Cruising For All

Ambassador Ambition Ship Guide, Photos And Facts

I have recently enjoyed a short ship visit exploring Ambassador Ambition. One thing I found pre cruise was there are not many ship photos, and I am a cruiser who likes to know everything about a ship before I cruise. So there must be others like me who like to get a visual picture of a ship before they set sail.

Unlike some larger cruise lines, Ambassador Cruise Line’s ships are more compact, creating a chilled atmosphere for travellers. This personalised setting allows guests to enjoy various amenities, including entertainment, excellent service, and exceptional cuisine. So grab a cuppa and enjoy a little tour of Ambassador Ambition.

Ambassador Ambition Ship Photos

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About Ambassador Cruise Line

Ambassador Cruise Line, a British cruise company based in Purfleet, England, set sail in May 2021 with their flagship ship , Ambassador Ambience. This relatively new company has swiftly established itself as a great value cruise line, providing unique port experiences to its passengers.

About Ambassador Ambition.

Ambassador Ambition was built in 1999 as Costa neoRiviera until December 2019, then AIDAmira until January 2022. She was bought, rebranded and refit in 2023 and Ambassador Ambition. She is a petite ship at 48,123GT, which is tiny compared to many Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Ships. But this has bonuses, such as the ship being easy to navigate and get around. Plus can get into more intimate ports. She has 679 cabins holding up to 1200 guests and a guest-crew ratio of 2.55-1.

Ambassador Ambition Ship Photos

The pool deck.

The two pools were only partially full during our visit, likely due to the sea conditions. However, the space was bright and cheerful. With a couple of hot tubs and sunbeds dotted around, again, these were not all out but ready on the sidelines to go in case of a change of weather.

The deck was turfed with faux grass and had a lovely vibe, with pod, sofa areas and a comfy chair plus bar to chill at on a sunny day on deck.

Pool on Ambassador Ambition

Bars On Ambassador Ambition

Ambassador Ambition has 8 bars onboard. The bar staff were quick, efficient and friendly we never had to wait long for drinks. Some of the bars were themed, which was a nice nod to UK towns and cities, and the decor was brightly coloured but tasteful.

  • Pendennis Bar, Deck 5
  • Purple Turtle Wine Bar, Deck 5
  • The Palladium, Deck 5
  • Clifton Lounge, Deck 6
  • The Angel Bar, Deck 6
  • The Cavern, Deck 7
  • Consulate Bar (Weather Permitting), Deck 11
  • The Pool Bar (Weather Permitting), Deck 11

The Cavern bar and lounge in Ambassador Ambition

Drinks Prices On Ambassador Cruise Lines

Drinks are pretty reasonable onboard; some of the cocktails were quite small but delicious; however, it worked out in terms of the prices of cocktails on other cruise lines, which cost a lot more. Soda and mixers are charged on top. I was charged £8.85 for a wine and soda, so I am guessing that was for a large wine and £1.25 for soda.

Drinks Prices On Ambassador Ambition

  • Heineken 330ml, £3.55
  • Guinness 440 ml £4.25
  • Strongbow Pint £5.45
  • Kir Royal £5.45
  • Pina Colada £6.00
  • Aperol Spritz £5.45
  • White Wine 250ml £7.60, 125 ml £3.85
  • Disaronno 40ml £4.25
  • Irish Coffee £4.50
  • Bombay Saphire £4.95
  • Cappuccino £2.25
  • Diet Coke 330ml £2.55

The Angel Bar Drinks Menu

Dining And Restaurants On Ambassador Ambition

You will find seven restaurants onboard, three of which are Speciality—offering great value.

Free Dining on Ambassador Ambition

  • Borough Market Buffet Restaurant
  • Buckingham Restaurant
  • Holyrood Restaurant
  • Alfresco Pizza and Grill

Speciality Dining on Ambassador Ambition

  • Lupinos Al Fresco Dining ( £14.90 per person)
  • Saffron Indian (Speciality £16.90 per person)
  • Chefs Table in the Buckingham Restaurant( Speciality costs £89.90 with wine included)

We dined in the Holyrood restaurant and the Borough Market Buffet. The food was great, and the staff were very attentive, ensuring I had gluten-free options which tasted delicious.

The Alfresco Grill

My Inside Cabin On Ambassador Ambition

I stayed in an inside cabin , and I have to say I loved the cabin. It was simple but stylish, had everything I needed, including a hairdryer, and was spotlessly clean. The plug sockets were in the vanity area and included Euro and British plug sockets plus USB ports. Plus, the bathroom had shower gel, shampoo and hand soap.

