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Ambition: Ambassador’s freshly upcycled ship with a noble history

As Britain's youngest cruise line, Ambassador has already made its mark on the world of cruising. Here's the full backstory of their freshly renovated ship, originally launched in 1999, and why their option of modernisation makes perfect sense

There’s a new kid on the block, and they are worth getting excited about.

Ambassador Cruise Line established itself during the industry’s post-Covid reshaping, emerging through the sector’s mayhem with a clear-cut mission to offer no-fly cruises out of Great Britain .

Based in the UK, the company’s primary focus is on “premium value”, and while London Tilbury remains the line’s proud base, cruises are offered out of six UK regional ports - Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol and Falmouth. It’s a full-on Albion operation where Britannia explores the waves.

As the first British cruise line to launch since 2010, Ambassador operated with a solitary vessel throughout the first two years of activity; announcing their purchase of flagship Ambience in May 2021, before opening ticket sales the following month.

So - that’s all great, but where’s the heritage angle?

Well, that’s where it gets exciting as it also goes hand-in-hand with upcycling and sustainability. And, as we all know, that methodology fits with a changing cruise world.

Ambassador: Upcycling with style

To most people, upcycling is a dirty word; responsible for bric-a-brac images of questionable efforts showcasing the handiwork of priggish-churchy types. Luckily, some sectors successfully quash such negative stereotyping.

Classic car restorations command respect, whereas renovating age-old buildings remains firm as ‘stylish upcycling’.

Then there’s the cruise industry.

Ambassador has undertaken such a venture for the second time (following MS Ambience ), bringing new life to a celebrated heritage vessel and facilitating high-quality cruises on a more accessible price band.

May 2023 witnessed the inaugural voyage of Ambassador Ambition from Newcastle’s Port of Tyne to France and Spain, except – this was not the ship’s first sailing. Far from it. Ambition has been on the go since 1999. Her sister ship, Ambience , is older still – setting sail in 1991.

Ambassador Cruise Line has taken two mature vessels and transformed them into people-pleasing beacons that capture the long-lost style of older ships, and then reconditioned both interior and exterior to facilitate contemporary demands. To us, that’s the perfect package. It’s 'upcycling' at its very finest.

Yet, some may find such an idea unappealing. After all, old ships are…well… old; rusty relics of a bygone era.

However, such an attitude is redundant in our modern world. Renovation is far chicer and, dare we say, more environmentally friendly than laying down a new keel and plundering the earth’s resources.

Upgrading the powerplant to comply with modern environmentally-aware standards, arguably, also makes better sense than constructing a new propulsion system from scratch.

Others may bemoan the loss of the heritage ship’s original identity. Some may say that such a plan is wrong, but it’s far cleverer than just restoration. It’s modernisation. All the character of the ship is still there, but with latter-day innovations.

It's akin to modernising an old house. You keep the thatched roof and the leaded glass, but you install central heating and a SMEG fridge. You wouldn’t complain about staying in Versailles after engineers installed WiFi, over the new Travelodge, right?

MS Ambition - Success and turbulence from the past

The MS Ambition, most recently operated by AIDA Cruise of Germany (a subsidiary of Carnival), was originally ordered by Renaissance Cruises in the summer of 1996, before the order was withdrawn due to financial upheaval.

Certain media outlets proclaimed that the unnamed ship was akin to an unloved orphan; the ship’s lifespan destined to be cut tragically short.

With construction already underway at the prestigious Chantiers de l'Atlantique ( birthplace of the iconic SS Normandie and later Cunard’s QM2 ), and ownership shared between the yard and investors through Auxiliaire Maritime, Festival Cruises then took over the build before taking delivery of the vessel prior to a new millennium.

Floated out on January 2, 1999, and christened by Claude Deschamps (wife of French footballer Didier Deschamps) on June 25, the ship was proudly named MS Mistral before her maiden voyage on July 17.

After the political strife and uncertainty, the future looked bright for Festival’s up-to-the-minute acquisition.

Sailing from Genoa to the Greek Islands, before heading for the Mediterranean, she swiftly made Cuba her home from home. However, Festival Cruises soon collapsed and most of the fleet – including the semi-new MS Mistral, was sold off in 2004.

Spearheading a new chapter for cruising

Following the demise of Festival Cruises, MS Mistral enjoyed numerous titles with different firms.

Initially sold to Alstom Group (the parent company of Chantiers de l'Atlantique) and chartered as the Iberostar Mistral to Viajes Iberojet (operated by Ibero Cruises) before being sold to Ibero at auction and officially renamed Grand Mistral, the ship then transferred to Costa Cruises and became known as Costa neoRiviera.

This was a big deal. Costa wasn’t just using their neoRiviera as a mere ship, but also as a trendsetter.

Her new owners launched a sub-product with neoRiviera at the forefront, focusing on smaller ships that made longer calls at port – offering more time and overnight stays in exotic locations with greater inventories.

Based out of Dubai, she debuted with Costa on November 24, 2013, following a £10 million transformation.

After a successful stint with Costa, she then left the fleet in October 2019 after AIDA Cruises purchased the ship in May 2018. No less than $55 million was plundered during a drydock session to bring cabins and safety gear up to state-of-the-art standards, integrating the ship with AIDA’s fleet.

Arriving in Palma de Mallorca in November 2019 for her christening by German supermodel Franziska Knuppe, the newly titled AIDAmira joined three other vessels as part of the 'AIDA Selection' – performing longer itineraries in far-flung exotic locations.

