First-time cruising came easy to Sophie Harris and her partner on an 80s-themed European trip, which sailed from London Tilbury to Belgium and onto the Netherlands
Cruising around the world has always been on my bucket list, but taking the first step can be daunting. Will I enjoy it? Will I feel seasick? Will I feel trapped? These questions all crossed my mind before walking up the gangway.
But what could be better than waking up in a different country without hopping on a plane?
My partner Harry and I were making our debut at sea on a four-night 80s cruise with Ambassador Cruise Line, sailing on Ambience from London Tilbury (sailings from ports such as Bristol, Newcastle, Liverpool and Dundee are also on offer) to Belgium and the Netherlands.
Planning every day to maximise our time, we enjoyed a day trip from Zeebrugge to Bruges, and another from IJmuiden to Amsterdam, with seamless transfers. Not only that, but we also had a couple of blissful days at sea, and had the time to see what Ambience had to offer in terms of drink, food, and entertainment.
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The company’s flagship Ambience launched in 2022 and her name links to the line’s goal of creating a lovely atmosphere onboard. It has a capacity of 1,400 guests, providing passengers with an intimate cruising experience.
One of my reservations was how overwhelmingly large cruise ships can be, but Ambience is absolutely perfect, with sister Ambition slightly smaller with a 1,200 capacity. It took just 20 minutes from entering the cruise terminal to get to our cabin. We stayed in a gorgeous junior suite, with a living area, a large dressing area, as well as a balcony.
The space was super comfortable and the balcony was perfect for relaxing, breathing in the fresh sea air and watching the gorgeous waves.
We were also treated to fresh canapes every day, fresh fruit and a stocked mini fridge. Further special touches were made by the staff too, such as the itinerary for the following day left on our bed while we were out to dinner. It made the cruising experience stress-free.
Ambience has plenty of bars and restaurants where cocktails, hot drinks and soft drinks are served throughout the day. The stylish Botanical Lounge was my go-to, packed with plants, flowers and the occasional live music.
Just next door was Raffles Bar, a smart Art Deco-style venue which also provided live entertainment in the evening.
Other options for drinking included SW19, which was located in the ship’s Centre Court, a three-deck atrium which serves as the ship’s hub. If a pub is more your vibe, The Purple Turtle offers quizzes, trivia nights and other entertainment.
And The Observatory, located on the top deck, is a stylish venue with views out to sea, and is home to the ship’s late-night discos.
The Buckingham Restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offers guests a more formal and traditional dining option. Dinner includes a tasty four-course meal carefully curated by the ship’s chefs, and the staff were absolutely incredible.
On the last night of the cruise, we were treated to an 80s-themed night with a prawn cocktail, chicken Kiev and baked Alaska on offer.
Everything is cooked fresh to order, and you can tell. From the fresh, crusty bread to the quiche, the food was delicious and faultless. The staff who looked after us were incredibly attentive, and the waiter who looked after us every night, Adie, became a close friend for the duration of the holiday.
There are also speciality restaurants onboard, Sea & Grass and Saffron. The latter is an Asian restaurant offering exceptional Indian fusion cuisine, the former meat and seafood.
But don’t worry if casual dining is more up your street. The Borough Market buffet offers low-key dining with plenty of options. At breakfast, passengers can expect full English options, tasty pastries and fruit. At lunch, choices include a salad bar, fresh focaccia pizza as well as fish and chips and plenty of tasty cakes.
The live music and shows onboard Ambience were a highlight. The evening entertainment was incredible in The Palladium main theatre. The Fizz, a spin-off from the original Bucks Fizz group, put on quite the show. From the hit that won Eurovision in 1981 to a melody of 80s hits, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston are now joined by Nikk Mager and Matthew Pateman. We were also treated to a night with singer-songwriter Toyah Willcox as well as an evening with Ambience’s musicians for a showcase of Fleetwood Mac hits.
We enjoyed some fantastic spring weather on excursions to Bruges and Amsterdam. We booked these through Ambassador, and we really enjoyed the opportunity to take in the views and local attractions.
A short coach ride from Zeebrugge and we were soon in the heart of Bruges, where we enjoyed scoffing waffles and browsing in plenty of the chocolate shops.
The port of Ijmuiden in the Netherlands features three beaches as well as nearby shopping centres. It’s slightly further from the centre of Amsterdam, but once we arrived we enjoyed its main shopping district as well as delicious food.
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However, you didn’t necessarily have to embark on these extra-charge excursions to enjoy the local areas.
If you don’t want to leave the ship at all, you can simply enjoy the onboard amenities such as the casino, gym, crafting studio, shopping galleria, outdoor swimming pool and hot tubs. The list goes on, but Brontës Library was a highlight for me. It’s a chance for passengers to step away from the hubbub and relax while enjoying a huge variety of books.
The spa is also a must-visit, with relaxing massages on offer.
Or, you can simply relax by the pool on the various sunbeds and enjoy a cold drink and ice cream from the pool bar.
Cruising? I’m definitely a convert…
GET ON BOARD
Ambassador Cruise Line’s two-night Back to the 70s Sailing on board Ambition starts at £339pp and departs from the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury, Essex, on April 4, calling at Zeebrugge (for Bruges).
- Ambassador’s two-night Back to the 80s Sailing on board Ambition starts at £259pp and departs from Bristol Royal Portbury on 11 November 11, 2026 sailing to Tilbury. ambassadorcruiseline.com
MORE INFO
visitbelgium.com