A Surprising Day Onboard Ambassador Ambition in Liverpool

I’ll be honest – when I first heard about Ambassador Cruise Line, I wasn’t entirely convinced. A newer name on the UK cruise scene, offering traditional cruising at what seemed like too-good-to-be-true prices... I wondered if it would live up to the standard I’ve come to expect from other cruise lines. But after stepping onboard Ambition in Liverpool, I’m holding my hands up – I was wrong. Very wrong. Ambassador have absolutely earned their place in the cruise market, and Ambition was a brilliant example of what they do so well. They’ve grown quickly, too. Ambassador now have three ships in their fleet – Ambition, Ambience, and the newest addition, Renaissance. Between them, they sail from eight UK ports, which makes cruising even more accessible no matter where you live. And for the first time, they’re offering Caribbean fly-cruises this winter, sailing roundtrip from Barbados onboard Renaissance – a brilliant option for a bit of winter sun without the usual premium price tag. Let’s talk about Ambition though – she’s just over 48,000 GRT, so she’s not one of the mega ships, which I actually think is a huge plus. She carries around 1,200 guests, which means she’s got that lovely mid-size ship feeling – spacious enough to offer variety, but intimate enough to feel friendly and relaxed. She was originally built in 1999, but had a major refit in 2023, and you can really see the work that’s been done. The ship herself feels fresh, bright, and surprisingly modern in all the right places. The cabins were one of the biggest surprises for me. The standard cabins are lovely, but if your budget stretches a little further, I’d absolutely recommend upgrading to a balcony cabin or even one of the suites. They’re contemporary, comfortable, and really give you that extra space to make your cruise feel special. What really impressed me though was how Ambition strikes a balance between traditional cruising and those little modern touches we all love. The line has a very classic feel – afternoon teas, traditional dining, a relaxed pace – but there are still speciality dining options onboard, available for a small extra charge. So you get that extra splash of something special without losing the essence of what makes Ambassador’s style so appealing. A nice little touch I loved: the public spaces onboard are named after UK locations – you’ll find places like the “Palladium Theatre” and “The Cavern” (yes, like the famous Liverpool club!). It’s little details like that which add a sense of home and familiarity. Speaking of which, Ambition sails from Liverpool, Bristol, and Portsmouth – all really accessible departure ports, particularly if you’d rather not fly. Most of Ambassador’s sailings are adult-only too, which makes it an appealing option for those after a more peaceful, grown-up experience at sea. All in all, I came away impressed. Ambassador aren’t trying to be all things to all people – they know exactly what they’re about, and they’re doing it well. If you’re after a classic cruise experience with a modern twist, I’d genuinely recommend giving Ambition a try. I’ll definitely be keeping a closer eye on Ambassador from now on – and I’m glad I took the time to go onboard and see it for myself. If you’ve been curious but unsure, just like I was, this might be your sign to give them a go.