Ambassador’s Ambience Celebrates 35 Years

Posted on 7 September, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Ambassador’s Ambience Celebrates 35 Years

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience recently completed 35 years of service, having been delivered as the Regal Princess on July 20, 1991.

First ordered for Sitmar Cruises, the 70,000-ton vessel was acquired by the P&O Group while still under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

Along with a sister ship, the Crown Princess, the vessel was transferred to the Princess Cruises brand, undergoing project changes before being completed.

After leaving Italy, the Regal Princess was christened by former United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The naming ceremony was held in New York City and took place on August 8, 1991.

The 1,578-passenger ship continued to sail for Princess on worldwide itineraries through 2000, when it was transferred to the company’s resident Australia fleet.

In 2007, the Regal Princess was withdrawn from Princess’ fleet and transferred to P&O Cruises Australia.

Renamed the Pacific Dawn, the ship continued to sail for the Carnival Corporation-owned Australian brand through early 2020.

After spending a few months laid up, the vessel was acquired by Ambassador Cruise Line in early 2021.

Then a startup brand, the company invested in a major modernisation project for the ship before welcoming its first guests in early 2022.

In 2026, the Ambience is offering a series of cruises from ports in the United Kingdom, including itineraries to Northern Europe, the British Isles, Iceland, Scandinavia, the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean.

The vessel will also offer a special 45-night cruise to the Caribbean in early 2027, sailing round-trip from Tilbury.

The itinerary is highlighted by overnight visits to a series of destinations, including Puerto Limón in Costa Rica, Cartagena in Colombia and Belize City in Belize.

Before kicking off its 2026 season, the Ambience underwent a three-week drydock refurbishment at a shipyard in the United Kingdom.

The multimillion-pound refurbishment included technical updates, as well as enhancements to public areas and staterooms.

Royal Caribbean to bring another Freedom Class ship to UK instead of Mariner of the Seas next year

Posted on 24 March, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Royal Caribbean to bring another Freedom Class ship to UK instead of Mariner of the Seas next year

The 3,926-passenger Freedom of the Seas ship will replace the line’s smaller Voyager Class vessel which has capacity for 3,114 passengers.

Royal said the change reflected “the continued strength of the UK and Ireland market”.

“The move represents an upsizing of capacity and brings a Freedom Class ship – long regarded as a favourite among British and Irish guests – back to the region,” the line added.

“Onboard vacationers of all ages can kick back and adventure at the resort-style Caribbean pool deck, enjoy The Perfect Storm duo of high-speed waterslides, a vibrant Caribbean poolscape, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, alongside reimagined spaces for kids and teens and more.”

This year, Liberty of the Seas – a sister ship to Freedom of the Seas – will be based out of Southampton. Another Freedom Class vessel, Independence of the Seas, operated ex-UK cruises from Southampton last summer.

So Freedom of the Seas will be the third Freedom Class ship to be based in the UK in three years when it arrives here in 2027.

Aaron Langford, Royal Caribbean senior sales director UK & Ireland, said: “The UK and Ireland is an incredibly important market for Royal Caribbean, and as a result, we’re excited to announce that we’ll be upsizing our Southampton deployment in 2027 with Freedom of the Seas following our long standing success here with this class of ship.

“Freedom Class has consistently resonated strongly with British and Irish guests, and following a recent amplification, Freedom of the Seas offers a fantastic mix of scale, innovation and guest-favourite features that deliver the ultimate family holiday.”

Stornoway Port Set for Major 2026 Cruise Season

Posted on 26 February, 2026 by Spacejunkie2

Stornoway Port Set for Major 2026 Cruise Season

Stornoway Port is preparing to welcome 89 cruise ship calls during the 2026 season, reinforcing its growing prominence as one of Scotland’s premier cruise destinations, according to a press release.

The season is expected to bring approximately 60,000 passengers to the Outer Hebrides, contributing an estimated £7.8 million to the local economy.

“The 2026 cruise season represents another major milestone for Stornoway Port, with 89 scheduled calls highlighting the continued growth in demand from international cruise operators,” said Kirsty Hutchison, cruise and marketing manager at Stornoway Port.

“The return of high-profile vessels such as Queen Anne, alongside visits from MSC Preziosa and Carnival Legend, demonstrates the strength of Stornoway’s reputation as a world-class destination.”

Among the headline arrivals in 2026 are globally recognized vessels. These include the MSC Preziosa, the Carnival Legend and Cunard’s newest flagship, the Queen Anne, which will return to Stornoway following its successful maiden visit in 2025.

The MSC Preziosa and the Carnival Legend will each bring substantial visitor numbers to the island.

Their inclusion in the schedule demonstrates sustained confidence in Stornoway’s facilities, particularly the £59 million Deep Water Terminal, which has significantly expanded the port’s ability to accommodate larger, modern cruise ships.

Hutchison said the Deep Water Terminal continues to transform what the port can offer, strengthening its ability to accommodate larger vessels and enhancing the overall visitor experience.

The port is progressing plans for the next phase of development at the terminal, alongside the ongoing development of Arnish Road, to further build capacity and resilience across the estate, she said.