Cruising through the Mediterranean is the ultimate way to soak in that glorious climate and reflect on the magic that swells through those historic cities and pristine beaches.
From the enchanting city of Rome, with its ancient ruins and breathtaking Colosseum below, to the aqua-blue waters and stretches of golden sands of Mallorca, there is something for everybody.
Sip wine in Corsica and lose yourself in the tiled hilly streets of Lisbon – our itinerary is a treasure trove of Mediterranean treats.
Civitavecchia - for Rome, Italy
One of Europe’s most historic city, Rome is a treasure house of ancient ruins, museums and art galleries, including the breathtaking Colosseum and Sistine Chapel.
You can also experience some of the most delicious food in the world.
Leixoes - for Oporto, Portugal
When taking an optional tour of Porto, it’s a must to sample the magnificent port wine that has made the city world famous.
But there’s plenty more to savour, from the stunning Francisco Church to the magnificent 19th-century Palácio de Bolsa.
Lisbon, Portugal
Alongside a magnificent climate, Lisbon combines a wealth of history with a vibrant contemporary culture.
The futuristic Parque das Nações, with its cable car, is a must-see and some of Portugal’s best beaches are just a bus ride away.
Just 22 nautical miles down river from the Tower Bridge in London, Tilbury is a popular turnaround port for cruises visiting Baltic and Northern European destinations.
Ever since the Romans constructed a fort here and began using it as a trading post, Oporto has been a prosperous commercial centre. In the 15th and 16th centuries the city benefited from the wealth generated by Portugal’s maritime discoveries, and later, the establishment of a lucrative wine trade with Britain compensated for the loss of the spice trade. Today, Portugal’s second-largest city is a thriving, cosmopolitan place and is famous for its production of the fortified, sweet 'port' wine. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city was also awarded the status of European Capital of Culture in 2001. A large sandbar prevents ships from sailing into Oporto itself, so for over a century they have used nearby Leixões instead, a man-made seaport constructed nine miles from the city. Leixões is one of Portugal's major sea ports and is also home to one of the country's oldest football clubs, winners of the Taça de Portugal cup in 1961.
Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century. It is a city famous for its majestic architecture, old wooden trams, Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history. Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, Lisbon was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square, Praça do Comércio. Today there are distinct modern and ancient sections, combining great shopping with culture and sightseeing in the Old Town, built on the city's terraced hillsides. The distance between the ship and your tour vehicle may vary. This distance is not included in the excursion grades.
Believed to be the oldest town on the Iberian Peninsula, the Andalusian port of Cádiz enjoys a stunning location at the edge of a six-mile promontory. The town itself, with 3,000 years of history, is characterised by pretty white houses with balconies often adorned with colourful flowers. As you wander around be sure to take a stroll through the sizeable Plaza de Espãna, with its large monument dedicated to the first Spanish constitution, which was signed here in 1812. Cádiz has two pleasant seafront promenades which boast fine views of the Atlantic Ocean, and has a lovely park, the Parque Genoves, located close to the sea with an open-air theatre and attractive palm garden. Also notable is the neo-Classical cathedral, capped by a golden dome.
Considered Corsica’s primary commercial and cultural hub, the largest city and regional capital of Ajaccio is situated on the west coast of the island, approximately 644 km (400 miles) southeast of Marseille, France. Founded in 1492, vestiges of ancient Corsica in this ville impériale revolve around the city’s most famous son, Napoléon Bonaparte, whose family home—now the national museum Maison Bonaparte—pays tribute to the emperor’s historical influence.Remnants from what was originally a 12th-century Genoese colony are still visible around the Old Town near the imposing citadel and watchtower. Perfect for exploring, the luminous seaside city surrounded by snowcapped mountains and pretty beaches offers numerous sites, eateries, side streets, and a popular harbor, where sailboats and fishing vessels moor in the picturesque Tino Rossi port lined with well-established restaurants and cafés serving fresh local fare.
