable comfort and space in her 714 cabins, 125 of which have balconies and 113 are suites with up to 62m² of living space. She has two main restaurants and speciality dining options, a more casual bistro style café, four bars and lounges and a pub. These will be complemented by a tiered main theatre, casino, card room, library, and craft studio. Guests will also be able to enjoy the wellness centre, gymnasium, two swimming pools and a range of retail shops, all designed to create a friendly atmosphere on board and cement Ambassador’s reputation for creating a “community at sea”, whilst giving all guests room to breathe. The ship has been purchased outright from Costa Crociere which operated her under their AIDA brand, as AIDAMira, mainly targeting the German market. Prior to entering service with Ambassador Cruise Line, she will undergo similar extensive upgrades as her new sister ship, Ambience, including the installation of the latest emission reduction technologies to secure IMO Tier III compliance. This will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by approximately 95% compared to current standards. Along with installing updated ballast and sewage water treatment systems, both ships in the Ambassador Cruise Line fleet will be among circa 10% of the current world cruise fleet authorised to sail in strictly environmentally protected seas. These investments are a key part of the Ambassador Cruise Line strategy of operating with a high level of environmental responsibility as well as meeting the increased demands of guests who want to enjoy all the benefits of travel whilst making the lowest possible impact on the destinations they travel to. CEO, Christian Verhounig  said: “We are delighted with the warm reception given to the introduction of Ambassador to the market – a new brand, proposition and our first ship. This announcement of the addition of Ambition to the fleet reflects our confidence and willingness to invest in the future of Ambassador and the cruise sector. We are particularly excited to be offering regional departure options for Ambition in 2023, whilst also offering guests who travel from London Tilbury a greater choice of sailings and ships on which to enjoy them. Clearly, we are all focused on the success of Ambience’s maiden season which commences in April this year, but we believe existing and new guests, as well as our trade partners, will be thrilled to hear about Ambassador’s growth plans”. The full programme of itineraries and enticing offers from Ambassador Cruise Line will be detailed in a bumper 2023-24 season brochure. In the meantime, we encourage guests and trade partners to sign up to our newsletter through our website for more news and information about the company, Ambience, Ambition, itineraries, and fares. Ambition’s maiden voyage itineraries will be unveiled during Q2 2022  Gross tonnage: 48,123 Guest capacity: 1,200 Cabins: 714 cabins: (including 125 balcony cabins, 113 suites/mini suites, 473 (66%) balcony view) Space ratio: 40 (gross tonnage divided by number of guests, a metric for space on Ambition per guest) Crew: 500 Guest/crew ratio: 2.40 Classification Society: Rina, Italy Previous names: Mistral, Grand Mistral, Costa neoRiviera, AIDAmira Built in 1999 Source: Ambassador Cruise Line

April 1st 2022: Left Pula Port.

April 2nd 2022: Arrived Bar Port, Montenegro for planned drydocking to include upgrades to ship’s hotel side. Also addition to technical improvements plus the installation of the latest emission reduction technologies, in order to meet IMO Tier III compliance.

Bar Port, Montenegro

August 13th 2022:  It was announced that the vessel would be chartered to the Scottish government to house refugees fleeing from the war in the Ukraine.

We have agreed a joint arrangement with the Scottish Government that means we can help the Scottish resettlement program for the Ukraine population, many of whom are fleeing the country. We are proud to be supporting such an important humanitarian cause. To support the Scottish government, we can confirm that we are now mobilising Ambition to be in Glasgow for the beginning of September. We are still finalising the details with the various parties concerned, but we will be communicating with guests in due course to explain this agreement and we hope you are able to understand our wishes to help with this cause. Source: Ambassador Cruises (LinkedIn)

Ambassador Ambition is the second cruise ship to house Ukrainian refugees in Scotland A 2nd cruise ship berthed on the Clyde is to be used to house Ukrainian refugees arriving in Scotland from September. The Scottish Government will charter a second vessel in Greenock-Glasgow (Clydeport) after being forced to halt the super sponsor scheme for 3 months amid a surge in visa applications and accommodation shortages. The Ambassador Cruise Line’s ship AMBITION will accommodate up to 1,750 people seeking asylum in the country. The vessel is expected to be fully operational by next month. AMBITION will offer the same facilities as the first ship, Tallink VICTORIA I, which is docked in Leith-Edinburgh (Newhaven-Rosyth-Queensferry) and has 739 staterooms to house between 1,600-1,700 refugees. Welfare groups called for refugees to be rehoused ASAP. Source: CruiseMapper

August 13th 2022: Left Bar showing destination as Valletta.

