Ambassador Cruise Line Welcomes Ambition’s 100,000th Guest

Ambassador Cruise Line marked a milestone on Jan. 12, 2026, welcoming the 100,000th guest to sail aboard Ambition as the ship departed the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury, Essex, on a 23-night Enchanting Escapes and Iberian Charm: Madeira to Morocco itinerary.

The celebratory sailing later required schedule changes after a severe Atlantic forecast prompted the ship to remain in Lisbon for an additional night, while the cruise line also unveiled a new onboard event series, Jenny and Kate Unscripted: Women at Sea, aimed at building connection and community on select voyages.

Ambition’s 100,000th guest recognized at Tilbury

Ambassador Cruise Line said Carole Cotton, from Leatherhead, Surrey, was greeted ahead of embarkation with a champagne reception attended by Ambition’s Hotel Director Michael Shaji, Guest Services Supervisor Beth Macayanan and Cruise Director Emily Shortall.

Cotton said she was surprised by the recognition: “I felt completely overwhelmed to be named the 100,000th guest to sail aboard the Ambition. Things like this don’t happen to me. It was a great welcome, and it was lovely to be made a fuss of!”

Bob McGowan, Ambassador Cruise Line’s Chief Experience Officer, tied the milestone to the ship’s short time in service. “Ambition sailed for the first time in May 2023, so to have welcomed so many guests aboard in such a short amount of time is a true reflection of the incredible community at sea we’ve created on board,” McGowan said.

Ambition is a 1999-built ship with a capacity of 1,358 guests, operating the 23-night itinerary covering Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Severe Atlantic forecast drives itinerary changes

Ambassador Cruise Line revised Ambition’s schedule for the Madeira to Morocco sailing after forecasts for the passage from Lisbon to Madeira called for severe conditions, including wave heights above five meters. The ship remained alongside in Lisbon for an extra night on Jan. 16, 2026.

The updated timing also changed the itinerary’s planned overnight visit to Funchal, Madeira. The stop was rescheduled as a single-day call on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

In a statement to guests, the cruise line said: “Your comfort and safety are always our first priority, and so we have rescheduled our port calls to avoid the worst of this weather.” Ambassador Cruise Line also apologized for the disruption and said itinerary decisions were made with guest comfort and safety in mind.

In its update, the company did not announce additional cancellations, focusing on revised timing intended to reduce exposure to the predicted conditions at sea.

What the revised routing includes after Madeira

Ambassador Cruise Line said that after the revised call in Madeira, Ambition is scheduled to continue through the Canary Islands before moving on to Morocco, then returning via Spain and Gibraltar ahead of the voyage’s conclusion back in Tilbury.

The itinerary lists Canary Islands calls at Santa Cruz de La Palma, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arrecife de Lanzarote and Puerto del Rosario. Later calls include Casablanca and Tangier in Morocco; Málaga, Cádiz and Vigo in Spain; and Gibraltar before the return to Tilbury.

New “Women at Sea” event series announced for Ambition

Ambassador Cruise Line also unveiled Jenny and Kate Unscripted: Women at Sea, a new series of onboard events hosted by ambassadors Jenny Powell and Kate Thornton aboard Ambition. The cruise line described the initiative as centered on “connection, community and conversations,” with activities including panel discussions, cocktail hours and meet-and-greet opportunities.

Powell said, “There’s no better trip than a girls’ trip; good chats, good laughs, good weather, and maybe a few good glasses of wine on the top deck.” Thornton added, “The concept is about great company, proper conversation, and taking time out to enjoy the moment.”

Ambassador said a line-up of female broadcasters, including Andrea McLean and Lucy Alexander, will join the inaugural voyage from April 17 to 19, 2026. The cruise line’s Chief Marketing Officer, Gordon Nardini, said the event aligns with efforts to expand regional departures and build a welcoming community at sea.

Near term, Ambassador’s operational focus remains on the revised schedule for the ongoing 23-night voyage, with Ambition’s next key itinerary step being the updated Funchal call on Jan. 19, followed by the Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain and Gibraltar before returning to Tilbury.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the significance of Ambition’s 100,000th guest milestone?

Ambassador Cruise Line said the milestone highlights the popularity of Ambition, which first sailed in May 2023, and reflects what the company described as the “community at sea” built onboard in a relatively short period.

Why was Ambition’s itinerary adjusted in January 2026?

Ambassador Cruise Line revised the schedule due to a severe Atlantic forecast for the passage from Lisbon to Madeira, including predicted wave heights above five meters. The ship remained in Lisbon for an additional night on Jan. 16, 2026, to avoid the worst of the conditions.

How did the weather revision affect the planned stop in Funchal, Madeira?

The original itinerary included an overnight stay in Funchal, but the revised timing converted it to a single-day call on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

What is “Jenny and Kate Unscripted: Women at Sea”?

It is a hosted onboard event series on Ambition led by ambassadors Jenny Powell and Kate Thornton, featuring activities such as panel discussions, cocktail hours, and meet-and-greets. Ambassador Cruise Line said the programming is designed to celebrate connection, community and conversations, with guest participants on select sailings.

Which routes include the “Jenny and Kate Unscripted” events?

Ambassador Cruise Line said participating sailings include Ambition routes across Portugal, Spain and Morocco, and also referenced other regional routes such as Ambience’s Tastes and Treasures of France, Spain & Portugal.