Ambassador Cruise Line shows Ambition as New Ship sails from Bristol Royal Portbury for the First Time
· Premium value, no-fly cruise line launches premium value sailings from the West
· Six incredible itineraries depart from Bristol Port’s Royal Portbury Dock this cruise season, including the two-night ‘A Taste of Ambassador’ sailing featuring the very best that Ambassador has to offer over the course of just one weekend
· Exclusive 10% discount on all Bristol sailings when using discount code Setsail10
Ambassador Cruise Line, the UK’s leading premium value, no-fly cruise line, launched its second lady of the sea, Ambition, in May, and today, Tuesday 5 September, sees her arrive in Bristol ahead of her inaugural sailing from the West on the British Isles Discovery sailing.
The sailing will see Ambassador offer guests the region the chance to enjoy the convenience of a cruise holiday departing from a port that’s close to home for the very first time.
Ambition, which sailed her maiden voyage from Newcastle in May this year, sees Ambassador welcome guests onboard from eight different UK departure ports for the first time, enabling more of the population to enjoy the convenience of a no-fly cruise holiday. In addition to Bristol Port’s Royal Portbury Dock, guests from London Tilbury – Ambassador’s home port in Essex - Newcastle Tyne, Dundee, Edinburgh Leith, Falmouth, Liverpool and Belfast are now able enjoy a range of exciting itineraries from a port that’s close to home.
Specialising in no-fly itineraries and offering adult-only sailings combined with multigenerational cruises in school holidays for the whole family to enjoy together, Ambassador has six sailings departing from Bristol in the coming cruise season, with an expected 7,440 guests from the region to experience sailing the seas with the cruise line.
The Bristol Port Company owns and operates two docks: Avonmouth Docks and Royal Portbury Dock. Ambition will call into Royal Portbury Dock, which was officially opened in 1977 by the late HRH Queen Elizabeth II. In 2023, Bristol has 14 cruise calls, and as six are Ambition, the cruise line will facilitate almost half of the total calls. In 2024, Bristol is expecting 18 cruise calls, of which seven are Ambition.*
James Stangroom, Director at The Bristol Port Company, said: “We are excited to welcome Britain’s newest cruise line to Bristol Port, giving local residents of the West a quality range of no-fly cruises from the Port.”
Kathryn Davis, Managing Director, Visit West, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ambition to Bristol, and the new opportunities that it brings to the visitor economy in the region. Not only does her schedule allow for those locally to enjoy exceptional experiences, but also benefits international visitors and those from within the UK who can combine their cruise with a stay in the Bristol and Bath area beforehand.”
Christian Verhounig, CEO of Ambassador, said: “Ambassador has, in the short time it has been in operation, firmly established a unique premium value offering and is now renowned within the cruise sector for offering the warmest welcome at sea. We have long been looking forward to celebrating the official launch of sailings from Bristol onboard our second lady of the sea, Ambition.
“Adding another ship to our fleet is evidence of the strength of both Ambassador and the wider cruise industry. Demand for sailings from the West has been very strong, indicating that holidaymakers see a holiday as a necessity, not a luxury, and are eager to get away. Given the current economic climate, our premium value, no-fly offering is proving very popular with new-to-cruise customers and seasoned cruisers alike, courtesy of our inflation-defying prices.
“We’re seeing significant demand for Bristol sailings on our small to mid-size ships with holidaymakers from the West eager to get away this year. Our no-fly holiday options have proved a real hit, with guests telling us that they love driving to a port, parking their car and boarding our ships with a minimum of hassle – and that’s without mentioning how they can avoid airport queues, flight cancellations, baggage limits or exchange rate fluctuations when sailing from the UK, where the currency onboard the Ambassador fleet is in pound sterling.
“Ambition setting off on her maiden voyage from Bristol marks a significant step in Ambassador’s regional departure programme. With nine out of ten guests recommending a sailing with us, we’re looking forward to offering guests from the region the warmest welcome at sea in the months and years to come.”
The inaugural sailing of Ambition from Bristol comes almost 18 months on from Ambassador’s first ship, Ambience, welcoming guests onboard her inaugural sailing in April 2022. In her first season, Ambience sailed 18 cruises and welcomed almost 30,000 guests onboard, 9 out of 10 of whom said that they would recommend a sailing with Ambassador.
