SHIP LAUNCH UK line officially launches second ship Ambition in Newcastle. Samantha Mayling reports


Ambassador hails ‘strong demand’ for fly-cruises


Ambassador Cruise Line reported “strong demand” for no-fly cruises


as it launched its second vessel, Ambition, from Newcastle. The line held a gala event last


Thursday (May 11) hosted by chief executive Christian Verhounig and the ship’s godmother, Shirley Robertson OBE, the double Olympic


gold medal-winning sailor. Ambition’s first guests departed


on a maiden voyage to Dundee on May 12 ahead of a 14-night Hidden Gems of France and Spain sailing. The launch of Ambition means


Ambassador passengers can now join no-fly cruises from eight UK departure ports. In addition to the cruise line’s


home port of Tilbury, passengers can embark in Newcastle, Dundee, Edinburgh, Falmouth, Liverpool, Bristol and Belfast. Ambassador’s first ship, Ambience,


began sailing in April 2022. Since then, the vessel has operated 18 cruises and carried almost 30,000 passengers. During Ambition’s inaugural


season, the ship will visit 29 countries and call at 91 ports. The 2023-24 season will


see Ambassador’s portfolio of destinations grow to 60 countries; trips ranging from two to 120 days; and almost


100,000 passengers booked to travel. Verhounig said: “Ambassador


has, in the short time it has been in operation, firmly established a unique premium-value offering within the cruise sector. “Adding another ship to our fleet


is evidence of the strength of both Ambassador and the wider cruise industry, showing the support we have received and demand we are experiencing. “Despite a backdrop of difficult


economic conditions, we have enjoyed a very strong [wave] period, tripling sales compared with the same period in 2022. “Demand remains strong,


Ambassador’s


Christian Verhounig with Ambition godmother


Shirley Robertson


indicating that holidaymakers see a holiday as a necessity, not a luxury, and are eager to get away this year.” Verhounig also said the line


had seen increased demand for “bucket-list itineraries” and a rise in new-to-cruise customers. “We’re seeing significant demand


on our small to mid-sized ships, with heightened interest in Norwegian fjords and round-Britain cruises, plus bucket-list itineraries, such as our round-the-world cruise, which sails in January 2024,” he said. “We have also seen a shift in


demand coming from customers who are new to cruise as more travellers choose no-fly holiday options.”


Line says target market ‘resilient to cost-of-living crisis’


Ambassador Cruise Line has not had to discount heavily to fill its ship, unlike larger cruise lines, according to its chief commercial officer. Phil Gardner claimed larger


lines had resorted to “extremely aggressive” pricing in the lates market but Ambassador had not had to get involved in such deep price-cutting. “I have seen what a lot of the


bigger cruise lines are doing with prices in the market,” he said. “It is extremely aggressive in lates. “That is the nature of having


bigger vessels with such big capacity; ultimately, lower prices are needed to fill the ships. That is not really the market we play to.” He said Ambition has an


“intimate feel”, adding: “Our brand presence in the market has always been focused on going after premium value with mid-sized ships.” Gardner went on to say


Ambassador’s core target market of over-50s holidaymakers is “more resilient” than other age groups to cost-of-living concerns. “We talk to a market that has


a different outlook in the way that they spend their money and the way they approach holidays,” he added. “It is more resilient to some of those [cost-of-living] challenges.”


AMBITION AT A GLANCE


Capacity 1,200 passengers


cabins


680, of which 125 have balconies


12 18 MAY 2023 Main features


Two restaurants, four bars, theatre and wellness centre


Homeport Tilbury


travelweekly.co.uk


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