Cannes is pampered with the luxurious year-round climate that has made it one of the most popular resorts in Europe. Cannes was an important sentinel site for the monks who established themselves on Île St-Honorat in the Middle Ages. Its bay served as nothing more than a fishing port until in 1834 an English aristocrat, Lord Brougham, fell in love with the site during an emergency stopover with a sick daughter. He had a home built here and returned every winter for a sun cure—a ritual quickly picked up by his peers. Between the popularity of Le Train Blue transporting wealthy passengers from Calais, and the introduction in 1936 of France's first paid holidays, Cannes became the destination, a tasteful and expensive breeding ground for the upper-upscale.Cannes has been further glamorized by the ongoing success of its annual film festival, as famous as Hollywood's Academy Awards. About the closest many of us will get to feeling like a film star is a stroll here along La Croisette, the iconic promenade that gracefully curves the wave-washed sand coastline, peppered with chic restaurants and prestigious private beaches. This is precisely the sort of place for which the French invented the verb flâner (to dawdle, saunter): strewn with palm trees and poseurs, its fancy boutiques and status-symbol grand hotels—including the Carlton, the legendary backdrop to Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief —all vying for the custom of the Louis Vuitton set. This legend is, to many, the heart and soul of the Côte d'Azur.
Livorno is a gritty city with a long and interesting history. In the early Middle Ages it alternately belonged to Pisa and Genoa. In 1421 Florence, seeking access to the sea, bought it. Cosimo I (1519–74) started construction of the harbor in 1571, putting Livorno on the map. After Ferdinando I de' Medici (1549–1609) proclaimed Livorno a free city, it became a haven for people suffering from religious persecution; Roman Catholics from England and Jews and Moors from Spain and Portugal, among others, settled here. The Quattro Mori (Four Moors), also known as the Monument to Ferdinando I, commemorates this. (The statue of Ferdinando I dates from 1595, the bronze Moors by Pietro Tacca from the 1620s.)In the following centuries, and particularly in the 18th, Livorno boomed as a port. In the 19th century the town drew a host of famous Britons passing through on their grand tours. Its prominence continued up to World War II, when it was heavily bombed. Much of the town's architecture, therefore, postdates the war, and it's somewhat difficult to imagine what it might have looked like before. Livorno has recovered from the war, however, as it's become a huge point of departure for container ships, as well as the only spot in Tuscany for cruise ships to dock for the day.Most of Livorno's artistic treasures date from the 17th century and aren't all that interesting unless you dote on obscure baroque artists. Livorno's most famous native artist, Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920), was of much more recent vintage. Sadly, there's no notable work by him in his hometown.There may not be much in the way of art, but it's still worth strolling around the city. The Mercato Nuovo, which has been around since 1894, sells all sorts of fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and fish. Outdoor markets nearby are also chock-full of local color. The presence of Camp Darby, an American military base just outside town, accounts for the availability of many American products.If you have time, Livorno is worth a stop for lunch or dinner at the very least.
Italy's vibrant capital lives in the present, but no other city on earth evokes its past so powerfully. For over 2,500 years, emperors, popes, artists, and common citizens have left their mark here. Archaeological remains from ancient Rome, art-stuffed churches, and the treasures of Vatican City vie for your attention, but Rome is also a wonderful place to practice the Italian-perfected il dolce far niente, the sweet art of idleness. Your most memorable experiences may include sitting at a caffè in the Campo de' Fiori or strolling in a beguiling piazza.
Amid the resorts of Sardinia's northeastern coast, Olbia, a town of about 60,000, is a lively little seaport and port of call for mainland ferries at the head of a long, wide bay.San SimplicioOlbia's little Catholic basilica, a short walk behind the main Corso Umberto and past the train station, is worth searching out if you have any spare time in Olbia. The simple granite structure dates from the 11th century, part of the great Pisan church-building program, using pillars and columns recycled from Roman buildings. The basilica has a bare, somewhat somber interior, its three naves separated by a series of arches.