Over the course of her inaugural season, Ambition will visit 29 countries, call at 91 ports and travel more than 70,000 nautical miles. Together with her sister ship, the 2023/24 season will see Ambassador’s portfolio of breathtaking destinations grow to 60 countries, with ships visiting 166 ports and sailing more than 160,000 nautical miles. Cruise experiences will last from two to 120 days, and almost 70,000 guests will travel with Ambassador.
Introductory Offer: 10% off any sailing from Bristol with Setsail10
Ambassador offers highly competitive fares and promotions available to guests throughout the year. As an exclusive introductory offer to guests from the West, those looking to book a sailing on Ambition from Bristol can take advantage of a dedicated 10% discount on all sailings from the city. Valid on Saver and Ambassador fares, simply enter the discount code Setsail10 when booking on www.ambassadorcruiseline.com or by quoting Setsail10 when making a telephone booking via 0808 1028701.
Sailings from Bristol Royal Portbury featuring prices good as at 17.00 on 24 August include:
Inaugural Sailing: British Isles Discovery – 11 nights
Departing Bristol on 5 September 2023, guests who like to leave the beaten track will love this cruise around Britain and its charming islands. After visiting the historic port of Falmouth, the quintessentially French town of Honfleur and vibrant Newcastle, the cruise will head north to Portree in Skye, set amid surreal craggy peaks, and Tobermory in Mull, famous for its pretty pastel houses, before taking in Belfast - a city with a proud maritime heritage. Prices start from £599 per person.
Canaries, Madeira & Morocco Winter Escape – 16 nights
Departing Bristol on 25 October 2023, sunseekers can enjoy a range of glorious destinations from all over the world known for their beautiful landscapes, wonderful coastlines and glorious weather. This cruise includes visits to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a tropical oasis set amid a chain of paradise islands, and exotic Marrakesh in North Africa, where mazes of medieval alleyways rub shoulders with bustling souks and intimate bars. Prices start from £1,069 per person.
A Taste of Ambassador – 2 nights
Sailing from Bristol Royal Portbury to London Tilbury on Friday 10 November 2023, this all-new cruise concept offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the very best that Ambassador has to offer over the course of just one weekend. New to brand or new to cruise guests can look forward to savouring the amazing entertainment and outstanding cuisine that Ambassador has grown famous for across two nights onboard Ambition. The sailing will feature the very best daytime and nighttime entertainment on offer from the Ambassador Theatre Company as well as a Welcome Cocktail Party and Gala Dinner, which will offer guests the opportunity to dress to the nines and enjoy a specially-designed menu that features a crowd favourite maritime tradition: the Baked Alaska Parade. Bringing a hint of glamour to proceedings, the cruise will also see Linda Lusardi, one of Britain’s best-loved celebrities who shot to fame in the early ‘80s, headline as Ambassador’s very special guest in an ‘In Conversation With…’ session. Price start from just £209 per person.
-ENDS-
For further press information, please contact:
Braden Cantalope / Sarah Geppert / Charlotte Wright / Emma Arthurs
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8930
Notes to Editors:
Relevant images, fact sheets, releases and more can be found at this Google Drive link.
* Statistics courtesy of www.bristolport.co.uk
Ambition Overview
Ambassador Cruise Line, the UK’s leading premium value, no-fly cruise line, launched its second lady of the sea in Newcastle on Friday 12 May 2023. Ambition sailing from Bristol comes almost 18 months on from Ambassador’s first ship, Ambience, welcoming guests onboard its inaugural sailing in April 2022. In her first season, Ambience sailed 18 cruises and welcomed almost 30,000 guests onboard, 9 out of 10 of whom said that they would recommend a sailing with Ambassador.
Prior to entering service earlier his year, Ambition spent several weeks undergoing refurbishment works in Bremerhaven, Germany before returning to the UK to join the Ambassador fleet. These included environmental upgrades that made her IMO Tier III compliant and in the top 10-15% of environmentally sustainable ships worldwide, making it possible for her to sail to the most protected areas in the world. Ambition was also fitted with a new generation of Advanced Waste Water Treatment Plant, which not only exceeds the strictest sewage treatment requirements, but also requires fewer treatment chemicals. She also received new livery and Ambassador branding as well as improvements to venues and furnishing upgrades.