Yet, the cruising landscape changed soon after AIDAmira’s maiden voyage to Cape Town, South Africa.

In March 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the industry hard, starting with the quarantine of 1700 passengers during an outbreak of Coronavirus onboard AIDAmira. Passengers disembarked after a plethora of negative tests, but that wasn’t the end of the problem.

The ongoing pandemic caused an operational shutdown for cruise lines, and AIDAmira suspended operations before being laid up for almost two years. That’s when Ambassador entered the picture, having been raised from the ashes of defunct CMV (Cruise & Maritime Voyages).

Ambassador takes over

AIDA Cruises sold the liner to Ambassador in January 2022, who then in turn renamed the ship Ambition before dispatch for an extensive refit in Montenegro.

Plans for her maiden voyage were quickly changed, however, to accommodate a request from the Scottish Government.

The Governmental request wasn’t for anything of a political nature per se, but instead for a six-month charter to provide accommodation for refugees of the Ukraine war .

Having arrived in Glasgow at the beginning of September 2022, Ambition joined Tallink’s cruise ferry Victoria I to jointly house thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.

Frightened, exhausted and hungry, refugees enjoyed an introduction to their new Scottish home from the safety of the ship, before further accommodation across the country could be organised.

A four-week refit then commenced in Bremerhaven, Germany, to bring Ambition up to International Maritime Organization’s Tier III emission standards, enforcing a reduction in the ship’s nitrogen oxide emissions.

Work was also carried out on the rudders, stabilizers, and propulsion units, before applying a fresh coat of paint in Ambassador’s official colours. After a turbulent and exciting history, Britain’s newest cruise line offers a new chapter for the heritage vessel.

Christened in the Port of Tyne by Olympic Gold medalist Shirley Robertson , rather than beached up at the breakers' yard, Ambition now has a new mission to perform under the Ambassador brand.

Once referred to as the ‘unloved orphan', Ambition has come through the years to find true acceptance as a no-fly idol of cruising prowess.

It is heritage in motion, and unlike other historical vessels that are dry-docked for eternity as museum pieces, Ambition can be enjoyed where she belongs – upon the waves.

Celestyal to expand in the Arabian Gulf with a second ship

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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.

Behind the Headlines: How Ambassador’s Ambition originally looked

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition is the renovated newboy of the cruise sector. Having delved into the archive, we can show you the ship’s original guise – all the way from 1999.

Built by the celebrated Chantiers de l’Atlantique (crafters of SS Normandie and Cunard’s QM2) back when denim-dungarees remained fashionable, Ambassador’s new flagship – Ambition – has recently grabbed headlines as the blueprint for “premium value” success.

Her transformation has been nothing short of spectacular, costing £10 million and disproving sceptical notions that older ships cannot be revived for contemporary use.

Industry pessimists have been given little to work with; we’ve been aboard , and the ship’s quality and mantra offered a spectacular first impression.

Ambition’s hefty renovation also helps to write a new chapter in the ship’s history , following a turbulent parentage under a plethora of different names for various cruise firms. From flying the flag as AIDAmira to adolescence with Costa Cruises, Ambition has traversed the globe for a record number of cruise lines during her first 25 years.

So, to mark a new beginning for Ambition , we’ve delved into the fathomless pits of our archives to reveal the ship’s genesis, and subsequently uncovered how she originally appeared when first entering service.

MS Mistral: the original press release

Dated 10 November 1999, the ship’s first post-launch report highlighted her first name – Mistral – and announced that she was the first new build to be commissioned by Festival Cruises.

It was also stated that two subsequent ships had been awarded to the French yard; scheduled to be delivered in 2001 and 2002 (later to become European Vision and European Stars ).

“Designed and built by Europeans, the vessel is aimed at the European passenger market,” the release pointed out.

On a more majestic note, Mistral was cited as the “largest French-flagged” cruise ship built since the SS France of 1960 – despite public knowledge that Festival Cruises was headquartered in Greece, but they missed the point.

After entering service, Mistral spent four months touring the Mediterranean before embarking on a series of winter cruises in the Caribbean, operating out of Guadeloupe.

The originally stated dimensions match the ship’s current status, which won’t come as a surprise. The 47,900t vessel remains 216m long (shock) with a beam of 28.8m, although interestingly the draft has changed after various timely revisions have followed Mistral during her lifespan. The original draught of 6.85m has now changed to 7.016m (23ft).

Ambassador Ambition’s original powerplant

Mistral was powered by the latest high-performance diesel-electric propulsion system when launched and boasted four Wärtsilä 38-series genset engines, which spun the alternators at 600rpm.

The 12-cylinder diesel units had a nominal rating of 7,920kW, giving a maximum installed capacity of 31,680kW. That’s probably getting a bit heavy on the geekery front, but all that power ensured a cruising speed of 19.5 knots, with maximum thrust at 21.5 knots (roughly 25mph).

Stability arrived courtesy of a pair of folding Mitsubishi fin stabilisers, while passenger and service elevators, provision stores and associated refrigeration machinery were supplied by MacGregor. All top brands in their day that would help reinforce the new ship’s serious attitude towards quality.

The original cabins and restaurants

Not a fan of the flowery-Waif look? Then brace yourself. Mistral offered a double occupancy passenger capacity of 1,196, and those rooms were clearly designed by Hyacinth Bucket following an all-night fairy-cake binge.

Compared to modern trends, these rooms hit the senses hard.

Don’t judge too harshly, however. That was very much the design of the era, and there’s a homeliness to all those huggable colours and dense, light-eating fabrics.

Setting the décor aside, Mistral’s interactive television and information system (accessible to passengers from their cabin) was a revelation compared to what people had in their homes.

The interactive system could be operated in a number of different languages to relay important ground rules about life on board – such as the freshly established Euro standing firm as official on-board currency.

Mistral’s 598 cabins were arranged over eight hotel-style decks, each of which was named after iconic European cities – Paris, Rome, London, Berlin, Brussels, Athens, Cannes and Madrid.

Just as Ambition’s contemporary layout is currently presented, public areas on Mistral were mostly situated on decks five, six and 11 and were designed to be as open-plan as possible.

The centre point of the lobby revolved around a marble centrepiece that showcased a running waterfall (now sadly removed), leading towards the 600-capacity carrousel show lounge spanning two decks, featuring an entrance on each one.

The Saint-Honoré shopping gallery and L’Etoile, Mistral’s main restaurant, could initially be found on deck five, while deck six (Rome) featured the Greco café, overlooking the lobby and aft, the Rialto restaurant which, in summer, offered diners outdoor tables partly shaded by a canvas tent.

The Cannes deck featured the ship’s sports club and a spacious leisure area incorporating a main pool, splash pool and thalassotherapy facilities.

The health spa, designed by UK specialists The Syntax Group, was one of the largest afloat at the time. Cannes deck also features a stern cafeteria/tea room, La Croisette, which was surrounded by an enclosed promenade offering panoramic views.

Other facilities on offer to passengers included a theatre and discotheque, cigar and card rooms (ah, the 1990s…), and facilities for teenagers and children.

Time’s onward march waits for no one and progress is progress as we stride into the modern day.

There’s a bittersweet tang of sentimentality when looking through the pictures of Ambition in her original Mistral guise, but as the times move on, the ship has had to adapt.

There is no denying that Ambition now feels firmly planted in modern times, and reviewing the original press release only goes to prove how far the vessel has come.

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TERMS PRIVACY

All information about Ambition. 2024, 2025 and 2026 itinerary of this ships. Technical data, rating and reviews of tourists. The actual location of the vessel.

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Ambition in the News

• Jun 27, 2024 Ambassador Cruise Line UK expands to North America with new USA office UK-based Ambassador Cruise Line has announced its expansion into North America by establishing a ...
• Apr 7, 2024 Ireland's Port of Cork welcomes Ambition, kicking off 2024 cruise season The Port of Cork Company (PoCC) inaugurated the 2024 cruise season with the arrival of the Ambiti...
• Mar 31, 2024 Ambassador Cruise Line's Ambition to kick off Lerwick's 2024 cruise season During the upcoming Easter weekend, Lerwick is set to welcome its first cruise ship of 2024, mark...
• Mar 24, 2024 Ambassador Cruise Line UK 2025-2026 Itineraries and promo offers (half-price discounts, premium drinks) Ambassador Cruise Lines unveiled its 2025-2026 itinerary program, featuring departures from 7 UK ...
• Feb 25, 2024 Ambassador Cruise Line renews partnership with ORCA for 3rd year Ambassador Cruise Line has extended its partnership with ORCA, a marine conservation charity, for...
• Feb 21, 2024 Devon's Plymouth Port anticipates record cruise ship visits in 2024 Devon UK, is preparing to welcome 14 cruise ships carrying 10,000+ passengers this year, signalin...
• Nov 21, 2023 Ambassador's 2-ship fleet to boast SpaceX Starlink connectivity The UK-based Ambassador Cruise Line is poised to join the ranks of leading cruise companies by in...
• Nov 1, 2023 Port Funchal (Madeira) receives 3 cruise ships on a single day Port Funchal (Madeira Island Portugal) accommodated 3 cruise ships on Monday, October 30. This ar...
• Aug 15, 2023 On the road with: Ambassador Cruise Line sales manager Karen Cameron  Ambassador Cruise Line divisional sales manager Karen Cameron emphasises the need fo...
• Aug 4, 2023 Ambassador Cruise Line launches ‘refer a friend’ scheme Ambassador Cruise Line has launched a referral scheme for guests, with both the referrer and the ...
• Jul 15, 2023 78 whales slaughtered in front of Ambassador Ambition cruise ship's passengers in Torshavn Faroes A cruise line has issued an apology to 1000+ passengers after one of its ships arrived at a port ...
• Jul 13, 2023 Cruise Line Apologizes for Visiting Port During Whale Hunt Ambassador Cruise Line has apologized to passengers for recently docking in the Faroe Islands whi...
• Jul 6, 2023 Harding+ celebrating retail launch on 3 new cruise ships Harding+ has recently introduced its retail offerings on 3 newly launched ships, marking an impor...
• Jun 22, 2023 UK-Based Cruise Line Lifts All Remaining Protocols Ambassador Cruise Line has lifted all its pre-cruise health and safety protocols that were implem...
• May 19, 2023 Behind the Headlines: How Ambassador’s Ambition originally looked  Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition is the renovated newboy of the cruise sector...

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Cruise Ship   Ambition

Cruises On Ambition

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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• Ambassador Cruise Line

Thoughts of Ambassador and Ambition

By NightWoman , June 11, 2023 in Ambassador Cruise Line

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We've cruised numerous times with many cruise lines however this was the first with Ambassador and the reason we chose this line was purely because it was sailing from Dundee so there was no flying and only an hours drive from Fife. 

