Want an Adult Only cruise? Tick. Want to sail from the UK instead of flying to your start destination? Tick. What about sustainability, excellent dining and outstanding service? Tick, tick, tick!
As we were to discover, sailing with Ambassador Cruises Line is unlike any other cruise holidays you may have been on, and for all the right reasons.
Although seasoned cruise lovers, this was our first cruising experience with Ambassador, it was also the smallest ship we have ever sailed on, which meant for once we didn’t know what to expect, and we were really looking forward to our ‘voyage of discovery’.
Ambition, the smaller of Ambassador’s two ships, was to take us back to one of our favourite Scandinavian destinations; Norway. A country we have visited on cruise holidays twice before, but this time was to be different – in so many ways.
The journey started in a very relaxed way with a drive from Leeds to Newcastle where we were to board Ambition. Our journey took a mere two and a half hours, and was so relaxed and quick that we even had time to find a spot in the city for brunch before heading to the docks.
Here’s where the real adventure started. We discovered everything you need to know about cruise holidays with Ambassador Cruise Line, on Ambition.
Boarding:
Newcastle Docks are very easy to find, and locating Ambassador’s car park was even easier. Well signed, with plenty of staff to direct you, help with luggage and take care of your vehicle while you enjoy your holiday. We were off to a great start. This was smooth.
Onboard Ambition, we were greeted by huge smiles and taken through the security and boarding process quickly and smoothly. We headed straight to our cabin to familiarise ourselves, and then we were off to see the ship’s layout.
Cruise holidays are all about ease, being whisked from one destination to the next, the only thing you need to do is work your way around the ship to find out what is where. This was really easy on Ambition.
Our Ship:
Aptly named to emphasise Ambassador’s commitment to inspire and delight every guest to enjoy an authentic cruise experience effortlessly, and sustainably.
Ambition carries 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. We were pleasantly surprised at how large the cabins are.
There are two main restaurants, along with speciality dining options, and a more casual bistro-style café. You can enjoy a drink in one of her four bars, lounges and pub, take in a show in the tiered main theatre, or while away those sea days in the card room, library, and craft studio.
Other facilities include the wellness centre, gym, two swimming pools and a range of retail shops.
Our Cabin:
Our home from home for the week was a Junior Suite, it was surprisingly spacious and air-conditioned with ensuite facilities including a shower and ample storage space, with room under the beds to store suitcases.
All cabins have a range of impressive amenities and personal touches. Tea and coffee making facilities, hair dryer, personal safe, UK three pin electrical sockets and USB ports. There is also a flat screen TV with a range of house movies, news, documentaries, and ship information channels.
Personally, we need to work from wherever we are in the world, so we were delighted to have desk space for our laptop and great WIFI onboard. You do have to pay extra for WIFI, but it’s worth it.
Something we really enjoyed and made use of was our balcony. The perfect viewing spot for sail aways and capturing those awe inspiring early morning arrivals at each destination.
Dining:
Well, it has to be said – overall, the food on Ambition was some of the best dining we have ever enjoyed on a cruise!
From the all-inclusive dinners in the Buckingham and Holyrood, to Borough Market where you will find delicious dishes from around the world. Borough Market is also part of your inclusive package. Here, they also serve a great buffet breakfast and the best afternoon tea! Make sure you pack some elastic waisted clothes because it will become a daily ritual!
Speciality restaurants are Saffron, where we had a stunning Indian meal, and Lupino’s where we dined on a Mediterranean banquet while watching the sunset. These moments are priceless.
For the ultimate dining experience onboard, it has to be the Chef’s Table, a VIP multi-course dining experience specially created and hosted by the Executive Chef, including a tour to the Galley.
However, like us, you might just be lucky enough to be invited to the Officer’s Table. We thought this was a fabulous idea. We met some lovely people and were hosted and entertained by members of the crew all evening. This was also the night of the ‘Baked Alaska Parade’, a real fun highlight and I know that everyone around that table made many lasting memories that evening.
Our Itinerary:
We boarded in Newcastle and sailed overnight to Dundee to collect more passengers, leaving us with the whole day to explore.
