I am becoming a big fan of these smaller ships. There is just something about them that continues to deliver those traditional cruise elements and ensures the romance of cruising never dies.
There’s a relaxed atmosphere onboard, plenty of space to enjoy your time at sea and, of course, the opportunity to visit some of the smaller ports that the much larger ships simply can’t access. These elegant ladies of the seas really do offer something that the mega cruise ships can’t, and I’m definitely beginning to appreciate their charm more and more.
Ambassador Ambience certainly ticks a lot of boxes.
Traditional dining with plenty of choice
One of the things I really like is that you still get that traditional dining experience, but there are speciality dining options available too if you fancy something a little different.
Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to visit any of the speciality restaurants on this trip, but there is quite the choice.
Saffron offers Indian gastronomy, while Sea & Grass takes you on a seven-course tasting journey. Then there’s the Chef’s Table, a VIP multi-course dining experience created and hosted by the Executive Chef.
So, even though I didn’t get the chance to try them myself this time, there are certainly plenty of options for anyone who likes to make dining a big part of their cruise experience.
A chance to dress up
I know cruising has changed a lot over the years, but personally, I still love that there are ships keeping some of those traditional cruise experiences alive.
Onboard Ambience, there are dress-up and formal nights, complete with the Captain’s Cocktail Party and Gala Dinner. And, of course, there was the Baked Alaska parade.
It’s those little touches that bring back that feeling of a traditional cruise holiday and make an evening onboard feel that bit more special.
Live entertainment that really stood out
There was plenty of live entertainment to enjoy during our time onboard, but there were a couple of moments that particularly stood out for me.
The WestEnd show in the theatre was a fabulous journey through some favourite musicals, giving you the chance to rediscover songs and shows that you already know and love.
Another standout was the very clever rendition of a traditional radio play, performed in the Purple Turtle. It was something a little bit different and definitely one of the entertainment highlights of the trip for me.
Relaxing days at sea
The time onboard whilst at sea felt very relaxed, which is exactly what I wanted from a bank-holiday weekend away.
There were plenty of places around the ship where you could simply settle in and enjoy being onboard. The Green Sea Spa, Dickens and The Coffee House all proved to be very popular destinations during our sailing.
That is one of the things I enjoyed most about the ship. You don’t necessarily feel like you need to be doing something every minute of the day. There are plenty of places to sit, relax and simply enjoy the fact that you are at sea.
An overnight stay in beautiful Honfleur
Of course, the cruise wasn’t just about the time onboard.
We were treated to an overnight stay in the beautiful seaside town of Honfleur, which gave us the opportunity to spend more time in the destination rather than having to rush back onboard after just a few hours.
And then there was our excursion…
All I will say for now is that it was absolutely mind-blowing. But that is another story!
And then there’s the Observatory Lounge…
I can’t talk about my time onboard without mentioning the Observatory Lounge.
During the day, it is a relaxing retreat and a lovely place to spend some quieter time onboard. But by night, it is completely transformed into a vibrant nightlife spot.
It certainly managed to keep us entertained.
My feet still haven’t recovered!
Why I’m becoming a fan of smaller ships
These smaller, older ships really do have a lot to offer.
You still have everything you would expect to find on a modern cruise ship, but there are some lovely benefits that come with this style of cruising too. We had larger-than-average cabins, spacious passenger areas and plenty of generous poolside space.
Combine that with the more traditional elements of cruising, a relaxed atmosphere and the ability to visit smaller ports, and I can certainly see the appeal.
After our bank-holiday weekend onboard, I genuinely didn’t find anything to complain about.
And I think it’s fair to say my appreciation for these smaller ships is continuing to grow.