August 15th 2022: Arrived/departed Bunker Area 3, Malta and now showing destination as Dunkerque.

August 23rd 2022: Arrived Dunkerque East.

Damen Dunkerque, 24/08/2022 © Olivier Malengrez ( DKC-Dunkerque au Cœur )

© Christophe De Lange (Damen Dunkerque, 24/08/2022)

August 27th 2022: Left Dunkerque showing destination as Kristiansand, Norway (eta: 29/08/2022)

August 30th 2022: Now showing destination as Glasgow.

September 1st 2022: Arrived at Glasgow/Greenock.

 © Christopher Brindle ( Cruise and Ferry Scene )

January 13th 2023: Ambassador Cruise Line announced the following programme:

April 1st 2023: Vessel will depart Glasgow for Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven for her environmental upgrades making her IMO Tier III compliant, her new livery, Ambassador branding, venue improvements and furnishing upgrades. May 11th 2023: Newcastle (UK) the vessel will be christened by her Godmother, Shirley Robertson OBE. May 12th 2023: Departing Newcastle, her inaugural “Hidden Gems of France and Spain” cruise. Ambassador Cruise Line, Facebook

March 31st 2023: Left Greenock.

April 4th 2023: Arrived Bremerhaven.

© Christian Eckardt (Bremerhaven, 04/04/2023)

May 7th 2023: Left Bremerhaven for Kristiansand.

© Christian Eckardt (Bremerhaven, 07/05/2023)

May 10th 2023: Arrived Tyne.

May 11th 2023: Christened by her Godmother, Shirley Robertson OBE.

May 12th 2023 (18.00 hrs): Anticipated departure on her maiden cruise “The Hidden Gems of France & Spain”.

All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Christopher Brindle ( Cruise and Ferry Scene ), Rogério Cordeiro, Marcel and Ruud Coster, Carsten Dettmer, © Christian Eckardt, Brian Fisher, Christophe De Lange, Ken Larwood, Ken Malcolm, Olivier Malengrez ( DKC-Dunkerque au Cœur ), Alex Marrero, Mike Peel and Wil Weijsters for their assistance in producing this feature.

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)

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Ambition Deck Plans & Reviews

Activities & entertainment

• Destination Experiences *
• Future Cruises *
• Shopping Galleria *
• Photo Gallery *
• Grafton Street - Arts & Crafts
• Partnership Area
• No. 10 Conference Room
• Bronte's Library
• Aces & Eights - Card Room
• Active Studio
• Jogging Track
• Whirlpools (2)
• Green Sea Spa *
• Steam Room *
• Sun Terrace
• Self-Service Laundry *
• Medical Centre
• The Palladium
• The Cavern - Cabaret
• Live Entertainment
• Purple Turtle Wine Bar - Wine Bar *
• Pendennis Bar - Elegant Bar *
• Buckingham Restaurant - Main
• Holyrood Restaurant - Main
• The Angel Bar - Popular Bar *
• Clifton Lounge - Cocktail Bar *
• Saffron - Asian *
• Consulate Bar - Panoramic Bar *
• The Pool Bar - Pool Bar *
• Alfresco Grill - Pool Grill
• Lupino's - Mediterranean *
• Borough Market - Buffet
• Chef’s Table - Chef’s Table *

Reviews We perform checks on reviews. Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . Learn more about our review moderation.

• Excellent 9
• Very Good 4
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• English ( 22 )

Upcoming itineraries

Ambition Cabins

Ambassador Ambition’s deck plan reveals a large choice of categories among its 679 cabins and suites from Deck 7 to Deck 12. There are four types of suites and sizes vary greatly. Biggest are six De Luxe Suites, from 36 to 42sqm, and smallest are 38 Junior Suites, at 21 or 22sqm.

