Ambassador Cruise Line… You Surprised Me!
I was incredibly lucky to be invited onboard Ambience with Ambassador Cruise Line, and having never experienced Ambassador before, I was really excited to see what it was all about.
I always think there’s a big difference between knowing about a cruise line and actually stepping onboard and experiencing it for yourself. And I can safely say, Ambassador surprised me in the best possible way!
My First Impressions of Ambience
From the moment we stepped onboard, we were looked after unbelievably well.
The ship, the food, the entertainment, the crew… everything was fantastic. But more than anything, it was the whole experience that really won me over.
There was such a lovely atmosphere onboard, and actually spending time on Ambience gave me a completely different understanding of the brand. You can read about a ship and look at photos, but it’s only when you’re onboard that you really get a feel for what it’s like.
And that is exactly what I wanted from this trip.
Exploring Honfleur… In a Very Memorable Way!
And then there was Honfleur!
Picture 30 travel agents being let loose in vintage Citroën 2CVs and driving through the French countryside in convoy.
Honestly… it was one of the funniest, slightly terrifying and definitely most memorable excursions I’ve ever done!
It certainly wasn’t your average day exploring a destination, and I think that’s part of what made it so brilliant.
Honfleur itself was absolutely beautiful, with gorgeous views, history, culture and stunning countryside. It was one of those places that was just lovely to explore and really added something special to the trip.
We even managed a stop at a beautiful 5-star hotel for drinks… tough job, but someone had to do it!
The Biggest Surprise of the Trip
As much as I loved the ship and Honfleur, the biggest surprise of the trip was definitely the people.
There were 30 travel agents on the trip, many of us barely knowing each other when we arrived, and within a day it felt like we’d all been friends for years!
We laughed until we cried, danced, ate, drank, learned and explored together.
Anyone who has been on a travel industry trip will probably understand how quickly that happens. You spend so much time together and share so many experiences that you very quickly become a little travel family.
I can honestly say I’ve come home with some amazing new friends, including my lovely roomie!
Those friendships and memories were a huge part of what made the trip so special.
A Huge Thank You
A huge thank you has to go to Jade and Laura from Ambassador Cruise Line Trade Partners.
Looking after 30 travel agents definitely isn’t for the faint-hearted, but you both absolutely smashed it!
From the moment we arrived, we were so well looked after and it made the whole experience even more enjoyable.
Ambassador Completely Changed My Perception
One of the biggest things I’ve taken away from this trip is a completely different perception of Ambassador Cruise Line.
Being able to experience Ambience properly means I can now talk to my customers from real experience, rather than simply repeating what I’ve read in a brochure.
I know what the ship feels like. I have a much better understanding of who it will suit, what the atmosphere is like onboard and why a no-fly cruise can be such a brilliant option.
That first-hand experience is so important when you’re helping somebody choose their holiday, because every customer is different and every cruise line offers something slightly different too.
And THAT is why these trips are so valuable to us as travel agents!
Coming Home With So Much More
I came home with more knowledge, incredible memories, amazing new friendships and an even bigger love for this slightly crazy travel career I’ve somehow created.
It was one of those trips where you come home feeling like you’ve packed so much into such a short amount of time.
I went onboard excited to experience Ambassador for the first time and came away with a completely different understanding of the cruise line.
Ambassador Cruise Line… you were absolutely fantastic!