If you look north of the cathedral (La Seu, or the seat of the bishopric, to Mallorcans) on a map of the city of Palma, you can see around the Plaça Santa Eulàlia a jumble of tiny streets that made up the earliest settlement. Farther out, a ring of wide boulevards traces the fortifications built by the Moors to defend the larger city that emerged by the 12th century. The zigzags mark the bastions that jutted out at regular intervals. By the end of the 19th century, most of the walls had been demolished; the only place where you can still see the massive defenses is at Ses Voltes, along the seafront west of the cathedral.A torrent (streambed) used to run through the middle of the old city, dry for most of the year but often a raging flood in the rainy season. In the 17th century it was diverted to the east, along the moat that ran outside the city walls. Two of Palma's main arteries, La Rambla and the Passeig d'es Born, now follow the stream's natural course. The traditional evening paseo (promenade) takes place on the Born.If you come to Palma by car, park in the garage beneath the Parc de la Mar (the ramp is just off the highway from the airport, as you reach the cathedral) and stroll along the park. Beside it run the huge bastions guarding the Almudaina Palace; the cathedral, golden and massive, rises beyond. Where you exit the garage, there's a ceramic mural by the late Catalan artist and Mallorca resident Joan Miró, facing the cathedral across the pool that runs the length of the park.If you begin early enough, a walk along the ramparts at Ses Voltes from the mirador beside the cathedral is spectacular. The first rays of the sun turn the upper pinnacles of La Seu bright gold and then begin to work their way down the sandstone walls. From the Parc de la Mar, follow Avinguda Antoni Maura past the steps to the palace. Just below the Plaça de la Reina, where the Passeig d'es Born begins, turn left on Carrer de la Boteria into the Plaça de la Llotja (if the Llotja itself is open, don't miss a chance to visit—it's the Mediterranean's finest Gothic-style civic building). From there stroll through the Plaça Drassana to the Museu d'Es Baluard, at the end of Carrer Sant Pere. Retrace your steps to Avinguda Antoni Maura. Walk up the Passeig d'es Born to Plaça Joan Carles I, then right on Avenida de La Unió.
Tagged on to the end of Iberia, the intriguing British outpost of Gibraltar is dominated by a sandy peninsula and the stunning 1,400-feet-high limestone Rock. Although small, Gibraltar has always been seen as having great strategic importance on account of its advantageous position where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, just 12 miles from the coast of Africa. Ever popular with British holidaymakers, Gibraltar is very much a home from home, boasting excellent duty-free shopping in many familiar British high street shops. Please note: Gibraltar’s small size and narrow winding roads mean that excursions are operated by 22-seater mini-buses, accompanied by a driver/guide. Local health and safety regulations prohibit the carriage of walking aids and collapsible wheelchairs on these vehicles. If you do wish to bring a mobility aid, we can arrange the Rock Tour by taxi, which has extra space. If this suits your requirements, please advise the Tours and Travel office when you join the ship, as numbers are limited.
Dating from Roman times, the Galician city of Vigo has a fine natural harbour and is renowned as the biggest fishing port in the world. It is also full of history - it was in this fjord-like quay that the English and Dutch defeated the French and Spanish fleets in 1702. Today, the attractive marinas stand in contrast to the industrialised areas of the city, while further exploration will reveal the characteristic 17th-century architecture and attractive countryside beyond. The charming Old Town is a delight, with its labyrinth of winding narrow streets and shaded squares. Nearby is the Cathedral city of Tui, and further to the north is the pilgrimage centre of Santiago de Compostela, which can be reached by car in approximately 1¼ hours.
Just 22 nautical miles down river from the Tower Bridge in London, Tilbury is a popular turnaround port for cruises visiting Baltic and Northern European destinations.
Here she is, our flagship of the fleet, our first lady of the sea: Ambience. Derived from the French word for ‘surrounding’, our ambition at Ambassador is to create the optimum atmosphere onboard; one that brings out the best in each of us. The perfect ambience.
