2 MAY 2022

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Article from BTNews 2 MAY 2022

ON TOUR: Golden send-off for Ambassador's Ambience *

A new British cruise line gets the Olympic winning treatment.

Local girl and 1992 Barcelona 400 metre women’s hurdle champion Sally Gunnell OBE officially named Ambassador Cruise Line’s first ship, Ambience, at the liners home port Tilbury on Tuesday 19 April.

It has been a very difficult two years for the cruise industry, summed up by Ambassador CEO, Christian Verhounig at the ceremony: “Nearly 25 years ago on this day, I joined my first cruise ship as a bar waiter. While I instantly fell in love with the cruise industry, I could never have imagined that one day I would be the CEO of a brand-new cruise line and witness the naming of its first ship.

“Launching a cruise line during the pandemic shows our belief in and commitment to the cruise and travel industry. Sustainability is also important to us. We have invested significant amounts into upgrading Ambience, including making the ship IMO [International Maritime Organisation – a Division of the United Nations] Tier III compliant, making it possible for Ambience to sail in the most environmentally protected areas around the world”.

Ambassador is the first British cruise line to launch in over a decade. Sailing from London Tilbury, the no-fly itineraries it will provide a premium-value, authentic cruise experience predominantly aimed at the 50-plus traveller.

Ambience’s inaugural first season includes 31 sailings calling at over 90 different ports. Itineraries include short introductory breaks exploring the British Isles, the Norwegian Fjords, The Nordics, Greenland, the Arctic, and Iceland. For the winter months, a range of exploration style voyages will sail to the Canaries, Cuba, the Caribbean, Cape Verde, and Scandinavia.  

In a clever move to attract potential cruisers (and welcome back friends) Ambassador has launched its programme of Festive Events on board Ambience, at Tilbury for four 4 dates in December 2022 (see below).  From as little as £59pp, guests can enjoy a five-course lunch in the main dining room, the Buckingham Restaurant, or join for dinner and a Paladium show lounge evening entertainment at just £99pp.  

No casino mind you, that facility only available at sea in international waters.  Staying overnight with breakfast the following morning is from only £109pp.

Whichever offer guests take up they can make use of the very convenient Tilbury Port car park, opposite the terminal.  Ambassador also has two multi-generational cruises scheduled for summer 2022, where children and infants over six months are welcome.

Originally built for Princess Cruise Lines and introduced in 1991, well before to its takeover by the Carnival Group, Ambience offers a feeling of spaciousness whilst retaining a sense of intimacy.  At 70,000 tonnes she is designed to carry up to 1,400 guests in 798 cabins across 22 different accommodation grades, from Standard to De Luxe Suite.  The crew to guest ratio 1 to 2.15 which will give the ship a fine rating when the next edition of Douglas Ward’s Cruising and Cruise Ships is published.  BTN’s Editor-in-Chief Malcolm Ginsberg went around Cape Horn on her 20 years ago also visiting the Falkland Islands.

Ambassador Director, industry veteran Chris Coates, told Ginsberg that that solo travellers will also be catered for with attractive deals.

“We have assigned 89 of Ambience’s cabins to solo cruisers.  These single occupancy cabins spread over five cabin grades at a highly-competitive supplement that is cheaper than industry standards, plus a only a 30% supplement against the equivalent twin fare with Ambassador.  These are the best value single prices in the market on comparable sailings. We plan a tailored programme of events for those sailing alone for six nights or more.  We want them to make friends starting with a welcome cocktail party specifically for solo guests”.

Talking to Ginsberg, a very experienced cruiser, he made clear Ambassador’s aspirations and hope.  “Our purpose is to inspire and delight every guest to enjoy an authentic cruise experience effortlessly, and sustainably. We offer a premium-value product”.

Tilbury is arguably the UK’s most accessible cruise port with its proximity to the M25 London Orbital Road. Acknowledging that not all cruisers want to drive to the terminal Ambassador Cruise Line has launched a dedicated coach service to run in conjunction with the 2022 cruise programme on selected sailings.

Ambience offers a choice of five restaurants including specialty dining options, as well as two cafés, nine bars and lounges, a pair of swimming pools, spa, day and evening entertainment, fitness and leisure facilities complemented by an enrichment and lifestyle programme designed to cater for all tastes.  Special diets too. Laundry rooms are provided, something the latest cruise liners seem to lack.  If the weather is fine there is a large outdoor screen as well.

Through funds managed by Njord Partners LLP, London, the company is fully equity-financed (no financial debt). The Chair of the Board of Directors is Gordon Wilson who has over 30 years of experience in the global travel industry. This includes his role as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Travelport until July 2019. He is a member of the Supervisory Board of BCD Holdings which owns global corporate travel management company, BCD Travel. He has been appointed to the Chair of the Board of Interactive Investor, the second-largest direct-to-consumer investment platform in the UK.

Signalling its confidence in the British cruise market, Ambassador Cruise Line has also announced the purchase of its second ship, to be named Ambition, entering service in 2023.

Like her sister ship, Ambition, will offer no-fly sailings and in addition to Tilbury has a planned summer 2023 programme of regional departures from ports including Belfast, Bristol, Dundee, Falmouth, Liverpool and Newcastle.

The slightly smaller (48,000 tonnes) and 1999 built Ambition will carry up to 1,200 guests in considerable comfort and space in her 714 cabins, 125 of which have balconies and 113 are suites with up to 62m² of living space.

As with Ambience, Ambition, extensively refitted in 2019 will undergo a major refit prior to introduction, including the installation of the latest emission reduction technologies to secure the IMO Tier III compliance. This will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by approximately 95% compared to current standards. Along with installing updated ballast and sewage water treatment systems, both ships in the Ambassador Cruise Line fleet will be among circa 10% of the current world cruise fleet authorised to sail in strictly environmentally protected seas.  Ambassador is keen to point out the quality of the Croatian yards work, particularly in the public area.

The timing of the Ambassador entry into the busy cruise marketplace with what will be undoubtably seen as a traditional ship could not be bettered, hopefully with pandemic behind us.  Chris Coates says that forward bookings have more than met expectations.  

www.ambassadorcruiseline.com

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum


Bill Simms, Marylebone, London

No mention of CMV, Ambassador’s predecessor at Tilbury. From what one can make out Ambience seems to be one grade up at least.


Mike Imeson ,

Good for tilbury. But we are already missing your splendid schedule of cruise departures which expired yesterday. Helps us keep track of when we should glance from our lounge window here in Hythe overlooking Southampton Water to see the majestic vessels of today glide past. Keep it coming. Our first cruise was more than 40 years ago aboard the original Oriana out of Southampton… a splendid Fleet Street jolly!


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