There’s so much to discover in Britain’s beautiful islands. We’ll bring you the best our nation has to offer, including visits to historic Kirkwall in remote Orkney and Cobh for Ireland’s second city of Cork, as well as Belfast, the cultured and cosmopolitan capital of the North.
From the rugged cliffs of Cornwall to the stunning Scottish highlands, cruising allows you to experience the beauty of the UK in a leisurely and unique way. Additionally, you can visit charming coastal towns, indulge in local cuisine, and discover fascinating cultural and historical sites along the way.
NB: In the event that the required numbers for a Solos Tour Leader, Solos guests will be looked after by the on board Ambassador Guest Services Team.
Embark MV Ambition and enjoy our first night on board with a wonderful meal and dazzling entertainment.
Note: In the event of adverse weather/sea conditions that prevent the ship from calling at one of the scheduled ports, alternative arrangements will be made where possible.
Rotterdam is a major port city in the Dutch province of South Holland. The Maritime Museum’s vintage ships and exhibits trace the city’s seafaring history. The 17th-century Delfshaven neighborhood is home to canal side shopping and Pilgrim Fathers Church, where pilgrims worshiped before sailing to America. After being almost completely reconstructed following WWII, the city is now known for bold, modern architecture.
Enjoy this time at sea to relax and explore the ship
The capital of the amazing Orkney archipelago, the Royal Burgh of Kirkwall sits almost exactly in the centre of Mainland, dividing the island into East and West.
The magnificent St. Magnus Cathedral, a legacy of the town’s rich Viking heritage, dominates Kirkwall’s skyline. In its shadow, the town is a cluster of grey stone buildings lining narrow, flagstone streets.
Lerwick is a busy fishing and ferry port and is Shetland’s only town. The harbour also services vessels supporting the offshore oil industry.
Founded as an unofficial marketplace to service 17th century Dutch herring fleets, Lerwick took a long time to grow. Because of its illegal status (and alleged immorality!) the straggling hamlet around the shore of Leir Wick (‘muddy bay’) was demolished by order of the Scalloway court in 1615 and 1625.
Most of the sandstone buildings on the waterfront date from the 18th century, although a few are older. The narrow main street still follows the old shoreline but modern harbour works have been built out in front of shops and warehouses that once stood in the sea.
No-one designed the old town – it just grew – but, up beyond the Hillhead, Victorian architects laid out a “new town” of spacious villas and public parks, dominated by Lerwick Town Hall – a monument to the civic pride of the 1880s.
Happy Easter!
As we cruise towards our next port of call, Stornoway, sit back and enjoy a drink with new friends in one of the many bars on board.
The capital of Lewis and Harris, Stornoway is both a tranquil and historic town, and a unique cultural experience: Scots Gaelic is widely spoken here and Sunday observance remains commonplace.
Stornoway is the main settlement on Lewis, and the largest town in the Outer Hebrides, as well as having the main port, and an airport.
Uncover the island’s past and find out how it has shaped the way of life today at the newly redeveloped Museum nan Eilean in Lews Castle. Six of the iconic Lewis Chessmen are on permanent display here, after they were uncovered in Uig on the west coast of Lewis in the 19th century.
Visit the harbour to see the fishermen at work and catch a glimpse of what could become a delicious dinner that night.
A plentiful number of shops offer local goods, sourced and produced on the island, including the world-famous Harris Tweed. Also, famous for the renowned Stornoway black pudding, islanders are spoilt for choice by butchers offering the local delicacy.
After spending the morning in this lovely port, we depart for Belfast so enjoy a relaxing afternoon and evening on board.
Belfast is best known to many around the world as the birthplace of the Titanic. Her story can be appreciated at the dockyards, whose Titanic Belfast takes visitors through the shipyard and to the bottom of the ocean using interactive galleries.
Discover old Belfast on the High Street in the city centre, home to Belfast’s very own leaning tower, the Albert Clock. The yellow Samson and Goliath cranes in the Titanic Quarter, visible across the city, are a reminder of Belfast’s maritime past and the ill-fated RMS Titanic that was built here.
Lying at the mouth of the River Lee, Cobh has one of the best natural harbours in the world. Known as Queenstown until 1922, it was the departure point for thousands of Irish emigrants to America and the last port of call of the Titanic.