Inside Cabin on Ambassador Ambition

The bed and pillows were comfortable, and my room was quiet. As this was a four-berth cabin, there were also 2 top bunks. There was plenty of storage, a small safe, spare towels and two pool towels.

You had a choice of still and sparkling water, which was £1.50 per bottle and could be refilled. Plus, a complimentary tea and coffee tray with a kettle.

British plug sockets, European sockets and USB points in the cabin

Room Service Breakfast on Ambassador Ambition

If, like me, you like to avoid the buffet restaurant in the mornings, then you can book breakfast to be delivered to your cabin. The tray charge is £8.95 or complimentary for suite guests and give you a great choice or breakfast options, including …

  • Full English Breakfast
  • Ham & Cheese Omelette
  • Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce
  • Smoked Salmon Bagel with Cream Cheese, Onions & Capers
  • Bacon & Poached Eggs on Toast
  • Scotch Pancakes, Butter & Maple Syrup
  • And a Choice of Teas and Coffees
  • Plus Toast, Pastries, Fruit and Juice

Room Service Breakfast on Ambassador Ambition

Laundry Service Prices Onboard

Another thing I always do when I cruise is iron one shirt for the first night and send the rest of Hubbies shirts to be ironed. Plus, any dresses that will crease during travelling. It takes the stress out of packing , and prices are always reasonable. It’s also handy to get items washed and pressed on longer cruises to save carrying extra luggage.

Ambassador also offers a magic bag deal, which is washed, dry and folded for £14.95. I don’t know the size of the bag, but taking home clean clothes is very appealing.

Other Public Areas And Photos of Ambassador Ambition

Theatre on Ambassador Ambition

In Conclusion

The diverse selection of itineraries Ambassador Cruise offers includes destinations such as the British Isles, Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, and Nordic Treasures. And whilst I can’t share a cruise line review as I was only onboard overnight, first impressions were great.

It’s not an all-singing dancing ship for families ; however, it’s a beautiful warm, friendly ship which offers exceptional value for couples wanting a no-fly cruise chilled-out experience who want to explore some wonderful ports.

Chat with Kieran at Magical Traveller for the latest deals and offers for UK cruisers to book. Also, check out his thoughts on Ambassador Cruise Lines. Please note I was invited onboard as a guest for an overnight sailing.

Sarah Christie

Sarah also writes for Mini Travellers Family Travel Blog and Extraordinary Chaos Craft and Lifestyle Blog. Both are award-winning blogs with a travel and family focus. She is married and has two boys, aged 18 and 22, who all love cruising as a family. Nothing is better than waking up every day in a new port with new and exciting things to explore. She aims to share how cruising as a family with young adults is the perfect choice for family travel. Her boys are sporty and love the activities, sports and dining options cruising offers. Sarah has worked with brands such as Walt Disney World, Mark Warner, Ikos Resort, Center Parcs, Laura Ashley, Belling and Next.

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Ambition Deck Plans & Reviews

photos of ambition cruise ship

Activities & entertainment

  • Destination Experiences *
  • Future Cruises *
  • Shopping Galleria *
  • Photo Gallery *
  • Grafton Street - Arts & Crafts
  • Partnership Area
  • No. 10 Conference Room
  • Bronte's Library
  • Aces & Eights - Card Room
  • Active Studio
  • Jogging Track
  • Whirlpools (2)
  • Green Sea Spa *
  • Steam Room *
  • Sun Terrace
  • Self-Service Laundry *
  • Medical Centre
  • The Palladium
  • The Cavern - Cabaret
  • Live Entertainment
  • Purple Turtle Wine Bar - Wine Bar *
  • Pendennis Bar - Elegant Bar *
  • Buckingham Restaurant - Main
  • Holyrood Restaurant - Main
  • The Angel Bar - Popular Bar *
  • Clifton Lounge - Cocktail Bar *
  • Saffron - Asian *
  • Consulate Bar - Panoramic Bar *
  • The Pool Bar - Pool Bar *
  • Alfresco Grill - Pool Grill
  • Lupino's - Mediterranean *
  • Borough Market - Buffet
  • Chef’s Table - Chef’s Table *

Reviews We perform checks on reviews. Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . Learn more about our review moderation.

  • Excellent 7
  • Very Good 2
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  • English ( 16 )

Upcoming itineraries

The map for this itinerary is not available at this time.

  • CruiseMapper

Ambition deck plans

Deck layouts, review of facilities, activities, amenities.

