Ambassador Cruise Line Ships: Inside Ambience, Ambition and Renaissance

Ambassador Cruise Line may be small, but it’s quickly earning a big reputation with British cruisers.

Its now-three-ship fleet – Ambience (launched April 2022), Ambition (May 2023) and the latest addition, Renaissance – offers classic, grown-up cruising with a friendly feel from UK departure ports.

Here’s what makes each ship special, and how they compare.

Ambience

Ambassador Cruise Line’s first ship, Ambience, made her maiden voyage on 20th April 2022. She offers cruises from London Tilbury to a wide range of destinations. These include the British Isles, the Baltics, Scandinavia, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, and even as far as Cuba and the Caribbean.

History of Ambience

Ambience was originally set to join the Cruise & Maritime Voyages fleet as Amy Johnson, but CMV went bust before the transition could occur. Ambassador Cruise Line was formed by the former CEO of Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Christian Verhounig, who took the opportunity to buy the ship as the first ship for his new cruise line.

Ambience was built in 1991, and originally intended for an Italian cruise line by the name of Sitmar Cruises. The cruise line was sold to P&O Group in 1988. So when the ship was completed, she instead began sailing for Princess Cruises with the name Regal Princess.

She sailed with Princess Cruises until 2007, when she was sold to Carnival Corporation. She began service for P&O Cruises Australia as the country’s first superliner, with the name Pacific Dawn.

In 2019, it was announced that Pacific Dawn would be sold to Cruise and Maritime Voyages in February 2021 and renamed Amy Johnson. However, CMV went bust in July 2020, and so the ship was put up for sale in September of that year.

In 2020, Ocean Builders Central Inc bought the ship for $9.5 million and renamed it Satoshi. The plan was to anchor the ship off the coast of Panama and use it as a floating community for over 2,000 digital nomads.

However, the company was unable to get insurance for the project and so in December 2020, the ship was sold to be scrapped.

Shortly afterwards, Ambassador Cruise Line came to the rescue and purchased the ship that we now know as Ambience. In October 2021, work began on an extensive refurbishment in Croatia.

The initial launch was delayed for a couple of weeks due to supply chain issues, but Ambience finally set sail for the first time on 20th April 2022.

The Experience On Board Ambience

A medium-sized cruise ship, Ambience has 789 cabins with options of inside, outside, balcony and suite to suit all budgets. Single travellers will be pleased to know that this ship also has some single cabins.

Ambience offers a good blend of spaciousness and intimacy. The ship features 11 bars and lounges, including The Purple Turtle pub, Raffles Bar and The Botanical Lounge.

Drinks on board Ambience are very reasonably priced, with cocktails costing only £6.60. Click here to see the Ambassador Cruise Line Drinks Menus. There are also various drinks packages available.

Ambience has a multi-tier theatre, where you can enjoy entertainment from the onboard team and guest artists, as well as a late-night disco in the stylish Observatory.

Ambience also offers a wide range of daytime activities with a card room, casino, crafting studio, library, gym, spa and shopping gallery. On the top deck, you’ll find a swimming pool, two hot tubs and a large outdoor movie screen.

On board Ambience, you’ll find plenty of places to eat, including the Buckingham main dining room, the Borough Market buffet and the outdoor Alfresco Grill.

There are also three speciality restaurants: Saffron, Sea & Grass and the luxury Chef’s Table.

Ambience Destinations

Departing from London Tilbury, Ambience offers a wide range of cruises from three to 42 nights. So whether you fancy a short Christmas markets cruise, or a month-long voyage to Canada or the Caribbean, you can do so aboard Ambience.

The ship offers a range of themed cruises, such as bridge, crafting, comedy, British broadcasting legends, cricketing legends, and gardening and wildlife.

Ambassador Cruise Line primarily serves the over-50s. However, in the summer, grandchildren are invited on board for a series of multi-generational cruises during the school holidays.

Ambition

Ambassador Cruise Line’s second ship, Ambition, entered service in May 2023. I was lucky enough to spend the night onboard just before the maiden voyage.

History of Ambition

Ambition was built in 1999. The ship was originally ordered by Renaissance Cruises, but the order was withdrawn and taken over by Festival Cruises, which named the ship Mistral.

Festival Cruises went out of business in 2004, and Mistral was sold back to the builders to be chartered to Ibero Cruises with the name Grand Mistral in 2005.

In 2013, the ship was acquired by Costa Cruises and, after a €10 million renovation, renamed Costa neoRiviera.

In October 2019, the ship was transferred to AIDA Cruises and underwent a further $55 million transformation to become AIDAmira. Cruising paused globally in March 2020, and then in January 2022 AIDA Cruises sold the ship to Ambassador Cruise Line.

The Experience On Board Ambition

Ambition is a little smaller than Ambience, with three fewer decks and 200 fewer guests.

The ship features two main restaurants, a casual bistro-style cafe and several speciality restaurants available for an extra fee. There are also four bars and lounges, plus a pub.

In terms of entertainment, guests can enjoy watching shows in the theatre, playing games in the card room, library and casino or crafting in the craft studio.