The ‘Queenstown Story’ is a wonderful exhibition telling of this rich maritime history. From Cobh’s waterfront, streets lined with brightly coloured houses climb the steep slope of a hill, which is crowned with the imposing St Coleman’s Cathedral.
Falmouth is a town on the coast of Cornwall in southwest England. It’s known for its deep natural harbour on the Fal Estuary.
The National Maritime Museum Cornwall has interactive galleries and a flotilla of model boats. On Pendennis Point, Pendennis Castle is a well-preserved 16th-century fortress built by Henry VIII. To the southwest, Trebah Garden has subtropical plants.
Spoil yourself with something from one of the lovely shops on board or maybe a treatment or massage in the spa.
Whatever you choose to do enjoy your last day and night at sea as we make our way back to Tilbury.
This morning we dock at London Tilbury.
After a last breakfast on board, disembark Ambition for your onward journey home and we hope that you are taking lots of amazing memories of this cruise with you!
Ambition. Ambassador’s second lady of the sea. Aptly named to further emphasise their commitment to inspire and delight every guest to enjoy an authentic cruise experience effortlessly, and sustainably
Ambition can carry up to 1,200 passengers to give her a true sense of comfort and space in her 680 cabins, 125 of which have balconies and 113 are suites with up to 62m2 of living space.
Her dining options will inspire you with two main restaurants, speciality dining options*, and a more casual bistro-style café. Sit back, relax and enjoy a drink in one of her four bars, lounges and pub. Or take in a show in the tiered main theatre, or discover your hidden talents in the card room, library, and craft studio.
Other facilities include the wellness centre, gym, two swimming pools and a range of retail shops, perfect for days at sea.
Dining On Board
On board Ambition, there are dining venues for every mood – from traditional afternoon teas to gala dinners alongside the ship’s Officers or Captain – providing ample opportunity for guests to be surprised and delighted throughout their journey.
Buckingham Restaurant & Holyrood Restaurant – serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (Holyrood, dinner only)
Breakfast and lunch in Buckingham are generally served on an open seating basis, giving guests flexibility on when to dine to suit them. At breakfast you can expect a full buffet with one special served to the table and for lunch there will be starter, soup and desert served buffest style with the main course served to the table. At dinner, we operate two sittings, which can be requested upon booking and will be, and you can expect our standard 5-course dinner served full table service that may know and love from Ambience.
Borough Market – serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Taking inspiration and serving cuisines from all over the world, with our casual buffet style eatery, Borough Market, features a wealth of flavours from all corners of the globe, allowing guests to craft their own unique dining experience.
Lupino’s – Mediterranean speciality restaurant serving dinner. Lupino’s is a Mediterranean-style restaurant with a relaxed, al-fresco feel. Guests can expect fresh Mediterranean salads, mezze and more. Supplementary charges apply. Please book on board.
Saffron – speciality Asian restaurant – serving dinner. A firm guest favourite on board Ambience, our Asian speciality restaurant, Saffron, provides a dining experience to remember. Set in a more intimate restaurant setting, expect top-quality personalised service and incredible flavours of India and Goa, and on longer duration sailings Thailand, Far East Asia and more. Supplementary charges apply. Please book on board.
Chef’s Table – intimate, exclusive dinner experience hosted every other night. Considered the ultimate on board culinary experience, featuring multi-course a la carte dining and the option for wine pairings, Chef’s Table is a must when on board Ambition. Serving nine courses of carefully-curated dishes designed to delight with every bite, plus five perfectly matched wines, this experience is a highlight for many guests. Supplementary charges apply. Please book on board.
Alfresco Grill – serving casual eats. For those wanting a casual meal in the afternoon, the Alfresco Grill serves burgers, hot dogs, pizzas and chips.
Bars & Venues
Entertainment-wise, she really will spoil you for choice. If unwinding is on your agenda, then why not kick back in one of the lounges? The timeless Cavern offering live cabaret, gameshows and light entertainment, and the stylish cocktail Clifton Lounge serving all your favourite tipples, and the Pool Bar and Consulate Bar are perfectly positioned for you to soak up the rays. Other bars include The Angel Bar overlooking reception. And, for all your pre and post-theatre moments, there is the elegant Pendennis bar, and the Purple Turtle Wine Bar.
