Abassador Ambition May 2026

[david63]

Greetings from the care home at sea = never seen so many "walkers" in my life, not even in the disability shops!

Day 1 - Saturday 9th May

So far this is a cruise of two halves - some good, some not so good. This is our fists time on Ambassador and unless there is a dramatic turn around it will probably be our last.

Everything set off fine - we had a car to take us to the port as it is only about 50 minutes from home as it was cheaper than paying to park! The car arrived on time and we were in the terminal, checked in, through security and on the ship in just over an hour - just wish all cruises could be like that.

As we have a suite I was led to believe that once onboard we would have access to the suite so off we go to try and find it only to find that the fire doors were closed with a sign that they would not be available until 14:00 and the only option was to go to the "canteen" lugging our carry on bags. Not happy bunnies. Every other cruise line we have been on has provided a "proper" lunch for suite passengers,

The one redeeming factor was that when we finally got to our suite the luggage was waiting fot us so that the unpacking could commence!! Once unpacking was done and everything sorted it was time for muster drill. Muster drill on Ambassador is still in the dark ages compared to other cruise lines in that you have to meet on deck and stand around waiting for the stragglers to arrive.

A quick explore (and with the size of this ship it is quick) brfore going back to the suite for a rest before dinner. As this is our first time on this ship there was the age old problem of finding a bar for a pre-dinner drink. Dinner was second sittinf in the Holyrood restaurant and we were pleased to find that our request of a table for two had been granted, Dinner was good and exceeded our expectations.

[Onelife]

I’ve got a feeling this is going to be an enlightening review for those considering switching cruise lines…let’s hope further observations/experiences from David make that decision more obvious.

Thanks for posting David.

[Stephen]

Had the same thing David having just returned from our second Saga cruise (care home at sea). There was even a dedicated area for all the electric wheel chairs which i nicknamed the Formula 1 bay. Never saw that on our first cruise, in fact I don’t recall seeing hardly any wheel chairs or walkers first time round.

Allot older passenger compared to our first Saga cruise. I’m surprised we didn’t have the co-op following us hoping for business

[Ray B]

David, I hope things improve for you, I've not been on Ambition only Ambience. Strange muster, as on Ambience it's simular to P&O, were you have your ship card scanned.
Did you find a bar suitable for a pre dinner drinks, there must be one.
I hope you will continue to update us on your cruise, good or bad, although I hope you find things are better once you get to know your way around.
Mobility, on my last cruise earlier this year I think we had a Battalion of scooters, never seen so many on a ship, but not that many Rolator aids.
I do look at my reviews before posting, and think have I dressed it up to much, but honestly my post are as I see it.
I look forward to your next post. I believe Foxy is going on Ambition soon so he will have a keen interest.
I the mean time ,have an enjoyable cruise.

[Portsmouth]

I'm looking forward to reading your review...especially what you did in the ports you visitied.
I was in a junior suite when I was on Ambition....did you find a pair of binoculars & world atlas behind the mirror ?
did enjoy the little treats they give you each day....I guess your getting them as well
Seems like a care home......you are so mean

[david63]

I believe Foxy is going on Ambition soon

He is supposed to be on this cruise but no matter how hard I try I have not been able to see any foxes around the ship!

eems like a care home......you are so mean

The state of some of them I will be surprised if they see the end of the cruise.

[Onelife]

I believe Foxy is going on Ambition soon

He is supposed to be on this cruise but no matter how hard I try I have not been able to see any foxes around the ship!

David, get your hunting horn out and watch who moves the fastest...that'll be foxy

[david63]

Day 2 - Sunday 10th May

Woke up this morning after having a good sleep. One unusual thing is that we have the beds as a double (yes we are still talking - just) but there are two single duvets.

Went for breakfast and not wanting to face the canteen went to the MDR where guess what - it was buffet, but at least you were shown to a table. I have never been on a cruise with any cruise line where there is not at least one MDR that serves breakfast. It totally baffles me why a cruise line that is adults only which will tend to attract an elderly passenger demographic makes life so difficult. A buffet is bad enough but get a couple of mobility scooters in there and half a dozen walking stick users and it quickly becomes gridlocked!

