Proud Partners of Essex County Cricket Club
In It for the Long Innings
Ambassador Cruise Line has been the Official Travel Partner of Essex County Cricket Club since 2022, and it's a partnership that feels a lot like home; our head office is in Essex, many of our team live locally and our flagship Ambience sails from Tilbury, right here in the county.
Our long-term partnership with Essex Cricket has grown season after season, thanks to a strong hands-on approach from both sides of the relationship. From becoming an official partner to seeing our name above the gates, we cherish every moment with the club, its players, volunteers and supporters who keep the sport thriving across Essex.
Partnership Milestones
2022: Official Travel Partner of Essex Cricket, with front of shirt and sleeve sponsorship
2024: Extended our shirt sponsorship to redesign the One Day Cup shirt for the men's, women's and Ability teams in our own branding
2025: Ground naming rights partner, now the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground
Home Ground Advantage
In 2025, we took on the ground naming rights as Essex Cricket's historic home in Chelmsford became the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground. And what a fitting season to put our name to it, with 2025 also marking the 100th year of first-class cricket at the venue.
It's a real privilege to see our name on a ground with so much history, and to share it with the loyal supporters who fill its stands every season.
Purple on the Pitch
Since 2024, Ambassador has been the principal shirt sponsor for Essex's One Day Cup campaign, with our logo displayed on the kit worn by the men's, women's and Ability teams. Better still, the kit comes in our brand colour of purple, so there's no missing us on the pitch.
Raising the Bar for Women's Cricket
We’ve long been behind the Essex Women’s team, so when Essex applied for Tier One professional status, we supported the bid, including writing a submission as part of the application. In 2025, Essex fielded its first fully professional women's team, a proud moment for the club and for everyone who backed it. That same year, we marked International Women's Day by celebrating the women of Essex Cricket.
Experience Counts
Cricket doesn't stop at 50, and neither does our support. Ambassador sponsors Essex's competitive Over-50s, Over-60s and Over-70s county teams, so look out for our branding on their wickets and hats. It's a side of the game plenty of our guests know well, and one we're especially proud to be part of.
Heroes of the Grassroots
Behind every club match there's someone who rolled the pitch, kept the scorebook or ran a coaching session on a wet Tuesday evening. The Ambassador Cruise Line Unsung Heroes Award, run with Essex Cricket, celebrates the volunteers who keep recreational cricket going across the county.
Anyone can nominate a volunteer from one of Essex's recreational leagues, and panels made up of Essex Cricket and Ambassador representatives draw up a shortlist before determining a winner, who is announced at Essex Cricket’s Club Day. The winner receives a complimentary cruise, and their club enjoys a coaching session at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
Game On: Win a Cruise Competition
You'll find the Ambassador team at matchdays across the One Day Cup and County Championship. During One Day Cup fixtures, we also bring along our Win a Cruise game: at the interval, supporters can try their luck at throwing a ball through the target for the chance to win a cruise on the spot.
To have a go, find the Ambassador booth at the ground on a One Day Cup matchday and speak to a member of our team.
Sharing the Shirt Sponsorship
For a One Day Cup match, we handed our shirt sponsorship to Help for Heroes, bringing two of our partnerships together at the ground to raise awareness of the charity’s work supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of veterans.
Beyond the Boundary
Through our media partnership with The Cricketer, we welcomed Essex players on board Ambience for a filming day with a difference: a towel-folding competition, putting them to the test on one of the classic touches of cruise hospitality. Let's just say some players were more naturally gifted than others.
A Little Extra for Essex Supporters
Our support reaches the stands too. Essex Cricket members and supporters can enjoy an exclusive discount when they cruise with Ambassador. Head down to our booth during a One Day Cup and County Championship game to learn more.
Here's to Many More Seasons
From the first ball of the season to the final over, we're proud to stand alongside Essex Cricket, both on the pitch and off it.