As Ambassador Ambition is a classic 1999-built ship there are only 12 non-suite balcony cabins and these are at the back of Deck 9 and 10.

But there are six categories of Ocean View cabins and most are 13sqm with some including Pullman beds to provide a third and fourth upper berth.

Inner cabins are the same size as most Ocean View cabins and instead of a window have a large picture panel to brighten the room and a cheerful blue and white striped feature wall.

There are also 78 twin cabins reserved for solo passengers, from 10 Junior Suite Single cabins that are 22sqm and have balconies, to Single Ocean View cabins of 13sqm and 7sqm, and Inner Single cabins at 13sqm and 7sqm.

What to Expect in Rooms on Ambition Cruise Ship

The beds have supremely comfortable mattresses, which is wonderful, but it’s the in-cabin kettle for tea and coffee plus UK electrical sockets that will be most appreciated by British guests.

Other facilities are much as you would expect: a wall-mounted flat screen TV, hairdryer, toiletries, safe and USB ports for charging phones. However, there are no fridges except in suites and some smaller cabins may only have one UK plug socket.

Suites get a welcome bottle of wine and bottle of water but afterwards have a paid-for mini bar and other cabins must pay for water.

Cabins are cleaned once a day but there is no evening turn down, which is not a problem unless you want a chocolate before bed. You can get 24-hour room service but there is a supplementary cost.

Also, passengers with mobility scooters must store their vehicles inside their cabins and as there are only two accessible cabins this will affect what size cabin they choose.

Go for the Suite Life on Ambition Cruise Ship

There are 113 suites, all in prime positions with the very best at the back of the ship for great views. As well as more living space, featuring a sofa and coffee table, they have bigger outside areas than in Balcony Cabins.

Other benefits include priority embarkation and a bottle of house wine and mineral water on arrival. Complimentary canapes are delivered before dinner, which will be in the smaller Holyrood Restaurant.

Suites have much bigger bathrooms than standard cabins, with baths as well as showers plus bathrobes and slippers.

Other nice touches include binoculars and a world atlas, tucked away in a cupboard, and most have walk-in wardrobes.

Premium and De Luxe suites have Segrafredo coffee makers but only two Nespresso-style pods a day so bring your own supply.

Cabin Bathrooms on Ambition Cruise Ship

Most cabins have brand new bathrooms so there are no flappy plastic shower curtains and sinks are stylish with mirrors that light up and have a small magnified section. Suites have baths and showers, while cabins have powerful modern showers. Hand soap, shower gel and shampoo are in wall dispensers but you might want to take your own conditioner.

Cabins to Avoid on Ambition Cruise Ship

Guests in cabins towards the front of Deck 7 near The Cavern have to put up with a lot of people passing by their doors. Some may be affected by noise, which could also be a problem for Deck 8’s forward cabins.

Our Cabin Recommendations on Ambition

Inside cabins are the same size as Ocean View cabins with the same décor, bathrooms and facilities but cheaper prices. They’re particularly good for Midnight Sun cruises if you don’t want to be woken by an early dawn.

Got the cash? Go for the De Luxe Suites at the back of Deck 7 and 8 – although the three Premium Suites on Deck 12, and the 12 Premium Balcony cabins on Deck 9 and 10, have the same great views.

Most have double beds or two twins, except Deck 7’s category 1S and 6S which are smaller and only have single beds.

Find an Ambition Cruise

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Feds find child porn on phones of 3 men who arrived on South Florida cruises: police

When three men arrived on cruise ships in South Florida this week, Border Protection agents made concerning discoveries on their phones. The men, which included two cruise ship crew members, had multiple saved videos of child sex abuse, according to agents.

The first finding came Saturday after U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspected the belongings of Dakota Anthony Ferguson, 22, a federal criminal complaint read.

Ferguson had just arrived at Port Everglades from Mexico on the Disney Magic cruise ship, though it’s unclear whether he was a passenger or crew member. Border Protection agents stopped Ferguson, searched him and found his iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Proceeding to sift through the phone, agents uncovered numerous child pornography video — the majority of which filmed “prepubescent” girls being raped, the complaint read.