Ambience offers the Aces & Eights bridge and card room and the Ambassador Casino, the gym and Wellness Centre, Brontë’s library, the shopping galleria, not to mention a swimming pool, two hot tubs and a large screen for outdoor movies. Sound good?
Entertainment
Speaking of theatre, there is an exciting entertainment programme at The Palladium ready to whisk you away to new worlds full of song, dance, comedy, and wonderful storytelling with the Ambassador Theatre Company. There’s also Grafton Street, an arts, crafts and activity area, No.10 Conference Room perfect for meetings, Aces & Eights ideal for many a hand of cards, Brontë’s library, the shopping galleria, fitness centre, an exterior jogging and walking track, swimming pool, splash pool and active pool.
And to extend that feeling of rejuvenation, we have our Green Sea Spa on board, offering a sauna, steam room, hair salon and a range of restoring spa treatments. Supplementary charges apply
Your home-from-home, your humble abode on board, your cabin accommodation is where Ambassador want you to feel most comfortable. This is your restful haven that you can look forward to returning to after an exciting day ashore or a busy day at sea, where you can escape and rejuvenate during your trip.
Ambassador have assigned 78 single sole occupancy cabins ranging from Standard Inside to Ocean View Singles on Boat Deck 7 to Superior and Premium Ocean View Single on Consulate Deck 9 and Ambition Deck 8, Plus 10 Junior Suite Balcony Singles on Ambassador Deck 10. Single.
All cabins have a range of impressive amenities and personal touches. Make yourself at home with tea and coffee making facilities and take advantage of the hair dryer, personal safe, UK three pin electrical sockets and USB ports. There is also a flat screen TV for all your entertainment needs, including a range of house movies, news, documentaries, and ship information channels. So why not sit back and watch the ship position and routing from the comfort of your own cabin?
The dedicated housekeeping team clean cabins once a day and provide 24-hour room service at a supplementary cost. All cabins are air-conditioned with en suite facilities including a shower and ample storage space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ambassador Cruise Line is pleased to advise that pre-departure Covid-19 testing will not be required on most sailings* from 3 April onwards. The company’s policy remains to follow the guidance set out by the EU Healthy Gateways recommendations, and it has made this change after careful consideration and discussions with its independent advisors and London Port Health Authority.
Ambassador continues to have very low rates of Covid-19 cases on board and believe the time is right to relax the requirement to conduct tests prior to sailing. In line with the updated policy, adult guests who have received two doses only of a UK-approved vaccine will now be able to freely travel, with no requirement for guests under the age of 18 to have been vaccinated. Guests displaying Covid-19 symptoms within 72 hours of departure are encouraged to take a test at home as a courtesy to their fellow travellers and to contact their travel insurance provider if results are positive.
Ambassador remains one of the most Covid-conscious cruise lines in the industry, and light-touch preventative measures will continue to be enforced onboard. Guests testing positive will be required to self-isolate until they have tested negative for two consecutive days, and, while social distancing and mask-wearing remains at our guest’s discretion, the cruise line politely requests that measures continue to be respected and adhered to where possible.
Ambassador will closely monitor cases on board and reserves the right to update the conditions of travel including the re-introduction of pre-departure testing if it has any concerns. For full terms and conditions, please visit www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/before-you-sail/covid-reassurance/
All guests should have adequate travel insurance in place before travelling. Details should be provided at time of booking.
As a sustainable cruise line, all cruise information and documentation will be available through the ‘My Ambassador Sailing’ page on the website or through the Ambassador App. You will need an email address to be able to update your information, book destination experiences, drinks packages, car parking or coaching, as well as check-in for your cruise. Please note we do not offer any printed documentation.
If there is no Solos Tour Leader on board, don’t worry you will be looked after by Ambassador’s Guest Services. There will be meet up points so you can meet all the other solo guests on the ship. Details of these meetings will be placed in your cabin or in the daily newsletter.
The embarkation procedures at UK ports normally commence four hours before the published sailing time. For final disembarkation, you should allow approximately 90 minutes from the scheduled arrival time before disembarkation will commence. The full embarkation procedures and timings will be confirmed with your cruise documentation, usually 72 hours before sailing.