I think Ambassador will do well in the Scottish market as so few cruise lines embark/disembark from Scotland, it's convenient and cost effective, let's face airports are not a joy. 

What I will say about Dundee Cruise Terminal is that it's not very well sign posted and depending on which direction you come from the signage doesn't always allow you to turn onto the road you need but we got there in the end.

A marquee is the check-in area so it's not a permanant feature due to the limited number of cruises leaving from Dundee. You have to navigate some less than smooth surfaces however the porters were very efficient and friendly helping anyone who needed assistance.

Unlike Southampton your luggage is with you when you complete the check-in then taken from you to be scanned allowing you to then board.

The check-in at Dundee was very quick, from arrival to embarking took about 15 minutes and we were on board by 12:30, we went straight to our cabin to drop off our hand luggage.

Our main luggage arrived not long after and we were unpacked and organised well before the boat drill at 15:30, this was a proper muster drill where all passengers go to their muster station on deck, listen to the safety briefing and watchthe crew put on their life jackets.

We had a window cabin on deck 8 for 2 passengers, it was set up as a double but clearly space was limited so we asked the cabin steward to set then up as singles which allowed us more space, the bed was very comfortable.

The cabin itself, there were quite a few marks on the carpet so in my opinion it hadn't undergone a deep clean, the edges of the furniture were quite damaged as well. There was plenty of wardrobe space with about 30 good wooden hangers, lots of drawer space, and a flat screen TV, hairdryer which wasn't fixed was in the dressing table cupboard and was actually quite powerful, the safe was in a cupboard above the TV.

There is plenty of room under the bed for storing cases, we had 2 large hard shell cases which we put under unopened and 2 smaller cases with space to spare.

The bathroom is very compact and could be a tight space for anyone who is of larger proportions especially between the toilet and the shower, on the plus side it was a shower screen rather than a curtain, plenty of hot water and there was sufficient space for toiletries on both sides of the wash-hand basin.

There is no turn down service but Adie left us 4 bath towels every day, he was very pleasant and did a good job, not that we were high maintenance.

The ship isn't large and is easy to navigate if you are looking for entertainment or bars. The Clifton, Angel, Pendennis, Purple Turtle and The Cavern bars were always popular and the entertainment in each venue was very good and seats filled up very quickly, there was always plenty of staff serving and we were usually served very quickly especially when the staff got to know you and your drink of choice. A lot of people like having a few nuts or crisps when having a drink and if I was being critical there were no nuts or crisps on offer in any of the bars.

The Palladium Theatre is nice and well laid out. The cruise director was very good and The Palladium Theatre group were excellent, they put on several shows and these were very popular, some guests leaving the restaurant and sitting in the theatre for over an hour.

Martin Daniels put on two shows but to be honest the content was the same as the shows he did about 10 years ago on P&O but he entertained the audience.

There was also an acting group on board who did some small plays, again very entertaining and something different to watch in the afternoon or evening.

The guest speaker was very informative, the lectures were about Stevie Wonder and the history of Motown.

There was also the Captain and Officers question and answers however this was clearly staged and only certain generic questions were asked, there was no roving mike as is usual at these events, keeping the Captain from answering awkward questions I think.

Food and dining is always subjective what one person enjoys another dislikes.

The Borough Market buffet at breakfast and lunch was always busy sometimes manic because unlike larger ships where food is available more or less all day on Ambition breakfast was from 7am - 10am and lunch 12pm - 14:30 so it was a short window but we always found a seat further away from the buffet.

This area had obviously not had any alterations done in it as it's very badly laid out and is very congested, people walking in all directions, not paying attention to where they are going or who was behind them, especially at the hot drinks dispenser, which was more like a corridor far too narrow with guests trying to pour hot drinks while people struggled to get passed including the buffet staff with trolleys.

Don't expect the selection or variety of food you get on larger ships, we didn't think there was a massive choice but we always managed to find something to eat, the alfresco grill offered 2 types of pizza everyday, hot dogs and sometimes burgers.

Although there are sinks and hand gel at the entrance to the buffet a lot of passengers didn't feel hand washing applied to them and there were no staff on duty to encourage people to do this, although you shouldn't have to remind people to do this and considering how important personal hygiene is but particularly on a cruise ship I feel this should be taken more seriously. 

Our dining time was 1st sitting at 17:30, and we requested a table for 2 when booking which we got and we were allocated The Holyrood Restuarant, table number 100, we had 2 attentive waiters who made sure our wine glasses were topped up, the food wasn't the best we've experienced but certainly not the worst, we always found something we liked however a lot of the food was over salted. 

One big complaint for us and many others we spoke to is that 17:30 is far too early for dinner, most people were finished by 19:00 and I can see no reason why 1st sitting can't be at 18:15 this still gives the waiters ample time to re set the tables for 2nd sitting at 20:15. During our cruise the restaurant was never at any time running at full capacity, there were a lot of empty seats, tables for 6 with only 2 people at it for the full cruise.

As this was a more traditional ship it was nice to see some passengers made an effort on the formal nights with gents in dinner jackets and bow ties and the ladies in lovely dresses however it's disappointing that some thought jeans and a T shirt was appropriate it certainly doesn't add to the ambience on the ship but that's just my opinion.

We did not like some areas of the pool deck, old and stained sun beds and the round wooden seating areas were in need to maintance, it certainly wouldn't entice me sit there however at one end of the deck and at the side of the pool deck there was a nicer area with decent seating and tables on both sides.