Ferguson was arrested and charged with transportation of child pornography and four counts of possession of child pornography. As of Wednesday night, he still remained in the Broward Jail, records show.

After his arrest, agents said Ferguson admitted to them that he had been watching child porn for the last three years on Telegram and X involving children aged from 2 to 17 years old. He even shared child porn with others but denied creating them, the complaint read.

In Ohio, Ferguson has a similar active criminal case in which he was charged with two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in 2021, court records reveal. He’s since pleaded not guilty.

Cruise ship workers arrested minutes apart

On Monday morning, Border Protection agents searched the cabin of Imadewisma Dana, a 28-year-old Indonesian man, an arrest report read. He’s a crew worker for an undisclosed cruise ship.

An agent discovered five videos of child sex abuse on his phones, which showed boys and girls between about 6 to 14 years old being raped.

Dana was arrested and charged with five counts of possessing images of sexual performance by a child and is being held for immigration. As of Wednesday, he still remained in the Miami-Dade County jail.

After he was arrested, agents said he told them he was not aware of child porn and he didn’t have a “special preference” for children.

About 10 minutes after Dana’s room search, agents also conducted a routine cabin inspection of Iputuagus Karnawan’s room, an arrest report read. Karnawan is also a cruise line worker, though the company is unclear nor did they indicate whether he had any connection to Dana.

Agents also searched his phone, where they discovered that Karnawan had four videos of child porn. The footage depicted girls from the age of about 12 to 15 being raped.

The 28-year-old was arrested and charged with four counts of possessing images of sexual performance by a child and is being held for immigration. As of late Wednesday, he still remained in the Miami-Dade County jail.

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Treasures of denmark & sweden, discover breathtaking sweden and denmark..

Cruise Code: A22425NC

Copenhagen, Denmark

Stockholm, Sweden

Ronne, Denmark

CRUISE OF THE WEEK

Free Parking (Call to book) - Book before 23:59 11 th June 2024

Scandinavia will shine in all its glory on this voyage of exploration. Denmark’s capital of Copenhagen, known as the city of fairy tales, is sure to captivate you with its canals, excellent food and friendly locals. You’ll then visit some of Denmark’s most picture-perfect ports, including the fortress city of Fredericia, and the ancient garden town of Ronne in Bornholm that harks back to the year 1000. Stockholm will provide you with medieval charm in its Old Town, a stark contrast against its chic modernity, before heading to the creative vibrancy of Aarhus.

Cruise of the Week

Free Parking

Buy One Get One Half Price

2nd Guest sails for Half Price £50pp Low Deposit

• Sails from (and returns to) Newcastle Tyne
• 10 Ports of call
• 4 Countries

Full itinerary:

Day 1 - 30 September 2024

Newcastle Tyne

Day 2 - 1 October 2024

Day 3 - 2 October 2024

Day 4 - 3 October 2024

Day 5 - 4 October 2024

Day 6 - 5 October 2024

Ronne, Bornholm

Day 7 - 6 October 2024

Visby, Gotland

Day 8 - 7 October 2024

Day 9 - 8 October 2024

Day 10 - 9 October 2024

Day 11 - 10 October 2024

Day 12 - 11 October 2024

Day 13 - 12 October 2024

Cabins & Fares

Included in all bookings.

• All port taxes, fees and charges - read more
• Porterage of luggage between the port and cabin. - read more
• Spa access - read more
• Use of gym, swimming pool and hot tubs - read more
• Range of fitness, dance and wellness classes - read more
• Amazing entertainment - read more
• Informative guest speakers* - read more
• Captain’s Gala Dinner and Baked Alaska Parade* - read more
• Comfortable accommodation in chosen cabin category - read more
• Flexible cancellation policies† - read more
• Captain’s cocktail party* - read more
• Exceptional full board cuisine - read more

Speakers & Acts

Gerry Graham

Fast, funny, observant and witty, Gerry was born into a showbiz family in South Yorkshire, he first performed on stage at the age of 7, and he was playing guitar in a local skiffle group two years later.  Since turning professional in 1974, he has entertained in jungles, aircraft hangars, been dropped off a helicopter in Northern Ireland to entertain the troops, travelled hundreds of thousands of miles to club and cabaret engagements, and appeared in just about every major theatre in the UK, including the London Palladium.  He’s worked with some amazing stars such as Johnny Ray, Helen Reddy and Howard Keel, been a ventriloquist dummy for Ray Alan, praised to the skies by Les Dawson, and sworn at by Sir Laurence Olivier!