Ambition cruise ship

Ambition deck plan review at CruiseMapper provides newest cruise deck plans (2024-2025-2026 valid floor layouts of the vessel) extracted from the officially issued by Ambassador Cruise Line deckplan pdf (printable version).

Each of the Ambition cruise ship deck plans are conveniently combined with a legend (showing cabin codes) and detailed review of all the deck's venues and passenger-accessible indoor and outdoor areas. A separate link provides an extensive information on Ambition staterooms (cabins and suites), including photos, cabin plans and amenities by room type and category.

MS Ambition (1999-built as "Mistral", last refurbished in 2023 April-May, last refurbishment by Costa in 2019 November) was Costa's smallest cruise ship (Costa neoRiviera).

The vessel's name was changed 5 times: MS Mistral (newbuild for Festival Cruises / 1999-2003), MS Grand Mistral (2003-2013, for Iberocruises), Costa neoRiviera (2004-2018, for Costa Cruises ), AIDAmira (2019-2022, for AIDA Cruises ) and Ambassador Ambition (since 2022, for Ambassador Cruise Line ). Costa neoRiviera was one of Costa's "neoCollection" ships - with fleetmates Costa neoClassica/now Grand Classica and Costa neoRomantica (1993-built/2021-scrapped) .

The shipowner was Costa Crucere ( Carnival Corporation -owned company), while the ship operator was Carnival's German subsidiary AIDA Cruises.

Following the drydock 2019 refit, Costa neoRiviera joined AIDA under the name "AIDAmira". The liner was extensively refurbished and remodeled. Swimming pools were reduced from 3 to 2 (and enlarged) with 2x Jacuzzis (large whirlpool hot tubs on Sun Deck). Of the 624 staterooms, 96 were suites (80 balconied).

AIDAmira cruise ship deck plan shows a total of 624 cabins for 1248 passengers (max occupancy is 1428) served by 670 crew-staff. The boat has 13 decks (10 passenger-accessible, 4 with cabins), 6 restaurants and food bars, 6 bars and lounges, 2 swimming pools, 2 Jacuzzies (outdoor whirlpool hot tubs), 6 elevators.

Costa neoRiviera-AIDAmira refurbishment 2019 review

In September-November 2019, Costa neoRiviera was drydocked in Port Genoa (at San Giorgio del Porto Shipyard) for a major (EUR 50 million / USD 55 million) refurbishment project . The 1-month drydocking (October 30 through November 28) aimed to transform Costa neoRiviera into AIDAmira.

The project involved ~1000 workers, of which 150 shipyard employees. The shipyard works included technical maintenance, hull and superstructure repainting (also adding AIDA's livery), renovated public areas, adding new cabins - including 19x balcony and 3x inside (in the area of the former Discoteca Portofino / disco nightclub) plus numerous staterooms on Deck 7.

Costa neoRiviera cruise ship deck plan has a total of 624 staterooms for 1248 passengers (max capacity is 1727 guests), served by 600 crew/staff. The ship has 8 passenger decks (all named after famous Italian and French Riviera ports and sites), 3 restaurants, 10 lounges and bars, 2 swimming pools, 2 Jacuzzies, 6 elevators. neoRiviera has no self-service laundromats on board (laundry facilities for passenger use). neoRiviera has numerous artworks and paintings (themed on the Italian and French rivieras) displayed at various places throughout the ship.

Deck layouts

Deck 04 - tendering, deck 05 - lobby-shops-restaurant, deck 06 - promenade-casino-shops, deck 07 - cabins-hospital, deck 08 - cabins, deck 09 - cabins, deck 10 - bridge-cabins, deck 11 - lido-pools-spa-kids, deck 12 - kids, deck 14 - sports, deck 15 - costa neoriviera deck 5, deck 16 - costa neoriviera deck 6, deck 17 - costa neoriviera deck 7, deck 18 - costa neoriviera deck 8, deck 19 - costa neoriviera deck 9, deck 20 - costa neoriviera deck 10, deck 21 - costa neoriviera deck 11, deck 22 - costa neoriviera deck 12.

Ambition deck plans are property of Ambassador Cruise Line . All deck layouts are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

First ship of bumper season cruises in

The first cruise ship of what is hoped to be another record season arrived into Lerwick yesterday (Saturday).

Ambassador’s Ambition arrived on an 11-day Easter tour of the British isles, leaving from and returning to London Tilbury.

She is the first of 149 cruise ships booked to come to Shetland between now and mid-November, with roughly 130,000 passengers due to arrive.