In total, 10,940 litres of paint were used during the works, with 3,500sq metres of new decking installed and 20 tonnes of steel replaced. The onboard entertainment team also designed 1,200 new costumes and undertook 864 hours of rehearsals ahead of Ambition’s inaugural sailing.
The name of Ambassador’s new ship, Ambition, was chosen to emphasise the cruise line’s commitment to inspire and delight every guest to enjoy an authentic cruise experience effortlessly and sustainably while also highlighting the cruise line’s ambitions for the future.
Ambition can carry up to 1,200 passengers across 680 cabins, 125 of which have balconies and 113 of which are suites with impressive living space. Accommodation grades vary in size and deck locations, but no matter what cabin guests choose, each is guaranteed with an impressive array of amenities and personal touches.
Like her sister ship, Ambition meets the highest industry emission standards, and can therefore access some of the world’s best-kept secrets in the most environmentally friendly (and affordable) way possible, such as the UNESCO-protected Norwegian World Heritage fjords.
Ambition features dining venues for every mood - from traditional afternoon teas to gala dinners alongside the ship’s Captain - providing ample opportunity for guests to be surprised and delighted throughout their journey. Dining options include:
o Buckingham Restaurant – breakfast is buffet-style with a daily special served to your table. Lunch is also buffet-style for salads, soups and desserts, with a served main course. Dinner is a five-course a la carte experience.
o Holyrood Restaurant – serving dinner
o Borough Market – serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner
o Lupino’s – Mediterranean speciality restaurant serving dinner
o Saffron – speciality Indian fine dining restaurant serving dinner
o Chef’s Table – intimate, exclusive dinner experience hosted every other night
o Alfresco Grill – serving casual eats
Ambition’s range of bars include:
o The Cavern - live music venue with cabarets, gameshows and quizzes
o Clifton Lounge – classical music
o Consulate Bar – poolside outdoor bar
o Angel Bar
o Purple Turtle Wine Bar
o Pendennis Bar – with pianist / vocalist entertainment
Ambassador’s Entertainment and Enrichment Programme has been carefully designed to provide guests with a host of opportunities to learn, listen and surprise themselves on board its ships. Onboard Ambition, the Palladium Show Lounge performs world-class theatre shows, courtesy of the Ambassador Theatre Company. Additional features include Grafton Street, an arts, crafts and activity area; No.10 Conference Room, perfect for meetings; the Aces & Eights card room; and Brontë’s library.
Other features include a shopping galleria; a fitness centre; an exterior jogging and walking track; swimming pool, splash pool and active pool; and the Green Sea Spa, complete with a sauna, steam room, hair salon and a range of restoring spa treatments.
About Ambassador Cruise Line
Ambassador Cruise Line launched in 2021, offering premium-value no-fly cruises to the UK market. Blending tradition and innovation for a truly timeless cruise holiday that still makes guests feel right at home, Ambassador prides itself on offering guests exceptional service, outstanding cuisine and amazing entertainment, alongside a host of breathtaking destinations; all for the best value.
Based in Purfleet, Essex, Ambassador provides authentic adult-only experiences combined with a selection of multi-generational itineraries to multiple destinations including the Nordics, Greenland, Iceland, Canada, the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Africa. The cruise line’s first ship, Ambience, entered the fleet in May 2022, operating from her home port of London Tilbury. From the 2023/24 season, guests will sail onboard Ambience as well as Ambassador’s second ship, Ambition, which joined the fleet in May 2023 and heralded the launch of sailing from eight regional UK ports: London Tilbury, Newcastle, Dundee, Edinburgh Leith, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol, and Falmouth.
Ambassador’s extremely experienced management team is led by Chief Executive Officer, Christian Verhounig, and its principal shareholder is Njord Partners LLP, London. Ambassador is a member of ABTA, the UK’s leading travel trade association widely acknowledged as the mark of trust and reassurance associated with travel brands. Consumer funds are held in trust and further protected by means of a financial failure insurance policy managed by TMU Management Limited and underwritten by Accelerant Insurance Europe SA, who are regulated by the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA 3193). The scheme is fully compliant with the Package Travel and Linked Arrangements Regulations 2018. For more information, visit www.ambassadorcruiseline.com