Ambience
Sails from Tilbury, England · Fly into LHR
Page updated
Ambience at Pier 25, Tallinn, May 2022 · Photo: Pjotr Mahhonin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Ambience
Ambience is an Ambassador Cruise Line cruise ship, in service since 1991. She measures 70,285 gross tons and carries 1,400 guests with a crew of 660. She sails Northern Europe, Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands, Mediterranean, Caribbean itineraries. We rate her 3.2 out of 5.
Ambience is the flagship of Ambassador Cruise Line, built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and delivered in 1991 as Princess Cruises' Regal Princess, one of a pair of ships with exteriors by Renzo Piano and a distinctive domed forward lounge. She later sailed in Australia as P&O's Pacific Dawn and was briefly owned as Satoshi for a floating-residence plan in Panama before Ambassador bought her in 2021. At 70,285 gross tons she carries around 1,400 guests by the line's own count, with the Buckingham Restaurant, the Palladium and Observatory show spaces, the Purple Turtle pub and extra-charge venues such as Saffron and the Chef's Table.
Her first Ambassador cruise left Tilbury on April 20, 2022, and she sails year-round from London Tilbury on adults-only, no-fly cruises, with a few multigenerational sailings in the school holidays. She had a three-week drydock refurbishment in the UK in early 2026 and is the ship Ambassador uses for its longest voyages: 40-night-plus Caribbean loops in winter (including a 2026 call at Havana, the only mainstream cruise ship to visit Cuba that year), a 31-night Mediterranean voyage each November, and British Isles, Norway, Iceland and Baltic cruises in summer.
Ship facts
- Guests
- 1,400
- Crew 660 · 1:2.1
- Entered service
- 1991
- Refitted 2026
- Length
- 245 m
- Longer than 65% of 575 ships
- Decks
- 11
Ambience is bigger than 54% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruises Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 66%. At 50.2 gross tons per guest she is roomier than 80% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
Ratings
- Cabins
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Dining
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Entertainment
- 2/5, fleet average 2.0
- Service
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
- Pools & decks
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Value
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews. Ticks mark the Ambassador Cruise Line fleet average across 3 rated ships in service.
More from Ambassador Cruise Line
The ships in the fleet closest to her in size.
3.2 ★Renaissance1993 · 55,575 GT · 1,258 guests · Caribbean · MediterraneanRenaissance was built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and entered service in December 1993 as Holland America Line's Maasdam. Sold in 2020 to Seajets, which laid her up as Aegean…
3.2 ★Ambition1999 · 48,123 GT · 1,248 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsAmbition was completed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in 1999 as Mistral for Festival Cruises and later sailed as Grand Mistral, Costa neoRiviera and AIDAmira. Ambassador bought…Official deck plans
Photos
Ambience at Pier 25, Tallinn, May 2022Photo: Pjotr Mahhonin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Where she sails
- Northern Europethe Baltic, British Isles and Iceland, May to September
- Norwegian Fjordsfjords and the North Cape, with midnight sun in summer
- Canary Islandswinter sun off North Africa, often with Madeira and Morocco
- MediterraneanWestern Med, Greek Isles and Adriatic, mostly April to November
- CaribbeanEastern, Western and Southern Caribbean islands, sailing year-round from Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico
Home port: Tilbury, England.
Flying in for your cruise?
Ambience sails from Tilbury, England. The airport is London Heathrow (LHR), with 40 lounges to wait in before you board.
- Emirates LoungeLHR Terminal 34.9 ★
- Plaza Premium Lounge (T4)LHR Terminal 44.9 ★
- Plaza Premium Lounge (T5)LHR Terminal 54.9 ★
Quick answers
Which cruise line operates Ambience?
Ambience is operated by Ambassador Cruise Line.
How big is Ambience?
Ambience measures 70,285 gross tons and 245 metres in length, with 11 decks.
How does Ambience compare in size with other cruise ships?
Ambience is bigger than 54% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruises Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries more guests than 66%. At 50.2 gross tons per guest she is roomier than 80% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
How crowded does Ambience feel?
Ambience has a passenger space ratio of 50.2: 70,285 gross tons for 1,400 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Ambience feels spacious for her size.
How many passengers does Ambience carry?
Ambience carries 1,400 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 660 (about 2.1 guests per crew member).
When did Ambience enter service?
Ambience entered service in 1991 and was last refurbished in 2026.
Where does Ambience sail?
Ambience sails Northern Europe, Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands, Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries. Her home port is Tilbury, England.
Which airport should I fly into for Ambience?
Ambience sails from Tilbury, England. Fly into London Heathrow (LHR), which has 40 airport lounges listed on Lounge Frog.
Where can I find the deck plans for Ambience?
Ambassador Cruise Line publishes the deck plans for Ambience; this page links to Deck plans.
How is Ambience rated?
Cruises Frog rates Ambience 3.2 out of 5 overall, the average of 6 editorial scores. She scores best on service (4/5) and lowest on entertainment (2/5).
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Ambience
- The 12 best adults-only cruise ships, ranked: 2026
Twelve ships where no child can board, from Viking Vela and Virgin's Lady ships to Saga's over-50s newbuilds and the British adults-only ships of P&O, Marella and Ambassador, ranked by our editorial scores.
Ship ranking
- Why Ambassador Cruise Line has become a favorite for solo cruisers from UK ports
Dozens of single cabins per ship, hosted solo socials and no flight to catch. A look at what traveling alone with Ambassador is really like.
Cruise lines
- Ambience Was the Only Mainstream Cruise Ship to Call at Havana This Year. Here's Why That Matters
A 40-night Caribbean loop from the Thames, a 13-hour day in Havana and a 1991 ship that keeps winning repeat guests. Inside Ambassador's long-voyage formula.
Itineraries
- From Tilbury to Bremerhaven: How Ambassador Is Becoming a Truly European Cruise Line
Ambassador bought Oceania's Sirena for a new German brand and renamed its French arm. By 2028 the British line sails for three markets in three languages.
Cruise lines
- Ambassador Cruise Line Just Had Its Biggest Launch Day Ever, and Repeat Guests Drove It
Launch-day revenue for the 2026-27 season rose 59% and more than half the bookings came from past guests. Here is what the no-fly British line is doing right.
Cruise lines