There are also 11 maiden calls expected this year, including the largest yet to visit – the MSC Virtuosa in May – which has a capacity of between 4,000 and 6,000 passengers.

  • Cruise Season
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Disappointing photos show what it's actually like to go on a cruise

  • I took a seven-day voyage on one of the largest cruise ships in the world , my first cruise ever. 
  • I found the reality of cruising didn't match my expectations from social media and promotional ads.
  • I spent much of my time battling crowds, waiting in lines, and sitting on hot tour buses.

Insider Today

I booked my first-ever cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas in April 2022. The seven-day Caribbean voyage on a mega-ship took me round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to port stops in Honduras, Mexico, and the Bahamas. I expected breathtaking views of the world between relaxing swimming and sunbathing sessions.

But my experience didn't quite meet my expectations.

Instead, I sunbathed in a loud, crowded pool area when I was lucky enough to find a chair. I spent more time waiting in lines than I had anticipated, and I saw much of the world from behind other people's heads.

Here's an overview of the most disappointing aspects of my cruise, from getting to the port to sailing across the region

The disappointment started before I was even on the cruise.

photos of ambition cruise ship

Since I don't live near my cruise's departure city, my trip began with a flight and a budget hotel room near my departure port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

When I arrived at my port city's airport, I waited 45 minutes for a hotel shuttle to pick me up.

photos of ambition cruise ship

This was the first of many crowded bus rides during my trip. Looking back, I wish I had called a cab — especially since the next morning, I piled into a hot bus with several other cruise guests as I headed to the port.

There was a long line to get inside the cruise terminal, and I should have known by this point that I'd stand in many more lines during my cruise.

photos of ambition cruise ship

Inside the cruise terminal , there was another long line to get through security. While I waited, I chuckled to myself as I read signs that said, "Adventure begins here."

Once aboard the ship, I was excited to view the ocean as we sailed away, but I was blocked by tall, thick glass and couldn't find a place to stand.

photos of ambition cruise ship

My obstructed view of the ship leaving Fort Lauderdale made me feel as frustrated as standing behind tall patrons at a concert. 

The ship was so large that I got lost several times during my stay.

photos of ambition cruise ship

But I found the maps on each floor to be helpful.

As I explored the ship, I was surprised that even a mega-ship could feel overcrowded.

photos of ambition cruise ship

While people seemed to enjoy themselves, many communal decks looked and felt like crowded malls.

The outdoor decks had 19 pools, plunge pools, and whirlpools accessible to guests. These spaces were crowded throughout the day. And even though there were rules against saving chairs with towels, I saw plenty of people doing it, so finding a spot to relax was stressful.

A Royal Caribbean representative told Business Insider crew members might remove items from lounge chairs after 30 minutes. Still, they must also consider families and groups who may be in the pool or going to the restroom when enforcing rules like these and must use their best judgment.

There were crowds and lines virtually everywhere I went.

photos of ambition cruise ship

From the buffet to activities like water slides and mini-golf, I felt like I spent more time waiting in line than enjoying the ship. For example, I waited in line for three hours to play a round of laser tag that was less than 20 minutes long. 

At port stops, I waited in lines to go through security every time I left and returned to the ship. I found this less annoying than the other wait times since it made me feel safer.

The lines continued at each port, crowded with others excited to begin their tours.

photos of ambition cruise ship

I often had to battle through crowds just to find signs for my excursions.

It was exciting to explore new places at each stop, though some of this exploration was from the window of another hot bus.

photos of ambition cruise ship

A Royal Caribbean representative told BI the cruise line worked with local tour operators for its excursions, so air conditioning standards varied.

And when I was finally doing the cool thing I booked, like walking across a suspension bridge amid the treetops, my view was sometimes blocked once more by everyone else who booked the tour, too.

photos of ambition cruise ship

I hoped to capture an empty image of this majestic jungle bridge, but it wasn't possible without losing my tour crew. 

According to a crew member I overheard, roughly 5,000 other people were aboard the ship, so I understand why the cruise felt so crowded.

photos of ambition cruise ship

I think that if I were to book a less crowded cruise next time, I might enjoy it more.

photos of ambition cruise ship

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Inside icon of the seas, the world’s largest cruise ship.

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Aerial of Icon of the Seas.

They like big boats and they cannot lie.

For many of the first passengers on the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the onboard reality of the $2 billion behemoth lived up to the over-the-top hype.

During back-to-back preview sailings from the Port of Miami in late January, travel agents, special guests, members of the media and selfie-snapping influencers giddily explored as much as they could of the 20-story floating city that boasts eight distinct neighborhoods — and can hold nearly 10,000 passengers and crew at full capacity.

