16 nights onboard Ambience

Christmas & New Year Canary Islands & Madeira

Embrace the most magical time of year with a voyage like no other. You can relax knowing all the (jingle) bells and whistles are taken care of as you sail around sunny southern Europe taking in breathtaking landscapes and reflecting on the year gone by. From the saltwater lagoons of Lanzarote to the delicious wineries of Madeira, there are too many highlights to name!

CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

At sea - Christmas Day

There’s no finer way to celebrate Christmas than with new friends on board a gleaming liner amid shining seas. Our chefs will toast the season with a magnificent traditional feast that will thrill your senses.

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

With a vibrant melting pot of different cultures and a unique blend of bustling city and glorious beaches, Las Palmas will delight every mood. Come and feel the energy for yourself!

Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

The Madeira archipelago’s capital city really will take your breath away with its rolling hills, dramatic mountain scenes, year-round blooming gardens and renowned wineries.

Vigo for Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Take an optional tour of the walled medieval town of Santiago de Compostela – the supposed burial site of St James. It’s a treasure house of history, with its magnificent carved stone façades, grand plazas and fascinating winding streets.

Leaving from: Tilbury

Cruise ship: Ambience

Visiting: Tilbury • Rotterdam • Vigo • Funchal, Madeira •

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 2

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Day 5

Vigo, Spain

Day 8

Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Day 9

Arrecife, Lanzarote, Spain

Day 10

Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Spain

Day 11

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Day 14

Leixões, Portugal

Day 17

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 2

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Rotterdam is a city that's a long way removed from most people's stereotypical notion of the Netherlands. There are few, if any, canals to be found here nor are there any quaint windmills. There is, however, a thriving modern city which is one of the busiest ports in the entire world.

Day 5

Vigo, Spain

Dating from Roman times, the Galician city of Vigo has a fine natural harbour and is renowned as the biggest fishing port in the world. It is also full of history - it was in this fjord-like quay that the English and Dutch defeated the French and Spanish fleets in 1702. Today, the attractive marinas stand in contrast to the industrialised areas of the city, while further exploration will reveal the characteristic 17th-century architecture and attractive countryside beyond. The charming Old Town is a delight, with its labyrinth of winding narrow streets and shaded squares. Nearby is the Cathedral city of Tui, and further to the north is the pilgrimage centre of Santiago de Compostela, which can be reached by car in approximately 1¼ hours.

Day 8

Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Formed by a volcanic eruption, Madeira lies in the Gulf Stream, about 500 miles due west of Casablanca. Discovered by Portuguese explorer João Gonçalves Zarco in 1419, this beautiful island became part of Portugal’s vast empire and was named for the dense forest which cloaked it - 'Madeira' means 'wood' in Portuguese. Sugar plantations first brought wealth here, and when King Charles II of England granted an exclusive franchise to sell wine to England and its colonies, many British emigrants were drawn to the capital, Funchal. Today’s travellers come to Madeira for the varied and luxuriant scenery, from mountain slopes covered with vines to picturesque villages and a profusion of wild flowers. The natural beauty of the island has earned it many pseudonyms such as ‘The Floating Garden of the Atlantic’, 'The Island of Eternal Springtime' and ‘God’s Botanical Gardens’ and our selection of excursions aim to show you why.

Day 9

Arrecife, Lanzarote, Spain

A volcanic island designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Lanzarote’s dramatic landscapes were shaped by an explosive past. Today, its pretty beaches and virtual absence of rain together with duty-free shopping make the island an extremely desirable destination. The main port and capital, Arrecife, is a pleasant town with a modern seafront and colourful gardens. Outside the capital there is plenty to explore, from the dazzling white salt flats of Janubio and the rugged terrain of Fire Mountain to the eerie caves of Los Verdes and an array of unspoilt fishing villages scattered around the coast. The island is home to a great selection of restaurants and local specialities including garbanzos compuestos – a chickpea stew; papas arrugadas – potatoes with carrots, peas, ham and green pepper; and of course, plenty of fresh seafood. Please note that those planning to participate in one of the shore excursions from this port may need to take an early lunch on board ship to suit the excursion schedules.

Day 10

Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Spain

Puerto del Rosario is the busy port and capital of the second largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, Fuerteventura. The island is famed for its golden beaches, crystal-clear waters, volcanic landscapes and almost year-round sunshine, making it an unsurprisingly popular destination for holidaymakers. The capital itself is home to nice beaches, restaurants and shops, but is slightly lacking in terms of sights and so cruise ship passengers with time on their hands should most certainly venture further afield to explore what the rest of the island has to offer during their stopover.

Day 11

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is a beautiful and scenic island which enjoys year-round sunshine and is dominated by Mount Teide. The mountain range runs through the centre of the island, with fertile valleys on the northern side. In the central part of the range is the gigantic natural crater of the Cañadas del Teide, about 14 miles in diameter. Santa Cruz, the island’s pretty capital, was originally a small fishing village but has now grown into a modern city, and also contains 16th-century civic buildings and ornate private mansions. Near the pier is the Santa Cruz Palmetum, a Botanical Garden covering an area of 29 acres, specialising in palms.

Day 14

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 17

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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