Ambassador's Ambition Returns to Antwerp After Scheldt Oil Spill

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition was forced to return to Antwerp late on April 9, 2026, after authorities closed traffic on the Scheldt River following an oil spill in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The UK-based cruise line said the 1,200-passenger ship turned back with assistance from local tugboats after being alerted to the restriction while departing the Belgian port.

Turnaround ordered as Scheldt River traffic was halted

Ambition had been leaving Antwerp at about 11 p.m. local time when local authorities halted vessel movements on the Scheldt River because of pollution in the area. With the waterway closed, the ship returned to the cruise terminal and remained alongside until the river reopened.

In a statement, the cruise line said, “The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew is always our highest priority,” adding that it thanked the captain and crew “for their professionalism in managing the situation,” while apologizing for the disruption. Ambassador Cruise Line also said Ambition was not contaminated by the spilled oil.

What the ship’s itinerary looked like before the disruption

The interruption came during a six-night sailing that began in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, on April 6. Before arriving in Belgium, Ambition completed an overnight call at IJmuiden in the Netherlands.

Antwerp was scheduled as a roughly 14-hour visit before the ship continued to Bruges and then Honfleur, France. The turnaround, however, turned the Antwerp call into an unplanned overnight stay.

Revised schedule: two ports dropped, Le Havre becomes the main call

Ambassador Cruise Line told guests soon after the ship returned alongside in Antwerp, and it issued a further update at noon UK time on April 10 outlining changes to the remaining days of the voyage.

• Ports removed from the program: The revised itinerary canceled the planned April 10 call at Bruges and the April 11 visit to Honfleur due to the delay in Antwerp.
• Revised call in France: Ambition is now expected to sail overnight to Le Havre, arriving around midday on April 11 and remaining in port until 11:30 p.m., creating the key opportunity for shore visits on the adjusted schedule.
• End of cruise unchanged: The sailing is still scheduled to conclude in Portsmouth on April 12 as originally planned.

Following the unexpected overnight stay, the ship was set to depart Antwerp at about 4 p.m. local time on April 10, contingent on clearance from authorities managing the river closure.

How the oil spill happened and the response in the port

The spill occurred during a refueling operation at the Deurganck Dock inside the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Reports said oil leaked while the container ship MSC Denmark VI was taking on fuel, and the pollution spread beyond the dock into the Scheldt River.

The Scheldt is a major European commercial route linking the North Sea to inland Belgium and is used by cargo ships, tankers, and passenger vessels. Emergency response teams were dispatched to contain the oil and reduce the chance of it reaching tidal marshlands along the river.

By Friday afternoon local time, officials reopened the Scheldt River to ship traffic, although some areas of the port remained closed for continued cleanup. No official statement from Port of Antwerp-Bruges was included in available reports.

Passenger impact: shore excursions and compensation not confirmed

The itinerary changes primarily affected guests with plans tied to Bruges and Honfleur, including shore tours scheduled for those calls. Ambassador Cruise Line did not confirm whether it would provide refunds or other compensation related to the missed ports, and it did not detail how any affected shore experiences would be handled.

Other cruise traffic and Ambition’s 2026 plans

No other cruise ships were docked in Antwerp when the spill occurred. The port regularly hosts smaller luxury and yacht-style operators, including Windstar Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa 2, and SeaDream Yacht Club, but they were not in port at the time of the incident.

Ambition is a 48,123-gross-ton ship carrying about 1,200 passengers. The vessel is not scheduled to return to Antwerp later in 2026, with sailings planned from UK homeports including Portsmouth, London, Liverpool, and Belfast.

With the Scheldt reopened and traffic restarting, the voyage’s remaining schedule centers on a delayed departure from Antwerp, an extended call at Le Havre on April 11, and the ship’s return to Portsmouth on April 12.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why did Ambition return to Antwerp after departing?

Local authorities closed traffic on the Scheldt River following an oil spill in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Because the waterway was shut, Ambition returned to the cruise terminal with assistance from local tugboats.

What caused the oil spill in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges?

The spill occurred during a refueling operation at the Deurganck Dock. Oil leaked while the container ship MSC Denmark VI was taking on fuel, and the pollution spread into the Scheldt River.

Which ports were canceled, and what replaced them?

The revised itinerary removed the planned calls at Bruges (April 10) and Honfleur (April 11). Ambition is instead expected to sail to Le Havre, arriving around midday on April 11 and staying until 11:30 p.m.

Was Ambition contaminated by the oil spill?

Ambassador Cruise Line said Ambition was not contaminated by the spilled oil, but it still had to remain alongside in Antwerp until authorities reopened the river to traffic.

Did Ambassador Cruise Line confirm refunds or compensation for missed ports?

No. The cruise line did not confirm whether it would issue refunds or other compensation related to the canceled port calls.