The Royal Portbury Dock in Bristol welcomed back its first cruise ship since before the COVID-19 pandemic this week.

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition sailed into the port to begin a series of sailings including some fantastic cruises around the British Isles.
It’s a debut for the cruise line in the port, too, as Ambassador Cruise Line only formed in 2021.
Ambition is the second ship in the fleet, being bought and renovated in 2022 to sail alongside Ambience. Ambition formerly sailed for Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises among others.
This exciting development is great for cruises in the southwest, who previously had to travel to Southampton in most cases in order to cruise.
Having a port that will once again serve Bristol, Bath and the surrounding areas should attract more passengers from the region, and help boost the local travel economy.
I was lucky enough to see Ambition sailing into Bristol from my own balcony! She was greeted by a tug boat spraying water into the air.

And here’s how she looked at night as she sailed out of the port… She blasted her horn as she sailed past a car carrier.

I love this ship and look forward to seeing her each time she sails in and out of Bristol at the start of each cruise. If you’d like to see what it’s like on board, check out my video tour on YouTube…
Related Posts:
- Who Owns Ambassador Cruise Line?
- Ambassador Cruise Line Drinks Packages Guide
- Ambassador Cruise Line Ships: What To Expect

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Cruise Line Cancels Voyage With Just 24 Hours’ Notice, Leaving Passengers Reeling
A three-night cruise to Zeebrugge was abruptly cancelled just one day before departure, leaving dozens of would-be passengers scrambling. P&O Cruises called off the sailing of its 25-year-old ship Aurora…
Guests Complain Over Pullman Bed Issue (I Had The Opposite Problem!)
A recent guest on a Princess Cruises ship was left frustrated by a policy surrounding the use of Pullman beds in their cabin. The guest took to social media to…
Princess Prioritises Smokers Over Children With Play Area Closure?
Princess Cruises has apparently closed a play area on one of its biggest ships, after placing the smoking area for the ship adjacent to it. Cruise blogger mumatsea (Juliet) shared…
Princess Cruises Hikes Package Prices But With ONE Important Caveat
Princess Cruises has announced a price hike for its Princess Plus and Princess Premier cruise packages – although it won’t impact every guest. Starting from 1st May 2025, guests who…