Ambience, UK and Ireland
This ship is described as the Ambassador Cruise Line, flag ship. This is an old ship that’s been painted up. There are leaks throughout and many of the toilets and air conditioning units don’t work. The food is mediocre, with frozen vegetables every day, poor quality produce and variable service. The overwhelming memory was queuing. Queuing to get on tenders, queuing to get food from the borough market restaurant, queuing to find a seat, once you’ve fought your way to get lukewarm food. Staff who barely speak a word of English and some who were just rude. No free WI-FI, and if you want to pay for it, it’s very expensive and variable connection. The pool is 6ft deep and is an accident waiting to happen.
On the plus side, the entertainment staff are exceptional and the shows are really West End standard, although the cruise director, George, is more Butlins than luxury cruise line. George, stop with the ‘Tara’.
The cabins are descent with adequate space, although the air conditioning unit was very noisy.
Generally the ship is clean, although not the windows and there were frequent banging and maintenance going on which was distracting at times.
The trips were generally good but not all were consistent in quality, avoid the Killybeg trip to Enya’s brothers pub. What a massive disappointment and waste of money. An hour and a half in a coach, to sit in a pub and here some old crooner for an hour then back in the coach for another hour and a half.
This cruise has an awful lot to learn and at the moment is definitely one to be avoided. Such a shame. Don’t say you haven’t been warned. Book at your peril.
