London-Calling

Maud was at the Tilbury Cruise Terminal, London, yesterday, 30th September.

..yes save cooking any food!😉

Royal Caribbean International’s next ship, 'Utopia of the Seas', will have a new Virtual Reality Dining experience onboard. What do you think?

June 2023: Hurtigruten Expedition ships - MS Otto Sverdrup, MS Nordnorge and MS Richard With - in various Norwegian ports.

5th September, 2023: Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition has arrived in Bristol ahead of its inaugural British Isles Discovery voyage departing from Bristol Port’s Royal Portbury Dock. Christian Verhounig, CEO of Ambassador, said: “Adding another ship to our fleet is evidence of the strength of both Ambassador and the wider cruise industry. Demand for sailings from the West has been very strong, indicating that holidaymakers see a holiday as a necessity, not a luxury, and are eager to get away. Given the current economic climate, our premium value, no-fly offering is proving very popular with new-to-cruise customers and seasoned cruisers alike, courtesy of our inflation-defying prices. “We’re seeing significant demand for Bristol sailings on our small to mid-size ships with holidaymakers from the West eager to get away this year". (Text Cruise Industry News/ Images from Bristol Port Company) Q: any Cruisecritic members onboard?

Hi Sara, thanks for the rhanks. Sorry to hear that you had issues. I have just remembered that a theatre show was cancelled on my cruise, due to water ingress into the theatre, pre show. Yet we had pretty good weather. Ambience is an old lady in need of a good overhaul. Regards Malcolm

That would be the solution!

No that does not work. If you leave extra milk on the desk top, they may remove it or not re-stock. They only left four little milk sachets per day. I'm not making a fuss. I'm not deeply upset. Just having a discussion with members. I have done many cruises and nothing has been removed from my draws before. It's NOT theft as such, it's just odd. (The steward did a very good job of cleaning the cabin but never spoke to us in 17 days).

Here's a strange incident, from my recent Ambience cruise: I changed cabin after a few days, moving to 9183, on deck nine (air-con. issues). I located the room steward, in the morning, informing him that I had moved. He appeared rather unhappy and just replied “When”. (I guess that he was upset, that he had an extra cabin to service). He never formally introduced himself to me. When I was walking down the corridor, he appeared to hide from me, in a cabin that he was cleaning or even in a cupboard. He never said good morning or good afternoon to me, in fact he never spoke to me again, all cruise. This was hardly Ambassadors “Warmest welcome at Sea”. However, his cleaning of the cabin was excellent, as were his towel animals. In one of my cabin’s draws, I has put some extra mini-milk cartons, teabags and coffee sachets, which I had collected , from the reception, as a reserve. These were for use with the in-cabin kettle. There was also a spare box of tissues, that I had acquired. I was not stealing them, I would have left them in the cabin, when I disembarked, if I did not use them all. However, on the last evening of the cruise, the steward clearly went through all of my draws and took these away. This is not acceptable behaviour to me. However readers, do you think that I'm being over-sensitive? (99% per cent of the staff that I met onboard, were GREAT!)

At least if the cabin is too hot, they can just open the door. I'm sure the majority of cabins have working air-con, well I hope so. I bet they love the experience!

I think a newbie would have a great cruise with Ambassador, as long as their cabin air-con works!

Yes, one might just lose a freind!

The Ambassador Cruise Line Now has a "Refer A Friend" scheme, for onboard credit. It's on this blog and on there web site: Ambassador Reports Strong Demand | WaterWorld by Malcolm Oliver (wordpress.com) (Scroll down the blog page)

Later this year, Ambassador cruise line have some ‘Festive’ events, onboard their two ships: Ambience & Ambition, at Tilbury (UK). You get a welcome aboard cocktail, half a bottle of wine per-person, a five course dinner and show, with the option of overnight accommodation and breakfast. The prices are about Premier Inn levels, but with the rare opportunity to explore a cruise ship. It’s a nice way to spend an afternoon/evening and experience the food and entertainment. Various cabin grades are normally open for viewing. Dates/details on the Ambassador web site and my blog: Ambassador Festive Events | WaterWorld by Malcolm Oliver (wordpress.com)

My June Ambience review here: Ambassador’s Ambience Ship: One Year On | WaterWorld by Malcolm Oliver (wordpress.com)

My June review of Ambince: Ambassador’s Ambience Ship: One Year On | WaterWorld by Malcolm Oliver (wordpress.com)

There late deals are great too!

Definitely! My June cruise review: Ambassador’s Ambience Ship: One Year On | WaterWorld by Malcolm Oliver (wordpress.com)

Some more images here:

Ambassador say: DRESS CODE During the day, attitudes are very relaxed, and informality is the key. Casual clothing is quite sufficient during the days at sea and for time spent ashore. On certain destination experiences and at some religious sites, discretion should be used so as not to cause inadvertent offence with inappropriate clothing. Advice will be given on board in such cases. Every day, the Daily Programme suggests, as a guide, a mode of dress for that particular evening’s events. Generally, there are two ‘formal’ or Ambassador nights planned on each cruise when many gentlemen wear a dinner jacket, although a lounge suit is quite acceptable. The ladies on these occasions have a chance to dress up and often opt for evening or cocktail dresses. On evenings proposed as ‘smart’, a suit or smart jacket and trousers, with or without a tie, for the men is suggested and the ladies have further opportunities to look elegant in a cocktail dress, trouser suits and stylish co-ordinates. A ‘casual’ recommendation often covers evenings spent in port or when a special event such as a deck party is scheduled. In these cases, the choice of dress is left entirely to you.

Yep...take sunscreen, T-shirts, waterproofs and winter gear.

HI Andrew, thanks you for the thank you. I completely agree. Ships and cabins change temperature during a cruise, therefore the need to be able to regulate the air-con is a must. I'm sure most of Ambience's cabins have functioning air-con, but which ones don't. Its a bit like Russian roulette, it would seem. Malcolm

You need to be prepared for all weathers. It has been pretty warm in Norway, with some calm seas, the past few weeks. However, it gets cooler as you approach the North Cape. You will probably need a winter cost, hat and gloves. Enjoy!

Hi, I'm just back from Norway and saw quite a few Hurtigruten ships, in various ports. Enjoy!

One more video, Ambience in Norway: