Kelly Ranson takes a look at Ambassador Cruise Line’s debut ship, Ambience
Overview: Ambassador Cruise Line’s debut ship, Ambience, launched in April 2022 and is geared to over-50s looking for no-fly cruises from the UK at a reasonable price. Ambience had been due to sail under Cruise & Maritime Voyages before its collapse in 2020, but was given a new lease of life and a refit when it joined the newly formed Ambassador Cruise Line.
Cabins: While the 798 cabins may not be ultra-luxurious, they are super-comfy with plenty of space and storage. The inside cabins start at 190sq ft and the top category Deluxe Suites are about 558sq ft. When Ambassador renovated the 1,400-passenger ship, both the Deluxe Suites and Junior Suites were given a contemporary refurb, so it’s worth considering this if you want to upsell. There are 13 accessible cabins across various categories.
Food & Drink: For a mid-sized ship, Ambience has plenty of food and drink options that cater to the British palate. There are three speciality dining options on Ambience: Saffron offers a variety of Indian dishes at £14.95 per person; while Sea & Grass, with its open kitchen, presents a seven-course menu from £24.95 (or £29.99 with wine pairings); The Chef’s Table is the most expensive option at £89 per person, but involves an eight-course, three-hour extravaganza, which includes a tour of the galley with the executive chef.
The main restaurant, the Buckingham, offers international and locally inspired à la carte dishes, and the Borough Market buffet on Deck 12 is the place for breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. There are 11 lounges and bars, and of course, no British ship would be complete without a pub: the Purple Turtle is the place for a reasonably priced pint and a pub quiz.
Facilities: There will always be something to entertain clients on board, whether that’s dance lessons in the Observatory, Q&As with guest speakers or cabaret-style shows in the Palladium. Outside, the pool deck is reminiscent of the old ocean liners, with teak-style wooden decks.
On the sun deck there are plenty of loungers, plus one main pool, a smaller splash pool and two hot tubs. Ambience also has a sizeable gym and spa, yoga studio, small casino, library and an arts and crafts room. There are a few multigenerational cruises during the summer holidays, but Ambience is primarily aimed at over-50s so the facilities for children are minimal.
USP: Aside from the welcoming atmosphere and home comforts, the stand-out factors are convenience and cost; Ambience offers ‘premium value’ ex-UK departures to destinations across the globe from Tilbury. Next year, Ambience will continue to sail from Tilbury, while in 2024 it will embark on its first 120-night round-the-world cruise.
Book it
A seven-night ‘Autumn Fjordland’ cruise sailing round-trip from Tilbury starts at £739pp in a Standard Outside Twin Cabin based on an October 23 departure.
ambassadorcruiseline.com
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