All cabins feature 110v and 220v current and have an electrical socket to allow small appliances such as electric shavers, electric rollers and hair stylers to be used. All cabins have UK 3 pin sockets. For safety reasons, irons and water heating devices are not permitted to be used onboard.
Ambassador operate an automatic system whereby an amount of £6.00 per person per night (this amount reduces to £5.00 per person per night for cruises of 16 nights or more in duration) and is automatically added to your onboard account. This also includes all service charges for drinks. All monies are collated, so a portion goes to each crew member, who helps to make your cruise special. This is not only distributed to your cabin steward and your waiter or bar attendant; it is also between the hidden stars behind the scenes, such as laundry operatives and kitchen staff, who you might never get to meet in person. If you notice an issue that makes you think twice about our service charge, be sure to speak with the Guest Services desk who will try to resolve the matter before removing gratuities becomes necessary. Even if you had a negative experience with a particular employee, seriously consider whether it warrants removing your gratuities altogether, keeping in mind that because of one crew member the whole team is affected.
All prices onboard are quoted in sterling. A cashless system is in operation for all your onboard purchases. An account is opened for you at the start of your cruise for purchasing goods and services on board. All purchases are charged to your shipboard account and a final invoice is presented at the end of the cruise itemising all charges. This can be settled by MasterCard or Visa credit cards, or by Visa debit cards. Guests who prefer to pay by cash may top-up their cruise card by visiting reception.
Guests wishing to charge onboard expenditure to their credit card must register their chosen card during the embarkation process. Your card will be pre-authorized for £150. This pre-authorization will appear on your bank statement as a pending transaction until the end of your cruise.
During your cruise Ambassador will top-up your pre-authorised or pending amount in line with your account activity. You can check your account balance at any time using the ALL ABOARD APP, or at the self-service kiosks located around the ship. Your account will be closed at 0300 hrs on the day of disembarkation, at which point your onboard balance will be settled automatically and any remaining pre-authorised amount will be cancelled within 24 hours. Please note any purchases made after this point must be cash only. Please allow 3-5 days for this to be reflected in your bank account.
The services of the qualified medical staff are available to you onboard in the event of ‘mal de mer’ or an emergency. It should be noted that the NHS does not cover treatment on the ship and there is a scale of charges for surgery visits and medical treatment. Such charges, which are usually claimable under your travel insurance policy, less any excess amounts, must be paid in full before your final disembarkation. Seasickness tablets are available from Reception at a nominal charge.
DUTY-FREE SALES
The onboard shops are open daily when the ship is at sea, but local customs regulations do not permit the sale of duty-free goods whilst a ship is in port. It should be noted that alcohol and tobacco products purchased will only be delivered to your cabin on the last day of the cruise. If alcohol and tobacco products are purchased ashore, these will be taken from you at the gangway and stored until the last night of the cruise. Drink and tobacco may of course be purchased throughout the cruise from the ships’ bars at the listed shipboard prices.
A passport is essential for all cruises, including mini-cruises and sailings around the British Isles and Republic of Ireland and all British Citizens, must hold a full ten-year passport. For travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must meet the Schengen area rules. Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be: 1. less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’) 2. valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’). For travel outside of the EU your passport should be valid for 6 months after the date of your return.
If you do not hold a valid 10-year British passport, please note it can take up to twelve weeks to obtain a new one. It is the responsibility of holders of non-British passports to check with the relevant consular authorities of the countries to be visited to ascertain if there are any specific restrictions or requirements for their planned itinerary. Any guest arriving at the departure port without a passport, or with incorrect documentation, will not be allowed to embark. Such circumstances are not covered by insurance and no refund claims will be entertained.
