By Jane Wilson
Ship ahoy! As the Ambassador Ambience sets sails from the British shoreland, excited passengers head to the deck to see the views of the coastline float by. The sights of Dover Castle and the White Cliffs, Folkestone Harbour, Beachy Head and Brighton make an appearance. On land waves, acknowledge the ship as it sails past and into the distance on the open seas.
Earlier this year, I sailed on the Ambassador Ambience and joined many fellow passengers from Kent and Sussex, eager to see home from the top deck as we set off on our cruise adventure – the seven-day Gems of the English Channel – from London Tilbury exploring Cornwall, Guernsey, Isles of Scilly, Honfleur & Deauville in France.
Life Onboard
Ambassador Cruise Line offers a good choice of excursions which provide a good balance between offshore experiences and onboard hospitality. The Ambience offers accommodation categories varying in size and deck locations with a capacity for up to 1400 passengers. My veranda cabin was airy and comfortable with ample hanging and drawer space, with tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TV and safe. The ship feels spacious and modern with a friendly vibe. There’s a good mix of dining venues; a colourful buffet around the Borough Market overflowing outside to the Alfresco Grill, the main, more formal Buckingham Restaurant and the speciality restaurants of Saffron, (South Asian fusion cuisine) and fish and sea-inspired Sea & Grass. The ultra, fine dining experience is the Chef’s Table. And pair drinks with your choice of ambiance from the stylish Raffles cocktail bar, accompanied by a pianist and jazz tunes, the sophisticated Botanical Lounge with live classical music, a relaxed, quieter setting in SW19, coffee in Dickens and the lively Purple Turtle Pub with quizzes, bingo and upbeat songs. Talking of which, dance the night away in the night club setting of the Observatory on the top deck. During the day there’s ‘knit and natter’, dance classes, choir and crafts to learn new skills in the studio – how about making your own beaded necklace? Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, as is Tanzanite according to the jewellery talk onboard. When it was discovered in 1967 it was sold only by Tiffany and today, more likely to become extinct. There’s a card room, a library, shopping galleria and if you have the energy, a well-equipped fitness room, Pilates and yoga classes, a swimming pool, two hot tubs and a walking route around the deck with the bonus of a breeze and fresh sea air. It was my first experience of a seashell massage and so good I was ready to book again with my expert therapist, Choki, from Bhutan, who explained that hot shells improved circulation and much smoother than the usual hot stone treatment. Relaxation extended to the steam, sauna and heated beds of the thermal suite.
The voyage adventures
Clinging to the Cornish coastline of the southwest estuary, the scenic drive trip traced the route into the harbour town of Charlestown, where Poldark was filmed, and the delights of Fowey where we stopped for afternoon tea (strawberry jam first and topped with clotted cream from the Guernsey cows), while listening to its links with Daphne De Maurier. Enjoying such a mild climate, the hydrangeas were in full bloom as we passed tourists munching a Cornish pasty. According to the Cornish Association, a Cornish pasty can only be classed as one if it has been made in Cornwall, and made strictly with specified ingredients. Another popular excursion organised by the cruiseline was to the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Europe’s largest garden restoration project.
In Guernsey we met Twinkle, or rather, she met us. She was over 70 years old and cute, as she stood waiting on the edge of St Peters Port in Guernsey. And yes, she proved to be a little star. She carried 35 passengers, and attracted attention and smiles as she chugged along the island’s narrow roads. We joined this vintage bus in the bustling harbour, overlooked by Victor Hugo’s statue, with the music of his novel, Les Misérables, still in mind from the Palladium Theatre music performance from the night before.
Life on the Isles of Scilly seemed very simplistic as we joined a guided history tour. “It’s rather nice to know that Kate is my landlady” were the words of our Scillonian guide as Tamarisk House, owned by the Prince and Princess of Wales, was pointed out on the island of St Mary’s. Harold Wilson lived here too and is fondly remembered as we passed his home and gravestone. The bite-sized cluster of five inhabited islands have their own character but one not to be missed is Tresco, the second largest in the archipelago carpeted with its Tresco Abbey Gardens, the world in a garden, garlanded with tropical plants along its stepped terraces amidst the ruins of a Benedictine priory.
We docked in the southern estuary of the Seine, in the charming town of Honfleur in Normandy with its central old dock lined with open restaurants and bobbing with sailboats. Expect to be served with cider or calvados, caramels or camembert, and forget the cholesterol. From here, we headed to Deauville for an enchanting step back into nobleman territory with horseracing, a casino built originally for Parisians, passing green countryside dotted with stunning villas, farms, barns and apple orchards, the inspiration for Claude Monet whose home is on his doorstep. Deauville was the first official seaside and has colourful parasols on the public beach and cabins named after famous movie stars reflecting the American Movie Festival that takes place here annually. And stamping her elegance, Coco Chanel opened her first boutique here in 1930.
Ambassador Cruise Line offers adult-only cruises combined with a selection of multi-generational itineraries to destinations including the Nordics, Greenland, Iceland, Canada, the Mediterranean and Africa. Currently there are three ships. The Ambience entered the fleet in May 2022, operating from London Tilbury. Ambassador’s second ship, Ambition sails from seven regional UK ports: London Tilbury, Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol and Falmouth, so it’s all convenient, with no flying involved.
This year the Renaissance was added to the fleet following the merger of Ambassador Cruise Line and French cruise operator Compagnie Française de Croisières to offer a fly-cruise Caribbean programme from October 2025 through March 2026.
New Destination Experiences
Aboard the Renaissance, the 2026/27 Caribbean itineraries have been curated discover the region’s rich culture, history and natural beauty. In St Lucia, guests can enjoy a catamaran cruise to the island’s iconic Pitons, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Tortola, the Discover Virgin Gorda & its Beaches experience offers the chance to explore the famous Baths, where giant volcanic boulders create stunning sea caves and tranquil pools. In Guadeloupe, guests can step into the world of television with a Death in Paradise tour, visiting the colourful village of Deshaies – known on screen as Honoré – to explore recognisable filming locations including the Police Station, Fisherman’s Pier and ‘Catherine’s Bar’. In Curaçao, the Beach Hop & Turtle Snorkel Adventure allows travellers to explore the island’s pristine west coast and swim alongside sea turtles. And for those seeking something a little different, Bonaire’s Landsailing Adventure offers a unique opportunity to ‘sail on wheels’ in a wind-powered three-wheeled blokart along the island’s wild east coast.
The Renaissance will return to the Caribbean for a second winter season with ten itineraries between 29 October 2026 and 1 April 2027 including direct flights from London Heathrow and Manchester with Virgin Atlantic. Prices from £1,759pp including flights, transfers, bonded luggage and full board accommodation
www.ambassadorcruiseline.com or call 0808 1028 701
