The Dining Experience
Restaurants & Speciality Dining
You're in good hands.
Wondering what dining is really like on board?
Full board dining is included in every Ambassador cruise fare, on all three ships. That means breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner are already taken care of, cooked fresh by our galley teams and served by a crew who are genuinely pleased to have you back.
Each ship has its own dining personality. Ambition and Ambience lean into British and European favourites with a few speciality venues thrown in for good measure, while Renaissance adds Pan-Asian and Caribbean flavours to match her fly-cruise itineraries. Fancy something a little different one evening? That's what our speciality restaurants are for.
Dining at a glance: what's included
Your fare includes full board dining, so you can enjoy:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Afternoon tea
- Dinner, served across two sittings which can be requested after booking
Breakfast and lunch are generally open seating, so you can come and go as you please. Dietary requirements are catered for too, just let us know in advance and we'll take care of the rest.
Something a little different: speciality dining
On top of what's included, each ship offers speciality restaurants for when you fancy treating yourself. Think an Indian food journey at Saffron, fine dining tasting menus at Sea & Grass and Terre & Mer, Mediterranean warmth at Lupino's, and Pan-Asian and Caribbean flavour on Renaissance at Lotus and Kreole by Mondi. For steak lovers, The Grill offers an authentic steakhouse experience serving premium cuts and grill favourites. This limited-time pop-up is hosted on selected evenings inside Sea & Grass on Ambience and Lupino's on Ambition. The Chef's Table sits at the top of the tree on every ship, with a galley tour and the Executive Chef talking you through every course.
Saffron
Sea & Grass
Terre & Mer
Lupino's
Lotus
Kreole by Mondi
The Grill
Chef’s Table
Plan your perfect evening before you even sail
Booking your favourite speciality restaurant no longer has to wait until you're on board. With pre-bookable dining, you can reserve your table, your time and your occasion the moment your cruise is booked, so it's one less thing to think about and one more thing to look forward to.
It's live now on Ambition, and we're rolling it out across Ambience and Renaissance very soon, so every guest will soon be able to plan their perfect cruise before they've even packed.
A supplementary charge applies to speciality dining, but there's no pressure to book. Plenty of guests are perfectly happy with what's already included and treat speciality dining, pre-booked or not, as an occasional evening out rather than a must.
Explore dining on your ship
Choose your ship's flavour
All three ships serve up full board dining, but each has its own character. Ambition and Ambience are close here, both built around the Buckingham Restaurant and Borough Market, so the real difference between them comes down to speciality dining:
- Ambition: Buckingham Restaurant and Borough Market as standard, plus a taste of Italy at speciality restaurant Lupino's.
- Ambience: Buckingham Restaurant and Borough Market as standard, plus the fine dining tasting menu at speciality restaurant Sea & Grass.
- Renaissance: different altogether, with a multi-lingual crew, sea views from the two-tier Grand Restaurant Vatel, and Pan-Asian and Caribbean flavours at speciality restaurants Lotus (with guest-favourite Saffron featuring as a pop-up this winter) and Kreole by Mondi.
Make every sip special
Good food deserves a good drink to go with it. Enhance your cruise with one of our Ambassador Drinks Packages, from cocktails and wines to soft drinks and speciality coffees. Add your package before you sail or once you're on board.
What guests say
“The service and food on Ambition were first-class, I looked forward to every meal.” – Guest Review, Trustpilot
“Food and service were excellent, a wonderful mix of choice and quality, and we always found something new to enjoy.” – Verified Guest Review, Ambience
“Dining is another standout feature, with exceptional cuisine included as standard. No need to pay extra for flavour.” – Renaissance Caribbean Fly-Cruise guest story
FAQs
Is dining included in my Ambassador cruise fare?
Yes. Full board dining, including breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, is included in every Ambassador cruise fare. Speciality restaurants carry a supplementary charge.
Can I book my restaurant before I sail?
Yes, on Ambition you can reserve speciality dining in advance through My Ambassador Sailing. Ambience and Renaissance will follow as the rollout continues.
What speciality restaurants are on board Ambassador ships?
Ambition and Ambience feature Saffron, Sea & Grass, Lupino's (Ambition) and the Chef's Table. Renaissance features Lotus, Kreole by Mondi and Terre & Mer, plus its own Chef's Table.
Do I need to book dinner in the main restaurant?
No advance booking is needed. Dinner runs on two sittings, which can be requested once you've booked your cruise via My Ambassador Sailing.
Are dietary requirements catered for?
Yes. Ambassador caters for dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free. Just let us know in advance of sailing.
What's the difference between dining on Ambition, Ambience and Renaissance?
All three offer full board dining and speciality restaurants, but each has its own character: Ambition and Ambience lean British and European, while Renaissance adds Pan-Asian and Caribbean flavours reflecting her Caribbean fly-cruise itineraries.
Is there a dress code for dinner?
Dining is generally relaxed, with smart-casual the norm most evenings and a little extra effort with black tie welcomed on gala nights.
Why Cruise with Ambassador
Ambassador is built around affordable quality and the warmest welcome at sea, with dining designed around choice and comfort rather than upselling. Full board is genuinely full board, and speciality dining is there for whenever you fancy it, not because you feel you should.
Terms and Conditions
1. Dining reservations can be made via the Reception desk or during mealtimes at the Buckingham Restaurant.
2. Your dining reservation is held for 15 minutes from your pre-booked time at your chosen speciality restaurant.
3. Speciality Dining reservations are charged at the time of booking to your onboard account, any supplement or additional charges such a drinks or wine pairings will be charged at the end of your dining experience.
4. Speciality Dining can be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance of the booking and will be refunded as onboard credit to your onboard account.
5. Cancellations within 24 hours will be charged a £10pp cancellation fee and no shows will be charged the cancellation fee.