Aerial of Royal Caribbean.

As they ate and drank across the ship a shared sentiment formed: Big is indeed beautiful.

“I think it’s definitely a game-changer,” said Tywana Minor, founder of Live Travel Go, a boutique travel agency based in Atlanta. “You can literally be on the ship for a few days and still not even experience everything.”

The first bunch on board explored the myriad offerings with a sort of collective awe. Couples clinked flutes of champagne at the walk-up Bubbles bar in the Central Park neighborhood, one of 40 bars and restaurants on board.

“You can literally be on the ship for a few days and still not even experience everything” Tywana Minor, founder of Live Travel Go

Adults giggled like nervous adolescents as they blasted down water slides with names like Frightening Bolt and Storm Surge in the 17,000-square-foot water park. Pint-sized passengers, meanwhile, found nirvana at Surfside, a family-centric area complete with a beach-themed carousel and wading pool.

A few lucky souls even had the good fortune to snag perhaps the most coveted reservation on the high seas: the 38-seat Empire Supper Club, an eight-course dinner complete with cocktail pairings and live jazz. The fine-dining experience, which costs $200 per person, is fully booked for the next few months.

But it wasn’t just Icon’s splashy main attractions wowing passengers: Surprises awaited around seemingly every corner of the 1,198-foot ship, including pop-up piano performances, magicians and a duo of donut-costumed employees at the breakfast buffet every morning pointing guests toward rows of sinks and reminding them to “washy washy before yummy yummy!”

Interior of a game room.

For many passengers, adjusting to Icon’s staggering size — it’s nearly as long as four New York City blocks — presented a learning curve in itself. Even with signage everywhere, getting lost at some point was a given. Furthermore, the ship’s design — a vast open-air interior with elevators located forward and aft but not in the middle — almost guarantees that passengers will hit (or exceed) their daily step count.

“If you don’t like walking around a lot, this ship is not gonna be for you,” said Linda Miranda , a Newburgh, NY-based travel franchise owner with Cruise Planners.

As an antidote to the go-go-go vibe, Icon’s massive square footage also includes plenty of tranquil nooks and crannies ideal for kicking back and catching your breath: bed loungers overlooking the ocean; cornucopias of outdoor couches and chairs across various decks; and cozy, nest-like booths in the AquaDome, an area featuring a waterfall and wraparound ocean views.

Exterior of pool bar Swim & Tonic.

“There are so many spaces that you’re not going to feel the 7,600 passengers it can hold fully occupied,” Miranda said.

To escape the sensory overload altogether, retreat to their staterooms. There are 28 room categories; the most basic accommodations are 157-square-foot interior plus cabins, with rates starting at $3,600 per week for two people.

Meanwhile, one-percenters can splash out with the three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse, which spoils eight guests with amenities like a private patio, outdoor hot tub, in-suite slide, cinema and popcorn machine, and kids’ room. The suite costs, on average, $100,000 per week.

Interior of a room aboard the ship.

So far, passengers are showing an insatiable appetite for Icon and its outsized experience. When the ship was first announced in October 2022, it broke records as the largest booking day and week in Royal Caribbean’s then 53-year history, according to the cruise line. And the remainder of 2024 sailings are almost sold out, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirmed.

But since Icon is the first of a new class of megaships by Royal Caribbean — two more are on the way, with Star of the Seas scheduled to debut in August 2025 — there’s plenty more big fun on the horizon. It’s a prospect that has the chubby chasers of the cruise community twitterpated.

“These news ships, I don’t know how they keep building them bigger and bigger,” said Howard Schildhouse — a retired accountant who writes about his travels on his blog, “ It Must Be Wanderlust ” — “but they do.”

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Aerial of Royal Caribbean.

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photos of ambition cruise ship

A ghost pianist and color-changing cocktails: Inside Princess Cruises' hidden magic club

photos of ambition cruise ship

The pianist at a lounge on Princess Cruises’ new ship played the theme song from “Titanic” while guests sipped their cocktails.

It may seem like dark humor, but the musician is a ghost, after all. As the story goes, Isabella lives inside the space entertaining guests (she even takes requests).

In actuality, the instrument – which appeared to play itself – is part of Spellbound by Magic Castle, a new venue on the Sun Princess that combines dinner, drinks and magic. The speakeasy-like space was created in partnership with the Magic Castle , a legendary private club in Los Angeles.

