Festive short breaks are a great way to get the Christmas season started, but negotiating busy airports can take up precious holiday time, as well as frazzle the nerves long before you sip your first glass of mulled wine. Not, however, if you travel by sea direct from the UK.
My husband and I signed up for a three-night festive voyage from London in late November, one of a number of seasonal sailings operated by Ambassador Cruise Line. Launched in 2021, Ambassador offers luxury cruising at an affordable price from seven UK ports – Falmouth, Bristol, Liverpool, Belfast, Dundee and Newcastle as well as the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury on the north bank of the Thames.
Brick-built in Art Deco style in 1930, this historic passenger facility saw the arrival of the British troopship HMT Empire Windrush in June 1948 and was the departure point for Britain’s ‘Ten Pound Poms’ heading for a new life in Australia in the 1960s.
We sailed on Ambition, a 1200-passenger ship refitted in 2022, and sister ship to the 1400-passenger vessel, Ambiance. Billed as an Amsterdam and Antwerp Mini Cruise, our short break offered optional, well-priced excursions that included tours to Haarlem, Ghent and Bruges as well as the two key destinations.
The festive atmosphere began the minute we stepped into the bright reception area with its seasonal decorations, for a quick, efficient check-in.
Ambition has 680 cabins in six categories from Inside to De Luxe Suite, so there is something for all budgets. Expect light wood units, super soft pillows, and the company’s signature colours of purple and white. Our Suite on Ambassador Deck (Level 10) had the bonus of a full-sized bath, a balcony with chairs and table, and sofa bed.
Deck 10 Suite on Ambition
Three times a day, guests can eat in the Buckingham or Hollywood main restaurants or, for a less formal atmosphere, Borough Market on Deck 11, close to the pool area with a choice of eating inside or out.
Or upgrade to a speciality restaurant – Saffron for Indian cuisine, Lupino’s for Mediterranean flavours (summer only), or – for a seriously gourmet experience – the Chef’s Table where a tasting menu of nine exquisite small courses is paired with appropriate wines.
Leisure activities include fitness sessions and quizzes, or you can simply chat with friends in a cosy bar or settle down with a book in a quiet corner. Maybe do as I did and indulge in a massage or beauty treatment in the Green Sea Spa. Then finish your day with an evening of song, dance and comedy in The Palladium theatre; a nightcap in the Purple Turtle Wine Bar; or dancing and drinks in The Cavern.
After mid-afternoon check-in, we started our cruise in style with dinner at the exclusive Chef’s Table, an intimate room at the heart of the Buckingham Restaurant.
Chef’s Table on board Ambition
Personally prepared by Ambition’s Executive Chef, this memorable dining experience is a marriage of top quality produce, delicious flavours and exquisite presentation. Our menu included fillet of turbot, Black Angus beef, and half a lobster tail, all personally introduced by Chef. To finish, an extraordinary ‘tree’ with solid chocolate trunk and purple candyfloss foliage set in a pool of Espresso crème brûlée, followed by the cheese trolley. Yum!
But as we sat down to dinner, plans for the weekend took an unexpected turn. Ambition was due to sail overnight to Ijmuiden, port of call for Amsterdam. Excursion options included guided tours of the city on foot and by boat; a canal tour with introduction to Amsterdam’s diamond industry; a trip to Haarlem; and a cultural tour involving windmills and Edam.
Storm Bert, however, had other ideas. As Britain braced itself for gales and driving rain, our captain announced we were staying put. Next day, conditions were even worse and the Netherlands were off the agenda, but fingers were firmly crossed for conditions to improve.
In the meantime, there was plenty to enjoy on board. Green Sea Spa was doing a roaring trade and you could still sit out on pool deck, sheltered from the gusts at covered al fresco tables. There was also Glitz and Glamour night to look forward to, a chance to dress in party best for a four-course gala dinner.
We still hoped to make Antwerp next day, but Bert was doing its worst and all hope of leaving Tilbury was eventually abandoned. A shame, but hardly unexpected, given the reports of flooding and cancelled events across Britain.
At which point, full marks to Ambassador for the generous compensation packages of cash refunds and discounts on future cruises offered to all passengers, whether they chose to disembark early or stay on board for the final breakfast. And everybody seemed happy. Much happier than they would have been facing cancelled flights and wasted hotel bookings.
So is this kind of mini-break for you?
I met several people who just loved the idea of being on board ship with food and entertainment on tap. Catering exclusively for over-18s – apart from a few multi-generation itineraries in summer – Ambassador offer excellent value for money with a quality cruise experience that does not have to break the bank.
Upgrades are there if you want a more spacious cabin or speciality dining, but we felt that prices compared very favourably with a festive short break by air or even at a good standard UK hotel. Our three-night festive mini-cruise in a mid-ship Suite cost £566 per person inclusive of meals and entertainment but not drinks.
Optional drinks packages include service charges and gratuities. We found the food in the Buckingham and Hollywood restaurants to be more home cooking than gourmet, but then we were not paying Michelin-starred prices. And at £89 a head to include wine pairings, dinner at the Chef’s Table was a unique gastronomic experience that easily justified the price. Excursions started at £45 for a 3-hour city walking tour.
Launched in 1999 and refitted in 2022, Ambition is home to 500 staff from 20 countries, each one with a permanent smile on their face, which really added to the festive atmosphere, especially as we never left port. And public areas of the ship were all decorated with Christmas trees and garlands. Yes, a weekend in Tilbury wasn’t quite what we had expected, but surprises can still turn out to be fun!
Departing from London Cruise Terminal, Ambition will be sailing to the Iberia, Canaries & Morocco in December for Christmas and New Year, before heading to Cuba and West Indies in January for 45-nights. Those looking for short cruises for the 25/26 and 26/27 festive seasons, can visit www.ambassadorcruiseline.com to find out more.
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