Even though we've been to the Fjords several times the scenery is always different and Fjords are quite spectacular, the weather was reasonable we had some rain, sun and it was chilly. 

The less positive experience was our cabin thermostat even at high was cold, it was like this the day we embarked and on the sea day which we reported to Adie our cabin steward and reported it at reception, the public areas were cold and it was particularly cold in the theatre, it improved after it was reported so I'm not sure what the issue was.

It doesn't matter how many times there were anouncements over the tannoy and in the daily paper about the vacumn system on 

We've cruised numerous times with many cruise lines however this was the first with Ambassador and the reason we chose this line was purely because it was sailing from Dundee so there was no flying and only an hours drive from Fife.

A marquee is the check-in area so it's not a permanant feature due to the limited number of cruisesleaving from Dundee. You have to navigate some less than smooth surfaces however the porters were very efficient and friendly helping anyone who needed assistance.

Our main luggage arrived not long after and we were unpacked and organised well before the boat drill at 15:30, this was a proper muster drill where all passengers go to their muster stationon deck and listening to the safety briefing and watching the crew put on their life jackets.

The bathroom; very compact and could be a tight space for anyone who is of larger proportions especially between the toilet and the shower, on the plus side it was a shower screen rather than a curtain, plenty of hot water and there was sufficient space for toiletries on both sides of the wash-hand basin.

The Paladium Theatre is nice and well laid out. The cruise director was very good and The Paladium Theatre group were excellent, they put on several shows and these were very popular, some guests leaving the restaurant and sitting in the theatre for over an hour.

The Borough Market buffet, always busy sometimes manic but we always found a seat. This area had obviously not had any alterations done in it, it is badly laid out and is very congested, people walking in all directions, not paying attention to where they are going or who was behind them, especially at the hot drinks dispenser, which was more like a corridor far too narrow with guests trying to pour hot drinks while people struggled to get passed including the buffet staff with trolleys.

Don't expect the selection or variety of food you get on larger ships, we didn't think there wasn't a massive choice but we always managed to find something to eat, the alfresco grill offered 2 types of pizza everyday, hot dogs and sometimes burgers.

Although there are sinks and hand gel at the entrance to the buffet a lot of passengers didn't feel hand washing applied to them and there were no staff on duty to encourage people to do this, although you shouldn't have to remind people to do this and considering how important personal hygiene is but particularly on a cruise ship I feel this should be taken more seriously

Our dining time was 1st sitting at 17:30, and we requested a table for 2 when booking which we got and we were allocated The Holyrood Restuarant, table number 100, we had 2 attentive waiters who made sure our wine glasses were topped up, the food wasn't the best we've experienced but certainly not the worst, we always found something we liked.

We did not like some areas of the pool deck, old and stained sun beds and the round wooden seating areas were in need to maintance, it certainly wouldn't entice me sit there however at the side of the pool deck there was a nicer area with decent seating and tables on both sides.

Even though we've been to the Fjords several times the scenery is always different and Fjords are quite spectacular, the weather was reasonable we had some rain, sun and cold.

It doesn't matter how many times there were anouncements over the tannoy and in the daily paper about the vacumn system on the ship and not to put anything other than toilet paper in the toilets.

We had an issue with the toilets not flushing on deck 8, we've no idea when the problem started as they weren't working when we got up at 7am and we reported it straight away to reception and it was about lunch time before they were working again, it's very inconvenient having to go down 2 decks to use a toilet.

We also know Deck 9 had no toilets or water for over 2 days as we overhead passengers complaining at reception which is totally unacceptable.

I know in other reviews some people had problems with waiting for drinks however we didn't experience this at any time in fact new staff came on in Newcastle and again in Dundee as we watched them boarding.

Leaving from Dundee

Reasonable priced drinks although we did have the Expedition Drinks Package and made good use of it.

The staff were first class, very friendly and helpful

Good entertainment

Traditional cruising

It's an old ship so in constant need of maintenance and not having toilets and water is unacceptable

Tired bathrooms

1st sitting for dinner is far too early

Overall we had a good time and we would book on Ambition again but only if its sailing from a port near us Dundee or Leith, we wouldn't make the effort to get to Tilbury for example. 

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Thanks very much for the review  - I’ve been looking forward to a review of Ambition.

It sounds similar to Ambience with the air conditioning / lack of repair issues.

The buffet sounds dreadful - can you have breakfast / lunch in the main dining room ?

Its a shame they haven’t done a better job refurbished these 2 ships.

1 hour ago, paulatsea said: Thanks very much for the review  - I’ve been looking forward to a review of Ambition. It sounds similar to Ambience with the air conditioning / lack of repair issues. The buffet sounds dreadful - can you have breakfast / lunch in the main dining room ?   Its a shame they haven’t done a better job refurbished these 2 ships.  

Yes you can have breakfast and lunch in the Buckingham restaurant and it's a combination of self service and waiter service. 

I tried to be as objective as possible and the public areas are nice however this a ship that's over 20 years old and the infrastructure is not as good as the newer ships and I agree they should have made a point of refurbishing certain areas especially the Borough Market, after all Ambassador made a fortune from the Scottish Government. 

There isn't anything that would prevent me cruising on Ambition again but I would only cruise if the ship was sailing from a Scottish port. 

I'm sure if you decide to cruise on Ambition you'll enjoy it. 

