Ambassador mini cruise

A little 2 night mini cruise is a great way to get a feel for cruising if you are new to cruise, and get a feel for the ship and if you like it. They do say there is a cruise for everyone. Sometimes it can be hard to know which cruise to pick so this is why I visit ships and test some out so that I can help you make an informed choice, especially for those unfamiliar with these cruise lines. Ambassador is a fairly new entrant to the cruise market as they have only been going for a few years. Later this year they will be launching their 3rd ship, this time to the Caribbean. Ambassador offers great value for money and I felt it was very welcoming, inline with their “Warmest Welcome at Sea”. Although it is known for appealing to a slightly older demographic compared to some other cruises, once onboard, enjoying their delicious food and cocktails, it was quickly forgotten because there wasn’t really much evidence of them targeting an older crowd apart from perhaps one of the performances and some crafting (which can be enjoyed at any age). I suspect it’s simply because it is adult only so that it happens naturally and the people we met all seemed quite pleased and content. That said, the entertainment was excellent and I particularly enjoyed the Murder Mystery play, where we guessed the murderer (wrongly I might add) and the Live Aid music. I had a blast and enjoyed the Bingo and the silent Disco (which is hilarious with people singing and dancing along to three different channels being played through their headphones. I was wondering what the catch is. The Spa area was a lovely place to rest and take in the ocean views through the wall of windows. The Sauna and Steam room had the same. There was a fully stocked gym and an array of treatments on offer. The swimming pools are outside as you would normally expect, with a large cool bubbly area and a hot jacuzzi. Fountains gave an elevated feel to the outdoor area which was spacious with seating and of course, pool bar for those wonderful afternoon cocktails. There was even a running track on the top level. We went in a group and I felt it was a good group holiday, including different generations (no children on this particular cruise but there are a couple of family sailings). I had an inside cabin, which was perhaps a little tight on space but it was perfectly acceptable for a shorter cruise. At the end of the day you aren’t paying the price of a 5* luxury offering). As a Travel Agent I did get to see the different grades of cabins and the balcony rooms and suites were lovely. The Oceanview rooms had lovely square windows rather than little portholes. I understand that their other ship Ambience is more spacious, so good for longer voyages and also for guests needing rooms for electric scooters or wheelchairs. Whilst disabled access is good and there is no maximum on the number of disabled guests that can travel, the number of accessible rooms is limited. I was impressed they had specific areas in the Theatre for people with wheels and all the staff were super helpful. I was pleased with the food on offer. We ate at a speciality restaurant the first evening in Saffron, the Indian restaurant. It was delicious. I think we all enjoyed it, although some weren’t too keen on the Lassi, which is more of an acquired taste so this was not surprising. We also had a Gala dinner whilst on board including a full baked Alaska parade by all the chefs which was a lovely touch. Intolerances and allergies were catered for and nothing was too much trouble. There was an opportunity to dress more formally if you wished to. Our time was all at Sea so I can’t comment on shore excursions other than the prices were reasonable and this was also true of the drinks so if you don’t drink a lot then its possible to pay for them as you go. This cruise line is a good option for people who are price savvy, down to earth, like some good entertainment and delicious food. I felt relaxed as It was less formal, so you can just be yourself. Even at full capacity, it was easy to find quieter areas. Ambassador surprised me in a good way.

See My Video's for a video reel of this trip. thanks.