Ambassador Cruise Line has launched its 2028/29 no-fly programme three months earlier than last year.
The cruise line launched its 2027/28 ex-UK collection in June last year, but Head of Distribution Nicola Harper said: “Demand is absolutely there for us to go on sale early.”
The new season runs from 23 April 2028 to 29 March 2029 and is featured in a 116-page online and print brochure.
Cruises will depart from six UK ports including Tilbury, Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast and Portsmouth.
The programme consists of 35 cruises and four Christmas party event dates on Ambience and 39 itineraries on Ambition.
It includes longer Mediterranean cruises, Northern Lights itineraries, European city breaks and themed sailings, as well as options for groups and solo travellers.
The launch is accompanied by an early bird ‘buy one, get one half price’ offer for bookings made by 30 June this year. Guests booking an Ambassador Fare will also receive 15% off premium Expedition drinks package on selected sailings, reducing the price from £49.95 to £42.46 per person, per day.
Nicola said: “People are wanting to plan early and we’ve got a strong launch message that our agents – who make up a major share of our business – can get behind.”
The trade accounts for 70% of Ambassador’s sales.
Solo travellers can receive up to 25% off full single fares, while groups of 15 guests or more can access additional benefits, including a 5% discount on selected sailings and free places for larger bookings.
There are three new ports of call: Motril on Spain’s southern coast, for access to Granada and Andalusia; Marseille in southern France and a 32-km long fjord, Åkrafjorden, which has been added to some Norwegian fjord sailings.
Itineraries include a 42-night ‘Caribbean Island Hopping’ cruise on Ambience from Tilbury on 6 January 2029, from £3,799 per person, and £1,899 for the second guest if booked by 30 June.
Other highlights include a 13-night ‘Iceland – Whales, Waterfalls and Geysers’ sailing from Tilbury on 13 May 2028 from £1,669pp; a seven-night ‘Coastal Gems of Sweden and Denmark’ cruise from Newcastle on 20 June 2028 from £929pp; and a 16-night ‘Arctic Norway and Northern Lights Explorer’ itinerary from Tilbury on 25 October 2028 from £1,609pp.
Mediterranean options include the 31-night ‘Ancient Cities of the Mediterranean’ voyage from Tilbury on 12 February 2029 from £2,719pp, and a 10-night ‘British Isles Explorer – Castles and Coastlines’ sailing on 18 April 2028 from £1,199.
Short breaks start at £329pp for a ‘Weekend Escape to Holland and Belgium’ from Tilbury on 21 September 2028. Festive cruise options include a 16-night ‘Christmas Sunshine in Spain, Portugal and the Canaries’ from Tilbury on 22 December 2028 from £2,109pp.
CEO Christian Verhounig said: “Launching our 2028/29 season earlier than ever before not only reflects the confidence our guests place in Ambassador to deliver truly exceptional cruise experiences, but also their desire to plan meaningful travel further ahead.”
Agents can win a three-night sailing for two and other prizes in an incentive that starts today.
