10 nights onboard Ambition

Scenic Scenes of France and Northern Spain

You might have been expecting our Round Britain & France Discovery itinerary; however, this departure date hasn’t been as popular as we had hoped. We have therefore been hard at work to create an alternative itinerary that we know guests will find more inspiring. If you're still looking for a Round Britain & France sailing, please click here.

Each port on this new sailing unveils captivating scenes and character. You will begin in Cherbourg, steeped in naval heritage and Renaissance charm, sailing onto Le Verdon on the west coast of France with sandy beaches and Gallic allure, a coastal haven to enchant. Getxo is a gastronome's paradise near Bilbao, offering culinary delights amidst vibrant Basque culture, followed by Gijón and its waterfront splendour, seamlessly blending history and modernity. Your final port of call in Spain will be El Ferrol, an off-the-beaten-path gem in Spain's northwest region, revealing unique architecture and a maritime legacy at the Museo Naval Ferrol. Explore, savour, and embrace France and Spain’s treasures before a final stop at St. Mary’s, the largest and most populous island of the Isles of Scilly, and then home.

CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Cherbourg
Cherbourg, one of the great Channel ports, has a remarkable maritime and naval history. Today, it is a vibrant, cultured, and quintessentially French city, with its Renaissance-inspired Italian theatre, art and history museums, basilica, Ravalet Castle, and the legendary Cité de la Mer, the second-largest artificial harbour in the world.

Le Verdon
The small resort town of Le Verdon-sur-Mer is legendary for its magnificent sandy beaches, which front both the Atlantic and the Gironde estuary. Meanwhile, the town itself is charmingly gallic, featuring some rustic restaurants, the beautiful 19th-century Church of Notre-Dame du Bon Secours et Saint-Louis, and the nearby lighthouse and museum at Pointe de Grave.

Getxo
Just 20 minutes from Bilbao, Getxo is a gastronome’s paradise, with countless fish and seafood restaurants, bistros offering traditional Basque cuisine, and bars serving tasty pintxos. Culture vultures will find plenty to savour too as they wander through a diverse and traditional town packed with varied enclaves bursting with colour and character.

Gijón
With a stunning waterfront on the Cantabrian Sea, Gijón offers a unique blend of maritime traditions, historic buildings, and modern urban design. Here you will find architecture dating back to the Roman era, including the Campo Valdés Baths, as well as many other attractions, including a Railway Museum, Bioparc Aquarium, Atlantic Botanical Garden and much, much more.

El Ferrol
Set amid stunning countryside in Spain’s north-west, the coastal city of Ferrol is far from the tourist trail. With its unique architecture, intriguing history, and delicious food, it gives you a glimpse into the real Spain and into the country’s remarkable maritime history via the absorbing Museo Naval Ferrol.

Leaving from: Bristol

Cruise ship: Ambition

Visiting: Bristol • Falmouth • Cherbourg • Le Verdon-sur-Mer •

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.

1200

Passengers

2022

Launched

41123t

Tonnage

216m

Length

29m

Width

20kts

Speed

Decks

GBP

Currency

Cruise Itinerary

Day 1

Bristol, England

Day 2

Falmouth, England

Day 3

Cherbourg, France

Day 5

Le Verdon-sur-Mer, France

Day 6

Getxo, Spain

Day 7

Gijón, Spain

Day 8

Ferrol, Spain

Day 10

Saint Mary's, Isles of Scilly, England

Day 11

Bristol, England

Day 1

Bristol, England

The South West's largest city, Bristol has become a hub of culture and creativity with a wealth of art galleries and theatres, a revitalised waterfront and the title of the UK's first bike city. The quirky city is full of history, including Brunel's SS Great Britain, the world's first great ocean liner.

Day 2

Falmouth, England

The bustle of this resort town's fishing harbor, yachting center, and commercial port only adds to its charm. In the 18th century Falmouth was the main mail-boat port for North America, and in Flushing, a village across the inlet, you can see the slate-covered houses built by prosperous mail-boat captains. A ferry service now links the two towns. On Custom House Quay, off Arwenack Street, is the King's Pipe, an oven in which seized contraband was burned.

Day 3

Cherbourg, France

Originally a little fishing village, Cherbourg has developed into a historic port designed by Vauban. This was also a strategic naval port during the Napoleonic wars; there is a marina with over 1000 moorings. “Cap de la Hague” is to the West and the “Pointe de Barfleur” to the East. This port, which belongs to Normandy, is a region that has provided inspiration for countless artists and writers, and is the land of apple orchards and rolling farmland dotted with villages of half-timbered houses. Boasting a wealth of abbeys and châteaux, as well as a superb coastline, it offers something for everyone. Cherbourg was also the first stop of RMS Titanic after it left Southampton, England. On 19 June 1864, the naval engagement between USS Kearsarge and CSS Alabama took place off Cherbourg. The Battle of Cherbourg, fought in June 1944 following the Normandy Invasion, ended with the capture of Cherbourg on June 30.

Day 5

Le Verdon-sur-Mer, France

Situated on the Garonne River, 70 miles (113 km) inland from the Atlantic, Bordeaux's origin can be traced back to the 3rd century when it was Aquitaine's Roman capital called Burdigala. From 1154 to 1453, the town prospered under the rule of the English, whose fondness for the region's red wines gave impetus to the local wine industry. At various times, Bordeaux even served as the nation's capital: in 1870, at the beginning of World War I, and for two weeks in 1940 before the Vichy government was proclaimed. Bordeaux's neo-classical architecture, wide avenues and well-tended public squares and parks lend the city a certain grandeur. Excellent museums, an imposing cathedral and a much-praised theatre add to the city's attractions. The principal highlights, clustered around the town centre, can easily be explored on foot.

Day 6

Getxo, Spain

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

Ferrol, Spain

El Ferrol has been inextricably linked to the sea for more than two millennia, being a major shipbuilding centre for most of its history. From its beginnings as a tiny fishing port in the 1st century BC, it endured conquests by Vandals, Suebis, Arabs and Christians. With the arrival of the Bourbons in the 18th century, Ferrol became a leading maritime centre, largely due to its large natural harbour on the Ferrol Inlet, an arm of the Atlantic. Now a large commercial port, Ferrol is also the gateway to the northern Spanish province of Galicia, a region noted for its green mountains, deep gorges and fast-flowing rivers. It is also well placed for visiting the medieval holy city of Santiago de Compostela. Interestingly, Ferrol's city centre is modelled on Lisbon in Portugal, a country with which it has strong historical and linguistic ties. The layout comprises of a rectangle lined with six parallel streets, with two squares on each side. These squares have the city's best shops, restaurants and bars.

Day 10

Saint Mary's, Isles of Scilly, England

St Mary’s is the Isle of Scilly’s largest island with a population of 1800 residents and an area of 6.58 square Kilometres; this is the gateway to the rest of the magnificent islands. Hugh town -a beautiful Old town with its own beach, nature reserve and church is the main attractions of St Mary’s, with tiny streets brimming with shops to pick up the perfect souvenir. St Mary’s is a hidden gem, with long stretches of white sandy beaches and a breath-taking untouched landscape. The coastline holds many archaeological sites along with miles of splendid walks along the coastal and country paths.

Day 11

Bristol, England

Ship Details

Ambassador Cruise Line

Ambition

Here she is, Ambition. Our second lady of the sea. Aptly named to further emphasise our commitment to inspire and delight every guest to enjoy an authentic cruise experience effortlessly, and sustainably.

View Full Ship Details

Cabins

All Prices