Laila’s Ambassador Cruise to Amsterdam & Hamburg

I travelled to London the day before sailing. I stayed overnight at the Z Hotel in Victoria to avoid any travel disruptions. The hotel was modern, welcoming, and perfectly located close to the train, underground, and coach stations.

The next morning, after breakfast, I caught the direct coach to London Tilbury Cruise Port. The journey took around an hour and a half, and arrival at the port was smooth, with luggage handled for us and quick boarding.

Once onboard, we met as a group, unpacked, completed the muster drill, and headed to the Observatory for sail-away drinks. Dinner that evening was at Saffron, the ship's Indian speciality restaurant, which was excellent value.

We finished the night with the evening show and live music in the Observatory before heading back to our cabins, ready for the days ahead.

With a full sea day ahead, we made the most of exploring the ship. Breakfast was served in the Buckingham Restaurant, where everything is freshly cooked and brought to your table. A lovely, relaxed start to the day.

We then headed to Raffles Bar for a fun housekeeping demonstration, learning how the team creates towel animals for the cabins (best left to the experts!). This was followed by a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of the Bridge and a chance to meet the Captain.

Lunch was at The Borough Market buffet, where I opted for a comforting roast-style meal, a Sunday dinner at sea. Later, we enjoyed a cocktail-making session with the bar team before spending some free time checking out the spa and gym.

The evening was a formal night, beginning with the Captain's speech in the Palladium. Dinner was back in the Buckingham Restaurant, where the beef Wellington was a highlight. We finished the night with the Masquerade show and a lively Reggae Night in the Observatory.

We docked in Hamburg around 8 am but chose to head ashore later, enjoying a relaxed morning onboard and even joining a quiz in the Botanical Bar (we didn't win, but it was all about taking part!).

Our afternoon transfer took us to the stunning St Michaelis Church, where we admired the beautiful architecture and the surrounding area. From there, we visited Hamburg's magical Christmas markets, sampling bratwurst, mulled wine, and chocolate-covered strawberries. The markets were huge and full of festive charm, even featuring Santa flying across the main square at 4 pm.

After returning to the ship, we got ready for the evening, enjoyed dinner in the Buckingham Restaurant, watched the evening show, and had an early night ready for a full sea day ahead.

We started the day with a relaxing yoga session in Centre Court, which was a lovely way to ease into the morning. This was followed by an exciting galley tour, where we met some of the chefs and saw how the ship's food is freshly prepared and beautifully presented behind the scenes.

After lunch, we joined a fun (and surprisingly competitive!) game of cornhole in the Purple Turtle Pub before enjoying some free time. I chose to unwind in the hot tub at the back of the ship, which was incredibly relaxing.

In the evening, we enjoyed live music from a singer and pianist at Raffles Bar, which created a lovely atmosphere. Dinner was at the speciality restaurant Sea & Grass, where we enjoyed an impressive tasting menu paired with wines, a real highlight of the trip.

We finished the night by enjoying the ship's entertainment before heading back to our cabins to relax.

We docked in Amsterdam and spent the day as guests of VisitHolland. Our morning began with a scenic canal cruise, during which we learned fascinating facts about the city, before disembarking near the Rijksmuseum to admire works by artists such as Van Gogh, Frans Hals, and Jan Steen.

Next, we visited Royal Coster Diamonds, where we saw some truly stunning (and very valuable!) diamonds and watched experts carefully shape and create custom pieces.

After travelling to Central Station, we enjoyed lunch at The Dutch Pancake Masters, sampling a variety of delicious pancake flavours. We then had some free time, which we used to visit the A'DAM Lookout Swing. While slightly terrifying, the adrenaline rush was worth it for the incredible panoramic views over Amsterdam and the port below.

We returned to the ship for dinner and rounded off the day with a festive Christmas special in the Observatory.

WHO WOULD THIS TRIP BE SUITED TO?

Although Ambassador is often thought of as being aimed at an older market, there was actually a great mix of ages onboard, possibly influenced by the destinations. For anyone who enjoys a more traditional style of cruising, Ambassador is a fantastic choice. The set dining times, beautiful restaurants and bars, and high-quality entertainment all add to a classic, refined cruise experience.

The staff-to-guest ratio was excellent, creating a more intimate atmosphere where crew members genuinely took the time to remember guests and their preferences. I wouldn't want younger clients to be put off by the traditional fee. I'm only 20 years old, and I absolutely loved it. Ambassador is ideal for couples and groups of friends. As an adults-only cruise line (except for one sailing), it isn't suited for children.

FAVOURITE RESTAURANT VISITED AND WHY?

The Indian restaurant, Saffron, was outstanding. I've heard great reviews from past guests, and after dining there myself, the food really does live up to the hype.

GENERAL COMMENTS AND TIPS:

If you're cruising Europe in the winter months, I'd recommend packing travel sickness tablets. The sailing isn't rough, but you can feel some movement, especially if you're sensitive to it.

If you plan on enjoying branded drinks or cocktails, upgrading to a drinks package before you sail is a smart move. It's a much better value than upgrading onboard and gives peace of mind.

Finally, the speciality restaurants are a must. While the food across the ship is excellent, Saffron and Sea & Grass offer a more intimate dining experience. For a small additional cost, the quality, atmosphere, and overall experience make it well worth it.

BEST EXPERIENCE FROM THE TRIP?

My favourite part of the FAM trip was meeting everyone and getting to know them. The evenings at the Observatory were a real highlight too! It was lovely to see guests coming together, mingling, dancing, and enjoying the atmosphere on board.