Jayne offers crafting classes with a more modern approach using recycled and everyday items to produce attractive results as well as more traditional crafts. Over the years, Jayne has familiarised herself with all kinds of handicrafts from Faberge eggs, papercraft, and needlecraft. She has attended and given craft courses, culminating in attaining a formal teaching qualification for working designs. Jayne is a trustee for a local Civic Society, an enthusiastic wardrobe mistress for the pantomime group and a member of several U3A groups. She has refurbished several homes using her interior design and soft furnishing skills.

The Ship - Ambition

Here she is, Ambition. Our second lady of the sea. Aptly named to further emphasise our commitment t ... Read More

Here she is, Ambition. Our second lady of the sea. Aptly named to further emphasise our commitment to inspire and delight every guest to enjoy an authentic cruise experience effortlessly, and sustainably

Ambition will carry up to 1,200 passengers to give her a true sense of comfort and space in her 680 cabins, 125 of which have balconies and 113 are suites with up to 62m2 of living space.

Her dining options will inspire you with two main restaurants, speciality dining options*, and a more casual bistro-style café. Sit back, relax and enjoy a drink in one of her four bars, lounges and pub. Or take in a show in the tiered main theatre, or discover your hidden talents in the card room, library, and craft studio.

Other facilities include the wellness centre, gym, two swimming pools and a range of retail shops, perfect for days at sea.

What’s on board

Journeying to new lands to explore their landscape, culture and cuisine, on board a stylish, environmentally friendly ship.

Green Sea Spa

Our team is dedicated to providing the highest level of service and strives continually to exceed guest expectations. With our guests in mind, we have created an all-encompassing spa experience that relaxes, refreshes and renews in a serene, comfortable and welcoming environment. From facial treatments to massages and hair care to healing treatments; there is something for everyone. Our Sauna and Steam Room are also available for all guests to use.

Brontë’s library

Brontë’s Library is the home of peace and tranquillity on board, and the perfect place for those looking to take some time to relax after a busy day at sea. Select a good book within Brontë's calm atmosphere before heading off to your favourite queit reading area. Why not join other like-minded literature lovers through our cruise book club, where you can discuss your views on some of the current bestsellers. All books are chosen in advance, giving you the opportunity to purchase your copy before boarding.

The Palladium

entertainment

It's showtime! Our multi-tiered onboard theatre The Palladium hosts a variety of hand-picked shows, plays, talks and so much more just as diverse as the destinations we visit. Waiting in the wings are our onboard entertainment team, the Ambassador Theatre Company. They can't wait to entertain you as you enjoy an afternoon or evening of world-class storytelling.

lounges-bars

The Pool Bar is one of the loveliest bars on board Ambition. Enjoy a specially made cocktail as you sit back and relax around the pool.

Named after the infamous Cavern Club, home to Liverpool’s booming rock ‘n’ roll scene in the early sixties and regular visitors the Beatles, The Cavern will be your onboard home of live music and acts throughout the day and night. With a wide range of drinks available, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the atmosphere as our expert bar team are always on hand to help mix a drink just to your taste.

Buckingham Restaurant

Inspired by authentic cruising and quality dining, the Buckingham Restaurant is designed to provide guests with a wonderful a la carte dining experience. Serving an exceptionally handcrafted breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, our restaurant team will be delighted for you to join them throughout your day on board.

Your on board Experience

Discover the amazing entertainment we have on offer on board Ambition.

More about the ship

Average Customer Rating:

Independent Service Rating based on 2164 verified reviews. View All

“Booking procedure”

Very good but still awaiting connecting e-mail to register our passports etc.

Trusted Customer

Helpful staff

“Correct info on booking is crucial”

False information given

Didn’t take forever to fill in information for myself and husband

“The opportunity for a great holiday”

As always the service provided was excellent. It is very simple to book your cabin. Having sailed with ambassador on a number of time I know the trip will be excellent. West end entertainment superb food and the most friendly staff.