Leisure facilities include a wellness centre, gym, a swimming pool and a splash pool. There’s also a range of retail shops.

For a closer look at Ambition, head over to Instagram and check out my story highlights, where I have lots of photos that I took onboard the ship.

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A post shared by Cruise Mummy | Jenni Fielding (@cruisemummy)

Ambition Destinations

Ambition offers cruises from Newcastle and Dundee. The voyages include European destinations such as France and Spain, Norway, Iceland and the Scottish Islands.

As Ambition is a relatively small cruise ship, she is able to fit down the River Seine. French river cruise experiences depart from Belfast and Liverpool in the summer, followed by more European itineraries from these departure ports.

In the Autumn, Bristol and Falmouth are Ambition’s departure ports, and in the winter, Ambition relocates to London Tilbury.

Renaissance

Ambassador Cruise Line’s third and newest ship, Renaissance, entered service in October 2025.

History of Renaissance

Renaissance is the newest addition to the Ambassador Cruise Line fleet, joining Ambience and Ambition to make a trio of classic, mid-sized ships. She became part of the line following Ambassador’s merger with French cruise operator Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC) in early 2025. The two brands combined to form the Ambassador Group, now operating three ships -Ambience, Ambition and Renaissance.

Originally launched in 1992 as Maasdam for Holland America Line, Renaissance has had quite the journey. After being acquired by CFC, she received a major refurbishment in France before setting sail under her new name. Her maiden Ambassador voyage will depart on 30 October 2025, sailing from London Tilbury to the Caribbean on an 18-night “Autumn Escape” adventure.

The Experience On Board Renaissance

Renaissance is the most intimate ship in the Ambassador fleet, with nine guest decks and space for around 1,100 guests across 629 cabins. Interestingly, she’s actually larger than Ambition in size and decks, yet carries fewer passengers, giving everyone a little more space to relax. Compared to Ambience (1,400 guests) and Ambition (1,200 guests), Renaissance feels quieter and even more personal – perfect if you like the idea of a spacious ship with a relaxed, uncrowded atmosphere.

Dining is a real highlight on board, with four restaurants offering plenty of variety. The Grand Restaurant is the elegant two-tier main dining room, while Bellevue serves buffet-style favourites in a more casual setting. The Lotus Restaurant adds a hint of Asia with Pan-Asian flavours, and Kreole Restaurant brings Caribbean-inspired dishes that perfectly match her tropical itineraries.

You’ll also find three stylish bars and lounges – the Massalia Lounge, Ocean Bar, and Le Panoramique Lounge & Nightclub, where guests can unwind with live music and cocktails as the sun sets.

With her elegant design, friendly service, and just the right mix of British and European flair, Renaissance offers a refined, relaxed atmosphere that feels wonderfully grown-up – and a little bit different to her sister ships.

Renaissance Destinations

Renaissance gives Ambassador Cruise Line even more flexibility when it comes to destinations. Her smaller size and refreshed design mean she can sail both classic UK-departure voyages and longer, more exotic adventures.

On 30th October 2025, she’ll sail from London Tilbury before heading across the Atlantic to Barbados, where she’ll offer a series of Caribbean cruises. It’s a natural next step for Ambassador – expanding beyond traditional no-fly holidays and offering guests the chance to explore sunnier shores in signature Ambassador style.

Ambience vs Ambition vs Renaissance: A Comparison

Here’s how Ambassador Cruise Line’s ships stack up against each other:

	Ambience	Ambition	Renaissance
Size	70,285 GT	48,123 GT	55, 575 GT
Guests	1,400	1,200	1,100
Built	1991	1999	1992
Guest Decks	11	8	9
Length	245m	216m	219m
Beam	32.25m	28.8m	30.8

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Links to CMV

Ambassador Cruise Line is a new British cruise line. It was launched shortly after Cruise & Maritime Voyages went bust. The management team includes CMV’s former chief executive, chief commercial officer, chief information officer and chief financial officer.

Read more: Who Owns Ambassador Cruise Line?

Ambassador Cruise Line’s first ship is Ambience, a ship that was set to be launched by Cruise & Maritime Voyages before the company went out of business. This, along with the same management team, has led to some people referring to Ambassador Cruise Line as the ‘new CMV’.

I had previously booked two cruises with Cruise & Maritime Voyages before the company went into administration. I was sad that I never got the chance to experience a CMV cruise.

Final Thoughts

Ambassador Cruise Line has created a fleet that captures the best of traditional cruising – friendly faces, good food and a relaxed, grown-up vibe – without the crowds or chaos of the mega-ships.

Each ship has its own charm: Ambience feels classic and spacious, Ambition offers an intimate regional feel, and Renaissance adds a touch of continental flair with her Caribbean adventures. Together, they give British cruisers more choice than ever before.

Ambassador might be a relatively new name at sea, but it’s already built a loyal following by focusing on what really matters – comfort, value and genuine hospitality. If you’re looking for a calm, great-value cruise that still feels special, this is a line that truly delivers.

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