With an average 1,400-guest capacity and careful configuration, she offers both a feeling of spaciousness and freedom, whilst retaining that sense of intimacy and camaraderie we each crave; it’s whatever makes you comfortable.
Dining with Ambassador is always tailored to you, but exceptional service, authentic flavours and cherry-on-top surroundings are guaranteed each and every meal. So, whether it’s a full English for breakfast, a casual lunch, or a six-course gala dinner, your dining wish is our desire! We cater for all, so if you have any dietary requirements, then just let us know in advance.
Entertainment-wise, she really will spoil you for choice. Let your hair down at the Observatory and bring out your finest ensembles for The Palladium. Whether you like it shaken or stirred, she has numerous bars to whet your whistle, including Raffles Bar, Botanical Lounge, SW19 and The Purple Turtle Pub.
Introducing Ambassador’s Enrichment Programme: a host of opportunities to learn, laugh, listen and surprise yourself as we sail alongside the world’s most inspiring sights. Our atmosphere is one where we can each express and embrace what makes us unique, together. So, how will you spend your time?
Maybe it’s learning something new with one of our guest lecturers or it’s asking a question of a celebrity speaker at our ‘In Conversation With’ sessions. Perhaps it’s setting free your inner creative with one of our arts and crafts specialists or it might be that in between wining, dining and dancing, you pay a visit to The Palladium for a priceless evening of comedy. We also have a peaceful library on board for you literary lovers and photography experts to help you capture and master those once-in-a-lifetime precious shots.
Work out in the fully equipped gym, or book yourself in for a relaxing massage or beauty treatment in the well – appointed wellness centre. The Jogger’s & Walker’s Track is also there for you to enjoy panoramic views and when the weather is fine, there are two swimming pools and four hot tubs.
Health Requirements
Please check with your health care professional for up-to-date information on health and travel alerts from the countries you are visiting. It is the responsibility of guests to ensure that they comply with all health and vaccination requirements and are adequately protected. Our mandate will ensure the crew is vaccinated, and only vaccinated guests will be welcomed on board. Please note should you be exempt from receiving a COVID-19 vaccination for any reason, please contact our customer services team to discuss. Robust protocols will be in place onboard. The cruise line will also work closely with all destinations to adhere to local health guidelines and requirements.
Please note that our ships are child-free and therefore for the enjoyment of adult guests only (18 years and above at the time of sailing), except for our advertised multi-generational cruises. There are no dedicated recreational facilities for children aboard but accompanied children and teenagers under the age of 18 at the date of sailing are, of course, welcome on board and, when occupying a third or fourth berth in a cabin with two full fare-paying guests. Children and teens under the age of 18 at the date of sailing but occupying a twin cabin with just one accompanying adult, are charged at the full adult fare.
To allow for greater savings and better budgeting, Ambassador highly recommends one of their onboard packages, which include service charges and gratuities. These can be purchased upon booking so that the hassle is taken out of your hands straight away. Take your pick from a selection of three packages and enjoy some great pre-sail savings.
There is no restriction on the amount of luggage that you may bring onboard the cruises which depart from and return to the UK. To reduce the risk of accidental damage during baggage handling, please do not overpack your suitcases and ensure that no one item of baggage weighs more than 23kgs/50lbs. As there are no separate baggage room facilities aboard our ships, all baggage must be stored within the cabin. Under-bed storage is available in most cabins for suitcases not exceeding 23cms depth.
