It was a cold and windy day the morning we arrived at Bristol Portbury docks to board Ambassador Cruises ship Ambition. We were greeted in their departures carpark and whisked through security, just like an airport having our bags x-rayed and belongings checked before being directed onto a transfer coach for a short transfer to the ship berthed in its dockside mooring.
We were greeted warmly with smiles and delight by our hosts the Louise & Andrew. After walking up a small gangway our ID was again checked and we were issued visitors passes to board. Nothing prepared me for what awaited us as we walked into the public areas of the ship, smiley happy staff greeting us and making us feel welcome even the cup of coffee & a selection of homemade biscuits from their on board bakery was served professionally with a smile and genuine interest in who we were. As we then moved around the ship to start our tour of the facilities on board, this ship really took my breath way, classy modern interiors and spaces light cabins awaited us.
We started our tour in the show lounge seeing the amazing entertainment staff putting on a show for departing guests waiting to disembark, truly spectacular. Then it was onto Brontë’s Library (with Brail on the bottom of the sign so clever!) - complete with its own reading nook with comfy chairs to curl up and read, a desk for penning your postcards and a book swap so guests could leave a book they have read for other guests to enjoy. We then went onto Aces & eight a stunningly decorated room for playing cards.
We then stepped into a beautiful bar, the Clifton Lounge that has the best hot chocolate on board according to a guest who had sailed with Ambassador Cruises over a dozen times sat waiting to disembark. We then stepped through the lounge into Grafton Street, their arts, crafts and gaming area of the ship where guests could pay £6 to take part in crafting activities or play board games a real social space.
Next stop on our tour was the cabins, some of which are in a secret section of Deck 12 carefully hidden through a door off a central staircase. We viewed one of their suites, very spacious, light and modern cabin with fantastic facilities and huge balcony and modern bathroom. The next suite we saw had a luxurious James Bond Penthouse feel with the largest wraparound balcony that just takes your breath away with everything you need, a hairdryer, binoculars, loads of hangers, bathrobes slippers, a shower & bath. The inside cabins were light and spacious as well with a large bathroom.
We then moved onto the Borough Market, a buffet restaurant complete with trees a light and spacious area to grab breakfast lunch or dinner with spectacular views with all diets catered for vegetarian and gluten free to name a few, serving Tetley tea & Nescafe coffee, this was then followed by Lupino’s poolside open evenings only and the Alfresco Grill. The pool areas were huge with pools and hot tubs, an ice-cream station and even a beer bar vibe smoking area on deck.
Next we stepped into the largest and lightest Spa I have ever seen on a cruise ship, it had individual treatment rooms catering for every treatment you could imagine and then some I didn’t even know you could have, ranging from hand and footcare to sea day spa rituals and perfect pampering to name a few, all very reasonably priced, again, smiley helpful staff on hand to answer any questions you might have, bundling your treatments together and buying a package worked out cheaper!
We then walked through the Cavern bar onto the Purple Turtle Wine bar which has wine tasting and reminded me of a Luxury Wine Club which leads into the Palladium, the theatre on board. We then met the reception staff and saw the Future Cruises booking desk and excursions desk all with clever interactive stands which you can use to give you full access and manage your cruise as you travel along or use the onboard app.
We then went onto a luxury shopping arcade filled with everything from duty free to jewellery to your next cruise outfit or the toothbrush you didn't realise you had forgotten! Nothing prepared me for what came next as we entered the Buckingham Restaurant, a luxury buffet restaurant complete with the private dining room hidden away which could be reserved for £89pp seating 12 guests for a 10 course private luxury dining experience. We then walked through the Indian restaurant, Saffron and into the Suite Cabins private dining room exclusive to suite guests for a luxury special 5-course lunch menu specially prepared for us to try sample dishes from all the restaurants on board.
I have to say the whole ship really blew me away, it ranged from swanky cocktail bar to gourmet dining with the overall feel of a pure luxury country hotel showing us that the 53 Million pound refurb was money well spent. You won’t find any cowboys on board this ship unless you count the entertainment staff singing their cowboy and western routine!
Ambition left me with no doubt that Ambassador Cruise Line put the customer at the very heart of everything they do and boy do they do it well! If you’ve ever doubted that a cruise wouldn’t be right for you then think again and give Ambassador a try it’s got something for everyone young or old.
If you’re thinking of trying a cruise then please do contact me if you want to book or need any further details and give Ambassador Cruises Line a try from Bristol, Falmouth or one of the other 6 ports they sail from. You can get in contact with via email, [email protected], call me on 01275 774 100 or come in and see me in our Clevedon store.