Denise Saviss, the cruise line’s vice president for entertainment experience, said during a recent sailing that the Magic Castle has been a “well-protected secret.”

“As a members-only club, you can only attend by invitation, but they are keen to expand, and a partnership with us was a really great way to do that where we have a ton of international guests who may not ever get over to Hollywood and therefore it's not in reach,” Saviss said. 

USA TODAY got a preview of Spellbound during a cruise ahead of its opening next month. Here’s what guests can expect.

What is Spellbound like?

Guests will start the evening with dinner in the Horizons Dining Room, choosing from a menu not found elsewhere on board (our preview did not include the dinner portion). They will then be escorted through an inconspicuous black door off the ship’s Piazza into Spellbound’s small foyer. There, a voice on a speaker tells the story of the Larsen family, who opened the Magic Castle in 1963, for a few minutes.

We were prompted to say the magic words (“Open sesame”), and the fireplace in front of us moved aside to reveal a music room and the Parlor Bar, lined with art and artifacts curated with help from the Magic Castle. A pair of handcuffs used by famed escape artist Harry Houdini even hung on one wall.

Isabella and her companion, a white bird named The Professor, can be seen in a portrait in the music room. She is the cousin of another ghost, Irma, who lives at the Magic Castle in California.

“Irma never loved to travel, but Isabella did,” said Kerry Lovegrove, Princess’ director of entertainment experience. “She traveled probably one too many times across the Atlantic, and then all of a sudden she was lost at sea. So she suddenly found the Sun Princess being built in Monfalcone and thought she’d attach herself onto that ship.”

Isabella disappears from view when she’s ready to play. The Professor, meanwhile, moves over to a nearby birdcage to enjoy the music (I saw him swaying to “My Heart Will Go On” at one point).

Behind the bar, a library holds its own not-so-hidden treasures. I picked up a gold rotary phone and heard someone ask “How can I help?” before changing their mind and hanging up. Guests might also see books float and fall, according to Lovegrove.

Even the drinks appear enchanted. One cocktail I ordered, The Magician, featured butterfly pea tequila that turned from blue to purple as the server poured it into the glass (also containing mezcal, lime, grapefruit, serrano peppers and agave).

Spellbound hosts magic in the bar as well as its 30-seat theater. Before theater seating opened, Mark Gibson kept us glued to his card deck, at one point finding the card a fellow guest chose by cutting the deck with the assistance of a tiny plunger. Woody Aragon also used cards in the theater, including asking an audience member to call someone who wasn’t in the room to pick one. (Spoiler: he named their chosen card correctly.)

The Parlor Bar magician will stay on the ship for a couple of months at a time, and the magician performing in the theater will change every cruise or two, but all are vetted by the Magic Castle team.

When will Spellbound by Magic Castle open?

Spellbound will open April 8 and is now available to book. Guests must be at least 13 to enter and just like at the venue’s Hollywood namesake, there is a mandatory dress code (my invitation called for cocktail attire).

The cruise line also will host its second Magic Castle Conjurer’s Cruise themed sailing on Sun Princess in November.

How much does Spellbound cost?

The experience costs $149 per person, including dinner, entertainment and unlimited drinks. 

Spellbound will offer three theater shows a night and can accommodate a total of 90 guests (30 each night). Once they’re in the space, they can stay as long as they like (until it closes for the night). There are dinner seatings at 5, 7 and 9 p.m., and Spellbound is expected to close around midnight, though there is no hard closing time.

Best times to go on a cruise: We broke it down by region

Lovegrove said the venue serves as a new home base for magic, which already proved popular with Princess guests in other spaces on its ships. “If you love magicians, this is the spot for you.”

The reporter on this story received access to this sailing from Princess Cruises. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.  

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

photos of ambition cruise ship

Bulgarian cruise ship crashes into wall in Austria, injuries reported

A Bulgarian cruise ship crashed into a concrete wall at a lock on the Danube River in the North Austrian city of Aschach an der Donau. People were injured in the incident, reports Reuters.

A spokesperson for the Eferding police said that there were about 160 passengers on board the ship, which was traveling from Bavaria in Germany to the Austrian city of Linz.

According to him, 11 victims were taken to hospital as a result of the incident. Meanwhile, the ship itself was able to continue moving after the accident.

According to the spokesperson, it was not immediately clear how serious the injuries were. Local media also reported that six other people suffered less serious injuries that did not require hospitalization.

Earlier, we wrote that Indonesian pilots fell asleep for almost 30 minutes during the flight.