If you or one of your travelling companions has a mobility limitation or require special assistance, you must contact our office to allow us to discuss your requirements before you make a booking. Firstly though, please read the panel headed ‘Maritime Passenger Rights’ within the Booking Conditions available on our website as this contains important information. In the interests of safety, and to ascertain whether you or members of the party travelling with you have specific mobility or other assistance needs, you will be asked a series of questions. Your answers will enable us to determine that you, any other person in your booking, and any equipment that you or they are intending to bring on board, can be carried safely for the duration of your cruise. This will then be confirmed in writing to you and will enable your booking to proceed. A cruise is quite unlike a land-based holiday and the ships of our fleet are not ideally suited to prospective guests in wheelchairs or those who have limited mobility. It should be noted that the layout of the ship could considerably restrict such guests’ movement around the vessel and indeed preclude access to some of the ports of call, where gangway conditions are not conducive, or guests are conveyed ashore by tender. At anchorage ports, access to or from the tenders or launches requires a certain level of mobility which is necessary to manage the steps to the tender platform and to physically board and disembark from the vessel. It should, therefore, be noted that, on safety grounds, those with restricted mobility may be unable to go ashore at such ports.
During the day, attitudes are very relaxed, and informality is the key. Casual clothing is quite sufficient during the days at sea and for time spent ashore. On certain shore excursions and at some religious sites, discretion should be used so as not to cause inadvertent offence with inappropriate clothing. Advice will be given on board in such cases. Every day, the Daily Programme suggests, as a guide, a mode of dress for that particular evening’s events. Generally, there are two ‘formal’ or Ambassador nights planned on each cruise when many gentlemen wear a dinner jacket, although a lounge suit is quite acceptable. On these occasions, ladies have a chance to dress up and often opt for evening or cocktail dresses. On evenings proposed as ‘smart’, a suit or smart jacket and trousers, with or without a tie, for the men is suggested and the ladies have further opportunities to look elegant in a cocktail dress, trouser suits and stylish co-ordinates. A ‘casual’ recommendation often covers evenings spent in port or when a special event, such as a deck party, is scheduled. In these cases, the choice of dress is left entirely to you.
All cabins feature 110v and 220v current and have a UK 3 pin socket with USB to allow small appliances such as mobile phones, tablets, electric shavers, or electric rollers to be used or charged. For safety reasons, irons and water heating devices are not permitted to be used onboard.
We operate an automatic system whereby an amount of £6.00 per person per night (this amount reduces to £5.00 per person per night for cruises of 16 nights or more in duration) is automatically added to your onboard account. This also includes all service charges for drinks.
All prices onboard our ships are quoted in sterling. A cashless system is in operation for all your onboard purchases. An account is opened for you at the start of your cruise for purchasing goods and services on board. All purchases are charged to your shipboard account and a final invoice is presented at the end of the cruise itemising all charges. This can be settled by MasterCard or Visa credit cards, or by Visa debit cards and, of course, cash. It is not possible to use personal cheques to settle onboard accounts. Please note that in payment of your onboard account, an extra charge may be levied by your issuing bank for using your credit/debit card. Please note that we accept Pre-Paid Credit Cards (showing the VISA or Mastercard symbol) on our vessels.
If you, or a member of your party, have a particular dietary requirement, we can offer the following dietary options: GlutenFree, Lactose-Free, Low Cholesterol, Low Fat, Low Salt, Vegan and Vegetarian meals. If you have not done so at the time of booking, please advise any requirements no later than four weeks before departure. Pre-packed Kosher and Halal meals are available but only if requested at least eight weeks before sailing.
Ambassador Cruise Line is passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, which is why their ships will exceed the latest environmental standards, including no single-use plastic on board and energy-efficient engines. They invite you to join them on their journey to a more sustainable industry with some of the most environmentally ships afloat.
Ambassador Cruise Line offers a range of transportation options for getting to and from London Tilbury. These include coach service to and from London Victoria and private car services to and from London or if you would prefer to make your own way, C2C offer regular train services from London Fenchurch Street to Tilbury town (from there, it’s just a short walk or taxi ride to the cruise terminal). For those who wish to drive, convenient parking is available across from the cruise terminal at the port.
Ambience offers a number of different accommodation grades, varying in size and deck locations, but no matter what cabin you choose, each is guaranteed with an impressive array of amenities and personal touches. All accommodation is equipped with a flat-screen TV, personal safe, hairdryer, fridge, tea and coffee facilities.
