Anne’s Ambassador Adventure: Life Aboard the Ambience

The Ambassador coach departed for Tilbury at 12:30pm, and despite busy London traffic, we arrived by 14:30pm. Check-in was quick and efficient; we were on board with a drink in hand in no time! Ambassador's "car to bar in 15 minutes" claim really holds up.

My inside cabin on Deck 10 was dated but clean, comfortable, and well-equipped. There was only one UK socket and one USB port, so an extension cable is handy. The hairdryer wasn't great, so bring your own! Tea and coffee were replenished daily, and the cabin was quiet, perfect for a good night's sleep.

After a relaxing buffet breakfast at Borough Market, we enjoyed a welcome presentation and a tour of the Ship. Although smaller by cruise standards, Ambience is full of character, featuring London-inspired venues such as the Buckingham Restaurant and SW19 Bar.

Lunch at Buckingham featured a classic Sunday roast, along with a variety of options catering to different dietary needs. We then joined the fun "Flag Challenge," exploring the decks to solve clues about Ambassador Cruises, and even won a prize!

A sunny cocktail followed, with reasonably priced drinks and good-value packages (gratuities included). Note: speciality coffees are only part of the top drinks package.

The evening brought the first formal night, a meet-the-captain gala, and a lively show at the Palladium Theatre. As the Captain said, Ambience may not be the biggest or newest. Still, it's undoubtedly the friendliest, with great entertainment and warm, welcoming staff.

We enjoyed a relaxed waiter-service breakfast in the Buckingham Restaurant before joining a fun crafting session at Aces & Eights, where we made purple turtles! There's a complete daily programme of activities onboard, with details delivered to cabins each evening.

We docked in Gothenburg at lunchtime and were hosted by the Tourist Board for a delicious seafood lunch, followed by a city tour. The city is undergoing major redevelopment, so there was plenty of scaffolding, but there was still plenty to see, including the Liseberg theme park right in the city centre. A highlight was an exclusive visit to the Karlatornet Tower, Sweden's tallest building at 246m, offering amazing views (set to open to the public in 2026).

Back onboard, we dressed for our group's "splash of purple" night and dined at Sea and Grass: a fantastic seven-course tasting experience with optional wine pairings. The speciality restaurants are excellent but book up quickly, so it's worth reserving early. The evening ended with lively entertainment around the Ship as we finally felt the gentle roll of being at sea.

We arrived in Copenhagen this morning, docking right behind Silversea's Silver Spirit! One of the perks of sailing with Ambassador is that their smaller ships can dock much closer to the city, perfect for exploring on foot.

After breakfast in the busy Borough Market (tip: go early or try the quieter Buckingham restaurant), we joined the crew on deck as they did charity laps for Help for Heroes, such a lovely touch. Lunch in Borough Market was delicious, with great vegan options including a lentil curry and chickpea paella.

In the afternoon, we took the Copenhagen by Land and Water excursion, which was a fantastic way to see the city's highlights with minimal walking. The tour ended right at the Ship's dock, super convenient!

The evening entertainment didn't disappoint: a hilarious British comedy show in the Palladium, live Motown music in Raffles, and a lively disco in the Observatory that kept the party going late into the night.

Today's stop was meant to be Helsingborg. Still, due to new port restrictions, we stayed an extra day in Copenhagen, lucky us!

We hopped on the bus right by the Ship. We spent the day exploring properly, strolling through the Botanical Gardens, enjoying delicious Danish pastries, visiting colourful Nyhavn, and snapping photos with the famous Little Mermaid.

Back on board, we made the most of the Ship's hot tubs, sauna, and steam room (all included in the fare!), the perfect way to unwind after a busy day exploring.

Today we docked in Skagen. It's about a 30-minute flat walk from the Ship to the town centre, which has plenty of shops and restaurants. A local shuttle is available for around €7. A beautiful, long sandy beach is also within a 15–20 minute walk, perfect for some quiet relaxation.

We explored at leisure before returning to the Ship for onboard activities. Afternoon tea, served at 3:30 pm, featured a variety of sandwiches, cakes, and warm scones accompanied by cream and jam. It's best to arrive early or wait until the rush eases. Dinner highlight: the Baked Alaska parade, where servers sing while serving dessert and guests wave napkins in the air.

We had a relaxed morning as the clocks went back an hour. By mid-morning, Centre Court and SW19 were busy with people browsing shops, viewing professional cruise photos on the digital screens, and making some last-minute duty-free purchases.

Activities today included a towel animal demo, fridge magnet and postcard crafts, an engaging Live Aid talk in the Palladium, and lively salsa classes.

We also enjoyed a fascinating Galley tour, which allowed us to see the various kitchen areas, including a dedicated section for allergy-safe food preparation. The separate escalators for servers were an amusing touch!

This evening's farewell ceremony, hosted by Carly & Debbie, included details about the Ambassador's new Caribbean sailings on the Renaissance.

Our final dinner in the Buckingham Restaurant was delicious as always. Suitcases are to be left outside cabins by 23:00 unless you're carrying them off yourself.

WHO WOULD THIS TRIP BE SUITED TO?

Although Ambassador currently offers some multi-generational cruises, they are changing to adult-only, so it is best suited to those over 18.

There's something for everyone on board, and they also do various 'themed' cruises, so I wouldn't narrow it down to a particular age group.

FAVOURITE RESTAURANT VISITED?

The food was excellent in all the restaurants, from the buffet to the speciality restaurants.

The borough market (a buffet-style restaurant) served the most delicious lentil and chickpea curry!

Also, don't miss the baked Alaska parade in the Buckingham restaurant - an old cruise ship tradition that many cruise lines no longer partake in.

GENERAL COMMENTS AND TIPS:

Upgrade from an inside cabin to an ocean view for a lighter, brighter experience.

Book a speciality dining experience early, as it is popular with limited availability.

Don't miss the afternoon tea - it's all included, and it's fantastic!

Take your own hairdryer.

Sockets are limited, so a cruise-friendly extension lead may come in handy.

BEST EXPERIENCE FROM THE TRIP?

I enjoyed everything, and the week passed really quickly.

One highlight of the trip was how easy boarding was. From arriving at the port to getting into the cabin took no time at all.

There were no lengthy queues for check-in or security, unlike at many airports, so sailing directly from the UK makes for a really stress-free option.