PurpleMoonlight

I've not been on an Ambassador cruise yet, but this suggests you will be okay everywhere bar the main dining room.

https://www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/faqs/

What is the dress code on board?

16 minutes ago, WestonOne said:

One potato?  My wife will be thinking we should cancel!!

What other differences were there?  Entertainment or activities, for example.

Nothing specific that I can recall.

I'm recently back from Ventura's new year cruise. New years eve dinner included an extra couple of courses, and a free glass of wine.

I was on Oriana many years ago for Christmas & New Year. Christmas dinner was poor, and have never forgiven them for only one roast potato on the plate. 😡

Only 24 hours to decide whether or not you like cruising with Ambassador. 

I'm just wondering how Ambassador will do this on a 45 night cruise.

Will they wait until the last day or seek an interim payment during the cruise?

Good read.

I seem to remember once upon a time trays were available in the buffet so you could get all your requirements at the same time then sit down.

Thanks all.

Little hope then in seems. 

I am aware of the standard terms and conditions.

Although we missed Bruges on our new year cruise on Ventura (5 nights), we all had a lovely time and are keen to do it again in 2025. I called P&O and asked if they would make a concession and move my Oct 2024 cruise deposit to my cabin on the Dec 2025 cruise. The individual cabin cost is less than my Oct 2024 cruise but the deposit paid for the Oct 2024 cruise is less than the total cabin cost on the Dec 2025 cruise (so still a balance to pay). I emphasised I would be looking to book 7 cabins on the Dec 2025 cruise in total, that the children traveling were really disappointed at missing out on the chocolate, and I really needed this deposit to be transferred to make the numbers work.

The phone representative was very helpful and sent an email up the chain of command while I was on the phone. We looked at the cabin pricing that would be involved while we waited, a total cost of some £20,000. After a few minutes the reply came back siting standard terms and conditions, so no.

Anyone got any thoughts oh how to get them to change their mind please?

I thought all ships cabins creaked to a greater or lesser extent in anything above a slight breeze. 😄

How's the weather today?

I was on Venture for the short new year cruise. She handled the storm very well I thought.

32 minutes ago, otbc said:

Funny how when it's a port mid-cruise they're happy to cancel it due to poor weather, but when it comes to getting back to Southampton in time to get more fee-paying people on board they'll happily sail through conditions that no ship should really be out in, isn't it?

It's often cancelled by the port itself closing though, rather than the captain not being prepared to risk it. At sea Captains will usually try to divert around the worst weather if possible.

I would rather be heading home as scheduled than hanging around at sea. Ships don't carry unlimited fuel remember.

Ventura was due in Zeebrugge the same day, and ours was cancelled too. Instead we too a little cruise north for 6 hours then turned around and cruised back towards home. Ventura handled the storm quite well I thought, wind was gusting to 80 knots with the ship listing to one side.

Apparently there were people in reception demanding a refund of port fees. 

53 minutes ago, Pasty feet said:

Thank you for asking purple moonlight, our fare was fully refunded just before Christmas. We are still out of pocket around £130 for the extra insurance and our disappointment and stress is unquantifiable. However, we don’t hold out hopes of getting anything further back.  The main thing was regaining the fare. I did email Ambassador regarding the above but will probably hear nothing further. My sympathies lie entirely with people like Alastair who are still waiting.
 

Glad you have received the cruise cost back. Stuff like insurance will always take longer as likely Ambassador will want evidence of the expenditure.

Oh, that's not very good It's been the thick end of a month now since they cancelled everyone's cruise.

Have you all got your money back now?

I'm just back from this cruise.

We hated it so much we are planning on doing it again in 2025. 😁

Hopefully there will be no further delays. We are put back to 4.15 pm now and are on 1st sitting at dinner. 

We have a private coach for the journey to Southampton which is due to get there at about 1.30 pm. 

Just now, majortom10 said:

So if you are on the ship for the next cruise and received above info from P&O then why speculate when you have been told. If you are not on the cruise and not received that then I am assuming you have no idea and just "copying and pasting".

I am due on the cruise.

They don't specifically state norovirus, hence the speculation. I didn't expect to be accused of lying about it to be honest.

1 minute ago, majortom10 said:

Or a late arrival due to weather conditions or medical emergency. In fact could be for many reasons so why speciale with unfounded claims of norovirus.

"We hope you are looking forward to your upcoming holiday on board Ventura.

During the last cruise some cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported to the Medical Centre.  To control the spread of illness, we have proactively stepped up our already robust disinfection measures.  These protocols were developed in conjunction with leading global health authorities and are designed to adapt to changing health situations.

As a result of these measures, embarkation will begin later in the afternoon, and we ask that you arrive 2 hours later than the arrival time published on your boarding pass.  We thank you for your understanding of this matter."
 

Sounds like a norovirus deep clean.

16 hours ago, Alastair Cruise said:

This the latest from my useless Travel Agent. They just can’t be bothered to do anything for me. What a great pity I can’t name and shame them in this forum. 
 

from Donna 27 Dec 2023, 11:18 GMT Good morning    Thank you for your patience.    I called Ambassador this morning and asked them for an update on the refund.   They have checked with their accounts team they have said we should have this back the first week of January then we can aim to get this back to you as soon as we can.    They have also said your expenses claim form has been submitted and they are aiming to refund that by the end of January.    I am incredibly sorry you have to wait for the funds but I can assure you we are doing everything we can to chase this and get this back to you as soon as we are able to.    Once again please accept our sincere apologies for the delay in getting your funds back to you from your cancelled cruise.    Kind regards    Donna

To Donna:

 

Donna, 

This is ABSOLUTELY APPALLING and UNACCEPTABLE. 

Thousands of pounds are due to me. Others have had refunds. Why not me? Someone is taking me for a ride here. 

How can I trust you anymore? You told me on 21 December that Ambassador assured you that the refund would be paid later that day or the next day. Now you appear complacent that it slips by 2 weeks. 

It’s time your company put PROPER pressure on Ambassador to get this mess sorted. 

Exactly what do you expect your travel agent to do?

They have no control over the situation. Your anger should be directed at Ambassador.

3 minutes ago, GlynnPW said:

 They aren't offering that.

Okay, ta.

4 minutes ago, GlynnPW said:

In his own words, CEO Christian Vernounig wrote: "We would like to offer you 25% off any future cruise of up to 14 nights booked prior to 31 March 2024 in addition to offering you a full refund for your cancelled West Indies Christmas cruise."  Bearing in mind other cruise lines are currently offering up to 33% off in their current 'sales', without being overly specific on durations offered.  Christian can think again!

They may be offering a further discount of 25% of 67% though. So basically half price.

It will likely tempt some.

5 minutes ago, Pasty feet said:

Yes probably. I didn’t delve into it as just want severance from this company after the mess.  A refund will be our preferred option. They can never put things right as far as we’re concerned. 

If you haven't told them, they will wait until 5th Jan 2024 and only then assume you do.

Is the 25% off the current advertised fare?