Bulgarian cruise ship crashes into wall in Austria (photo: flickr.com/isafmedia)

IMAGES

  1. Ambition: Ambassador Cruise Line expands its fleet

    photos of ambition cruise ship

  2. Ambassador Cruise Line launches Ambition cruise ship

    photos of ambition cruise ship

  3. Ambition Cruise Ship Information

    photos of ambition cruise ship

  4. Ambition Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

    photos of ambition cruise ship

  5. AMBITION, Passenger (Cruise) Ship

    photos of ambition cruise ship

  6. Ambition Cruise Ship 2024 / 2025

    photos of ambition cruise ship

VIDEO

  1. Cruise ship MS Ambition passing Dumbarton

  2. Ambassador Ambition cruise ship on penang Malaysia

  3. Ambassador Ambition cruise Ship at Liverpool

  4. MS Ambition Cruise Ship / Ice Carving Demonstration

COMMENTS

  1. Ambition Ship Pictures 2024

    Find an Ambition Cruise. Ambition Photos: Browse over 16 expert photos and member pictures of the Ambition cruise ship?.

  2. Ambassador Ambition Ship Guide, Photos And Facts

    About Ambassador Ambition. Ambassador Ambition was built in 1999 as Costa neoRiviera until December 2019, then AIDAmira until January 2022. She was bought, rebranded and refit in 2023 and Ambassador Ambition. She is a petite ship at 48,123GT, which is tiny compared to many Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Ships.

  3. Ambassador Ambition

    Take a full tour of Ambassador Cruise Line's new ship, Ambition. See the whole ship, cabins, public areas, spa and even the bridge.Promising the best value a...

  4. Ambition Cruise Ship Information

    Aptly named to further emphasise our commitment to inspire and delight every guest to enjoy an authentic cruise experience effortlessly, and sustainably. Ambition will carry up to 1,200 passengers to give her a true sense of comfort and space in her 680 cabins, 125 of which have balconies and 113 are suites with up to 62m2 of living space.

  5. Ambition

    Find details and photos of Ambition cruise ship on Tripadvisor. Learn more about Ambition deck plans and cabins, ship activities including dining and entertainment, and sailing itineraries to help you plan your next cruise vacation. ... Then a few weeks before we actually boarded the ship to start this cruise I was shocked and horrified to see ...

  6. Ambition Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

    The 1999-built MV Ambition cruise ship is currently owned and operated by the UK-based Ambassador Cruise Line.The vessel was previously known as "Costa neoRiviera" (until December 2019) and "AIDAmira" (until January 2022), and was built (under the name "MS Mistral") for Festival Cruises (1999-2002, now defunct).After the company's collapse in 2004, Mistral was sold to Ibero Cruises (Spain) and ...

  7. Ambassador Ambition. Full ship deck by deck tour

    Ambition, the latest cruise ship owned by British cruise line Ambassador. We spent 11 days on this ship, on the Land of Fire & Ice tour of beautiful Iceland....

  8. FIRST LOOK: AMBITION CRUISE SHIP, NEW AMBASSADOR CRUISE LINE

    The 1200-passenger Ambition is the second ship for a brand new British cruise line called Ambassador, which launched back in Spring 2022. ... The 1200-passenger Ambition is the second ship for a ...

  9. Ambition cabins and suites

    Ambition cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations, including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Ambassador Cruise Line en-suite amenities and services.. The Ambition cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend ...

  10. Ambition Cruise Ship Cabins

    Cat. 5S: 12112, 12121, 12124. Navigating your way to and from your cabin is easy, with three spacious main foyer areas on all decks (except Aloe deck 4) serviced by 6 lifts and stairways. Aloe deck 4 and Sun Deck 12 is serviced by 2 lifts in the forward and aft lobbies respectively. There are 2 cabins 9051 and 9052 located on Consulate Deck 9 ...

  11. First look at Ambassador Cruise Line's new ship Ambition

    Ambassador Cruise Line's new ship Ambition is the second ship in the British-born line's fleet and adopts a focus on choice - from cabins to entertainment.. Space and intimacy come as one onboard Ambition, with a capacity of 200 fewer than Ambience at 1,200 (713 cabins) and 10 passenger decks yet crafted onboard spaces optimise a bustling social life among your fellow cruise-lovers with ...

  12. Ambition Cabins & Staterooms on Cruise Critic

    Contributor. Ambassador Ambition's deck plan reveals a large choice of categories among its 679 cabins and suites from Deck 7 to Deck 12. There are four types of suites and sizes vary greatly ...

