Ambassadorcruiselines Avis 7

Advertised as Northern lights and Orca trip they decided not to announce any sightings of either at any time of the day, I appreciate passengers may not want to be disturbed after 9 or 10pm but not all day!
Many complaints about cold rooms and public areas, then it was all too hot! 99% of staff were wonderful but the company are putting profits before customers. For example, restaurant crew cannot get off the ship until diners have left, so you are rushed on port days so they can grab an hour ashore in a cafe for free WiFi to speak to their family at home.
This was advertised as a CEO cruise, he disembarked long before the cruise finished, probably due to the number of complaints 😉
Excursions were overpriced, obviously they cannot guarantee that snow will come or Northern lights and Orcas will be seen, but they need to offer something to do for 3 hours in the middle of the night at the slate mine when there are no northen lights, maybe a demonstration of slate cutting could have been offered!!!!
I did two dog cart experiences one was marvellous the other was dire! Having to get out every 2 minutes while they pushed the cart out of boggy marsh, and even having to go back due to a puncture, standing in the cold waiting for a new cart, was awful. Although same weather conditions the second was excellent with a really professional and dedicated team. A proper business not a tourist trap tacked on the side of an unused golf club like the first. Ambassador did nothing about complaints, why would they, they already have your money!!
I've been on this ship 2 years ago, much better, no complaints, this time it was very disappointing.

I have cruised on Ambassador Ambience numerous times including extended duration cruises to the Carribean, I have never been disappointed. The ship is kept in good order when you take tge age of the ship into account. Entertainment is always very good. There are lot's ofcactivities to enjoy during the day. I always enjoy the food particularly evening in the Buckingham Restaurant. The beds are some of the most comfortable I have ever slept in. Ambassador provide very good cruises for the cost but many passengers expect far more than they are paying for. Well done Ambassador, long may you continue.

Was on Ambience ,17 day fjords in Norway for the nothern lights.Great food ,amazing staff.Room was cold for a lot of the cruise,thermostat in the room didn't work.Restaurants were the same .Found some of the ports we visited didn't have a lot so see .Getting drinking water was a pain,even if you paid to fill your own bottle,why aren't there water fountains in all the levels.

Gratuities of £7 per night per passenger!
Just read £7 per passenger,per night , is payable on completion of cruise. This was not stated at the time of booking.
So two person, cruise two weeks, totals approx £200 due at completion of cruise.

I went on a cruise with ambassador just over a year ago it was not a good review but what a difference now wonderful Staff, entertainment was excellent, cabin crew brilliant, free shuttle buses all went to make this the best cruise me and my wife have thank you to the crew and staff

Where to start. Ambience...
The good bits.
99% crew fabulous. Food good if a little tepid at times. Service staff outstanding. Ship nice but rooms dated and need updating like the rest of the ship.
Management and Guest Relations ( not customer service ) incompetent beyond belief.
I boarded for a bucket list itinerary to The Northern Cape for a 13 night cruise. I woke up after the first night with at least a dozen bites on my body. Reported it they came and deep cleaned the room apparently so I slept the second night and woke again with lots more bites hands elbows knees legs stomach. All over. Reported again was asked to go see the Doctor which I refused unless they assured me there would be no charge which they did as they said they had to be checked ( they later told me they waived the fee as a gesture of goodwill ) after seeing the doctor the GSM blamed me for maybe bringing them onboard despite not being bitten before I arrived in the hotel the night before or at home before that.
I've now had several others complain and confirm about fumigating and biting onboard Ambience during the WC and other sailings including the one I was on I found 3 other passengers in the buffet and reception that had all been bitten. The ship flatly and still do refuse to admit any problems with this and categorically stated ''it was found that the bites could not have come from the cabin''

I wrote a letter to the CEO Christian Verhounig ( to which I never received a reply ) complaining about all the things that had happened. I felt I couldn't socialise as I wished due to having to apply bite cream all the time given by the doctor and made me feel somewhat alone as I didn't want to keep having to explain the bites or my experience to everyone I met so started to stay in my cabin apart from meals and going ashore occasionally when I felt upto it.

I did have a response from the Guest Relations Manager with this reply to my Complaint.

in light of this and the issues you have experienced with us, we feel your needs would be better catered to by a different cruise line as you do not seem content with our offering. Whilst it is regrettable, we feel that we are unable to accommodate any requests to book a future cruise for these reasons. It is not a decision taken lightly as we pride ourselves on our customer loyalty, however we understand that Ambassador does not appear to be the right customer experience for you. We wish you all the very best in your future travels.

With kind regards

So I make a complaint and get BANNED from cruising with them.

SHOCKING......

There's a lot more to add like laundry issues. Drain flies in my new cabin dead and alive flying around.
They did move me to another room and I wasn't bitten again. Weird that....

I could go on for hours but I think you can get the idea from just this much.

And as a Parting gift I also caught covid before I left the ship so was ill for a week after the cruise too.
It's almost to unbelievable to be real.
But I do obviously have all the proof photos conversations, recorded notes on the issues.
Testimonials from other passengers with similar or knowledge of similar insect issues.

During a Baltic cruise, the CEO held a Q&A session onboard to outline various problems Ambassador had overcome during the launch of the new company. He also said he wanted feedback so that the company could give what the customers wanted as that was the basis of the company thinking. The cruise itself was OK but being a new company, there were inevitably some problems. I therefore wrote to the CEO - Mr. Christian Verhounig - a very polite letter giving both positive and negative aspects of our cruise. It took a long time to compose and comprised finally three A4 pages - I take the matter of feedback very seriously. I received no reply. So some 18 days later I wrote an email to Guest Services asking why I had not had a reply to my letter. No response to date. There is a Facebook page "Friends of Ambassafor Cruises" and it is clear that I am not the first to be ignored. After our cruise, which was OK but not up to the same standard as SAGA (but it was cheaper), we felt we would travel with them again but having seen just how poor their attention to their customers really is, then I'm afraid I would rather pay more knowing that I would not be treated dismissively in the event of a problem. I also think it shows a complete lack of respect and I regret that showing contempt in this way is something I will not tolerate. Keep away from them unless you don't mind being treated badly if you have any difficulties or contentious issues with them.