1 hour ago, NightWoman said: Yes you can have breakfast and lunch in the Buckingham restaurant and it's a combination of self service and waiter service.  I tried to be as objective as possible and the public areas are nice however this a ship that's over 20 years old and the infrastructure is not as good as the newer ships and I agree they should have made a point of refurbishing certain areas especially the Borough Market, after all Ambassador made a fortune from the Scottish Government.  There isn't anything that would prevent me cruising on Ambition again but I would only cruise if the ship was sailing from a Scottish port.  I'm sure if you decide to cruise on Ambition you'll enjoy it. 

Thank you. 👍

tim_london0

Why do people even expect a turn-down service?

this is 2020, not 1920.

Thanks for the review BTW  😀

1 hour ago, tim_london0 said: Why do people even expect a turn-down service?   this is 2020, not 1920.   Thanks for the review BTW  😀    

It’s 2023 !! I like a turndown very much - part of a special service - but I don’t expect it anymore though. Marella still do it.

I just got off Ambition after the Fire & Ice cruise, and I agree with most of what you have said with a few exceptions. 

-Our cabin was too warm and we complained four times to no avail.  Finally when the outdoor temperature hit 20 three days before disembarkation, miraculously our cabin was cool and we could hear the fan operating.  This leads me to believe that it makes no difference what the passengers want...the HVAC gets turned on based on outdoor temps.  The coolest area of the ship is the games room (Aces & Eights)

-I loved Deck 11 (the pool deck)...I thought it was pretty and homey and had lots of little areas that let you enjoy the outdoors.  Most of the cruise there was no music on Deck 11 so you could talk or read easily. The pool was rarely filled and running, but when it was, it was more like a fountain...very pretty.  

-After a couple of days I started skipping breakfast because I hate starting my day at a buffet...and the breakfast choices were boring.  

-They have a very good baker on board. 

-The dining room meals were nicely presented and served with nice sauces and good sides, but a few times the meat wasn't good at all.  

-The dining room (Buckingham) was particularly warm, even when the AC got turned on.  I could practically feel my ankles swelling while I sat there

-Apart from one formal night per week, the rest of the dinners were casual.  Boy, did I pack wrong!

-Apart from the captain's welcome party, there was no formal portrait photography, just some dinner table shots.

-there are only three small drawers in the cabin. (inside) Everything else is shelving behind cabinet doors, so I recommend bringing some little plastic trays or ikea folding baskets to hold small items like medicines and makeup, etc.

-in an inside, there are two UK outlets, one euro outlet, one USB and one USB-C outlets, plus one shaver outlet in the ceiling of the bathroom.The outlets take the place of what should have been a shallow desk drawer, again, leaving no where to store small items

-I found that most people at first sitting used the hand sanitizer...I didn't because I had just come from my cabin where I had washed my hands.  I found the wash stations useful for lunch at the buffet

Hi we are due to sail in July to the Artic circle land of the midnight sun cruise, I thought the Ambition was a new ship in the Ambassador line. 

We have sailed to many places around the world and was really looking for ward to this one. We used to use Cruise and Maritime before they ceased trading.

I'm the exact opposite of Milaandra

I hate breakfast taking an hour because I have to wait for someone to take my order and serve it to me.

Though I do agree with him/her/them (sorry don't have enough info to tell) that breakfast, the world over, is a repetitive choice the inclusion of which I would rather not have made for me by the travel operator - though this is more a point of relevance when it is only breakfast is included in the price.  With an all-you-can-eat deal such as is normal on a cruise you can skip brekkie and make up for it elsewhere, at no additional cost - not so if you are touring on a B&B package.

yorkshirephil

On 6/15/2023 at 10:01 AM, tim_london0 said: Why do people even expect a turn-down service?   this is 2020, not 1920.   Thanks for the review BTW  😀    

Turn down may become a thing of the past as more lines seem to be moving away from turn down. I know some people like it but not a big deal for us, we had been on Arcadia for 3 days last December before my other half realised. It would be interesting to see how many would take it up if it was an added priced extra, as extra priced services seem to be the trend these days.

Host Jazzbeau

Fresh towels after the pre-dinner shower – priceless!

Because it was always part of the cruise experience and when cruising restarted after COVID it was a good reason for cruise lines to stop it, get the cabin stewards doing extra duties at night so no need to employ more crew. 

Why do I like it; we aren't hard to please and always have a tidy cabin but i t was nice to come in after your night out, clean towels bed turned down and next days paper left in the cabin. 

I understand why people don't want it as quotes like " your cabin steward works hard" yes they always have done but now they take longer doing cabins during the day, short break then go onto other duties at night, bar or waiting staff etc., I think they would prefer dealing with the cabins. 

Before, cabin steward's would start at 8am work until 12, or 1pm at the latest have a break, restart at 6pm and finish between 9pm and 10pm, personally speaking and what I have seen they are now working longer hours. 

Over the years cruise lines have steadily been removing or cutting back on perks and services but it's only my opinion and others will no doubt have their own views 😊

7 hours ago, yorkshirephil said: Turn down may become a thing of the past as more lines seem to be moving away from turn down. I know some people like it but not a big deal for us, we had been on Arcadia for 3 days last December before my other half realised. It would be interesting to see how many would take it up if it was an added priced extra, as extra priced services seem to be the trend these days.

Maybe a “select price plus”  - includes : 

full breakfast in the cabin (n times)

priority boarding

I would pay extra for that. 

