I’d been keen to sail with Ambassador Cruise Line for a while, mainly because they sail from my nearest port, which I’d never cruised from before. Not having to trek down to Southampton was very appealing, although I’ll admit I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.
With an older fleet and a reputation for attracting a more traditional crowd, I did have a few reservations, especially when it came to the cabins. But when I spotted a two-night festive cruise on Ambassador Ambition, it felt like the perfect opportunity to see for myself what they’re really like and whether I could see myself booking a longer cruise in the future.
As it was a cruise to nowhere in December, I booked an inside cabin to save money. Given it was a winter cruise, I didn’t feel I needed a balcony, and I knew I’d be off exploring everything Ambition has to offer, so I wouldn’t be spending much time in there anyway.
In this review, I’ll show you what the cabin was really like on Ambition, and whether it’s a good choice if you’re thinking about booking one.
At a glance
- Cabin number: 9098
- Deck: 9
- Location: Mid-ship
Pros
- Great mid-ship location
- Surprisingly spacious
- Plenty of storage
- Quiet location
Cons
- Small shower
- No fridge
- Beds not automatically pushed together
Would I book again? Yes.
Cabin location
I booked a guaranteed fare, so I had no say in where the cabin was located. These fares are a great way to save money, but you do have to be happy leaving it up to the cruise line to choose your cabin.
Luckily, I ended up with a great one, cabin 9098. It was mid-ship, two decks below the Borough Market buffet and a couple of decks above the main facilities, which made getting around really easy. The lifts were just a few steps away too, so I never had a long walk to get anywhere.
Noise-wise, I had no issues at all. It was a very quiet location. No corridor noise, no noise from above, and no disturbances at all.
First impressions
Walking into the cabin, I was pleasantly surprised. I’d expected it to feel a bit dated, but it really didn’t.
Despite being on an older ship, the cabin felt bright, airy, and more modern than I’d expected. It was also a really good size, with plenty of space to move around without it feeling cramped.
The decor was pleasant and fairly neutral. There was a large piece of artwork on the end wall showing a coastal scene with blue skies and grass, plus another piece on a side wall, although I couldn’t quite work out what that one was meant to be.
The only part that did feel a little dated was the bathroom, which felt a bit older than the rest of the cabin.
Cabin layout and design
Walking into the cabin, the first thing on your left is a mirror, and I’ll be honest, it gave me a fright every single time I opened the door. I never quite got used to seeing myself, it always made me jump!
Just beyond that, you’ve got the bathroom on one side and a large three-door wardrobe on the other, which creates a bit of a corridor as you walk into the cabin.
The main living area is taken up by two single beds, which were pushed up against the walls with two bedside cabinets in the middle. As I was travelling solo, I’m not entirely sure why they weren’t pushed together like on most other ships. Maybe it’s something you have to request. As it was, I had a bed for each night of the cruise.
There are two bedside lamps, each with its own switch, and on the back wall there’s a main switch that controls the cabin lighting.
Opposite the beds is a dressing table with a large mirror, a chair, and a row of plug sockets. I really wasn’t expecting USB ports on an older ship like this, so that was a nice surprise.
One of the cupboards in the dressing table houses the hairdryer. It’s one of those older-style ones where you have to hold the button down, which I’m not usually a fan of, but it was actually quite powerful and dried my hair much faster than I expected.
There’s another cupboard with two shelves that holds the tea and coffee making facilities. You get plenty of teabags and a couple of coffee sachets. One thing worth noting is that there’s no fridge in this cabin, which might be a downside for some.
Overall, the layout worked really well and felt quite spacious.
Storage
Storage in this cabin was actually better than I expected. The main wardrobe has three doors, with the first two offering hanging space and shelves above where the lifejackets are stored. The third door opens up to several shelves, which were ideal for folded clothes and packing cubes.
Next to the wardrobe, there’s another cupboard set on an angle, which helps soften the corner. The TV sits in the middle panel, with another cupboard above containing the safe and some extra shelving. Underneath the TV, there’s yet another cupboard with two shelves, which in my cabin held extra towels but could easily be used for clothes or shoes.
There’s also additional storage dotted around the cabin. The bedside cabinets were surprisingly large, probably some of the biggest I’ve had on a cruise ship, each with two shelves. These were great for keeping things you want close at hand, like books, glasses, chargers, and water bottles.
Suitcases fitted under the beds without any problem, which helped keep the floor space clear.
Overall, the storage was more than adequate for a short cruise. I fully unpacked and still had plenty of room left, even though I’d packed enough for a week. So even on a longer sailing, I think it would be fine unless you’re a particularly heavy packer.
Bathroom
The bathroom is very much a classic cruise ship bathroom, small but functional and clean.
As you walk in, the shower cubicle is on the left. It’s probably one of the smallest I’ve had on a ship. I’m fairly small and still found it a bit of a squeeze. The controls are on the side rather than directly in front of you, which caught me out a few times.
Inside the shower, there are two small trays for toiletries, along with wall-mounted hair and body wash and conditioner.
The sink area has fairly limited storage, just two small shelves either side and a unit above next to the sink. There’s a large mirror with lighting along the top, a shaver point, and two wall-mounted glasses for toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Towels are stored on a small rack near the toilet, and there are hooks both on the wall and on the back of the door. I mainly used these for towels, including my own hair towel, which I always bring to avoid turning the bathroom pink, a hazard of having brightly coloured hair!
One slightly random but useful feature was what seemed to be a bottle opener mounted on the wall next to the door, which actually makes sense if you’re having a drink in your cabin.
The last word
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this cabin. It was comfortable, quiet, and far better than I’d expected given the age of the ship.
While the bathroom and shower are on the small side and there’s no fridge, the cabin itself was lovely. There was plenty of storage, the location was great, and I had two very comfortable nights there.
For a short cruise like this, it ticked all my boxes. I had everything I needed, and it felt like a nice space to come back to after a day on board.
I’d have no hesitation in booking this cabin again, and I’d be more than happy to stay in a similar one on a longer sailing. It definitely changed my expectations of Ambassador cabins.