After breakfast we decided we had better explore the ship to find out where everything is - that lasted 10 minutes.

Lunch was slightly more civilised in that only starters and desserts were buffet - main courses were server. At lunch we were sat next to another couple who were also on their first Ambassador cruise having cruises previously with Fred and Saga and they said that Ambassador will not be getting any more of their business.

One thing that I do have to admit is that the food on this ship is some if the best that I have had on any cruise ship - Cunard included.

Tomorrow is our first port of call - Brest.

More to follow.

[Stephen]

I believe Foxy is going on Ambition soon

He is supposed to be on this cruise but no matter how hard I try I have not been able to see any foxes around the ship!


Have you tried putting some food round the bins

[Stephen]

I don't like the sound of the main dining room David and having to serv yourself, and i bet there was no white table cloths. How very Jims caff.

[Ray B]

Oh dear David, definitely picked the wrong Ambassador ship I think. It's soooo different on Ambience .
Foxy may have listened to Merv and is holding back until he see you getting the drinks in

[david63]

I forgot to mention that last night was the first formal night and there were many who looked as if they had literally just come in from being on deck all day - and there were quite a few in shorts. No attempt was made to enforce the dress code.

Day 3 - Monday 10th May

We were woken this morning at some ungodly hour by a call from the bridge for the medical team to attend a cabin.

Having tried, unsuccessfully to get back to sleep I eventually rose to find the sun making an appearance as we arrived in Brest. We went for the now routine morning "bun fight", aka breakfast. This is where it became apparent that the lurgy was alive and well as everything on the buffet was being served. The lurgy was later confirmed by the Captain - I am blaming the fox for bringing it onboard, especially as he is keeping a low profile!

As this is a port day the idea was to go and have a looksee which entailed using the free shuttle bus. All was going well until the bus was about to set off when the woman on the seat in front of us decided to be sick - yes I know where this is going!!

Brest is definitely not a tourist location and although it is quite nice there is not much there - in fact all the shops were shut even at 11:00. The town looks very modern and clean but is not somewhere I will be rushing back to. So it was back to the shuttle bus for the return to the ship.

Again at lunch the buffet items were being served due to the lurgy. There was however some excitement in the restaurant during lunch when one of the passengers collapsed - the medics were there within a couple of minutes of being called which was reassuring. As I have said before with the type of passengers on this cruise I would expect that the medical centre is one of the busiest places on the ship.

After all that excitement all that could be managed this afternoon was a rest!!

Dinner totight was not up to the standard of the previous couple of days (may be down to bad choices) but it was rushed - I have never on any cruise been in, served, eaten four courses and out in an hour.

Let's see what tomorrow brings,

[Cheshire Cruiser]

Looking forward to your further reports David. It is an interestiong itinerary and having read your comments about Brest (I've not been) I will be interested to see your thoughts on Gijon and Ferrol, both of which failed to impress on our only visits to each.

Not four courses admittedly but we had three courses in well under an hour several times on P&O - meal done and finished even before the wine had all gone!

Meantime make the most of it, warts and all.

[Stephen]

Sounds like the cruise from hell David.

Yes, Brest is a dump. We took the shuttle into Brest town on our Saga cruise, took one look and stayed on the coach and came straight back. This turned out to be a good move as several coaches returned at the same time causing long queues to get back on board.

[Ray B]

Brest, not a nice place to look around, more like a concrete town/city. It was heavily bombed during the last war and not much survived other than the submarine pens. People normally pass through to other sites in France to see.
It does looks like you are enjoying your time on board
Reading another forum and cruisers on the same trip is interesting.
Bit concerned as to why Foxy is keeping a low profile unless he did indeed bring the pestilence on board and now hogging the wc pan.
Hope you have a better day today David.

[Onelife]

If David’s reports are anything to go by, foxy will have gone to ground…shorts and tee shirts on formal nights say it all.

It was a big mistake relaxing dress codes on formal nights, imo

[Stephen]

If David wants to meet Foxy he just needs to get his card out when he’s at the bar and like magic Foxy will appear. Well he was trained under Merv you know.