“Just booked”

Easy to book, however, asking me to rate everything when I've only just booked is a waste of time.

“Phone call spot on”

Good conversation on phone and with this in mind booked the holiday

“Best of luck & sheer enjoyment to everyone!!!”

The whole booking process was very professional, use friendly & has all the information that you need throughout, from start to finish & of course when you make the final arrangements & board your cruise ship. However saying all that I am very sad, that due to a sudden onset of very ill health, I can't now take part on this, what I'm sure will be a fantastic holiday. Best of luck to everyone who does go, you'll have a great time!!!

Chris Bartlett

“Perfect service”

Very professional and helpful. Always Very friendly and knowledgeable about the cruises. Wouldn't cruise with anyone else.

Very easy to book and helpful information

Jennifer Foot

“Julie was very good and made it a good booking”

easy helpful well done. Julie

“Helpful customer service operator”

I rang the help line with a quick query regarding the drinks package and Beverley was very helpful in explaining all the various options. I then booked my cruise online which was a very simple process.

“Easy booking”

No problem booking it was straight forward. Looking forward to the cruise. Never been on a cruise with Ambassador so looking for a new experience. We have been on a lot of cruises with other companies.

When you ask for something you don't gét it

“Pre-emptive review”

I haven’t received service from ambassador as yet merely booked a cruise through CRUISEKINGS. I will gladly do a review once I have been on the cruise and experienced the service I will receive .

Booked online but process was easy

The staff can’t do enough, to make your cruise special.

Very good, I made a mistake when booking, it was put right when I phoned

Thomas Forshaw

I have been trying to cancel my cruise due to personal reasons but without any success. Everything has to be done by email and I spent over an hour on the phone yesterday not very impressed.

Kathleen Hinchliffe

Copyright 2024 Ambassador Cruise Line is a trading name of Ambassador Cruise Holidays Limited.

Ambassador Cruise Holidays Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 13299365

The 6 best cruise ship waterslides and watery fun zones

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Call it the Battle of the Waterslides.

In the last few years, the big boys of the cruise industry — Royal Caribbean , MSC Cruises , Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line — have been locked in a game of one-upmanship when it comes to waterslides and watery fun zones on vessels.

In addition to such over-the-top, new attractions as go-kart tracks and roller coasters , the brands behind the biggest megaresorts at sea have been packing the top decks of their vessels with even more over-the-top watery allures.

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Royal Caribbean, for instance, added an 800-foot-long “water coaster” to the back of its 3,386-passenger Navigator of the Seas just a few years ago. It’s one of more than two dozen giant waterslides the line has added to more than half a dozen ships in the last seven years.

Royal Caribbean also plans a record six waterslides on its next new ship, Icon of the Seas, which is scheduled to debut in January 2024.

But as recently as early 2016, Royal Caribbean didn’t have a single waterslide on any of its vessels.

MSC Cruises also has gone big with giant water parks in the past seven years, with as many as four waterslides on more than half a dozen of its newest vessels. Norwegian has loaded up its most recent ships with giant water parks, too — some have as many as five waterslides!

Not to be outdone, Carnival, an early adopter of waterslides on ships, has added sprawling water park areas with multiple waterslides to almost every vessel in its fleet.

A brief history of water attractions at sea

In the beginning, there was the pool. As watery cruise ship attractions go, it has long been the staple — something found on nearly every cruise vessel going back to the 1970s.

But as early as 1978, at least one line was spicing up its Lido decks with a little waterslide fun — little being the operative word. That’s the year Carnival added a single slide into the pool on its 728-passenger Festivale — a slide so small it’s now hilarious to think it was touted as an attraction.

Often cited as the first waterslide ever on a cruise vessel, the Festivale slide was of a sort that was found at backyard pools at the time. The cruise industry was still in its infancy, of course, and ships were orders of magnitude smaller than they are today. Festivale measured just 32,697 tons, about one-seventh the size of today’s biggest cruise vessels.