  13. Behind the Headlines: How Ambassador's Ambition originally looked

    Ambassador Cruise Line's Ambition is the renovated newboy of the cruise sector. Having delved into the archive, we can show you the ship's original guise - all the way from 1999. Built by the celebrated Chantiers de l'Atlantique (crafters of SS Normandie and Cunard's QM2) back when denim-dungarees remained fashionable, Ambassador's new flagship - Ambition - has recently grabbed ...

  14. Ambition

    Explore Ambition with our unique interactive deck plans and look inside any cabin at the click of a button. ... View 100 cruises. Ship Cruises Ship Cruises Ship Cruises Adult only ship. 624 cabins and suites. 6 restaurants and cafes. 7 bars and lounges. 3 hot tubs. 2 swimming pools. Beauty salon. Fitness centre. Jogging track. Spa. Casino ...

  15. Ambition deck plan

    Each of the Ambition cruise ship deck plans are conveniently combined with a legend (showing cabin ... (cabins and suites), including photos, cabin plans and amenities by room type and category. MS Ambition ... AIDAmira cruise ship deck plan shows a total of 624 cabins for 1248 passengers (max occupancy is 1428) served by 670 crew-staff. ...

  16. MS Ambition

    The MS Ambition is a cruise ship operated by Ambassador Cruise Line.Completed in France as Mistral for Festival Cruises in 1999, She sailed between 2005 and 2019 as Grand Mistral with Ibero Cruises and Costa neoRiviera with Costa Cruises.The ship was in service with AIDA Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, until her sale in 2022 to Ambassador Cruise Line, who renamed her ...

  17. Ambition Cruise Ship

    Ambition joins sister-ship Ambience as the second member of the Ambassador Cruise Line fleet. With regional departures across the UK, including ports such as London Tilbury, Newcastle and Falmouth, this UK cruise line offers sophisticated ocean voyages aimed mainly at the over 50s. From Mediterranean adventures to exploring Northern Europe, and ...

  18. Ambassador Ambition

    We were lucky enough to be invited by #Ambassador Cruise Line to join them for the renaming ceremony in the Port of Tyne.While onboard we stayed in a Junior ...

  19. First ship of bumper season cruises in

    Ambition was the first cruise ship of the 2024 season. Photo: Dave Donaldson. The first cruise ship of what is hoped to be another record season arrived into Lerwick yesterday (Saturday). Ambassador's Ambition arrived on an 11-day Easter tour of the British isles, leaving from and returning to London Tilbury. ...

  20. Disappointing Photos Show What a Cruise Was Really Like Vs ...

    I booked my first-ever cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas in April 2022. The seven-day Caribbean voyage on a mega-ship took me round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to port ...

  21. Disney Cruise Line Reveals Name and Theme of Next Ship, The Disney

    The Disney Destiny, sister to the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, will have a first-of-its-kind design theme, "Heroes and Villains," drawing on the legacies of beloved Disney stories, characters and theme park attractions.. The Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering teams were inspired by the dynamic duality of every great Disney story when developing this new ship, where ...

  22. Ambition Leisure Facilities

    A firm guest favourite on board Ambience, our Asian speciality restaurant, Saffron, provides a dining experience to remember. Set in a more intimate restaurant setting, expect top-quality personalised service and incredible flavours of India and Goa, and on longer duration sailings Thailand, Far East Asia and more. Supplementary charges apply.

  23. Passenger overboard from Southampton cruise ship, firm says

    A cruise passenger has gone overboard during a tour of northern Europe, the ship's operator has said. The man disappeared from MSC Euribia on 16 March, a day after the ship left Southampton on a ...

  24. Ambition Cruise Ship Profile

    Ambition Ship Profile. Below are profile details for Ambition. If you have any more questions about Ambition that you feel are not covered by our website then please feel free to contact us. Our contact details are on the contact page. Key information. Cruise Line. Ambassador Cruise Line. Gross Tonnage. 48,123grt.

  25. Inside Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship

    For many of the first passengers on the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, the onboard reality of the $2 billion behemoth lived up to the over-the-top hype.

  26. This new cruise ship has a hidden magic club on board

    The pianist at a lounge on Princess Cruises' new ship played the theme song from "Titanic" while guests sipped their cocktails. It may seem like dark humor, but the musician is a ghost ...

  27. Bulgarian cruise ship crashes into wall in Austria, injuries reported

    A Bulgarian cruise ship crashed into a concrete wall at a lock on the Danube River in the North Austrian city of Aschach an der Donau. People were injured in the incident, reports Reuters. A ...