Shortly before the ship sails, or if this is not possible within 24 hours of departure, a full safety drill will be held, and this compulsory exercise will give guests precise information of what to do and where to muster in the event of an emergency on board as well as important instructions about life jackets and the emergency procedures in place. In the event of adverse weather or sea conditions, it is important to take extra care moving around the ship, making use of the handrails and heeding any special instructions given over the P.A. system. In certain sea conditions, use of the guest lifts may be suspended for the duration and outside cabins on the lower decks may have protective covers, known as deadlights, placed over their portholes. These covers will therefore exclude natural light from the cabins affected. Such restrictions will be lifted as soon as it is practicable
For your complete security and peace of mind, there are stringent security measures in force, particularly at UK ports. All cabin baggage will be electronically screened, hand baggage may be examined, and you will be required to pass through an X-Ray arch before boarding the vessel. At embarkation, the barcode on your boarding pass will be used for gangway control purposes and will validate you as a bona fide guest. Once onboard, you will find your personalised ID cruise card in your cabin and this will be used for all onboard purchases and also, as security each time to leave and re-join the vessel.
Smoking is not permitted inside the ships. Consequently, all internal areas, comprising cabins, lounges, restaurants and other public rooms are non-smoking areas. Designated areas for smokers are available externally in selected areas of the open decks. Ambassador reserve the right to alter their smoking policy during the cruising season and should new national or international maritime legislation subsequently affect this policy, guests will be informed on board accordingly. E-cigarettes or similar are only permitted to be used in designated smoking areas.
If you have a particular dietary requirement, the following dietary options can be offered: Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free, Low Cholesterol, Low Fat, Low Salt, Vegan and Vegetarian Meals. If you have not done so at the time of booking, please advise any requirements no later than four weeks before departure.
Each cabin has the facility of a personal safe for your valuables and important papers. The Company is not responsible for any theft or loss of any items not kept in the safety boxes. The Company does not accept responsibility for loss or theft of cameras, video cameras, chargers and other valuable electrical items which are your responsibility at all times
Due to the stringent security measures in force, it is regretted that it is not possible to allow visitors onboard our vessels at any port of call.
A few of the commonly used terms to get you ready to set sail.
Aft – the back or near the back of the ship
Atrium – the central court (or centre area) of a cruise ship, usually rising through more than one story of the ship’s interior
Berth – a built-in bed or bunk, as in a ship’s cabin or stateroom
Bow – the very front of the ship
Bridge – the navigational control centre
Cabin Steward – a person whose work is to take care of the guests aboard a ship.
Captain – the person in command of a ship
Deck Plan – an overhead diagram of the cabins and the public rooms
Disembark – to unload (passengers or goods) from a ship
Dock – where your ship ‘parks’ when in port
Forward – faces the front of the boat
Gangway – allows you access on and off the ship
Knot – a nautical mile (see Nautical below)
Midship – the middle of the ship
Muster – to come together or assemble aboard ship for inspection or roll call
Muster Station – a specific location on ship to gather, based on stateroom assignment
Nautical – of or having to do with sailors, ships, or navigation. A unit of speed of one nautical mile (6,076.12 feet or 1,852 metres) an hour: abbrev. kn or kt [to average a speed of 10 knots]
Pier – a structure built out over the water and supported by pillars or piles: used as a landing place.
Port – the left-hand side of a ship as one faces forward: opposed to starboard. Port – so named because the side toward the port (dock), since the steering oar (see starboard) prevented docking to the right.
Port of Call – regular stopover(s) on a cruise itinerary.
Purser – a ship’s officer in charge of accounts, freight, tickets, etc., esp. on a passenger vessel. Important to you – a Purser takes responsibility for all money, transactions.
Port – the left hand side of the ship whilst facing forward (bow). Easy to remember since “port” and “left” each have four letters.
Ship – You always cruise on a “ship”, never a “boat”
Starboard – the right side of the ship whilst facing forward (bow).
Stern – the very back of the ship
Tender – a boat for carrying passengers to or from a ship close to shore.
You will find a 24-hour room service menu in your cabin, offering a range of drinks and snacks, both hot and cold. Room service costs will be charged to your onboard account.
In all cabins, there are beach towels for your use around the pools and open decks. If you should take them ashore, please ensure you bring these back to the ship or you may be charged for a replacement.
Yes, Ambition has a self-service laundrette that guests can use for a small charge.
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| March | 12 °C | 5 °C |
“I’m sure you will enjoy it, I have been on three solos holidays to date and the people I’ve met have been great.”
“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”
“I’ve been on loads of trips with Solos over the years and can honestly say you will not regret booking your 1st one!”
“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”
