This weekend I stayed overnight on Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience, once again using the festive event programme that the cruise line arranges to see more of this interesting ship. This was a festive event where the ship is docked in Tilbury.

Ambience entered service in 1991 for Princess Cruises as Regal Princess named in New York by former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Both Regal Princess and her sistership Crown Princess had been ordered by Sitmar Cruises but that cruise line was acquired by Princess while they were being constructed. These ships were essentially restyled versions of the French built Sitmar FairMajesty (delivered as Star Princess, later Arcadia, Ocean Village, Pacific Pearl and Columbus), the ships were restyled by Italian Architect Renzo Piano and constructed at Fincantieri. The inspiration for the design was said to be a dolphin.

I had previously sailed on near fleet mate the former Sitmar FairMajesty/Star Princess as Ocean Village, and indeed her sistership Crown Princess later became Ocean Village 2. So I was keen to see what the ship was like onboard. I am a fan of these festive events and I think Ambassador is doing them very well, I do however wish they weren’t in Tilbury which is such a pain to get to. I took the train this time, and the walk from the station to the cruise terminal with bags wasn’t the most enjoyable.

Back to Ambience, the ship has an interesting history having entered service with Princess Cruises there were proposals to transfer to A’Rosa Cruises, like her sister Crown Princess in 2004, and then to join Ocean Village in 2006 but this was also cancelled, but change happened in 2007 when she was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and became Pacific Dawn.

In 2019 it was announced Pacific Dawn had been sold to Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) as Amy Johnson in 2021. However, it was not to be, CMV collapsed during the pandemic and she was sold to Ocean Builders Central for $9.5million and named Satoshi. It was proposed to anchor her off the coast of Panama, as a crypto hub with 2000 residents who would buy cabins and the space onboard would be created for commercial cryptocurrency-focused businesses. It was a boom time in bitcoin and newly minted millionaire were looking at what to do with their fortunes. As fate would have it, they could not secure insurance for the ship’s proposed operation. The world was beginning to reopen and steel prices had increased, she was sold in December 2020, at a profit, to be scrapped in Alang.

It was obviously not over however as in March 2021 the ship was reported as acquired for a European cruise start-up for an expected $12m. In May 2021 it was announced that this would be a British start-up cruise line known as Ambassador, which partly fills the space vacated by CMV. She entered service with Ambassador as Ambience in April 2022 and has been operating alongside the fleet mate Ambition, which I stayed on last year <Read about that here>

The Festive Event is really popular and quickly sells out, This time I secured a cabin on Deck 10, outside with a large picture window, at the front of the ship. This cabin was in a great location to go onto the viewing platform at the front of the ship, sadly, being Tilbury in December, there was not much to see. The cabin was smart and clean however at 33 years of service is showing some wear and tear, but not an issue. One of the benefits of the festive event is they open showrooms across the ship so I also took photos in one of the balcony suites.

The food onboard was excellent and accompanied by wine, I – unwittingly – ordered exactly the same thing I had a year earlier, for starter the Roasted Beatroof Carpaccio, Soup/Salad course I had Quinoa, Kale, Tomato and Avocado Salad. Main I had Roast Beef and for Dessert, I had the Christmas Yule log. The staff were really helpful and friendly and the ships Buckingham Restuarant is smartly presented.

After the meal there was a show in the main theatre, I was less impressed with this as it felt of lower quality, however, the ship’s theatre is a significant space and double height. Not entertained by the entertainment, I took the opportunity to look around. My favourite place was probably the bar SW19 on the top level of Centre Court (the ships Atrium). This three-story atrium has been modernised and refreshed through the ship’s operation so looks excellent decorated for Christmas. The Observatory above the bridge on the top deck is an excellent space, and one I think most passengers would enjoy.

In the morning I was up early to get some photos without people in and then I had breakfast in the Borough Marketplace at the aft of Deck 11, the breakfast was one of the best I’ve had in a while with perfect poached eggs. I didn’t get the opportunity to try out all the spaces onboard but I think Ambience would be an excellent cruise ship for a longer slower cruise break, she would be a brilliant way to see the Fjords or other spectacular landscapes with her open promenade decks, viewing points and the observatory.

Overall I thought Ambience was a comfortable and welcoming ship, wonderfully decorated for the festive season and once again Ambassador delivered great food onboard, which for me is such an important part of the cruise. I still hope that Ambassador will continue to expand the tradition across the UK, it would be brilliant in Liverpool!

Have you been on an Ambassador Cruise or are you taking part in one of the festive nights?

Thanks,

Liam

Read about my time on Ambition here