Carnival, the so-called Fun Ship line, would go on to become the early leader in waterslides at sea. The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy, which debuted in 1990, was the first cruise ship with a significant waterslide. It measured 115 feet in length.

Related: A beginner’s guide to picking a cruise line

Just six years later, in 1996, Carnival would make news with the unveiling of a 214-foot-long corkscrew waterslide on what then was called Destiny. (The ship currently sails as the Carnival Sunshine after being rebuilt in 2013.) At the time, Destiny was the biggest cruise ship in the world.

In more recent years, Carnival has gone into waterslide-building overdrive. The line has added full-blown water park areas with waterslides, watery play zones and other features to all but four of its 25 ships. All but one of Carnival’s ships (Carnival Luminosa) now have at least one waterslide.

One of the Carnival water parks, on the line’s 5-year-old Carnival Horizon, even has Disney-style theming revolving around Dr. Seuss characters.

Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean only began going big with waterslides on ships in the past decade or so. Many of the newest vessels from the brands have massive water park areas. Some of the brands are retrofitting big waterslides onto older ships, too.

Additionally, family-focused Disney Cruise Line now has major water attractions on all its vessels.

Where you’ll find the biggest waterslides at sea

If your idea of the perfect cruise ship is one loaded to the gills with waterslides and watery fun zones (plus all sorts of other over-the-top attractions), you’ll want to stick to the biggest floating megaresorts operated by Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Carnival.

At Royal Caribbean, that means the giant Oasis-class vessels , which include Wonder of the Seas — the world’s largest cruise ship. At Norwegian, you’ll find the biggest waterslides and water parks on the line’s relatively recently built Breakaway Plus-, Breakaway- and Epic-class ships. At MSC Cruises, the new Seaside-, Meraviglia-, Meraviglia Plus- and World-class vessels have the line’s big water parks.

Big lines that have steered clear of the water-park-at-sea trend include Princess Cruises, Holland America and Celebrity Cruises. Geared more toward couples than families and typically drawing an older demographic, all three of these lines have stuck to a more subdued feel for the outdoor areas of their ships. The top decks of vessels operated by Princess, Holland America and Celebrity still mostly revolve around traditional swimming areas with pools, hot tubs and lounge chairs.

Ready for a splashy, top-deck thrill? These are the most spectacular watery attractions at sea.

The Perfect Storm

Where you’ll find it: Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

This isn’t just one giant waterslide; it’s a whole complex of waterslides, each one among the most exciting you’ll find anywhere on the world’s oceans.

The Perfect Storm is found on four of Royal Caribbean’s massive Oasis-class vessels — Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas — as well as the smaller Liberty of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas. The complex includes two four-deck-high racer slides called Cyclone and Typhoon, where you can do side-by-side speed tests with your travel partner.

On the four Oasis-class ships, there’s also a third, Champagne bowl-style slide called Supercell. It’ll swirl you around a big basin before plummeting you “down the drain” into a plunge pool. On Liberty of the Seas, a third slide called The Tidal Wave sends you screaming down a steep hill on an inner tube to a nearly vertical incline. Zooming upward, topping out and dropping back, you’ll get a blissful moment of complete weightlessness.

Note that Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas also has a waterslide area called Perfect Storm — but it’s completely different. More on that in a moment.

The Blaster

Where you’ll find it: Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas.

The Blaster is the Big Daddy of waterslides at sea. At 800 feet, it’s the longest ever built on a cruise ship. Added to Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas in 2019, it’s a seemingly endless stretch of yellow and orange tubing that winds around the back deck of the vessel like a snake.

A true sight to behold, The Blaster is so long because it’s what’s known as a water coaster. It features water jets that propel you up, down and forward — extending the ride — as you careen around the ship’s basketball court and surfing simulator in an inner tube. At times, you go flying over the side of the ship, over open water (not that you have much time to take in the view).

Royal Caribbean has named the area on Navigator of the Seas where The Blaster is located the Perfect Storm — the same name used for waterslide areas on six other ships — but the area is completely different than what you’ll find on the other vessels. In addition to The Blaster, the Perfect Storm area on Navigator of the Seas includes a headfirst mat racer slide called Riptide — the first of its kind at sea.

Where you’ll find it: Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream.

