12 nights onboard Ambience

Gems of Western Europe

Experience the charm of the Atlantic coast on a delightful sailing with stops in Leixoes for optional tours to Oporto, Lisbon, Gijon, Getxo for optional tours to Bilbao, Brest, and Honfleur. Immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of Oporto, explore the historic streets of Lisbon, and enjoy the cultural offerings of Gijon. Discover the maritime allure of Getxo, the maritime heritage of Brest, and the romantic ambience of Honfleur. Each port on this voyage offers opportunities to craft an unforgettable experience while tracing Western Europe's coastline.

CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Leixoes
Near the city of Porto, Leixos is one of Portugal's major seaports and is widely associated with the exporting of port wine. Day trips to Porto are a popular activity, but there are also quayside beaches and cafes to enjoy on either side of the Douro River.

Getxo
Stretching along Spain's Basque coast is historic Getxo. Blending cultural richness with seaside charm, Getxo offers gorgeous promenade walks and the chance to indulge in traditional Basque cuisine in the town's famous Old Port.

Brest
Located on the briny coast of Brittany, the French port of Brest offers a seafaring spirit and countless maritime attractions. Stroll along quaysides, discover historic fortifications, and enjoy some unique Breton cuisine.

Honfleur
Nestled on France's Normandy coast, Honfleur mesmerises with its historic harbour and artistic ambiance. Travel back in time as you explore cobbled streets and art galleries showcasing works by renowned painters like Eugene Boudin.

Leaving from: Tilbury

Cruise ship: Ambience

Visiting: Tilbury • Leixões • Lisbon • Gijón •

Ambassador Cruise Line

Ambassador Cruise Line describes itself as a "premium value" service, offering value-for-money breaks aimed primarily at the over-50s.

The company, based in Essex, first sailed out of Tilbury in 2022, with its first Ambassador ship - Ambience, now joined by Ambition. Guests can expect talks, a vast array of entertainment, and a healthy choice of restaurants.

The tag claims "best value at sea" - we'd be inclined to agree.

1400

Passengers

1991

Launched

2017

Last refit

70285t

Tonnage

245m

Length

32.2m

Width

17kts

Speed

Decks

GBP

Currency

Cruise Itinerary

Day 1

Tilbury, England

Day 4

Leixões, Portugal

Day 5

Lisbon, Portugal

Day 7

Gijón, Spain

Day 8

Getxo, Spain

Day 10

Brest, France

Day 12

Honfleur, France

Day 13

Tilbury, England

Day 1

Tilbury, England

Just 22 nautical miles down river from the Tower Bridge in London, Tilbury is a popular turnaround port for cruises visiting Baltic and Northern European destinations.

Day 4

Leixões, Portugal

Ever since the Romans constructed a fort here and began using it as a trading post, Oporto has been a prosperous commercial centre. In the 15th and 16th centuries the city benefited from the wealth generated by Portugal’s maritime discoveries, and later, the establishment of a lucrative wine trade with Britain compensated for the loss of the spice trade. Today, Portugal’s second-largest city is a thriving, cosmopolitan place and is famous for its production of the fortified, sweet 'port' wine. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city was also awarded the status of European Capital of Culture in 2001. A large sandbar prevents ships from sailing into Oporto itself, so for over a century they have used nearby Leixões instead, a man-made seaport constructed nine miles from the city. Leixões is one of Portugal's major sea ports and is also home to one of the country's oldest football clubs, winners of the Taça de Portugal cup in 1961.

Day 5

Lisbon, Portugal

Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century. It is a city famous for its majestic architecture, old wooden trams, Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history. Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, Lisbon was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square, Praça do Comércio. Today there are distinct modern and ancient sections, combining great shopping with culture and sightseeing in the Old Town, built on the city's terraced hillsides. The distance between the ship and your tour vehicle may vary. This distance is not included in the excursion grades.

Day 7

Gijón, Spain

The Campo Valdés baths, dating back to the 1st century AD, and other reminders of Gijón's time as an ancient Roman port remain visible downtown. Gijón was almost destroyed in a 14th-century struggle over the Castilian throne, but by the 19th century it was a thriving port and industrial city. The modern-day city is part fishing port, part summer resort, and part university town, packed with cafés, restaurants, and sidrerías.

Day 8

Getxo, Spain

Day 10

Brest, France

Day 12

Honfleur, France

Honfleur, the most picturesque of the Côte Fleurie's seaside towns, is a time-burnished place with a surplus of half-timber houses and cobbled streets that are lined with a stunning selection of stylish boutiques. Much of its Renaissance architecture remains intact—especially around the 17th-century Vieux Bassin harbor, where the water is fronted on one side by two-story stone houses with low, sloping roofs and on the other by tall slate-topped houses with wooden facades. Maritime expeditions (including some of the first voyages to Canada) departed from here; later, Impressionists were inspired to capture it on canvas. But the town as a whole has become increasingly crowded since the Pont de Normandie opened in 1995. Providing a direct link with Upper Normandy, the world's sixth-largest cable-stayed bridge is supported by two concrete pylons taller than the Eiffel Tower and designed to resist winds of 257 kph (160 mph).

Day 13

Tilbury, England

Just 22 nautical miles down river from the Tower Bridge in London, Tilbury is a popular turnaround port for cruises visiting Baltic and Northern European destinations.

Ship Details

Ambassador Cruise Line

Ambience

Here she is, our flagship of the fleet, our first lady of the sea: Ambience. Derived from the French word for ‘surrounding’, our ambition at Ambassador is to create the optimum atmosphere onboard; one that brings out the best in each of us. The perfect ambience.

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