On 6/19/2023 at 9:49 PM, Mrscw said: Hi we are due to sail in July to the Artic circle land of the midnight sun cruise, I thought the Ambition was a new ship in the Ambassador line.  We have sailed to many places around the world and was really looking for ward to this one. We used to use Cruise and Maritime before they ceased trading.

She is new to Ambassador but began her service in 1999. Her last major refit as far as cabins/public rooms is concerned was in 2019 when she went into service with Aida Cruises.

We’re really looking forward to sailing on Ambition after 2 cruises on Ambience (just booked for March 2025 😱 ). Having looked at the deck plans there seem to be a lot of differences but I quite like that the ships are different and will have their own character. We have no problem with the fact that they’re both “pre-loved” ships from other lines. We also sailed with CMV on the Marco Polo and Columbus and loved both of them (lights blue touch paper and retires)! 

12 hours ago, Martha1974 said: We’re really looking forward to sailing on Ambition after 2 cruises on Ambience (just booked for March 2025 😱 ). Having looked at the deck plans there seem to be a lot of differences but I quite like that the ships are different and will have their own character. We have no problem with the fact that they’re both “pre-loved” ships from other lines. We also sailed with CMV on the Marco Polo and Columbus and loved both of them (lights blue touch paper and retires)! 

We are also looking forward to cruising on Ambition after two cruises on Ambience, the fact that they are second hand makes no difference to us, we have just got back from a Cunard cruise on QE and she is a beautiful (old style) ship but needs a bit of TLC as she is getting on. We had a few cruises with CMV on Marco Polo which we loved and Columbus which looked brand new inside after the refit. 

Tradition 😀

Hi Mrscw, I think we are on the same one; 25 July, 14  nights, from Liverpool? We too used to enjoy CMC cruises and were sad when they ceased trading during covid. We enjoy the speakers and crafting sessions in particular. It was a good price when we booked it a few months ago but now price is fallen further :O

24 minutes ago, AJ28 said: Hi Mrscw, I think we are on the same one; 25 July, 14  nights, from Liverpool? We too used to enjoy CMC cruises and were sad when they ceased trading during covid. We enjoy the speakers and crafting sessions in particular. It was a good price when we booked it a few months ago but now price is fallen further 😮

Yes we are sailing on that one, we booked over a year ago as it is for special birthdays hubby 80 and me 70. we have noticed the price difference pity they cannot refund the difference. Struggling a little with what to pack, thinking of several layers for during the day and adding a shawl or light jacket for the evenings. 

21 minutes ago, Mrscw said: Yes we are sailing on that one, we booked over a year ago as it is for special birthdays hubby 80 and me 70. we have noticed the price difference pity they cannot refund the difference. Struggling a little with what to pack, thinking of several layers for during the day and adding a shawl or light jacket for the evenings. 

It's for my 60th! We've done several northern cruises over the years, visiting Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Faroes, all in July. I will take a waterproof jacket, comfortable waterproof walking shoes, brolly, hat, gloves and scarf for those "just in case" cold or rainy days in port or on any sea days (we have seven on this cruise).If I don't need to use them - its not a waste, its a win!

Although I am a Scouser born and bred, I've lived in Falkirk nearly 30 years and my mum stays in North Wales so we were happy to sail from Liverpool (done so before on a CMV ship) and will stay with her and drive up on the 25th. I am assuming you've got free parking as you booked early?

13 minutes ago, AJ28 said: It's for my 60th! We've done several northern cruises over the years, visiting Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Faroes, all in July. I will take a waterproof jacket, comfortable waterproof walking shoes, brolly, hat, gloves and scarf for those "just in case" cold or rainy days in port or on any sea days (we have seven on this cruise).If I don't need to use them - its not a waste, its a win!   Although I am a Scouser born and bred, I've lived in Falkirk nearly 30 years and my mum stays in North Wales so we were happy to sail from Liverpool (done so before on a CMV ship) and will stay with her and drive up on the 25th. I am assuming you've got free parking as you booked early?

We have all that as we went to Finland January 2022 just the opposite as it was never day light. Did not take up the free parking as our son will be driving us we are in Lancashire so not a long drive. Do you know how many Captain nights there are? Getting quite excited now. 

6 minutes ago, Mrscw said: We have all that as we went to Finland January 2022 just the opposite as it was never day light. Did not take up the free parking as our son will be driving us we are in Lancashire so not a long drive. Do you know how many Captain nights there are? Getting quite excited now. 

Oooh January, a very different experience. Did you see Northern Lights? We had them one evening a few month ago here but I had an early night and missed them!

I am assuming two formal-ish nights, one per week. I will take some dresses for evenings and a fancy cardigan. Trousers/tops for day time. Are you interested in meeting for a coffee/chat when onboard? We booked a guarantee outside and are at front on deck 8 (above the ship's name). I'm looking forward to the craft classes and Adrian (husband) likes the speakers events.

39 minutes ago, AJ28 said: Oooh January, a very different experience. Did you see Northern Lights? We had them one evening a few month ago here but I had an early night and missed them!   I am assuming two formal-ish nights, one per week. I will take some dresses for evenings and a fancy cardigan. Trousers/tops for day time. Are you interested in meeting for a coffee/chat when onboard? We booked a guarantee outside and are at front on deck 8 (above the ship's name). I'm looking forward to the craft classes and Adrian (husband) likes the  speakers events.

