Ambition Review

4.0 / 5.0
33 reviews
Ambassador's ships Ambiance and Ambition meeting up (Photo: Ambassador Cruise Line)
Ambassador Cruise Line has a wide range of cabins including Junior Suites
The main pool deck on Ambassador Ambition with Liverpool in the background
Purple Turtle bar is a popular spot on Ambassador Ambition cruise ship
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Editor Rating
4.0
Very Good
Overall
Deb Stone
Contributor

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition was renamed at Newcastle’s Port of Tyne cruise terminal in May 2023 by Shirley Robertson OBE, who won double Olympic Gold for Britain in sailing.

Launched in 1999 as Mistral by Festival Cruise, it’s Ambassador’s second ship and had a significant refurbishment during six weeks’ dry dock in Bremerhaven, Germany, before its latest relaunch.

Environmental upgrades make Ambition IMO Tier III compliant and therefore one of the top 10 to 15 per cent environmentally sustainable ships in the world.

Certainly the ship’s refurbishment is a triumph and the Promenade Deck’s lounge and bar areas flow particularly well, as a glance at Ambassador Ambition’s deck plan makes clear.

Ambition is for over-18s and aimed at over-50s Brits, offering affordable no-fly cruises mostly in northern Europe. It has discounts for solo travellers, themed cruises including Christmas markets and a partnership with sealife charity ORCA.

Ambition Cruise Ship Deck Plans Show Six Restaurants And Seven Bars

Ambassador Ambition’s deck plans reveal a spacious and flowing design that combines lively social spaces with quiet corners for a coffee or reading.

The lounge bars have such gorgeous interior designs that it’s a pleasure to linger and there’s even a velvet chaise longue for relaxing in the lovely Bronte’s Library.

Of the 10 passenger decks three are solely for cabins and Deck 4 is for tender embarkations, although the gangway can also be on Deck 5 near Reception.

There are six dining options, plus a paid-for ice cream kiosk on the pool deck when the weather’s hot. Ambassador Ambition’s main dining room is Buckingham Restaurant on Deck 5, a light-filled room which has two dinner sittings.

The more intimate Holyrood Restaurant at the back of Deck 6 has a more sophisticated décor, two sittings and is mostly for suite guests.

Borough Market on deck 11 is the buffet, with a small terrace for dining outdoors. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner it is the only restaurant that provides afternoon tea.

Alfresco Pizza Grill is a semi-covered area on the pool deck and is open for lunch and again from 3-6pm, which is handy if you’ve been off ship.

Paid-for options are Lupino’s with a Mediterranean menu, Saffron for Indian cuisine and Chef’s Table in a curtained off section of Buckingham Restaurant.

Lupino’s is £14.95 and offers a meze-like starter of six dishes, a choice of four main dishes, then a trilogy of three taster deserts. Saffron, at £16.95, also has a set meal where you just choose your main course, while Chef’s Table costs £89 and has 10 courses with wine.

Most of the lounge bars are on Deck 5 and 6, with the complimentary dining rooms at the back of each deck and entrances to The Palladium theatre at the front, so you can drift from dinner, to a bar and the show all on the same deck.

Pendennis Bar on Deck 5 has a pianist or other musicians every night, while The Purple Turtle Wine Bar is next to the theatre.

The Clifton Lounge on Deck 6 often has live classical music and The Angel Bar, just before the upper entrance to the theatre, is just a lovely place to sit and chat.

Deck 7’s The Cavern, with a stage and dance floor, is directly above the theatre and has quizzes and talks as well as game shows and live music.

There are also two bars on Deck 11 near the main two pools, where you’ll also find Borough Market buffet at the back and the spa and gym at the front.

Ambition Has Multiple Cabin Types Including Twins, Solos, And Suites

Ambassador’s Ambition has 697 cabins including 237 Inside cabins, 444 Ocean View cabins with large picture windows, 12 balcony cabins and 113 suites.

While they’re not the most modern layouts all have been well refurbished with wood-grain vinyl wall coverings and many have new bathrooms. All have tea and coffee facilities and one or two UK three pin electrical sockets as well as USB ports, a hairdryer and flat TV screen.

Cabins range from singles at 7sqm to suites at up to 42 sqm with Ocean View and Inner cabins both 13sqm. The biggest suites – De Luxe – are at the back of Deck 7 and 8 (36-42sqm). Next come Premium suites, at the back of Decks 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 (25-36sqm), with Superior Junior Suites on Deck 10 and 12 (19-23sqm), while Junior Suites and Junior Suite Singles are on Deck 10 (21-22sqm). These all have separate showers and bath tubs, fridges and sofas, while the bigger suites have separate lounge areas.

Two cabins have been adapted for guests with disability and mobility needs.

Pros

Adult-only no-fly cruises with regional departures from several UK ports (including Belfast) at very good prices and with excellent service

Cons

Very few balcony cabins and no freestyle dining so dinner is at a designated table and sitting (5.45pm and 8.15pm)

Bottom Line

Affordable cruises with a relaxed atmosphere, variety of entertainment and good food

About

Passengers: 1200
Crew: 500
Passenger to Crew: 2.25:1
Launched: 1999
Shore Excursions: 204

Inclusions

Included with your cruise fare:

  • • Full board (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner) in the main dining rooms and buffet

  • • Captain’s cocktail party and gala dinner

  • • All theatre shows and most entertainment options including quizzes and deck games

  • • Range of fitness, dance and wellness classes

  • • Use of the gym, pools and hot tubs

  • • Use of the Spa’s steam room and sauna

Not included with your cruise fare:

  • • All drinks aside from tap water, tea & coffee at machines in the buffet and Alfresco Pizza Grill

  • • Speciality dining restaurants

  • • Gratuities (£6 per person, per night, or £5 per person, per night, for cruises over 16 nights)

  • • Wi-Fi

  • • Shore excursions

  • • Some craft sessions (water colour painting is £19.99 for a set of paints, paper and a brush but free if you take your own)

  • • Spa treatments

  • • Laundry

  • • Port parking

Fellow Passengers

Most Ambassador Ambition passengers are British, with a healthy contingent of Irish when the ship embarks from Belfast and a sprinkling of Continental Europeans with perhaps a few Antipodeans. There may be some 30 or 40-somethings but most are late 50s or early 60s upwards.

There are no multi-generation sailings on Ambition in 2023.

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Ambition Cruiser Reviews

Wonderful mini cruise despite change of ship

We have just returned from a four day break on Ambition and had a wonderful time.Read More
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seasoned cruiser 1000

many10+ Cruises

Age 67s

DISAPPOINTING FOR US

Due to the entertainment not suiting us, we would not book on Ambition again. However others may love this style of entertainment.Read More
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Voyaging22

many10+ Cruises

Age 64s

A great cruise on a nice ship.

We chose Ambition because we prefer smaller ships, from British ports, and Marella had stopped them. Boarding was really smooth.Read More
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Bignick68

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 70s

Ambition Maiden Voyage

Although the Ambition is twenty years old, you wouldn’t think it.Read More
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russell jack

many10+ Cruises

Age 60s

Ambassador Cruise Line Fleet
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