Ambassador welcome

First-time cruising came easy to Sophie Harris and her partner on an 80s-themed European trip

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Cruising around the world has always been on my bucket list, but taking the first step can be daunting. Will I enjoy it? Will I feel seasick? Will I feel trapped? These questions all crossed my mind before walking up the gangway.

But what could be better than waking up in a different country without hopping on a plane?

My partner Harry and I were making our debut at sea on a four-night 80s cruise with Ambassador Cruise Line, sailing on Ambience from London Tilbury (sailings from ports such as Bristol, Newcastle, Liverpool and Dundee are also on offer) to Belgium and the Netherlands.

Planning every day to maximise our time, we enjoyed a day trip from Zeebrugge to Bruges, and another from IJmuiden to Amsterdam, with seamless transfers. Not only that, but we also had a couple of blissful days at sea, and had the time to see what Ambience had to offer in terms of drink, food, and entertainment.

The company's flagship Ambience launched in 2022 and her name links to the line's goal of creating a lovely atmosphere onboard. It has a capacity of 1,400 guests, providing passengers with an intimate cruising experience.

One of my reservations was how overwhelmingly large cruise ships can be, but Ambience is absolutely perfect, with sister Ambition slightly smaller with a 1,200 capacity. It took just 20 minutes from entering the cruise terminal to get to our cabin. We stayed in a gorgeous junior suite, with a living area, a large dressing area, as well as a balcony.

The space was super comfortable and the balcony was perfect for relaxing, breathing in the fresh sea air and watching the gorgeous waves.