Photos of Ambition‘s interior and of her naming ceremony here
On February 11, 2023, Ambassador Cruise Line’s second vessel was officially renamed Ambition by godmother two times Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson OBE. A series of speeches given in her theatre The Palladium was started by the line’s CEO Christian Verhounig, followed by commercial director Phil Gardner. Then, captain Oleksii Varyvoda introduced his staff, followed by Shirley Robertson pressing the red button enabling everyone present to watch the champagne bottle smash into the ship’s hull on screen. Finally Ambition could start her new career for Ambassador Cruise Line.
In 2021, Ambassador Cruise Line was founded starting operations a year later with their first vessel Ambience. She was the former Princess Cruises Regal Princess of 1991 and in her first operational year for Ambassador, she carried over 30,000 guests.
In January 2022, a second ship was acquired, the AIDAmira from Aida Cruises. She had been built in 1999 originally for Renaissance Cruises, but the order was later taken over by Festival Cruises (my article on Festival Cruises here and named Mistral.
Mistral was the largest French-flagged cruiseship built since the France in 1961.Targeting the European cruise market, Mistral catered for all the main European languages not only featuring sign-posting in all languages and with her multi-lingual staff, but she also had an interactive television and information system that passengers were able to access in their own language.
However, Festival went bankrupt in 2004 and she was now opearated by Spanish Ibero Cruises for whom she sailed as Grand Mistral from 2005 onwards. In 2013 she went to Costa Cruises, another Carnival owned company ( Carnival had a 75% ownership of Ibero Cruises at the time). She was renamed Costa neoRiviera and would be part of a sub product of Costa: smaller ships sailing on exotic cruises to smaller ports also with longer stays in port. Costa had her refurbished for over $10 mio for her new role. In 2019 she went to yet another Carnival owned line, Aida Cruises. A staggering $55 mio was spent refurbishing her to fit in the Aida-fleet. Aida also planned to user her on longer cruises to off-the-beaten-track destinations as part of their Aida-Selection program. Winter 2019- 2020 AIDAmira sailed for 4 months out of Capetown on 14-day cruises, but this was cut short by the COVID-pandemic in March 2020 and she went into lay up.
In January 2021 she was sold to Ambassador Cruise Line. After a stay in Croatia she was leased to the Scottish government to house Ukrainian refugees while berthed in Glasgow. Afterwards in April 2023 she was sent to Lloyd Werft, Germany for extensive refurbishment work, like stateroom and machinery upgrades as well as the addition of sewage-water treatment plants and scrubbers for reducing emissions. As with Ambience, Ambition will now be among the 10% of the world’s cruise fleet authorised to sail in strictly environmentally protected seas. Her before mentioned updated ballast and sewage water treatment systems as well as the latest emission reduction technologies reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by approximately 95% compared to current standards secures her IMO Tier III compliance.
This delayed the intended start date of her cruise program from March 2023 to May 11 when she was officially renamed Ambition by godmother Shirley Robertson OBE. On May 12 she left Newcastle for her first cruise to France and Spain.
Buckingham and Holyrood are her two main dining rooms. On Lido-deck Borough Market, an informal buffet restaurant is located. Adjacent on the starboard side grill restaurant Alfredo’s is located, while Lupino’s offering Mediterranean style alfresco dining can be found on the port side. Lupino’s has been named after Michelle Lupino, Ambassador’s Head of Destination Management who suddenly passed away in 2022. This Mediterranean-style eatery has a maximum capacity of 70. A very sympathetic gesture of the line. Exceptional gastronomic experiences, according to Ambassador are on offer in Ambition’s specialty restaurant Saffron specialized in Indian dishes.
Cavern is the ship’s main lounge, done in a very vibrant color scheme of blue and orange and with her dance floor and bar a very pleasant spot to be (Boat-deck). One deck down we find the Angel Bar wrapped around and overlooking her small atrium and Clifton Lounge on the same Promenade-deck, midships. Also located midships on Reception-deck, deck 5) the Pendennis bar and forward the Purple Turtle Wine Bar complete the array of indoor bars.
Outside, guests can enjoy drinks on the Sun deck, at the Consulate bar or Pool bar, both siuated on either side of her two pools.
Ambition offers an elaborate entertainment programme of song, dance and comedy at The Palladium Theatre. Grafton Street is her arts, crafts and activity area. Brontë’s library is decorated in a classic style. Here the original dress worn in the 2022 feature film by its main character which is on loan from the film’s producers is on display.
Concluding her facilities are the shopping galleria, fitness centre, outside walkers track, swimming pools as well as the Green Sea Spa with its sauna, steam room, hair salon and a range of available spa treatments.
The 1,200-passenger Ambition has 714 cabins – 125 with balconies as well as 113 suites with up to 62m² of living space. Situated on six accommodation decks from the Reception Deck 5 up to the Sun Deck 12. there are 21 twin and single cabin categories onboard Ambition. They average 16 square meters and can be divided into standard, superior, premium, and de-luxe types of accommodations.
Apart from 19 single cabins all cabins are of double bed configuration and with the exception of two categories, they can all be converted to twin beds. The other single categories are originally double bed cabins for single occupancy. There are 2 cabins 9051 and 9052 located on Consulate Deck 9 which are adapted for guests with disability and mobility needs.
For those who like some luxury, a range of suites is available. All De-Luxe, Premium and Junior Suites come with their own private balcony and sitting area. On top of this, all suites include priority embarkation and luggage delivery guaranteeing a smooth arrival. They even have an umbrella for use on a rainy day as well as a pair of binoculars and a world atlas. Suite guests are also entitled to a laundry service discount and a late check-out.
The following suite categories are available:
- De-luxe suite (42-47 sqm with a balcony of app 15 sqm). These 6 spacious De-Luxe Suites are located aft on Ambition Deck 8 and Boat Deck 7 and comprise a walk-in wardrobe and a separate lounge area, a second flat-screen television in the bedroom, and a mini bar. De Luxe Suite occupants can take advantage of a separate check-in waiting area and easy departure with a private disembarkation waiting area.
- Premium suite (size 26-37 sqm, balcony app 20 sqm) There are 13 spacious Premium Suites located aft from Sun Deck 12 to Boat Deck 7. 8 of these suites also comprise a separate bedroom with a single bed. With the exception of two larger 23sqm balcony suites 12119 & 12120, all the other cabins comprise a walk-in wardrobe and all cabins have a lounge area. Premium Suite occupants can also take advantage of a separate check-in waiting area and easy departure with a private disembarkation waiting area.
- Superior Junior Suite (size 22 sqm, balcony 5 sqm). 46 Superior Junior Suites are located on Sun Deck 12 and Ambassador Deck 10.
- Junior suite (size 22 sqm, balcony 5sqm). 38 Junior Suites are located on Ambassador Deck 10. In addition, 10 Junior Suites Singles (JSS) on Ambassador Deck 10 have been assigned for sole occupancy.
In addition to the 113 de-luxe cabins with balconies, there are 12 Premium Balcony cabins located aft. The remainder of Ambition’s cabins have an average cabin size of 13sqm.
In all, Ambition is a worthy fleetmate to Ambience and she too will be based in the UK, sailing on no-fly cruises and giving guests the classical cruise experience on intimate ships at affordable prices Ambassador is known for.