Cabins are generally graded according to size and/or position comprising 20 twin and single cabin categories to suit a wide range of pockets and tastes. Cabins are more spacious by today’s cruise ship standards averaging 17-18 square meters with cabin types broadly classified as standard, superior, premium or de-luxe. All cabins are air conditioned with en suite facilities including a shower and ample storage space with room under the beds to store most suitcases. Most suites also have a bath tub.
Located on Ambassador Deck 11, there are 14 De Luxe Suites with a private balcony and sitting area located. They have twin beds which can be converted to double bed, and the majority have a single sofa bed that may accommodate a third guest. All suites offer en-suite facilities with bath and shower above, dressing area with ample storage space, 2 flat-screen televisions, hairdryer, fridge, tea & coffee making facilities and a personal safe. Cabin 11116 is equipped for guests with specific mobility limitations and their companions. This cabin is twin occupancy and has a shower only en-suite.
Located on Ambassador Deck 11, there are 36 Junior Suites with a private balcony and sitting area. They have twin beds and a majority can be converted to double bed, and also have a double sofa/rollaway bed that may accommodate a third and/or fourth guest. All suites offer en-suite facilities with bath and shower above and large hanging and storage space. Cabins 11138 and 11139 are equipped for guests with specific mobility limitations and their companions. These cabins are twin occupancy and have a shower only en-suite.
Located on Reception Deck 5, There are 78 Standard twin cabins with a picture window ocean view and the majority can be converted to a double bed. Some have a third and/or fourth upper berth. Cabins 5103, 5104, 5107 and 5108 have a fixed Queen bed. Cabins 5180 & 5182, 5183 & 5181 have an interconnecting door.
What is an Outside Cabin Guarantee?
These are our Entry Level Fares – Simply offering a guaranteed outside cabin (cats 6C-8) as standard, perfect for those who don’t mind where their cabin will be on the ship.
These great value fares give guests the freedom to customise with chargeable optional extras at any time ahead of their Ambassador cruise.*
*Cabin numbers are automatically allocated 72 hours prior to sailing and no cabin upgrades will be offered. The evening dinner sitting and table size will be assigned and confirmed once on board. For full terms and conditions please see our Booking Conditions.
These are our Entry Level Fares – Simply offering a guaranteed outside cabin (cats 6C-8) as standard, perfect for those who don’t mind where their cabin will be on the ship.
These great value fares give guests the freedom to customise with chargeable optional extras at any time ahead of their Ambassador cruise.*
*Cabin numbers are automatically allocated 72 hours prior to sailing and no cabin upgrades will be offered. The evening dinner sitting and table size will be assigned and confirmed once on board. For full terms and conditions please see our Booking Conditions.
Located on Ambassador Deck 11, There are 29 Premium twin inside cabins and they can all be converted to a double bed. Some have a third and/or fourth upper berth. Cabins 11202 & 11206, 11215 & 11209 are interconnecting. Cabins 11105, 11122, 11124, 11125 and 11129 are equipped for guests with specific mobility limitations and their companions.
These are our Entry Level Fares – Simply offering a guaranteed inside cabin (cats 1-4) as standard, perfect for those who don’t mind where their cabin will be on the ship.
These great value fares give guests the freedom to customise with chargeable optional extras at any time ahead of their Ambassador cruise.*
*Cabin numbers are automatically allocated 72 hours prior to sailing and no cabin upgrades will be offered. The evening dinner sitting and table size will be assigned and confirmed once on board. For full terms and conditions please see our Booking Conditions.
What is an Inside Cabin Guarantee?
These are our Entry Level Fares – Simply offering a guaranteed inside cabin (cats 1-4) as standard, perfect for those who don’t mind where their cabin will be on the ship.
These great value fares give guests the freedom to customise with chargeable optional extras at any time ahead of their Ambassador cruise.*
*Cabin numbers are automatically allocated 72 hours prior to sailing and no cabin upgrades will be offered. The evening dinner sitting and table size will be assigned and confirmed once on board. For full terms and conditions please see our Booking Conditions.