Leave it to family-focused Disney Cruise Line to come up with the coolest watery family attraction at sea. AquaDuck is a water coaster, like The Blaster on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, and is found on Disney’s two Dream-class ships. But don’t expect anything too white-knuckle. The ride is relatively gentle by water park standards, mainly because it’s designed for kids of all ages (and their parents, who can ride along on inner tubes for two).

While AquaDuck is slightly shorter than The Blaster at 765 feet in length, it has a bigger presence, thanks to its prime location encircling the main pool area. If you’re lounging up top, it’s hard to miss the massive, clear acrylic tubing of the ride, which is held up by 46 giant white stilts.

In addition to AquaDuck, the two Disney ships with the attraction (Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream ) have a relatively small, kid-friendly waterslide next to the centrally located Mickey’s Pool. Dubbed Mickey’s Slide, it’s held up by a giant Mickey hand, which is delightful. Both ships also have a watery play zone for toddlers called Nemo’s Reef. Plus, Disney Fantasy has a watery fun zone with water jets, geysers and bubblers called AquaLab.

Note that Disney’s newest ship — Disney Wish — has a water coaster attraction similar to the AquaDuck called the AquaMouse. The big difference: Riders will see animated shorts while riding up the ramp at the start of the ride.

Carnival WaterWorks

Where you’ll find it: Nearly all Carnival ships.

When it comes to waterslides on ships, cruise giant Carnival is still the undisputed king. The Fun Ship line began adding them to vessels way back in 1978, and there’s now at least one waterslide on every ship in the Carnival fleet — something no other line can say.

Indeed, on all Carnival ships, there’s now not just a single waterslide but a whole water park area. Called WaterWorks, these areas vary in size and features from vessel to vessel, but they typically have one or two big waterslides, a watery play zone with interactive water features and a large continuously filling dump bucket that periodically soaks everybody within range.

You’ll typically find the biggest Carnival water park complexes on the newest Carnival ships, such as Mardi Gras , Celebration and Carnival Venezia . All three have three waterslides — one more than most Carnival ships.

Aqua Park (Norwegian Cruise Line)

Where you’ll find it: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore.

Norwegian Cruise Line began going big with waterslides in 2010 when it debuted Norwegian Epic. And boy, did it go big! Norwegian Epic offers three monster waterslides, including the thrilling Epic Plunge — a 200-foot-long tube ride that ends in a swirling bowl. Epic Plunge is part of Norwegian Epic’s Aqua Park, the first water park on a Norwegian ship. Norwegian has since added Aqua Parks to six more new vessels, including its biggest ship, the 4-year-old Norwegian Encore .

Norwegian’s Aqua Parks vary in size and attractions from ship to ship, but some of them, such as the one on Norwegian Breakaway, have as many as five separate multistory waterslides. Yes, you read that right: Five waterslides on a single cruise ship!

On Norwegian Breakaway, the lineup includes twin free-fall slides that drop passengers nearly straight down several stories; two side-by-side twisting racer slides; and a family-friendly slide with a more modest drop. For sheer variety, the complex is hard to beat.

Aqua Park (MSC Cruises)

Where you’ll find it: MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Euribia, MSC World Europa.

Fast-growing MSC Cruises has joined the waterslide wars in the last few years — and in a massive way. Each of the 10 ships the line has unveiled since 2017 offers a full-blown water park on its top deck that’s packed with waterslides and other watery fun.

On North America-based MSC Seaside, the Aqua Park has four waterslides and a children’s play area with interactive water features. The waterslides include two massive, 525-foot-long dueling slides that extend over the sides of the ship. The top of the Aqua Park on MSC Seaside is also home to the liftoff point for a zip line that soars 344 feet across the top of the vessel.

Other MSC Cruises water parks at sea include the winter-themed Polar Aqua Park on MSC Meraviglia, which offers a suspended-in-the-sky ropes course in addition to four waterslides. There’s also the Aquaplay area for the little ones.

A handful of ships even have virtual reality waterslides that involve riders wearing virtual reality headsets as part of the experience.

In all, 14 of MSC Cruises’ 22 vessels now have at least one waterslide on their top decks.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.