We are also on Deck 8 with an outside cabin. Yes we saw the Northern Lights but a very small show that night. It was great, we had a night in the Ice hotel that was amazing. it was -25 one day but because there was no wind did not feel that cold. Yes would love to meet for coffee/chat onboard. 

47 minutes ago, AJ28 said: Oooh January, a very different experience. Did you see Northern Lights? We had them one evening a few month ago here but I had an early night and missed them!   I am assuming two formal-ish nights, one per week. I will take some dresses for evenings and a fancy cardigan. Trousers/tops for day time. Are you interested in meeting for a coffee/chat when onboard? We booked a guarantee outside and are at front on deck 8 (above the ship's name). I'm looking forward to the craft classes and Adrian (husband) likes the speakers events.

Do you do lots of crafts? 

20 minutes ago, Mrscw said: Do you do lots of crafts? 

I do. I'll try anything! I like to do small cross stitch pics (for cards) though need a magnifier to see pattern/thread needles. On past CMV cruises I brought a latch-hook pic to do on sea days. Currently into needle felting at the moment, particularly landscapes but started with a cactus at a workshop last year, well chuffed with it! 

I'm pretty philosophical about the current price reductions, we booked in April, couldn't any earlier, and as my local cattery was getting full for July (and its the best one for my cat) had to find something quick. The major pluses are a relatively short drive to the port from North Wales (which is far better than driving to Southampton) and an itinerary which we know from past experience we will enjoy as we love fjords, the type of ship vibe is another plus and we hope it is similar to CMV.

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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 deck plans

Deck layouts, review of facilities, activities, amenities.

Ambition deck plan review at CruiseMapper provides newest cruise deck plans (2024-2025-2026 valid floor layouts of the vessel) extracted from the officially issued by Ambassador Cruise Line deckplan pdf (printable version).

Each of the Ambition cruise ship deck plans are conveniently combined with a legend (showing cabin codes) and detailed review of all the deck's venues and passenger-accessible indoor and outdoor areas. A separate link provides an extensive information on Ambition staterooms (cabins and suites), including photos, cabin plans and amenities by room type and category.

MS Ambition (1999-built as "Mistral", last refurbished in 2023 April-May, last refurbishment by Costa in 2019 November) was Costa's smallest cruise ship (Costa neoRiviera).

The vessel's name was changed 5 times: MS Mistral (newbuild for Festival Cruises / 1999-2003), MS Grand Mistral (2003-2013, for Iberocruises), Costa neoRiviera (2004-2018, for Costa Cruises ), AIDAmira (2019-2022, for AIDA Cruises ) and Ambassador Ambition (since 2022, for Ambassador Cruise Line ). Costa neoRiviera was one of Costa's "neoCollection" ships - with fleetmates Costa neoClassica/now Grand Classica and Costa neoRomantica (1993-built/2021-scrapped) .

The shipowner was Costa Crucere ( Carnival Corporation -owned company), while the ship operator was Carnival's German subsidiary AIDA Cruises.

Following the drydock 2019 refit, Costa neoRiviera joined AIDA under the name "AIDAmira". The liner was extensively refurbished and remodeled. Swimming pools were reduced from 3 to 2 (and enlarged) with 2x Jacuzzis (large whirlpool hot tubs on Sun Deck). Of the 624 staterooms, 96 were suites (80 balconied).

AIDAmira cruise ship deck plan shows a total of 624 cabins for 1248 passengers (max occupancy is 1428) served by 670 crew-staff. The boat has 13 decks (10 passenger-accessible, 4 with cabins), 6 restaurants and food bars, 6 bars and lounges, 2 swimming pools, 2 Jacuzzies (outdoor whirlpool hot tubs), 6 elevators.

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) aimed to transform 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.

Costa neoRiviera cruise ship deck plan has a total of 624 staterooms for 1248 passengers (max capacity is 1727 guests), served by 600 crew/staff. The ship has 8 passenger decks (all named after famous Italian and French Riviera ports and sites), 3 restaurants, 10 lounges and bars, 2 swimming pools, 2 Jacuzzies, 6 elevators. neoRiviera has no self-service laundromats on board (laundry facilities for passenger use). neoRiviera has numerous artworks and paintings (themed on the Italian and French rivieras) displayed at various places throughout the ship.

Deck layouts

Deck 04 - tendering, deck 05 - lobby-shops-restaurant, deck 06 - promenade-casino-shops, deck 07 - cabins-hospital, deck 08 - cabins, deck 09 - cabins, deck 10 - bridge-cabins, deck 11 - lido-pools-spa-kids, deck 12 - kids, deck 14 - sports, deck 15 - costa neoriviera deck 5, deck 16 - costa neoriviera deck 6, deck 17 - costa neoriviera deck 7, deck 18 - costa neoriviera deck 8, deck 19 - costa neoriviera deck 9, deck 20 - costa neoriviera deck 10, deck 21 - costa neoriviera deck 11, deck 22 - costa neoriviera deck 12.

Ambition deck plans are property of Ambassador Cruise Line . All deck layouts are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9172777

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The current position of AMBITION is at North Sea reported 5 hours ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Lerwick, United Kingdom (UK) , sailing at a speed of 15.7 knots and expected to arrive there on Jul 2, 07:00 . The vessel AMBITION (IMO 9172777, MMSI 311001141) is a Passenger (Cruise) Ship built in 1999 (25 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Bahamas .

Position & Voyage Data

Map position & weather, recent port calls, vessel utilization, vessel particulars, similar vessels, related news.

AMBITION current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of AMBITION data.