Dundee: what a fabulous city! We had never been before, but one thing’s for sure – we will definitely go back. Dundee is full of beautiful historic buildings, in fact it’s a variety of history and culture. From magnificent ships to interesting galleries and cool museums. It’s also home of the Beano.
Top Tip: be ready with your camera for huge statues of Beano characters everywhere.
Top Tip: make time to climb Dundee Law, a hill in the centre of Dundee and the highest point in the city. The Law is what remains of a volcanic sill, which is the result of volcanic activity around 400 million years ago. With a large war memorial at its summit, it is the most prominent feature on the local skyline.
Eidfjord: this was our first Norwegian port of call, a picturesque village with steep mountainsides, mountain lakes, glaciers and waterfalls. The sun was shining and we saw the landscape in its full glory. Being avid hikers, we took ourselves off to explore the area, but many took advantage of the ships excursions (these can be booked before you set sail). We saw quite a few people kayaking or taking a guided bus tour to Vøringsfossen waterfall. You have the freedom to spend your time in port however you want to. Some even choose to stay onboard and take advantage of the ship’s leisure and spa facilities while it’s quiet. But you will be missing out on the most amazing scenery and landscapes.
Top Tip: if you have a drone, take it! You will capture spectacular footage.
Flam: this was another Norwegian village we hadn’t visited before, and it’s one of the most visited tourist destinations in Norway – for a reason. Mainly due to its closeness to the beautiful Nærøyfjord, and the fact that the Flåm Railway (another major attraction) ends there. We had booked a trip on the Railway, stopping off at Kjosfossen, one of the most visited waterfalls in Norway. It’s an impressive sight and the sound of the water is like thunder. We were hiking back down the mountain – 10 miles or so, but the weather had taken a turn and rather than the scenic hike planned, we found ourselves ‘yomping’ down the mountain at pace, stopping briefly for a hot chocolate to shelter from the pounding rain. But I have to admit, it was a great day, we laughed – a lot, and met some great people from the ship. We also built an appetite for dinner!
Top Tip: take walking boots, warm jumpers and waterproof clothing. Be prepared for anything!
Bergen: our final port of call and one we knew our way around. We love Bergen. Standing on the top of Ulriken, overlooking the sea, islands, mountains and fjords. It is perfectly situated between the two biggest fjords in Norway, the Hardangerfjord and the Sognefjord, this city is known for its history and culture. We had forgotten how much we loved this place with its colourful wooden houses on the old wharf, once a centre of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire. It gives a real sense of old Norway. We took the Floibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen where there is a viewing platform, and those views are breathtaking!
Top Tip: if the weather is on your side, you have to take the Floibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen. You can also enjoy coffee and cake at the top!
The Green Spa Wellness Centre:
We had been looking forward to our visit to The Green Spa Wellness Centre, and it was the perfect way to spend our last day at sea. I opted for a relaxing Anti-Aging Facial, while my husband chose a Sports Massage. We both agreed that each treatment was excellent. Both therapists were professional and extremely knowledgeable, giving great advice and recommendations. Afterwards, we felt extremely relaxed and chose to spend the rest of our last day onboard making full use of the excellent leisure facilities.
Top Tip: the spa onboard is always busy on sea days, make sure you book as soon as you board to avoid disappointment.
Which UK Ports Does Ambassador Set Sail From:
Billing itself as the UK’s leading premium value, no-fly cruise line, the brand, Ambassador Cruise Line has two ships: Ambition and Ambience. They sail from:
Newcastle
Liverpool
Dundee
Edinburgh
Leith
Falmouth
Bristol
Belfast
London Tilbury
Choose the port closest to you and enjoy the most stress free cruise of your life!
Final Word:
Ambassador Cruise Line specialise in Adult-Only cruise holidays for the over 50’s. They also have some Multi-Generational cruises which are fantastic for a family getaway.
Personally – we loved it and were not disappointed on any level, in fact we discovered that on a smaller Ambassador ship, the level of service throughout was superb.
With a cruise, you are paying for comfort and convenience, as well as the opportunity to balance the fine art of doing nothing while trying out new activities, they have the balance just right on Ambition. See you onboard?
Happy cruising!
Review and images by Angela Riches
