Former travel agent Debbie Ballantyne has just been promoted to Business Development Manager for the North at Ambassador Cruise Line. Travel Gossip found out a bit more about her…
I never travel without… my eyepatches. It may seem ridiculous to sit on an eight-hour flight with eyepatches on, but when you land feeling rejuvenated and you’re glowing, you’ll thank me.
The famous person (dead or alive) I’d most like to sit next to on a plane is… Marilyn Monroe. The woman is an icon. Honestly, I just want to know how she always looked so glamorous without perfect lighting and a 10-step beauty routine. Plus, I think I’d quite enjoy getting the insider Hollywood gossip.
If I had a tattoo, it would be… I have a tattoo. Only a little one, which I got last year as part of my ‘40 things to do before turning 40’. It’s a heart and a plane, which is very clichéd but it’s my nod to what I love best – travelling!
The next place I’ll visit is… Concarneau in Brittany on board our beautiful first lady of the sea, Ambience, as part of the ‘Adventure to France & Spain and the Solar Eclipse’ itinerary departing London Tilbury on 5 August. I have cruised over 30 times but still manage to find new and unique places to explore. I am genuinely so excited as I will experience the solar eclipse whilst onboard.
The last place I visited was… Fuerteventura for a girly holiday with my sisters to celebrate my birthday. This was a surprise trip. They had planned it all, I just had to turn up! You can imagine how hard it was to relinquish control, being a travel agent never leaves you.
My most memorable travel experience was… like many of us in this industry, I have been fortunate enough to travel all over the world. Pushed to choose one, it would be accidentally seeing the practice light switch-on at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York, which is famous for its elaborate Christmas window displays and light shows on the façade of its flagship store. My son was five at the time and, due to jet lag, he couldn’t sleep. So we took a midnight walk, and we were the only people except one couple who happened to be in the right place at the right time. It was like a private viewing. His little face was a picture. Christmas is my favourite time of year; it was so special to have the full festive New York experience, complete with lots of sightseeing and shopping. It was a good thing that we sailed back on a transatlantic crossing as my cases were absolutely over the flight luggage allowance.
The worst thing I ate or drank abroad was… I am an absolute foodie, so I don’t have a ‘worst’. I will pretty much try anything… Except olives! I wish I did like them though.
My bucket-list destination is… Japan. I think the contrast of ultra-modern technology versus the history of the country would be so interesting to experience.
Born and brought up in… the west coast of Scotland, which is still where I live. I could not imagine living in any place other than by sea. I am very lucky as we are blessed with beautiful beaches and countryside (but not so much the weather!).
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is… don’t be afraid to explore. I have really run with this advice. Some of the best memories I have are from taking a chance and having the spontaneity to simply go off on an adventure.
If I could eat one meal for the rest of my life it would be… my homemade chicken and leek pie. Now, I might be biased, but it is honestly the best pie you will ever taste.
The thing I miss most while travelling is… my ragdoll cat, Blu. He thinks he is part human, part dog and greets me at the door whenever I arrive home, ready for belly rubs and snuggles.
When I left school, I wanted to be… I was set to go to university to become a Primary School teacher. I used to make my sisters sit tests at home and give them homework, so that I could pretend to be the schoolteacher (I am sure they loved it really). That quickly changed after I secured a summer job with Stewart Travel thinking I was going to do admin. On day one I realised I was going to train to be a cruise consultant and let’s just say the rest is history!
The thing I’m most proud of is… my biggest supporter and my biggest reason why: my son, Jay. Being a mum is hard enough but being a mum to a child with special educational needs while juggling a career can sometimes feel like a balancing act. You don’t always get it right, which is why having a supportive work family around you makes such a difference. There is no better feeling than watching your child achieve something they’ve worked so hard for. I couldn’t be prouder of Jay as he gets ready to start university this autumn. Seeing everything he has overcome to reach this point makes it even more special. He’s my greatest achievement, and I can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings for him.
In my new role, I’ll be… managing key accounts in the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The role focuses on partnership and growth, working alongside commercial partners to provide them with the confidence, knowledge and tools they need to succeed. Agents are a huge part of our success story so far, and I want to build on that, so I will be giving you the warmest welcome at sea and on land, whether that be out on the road, at cruise shows, during in-store trainings or on one of our fabulous ships.
What attracted me to the job was… with over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, I always knew I wanted to move into the cruise sector. For me, the brand and the timing had to be right. When I joined the Ambassador family in August 2024, what attracted me wasn’t just the challenge and excitement of a new role, it was the opportunity to be part of a new and emerging cruise line with incredible potential. In just three years, Ambassador had already achieved remarkable growth, and I knew I wanted to be part of that journey. Fast forward to today, and we’re now celebrating our fifth year, with even bigger ambitions for the future. We’ve come a long way, but this is only the beginning. Watch this space!
Outside work, you’ll usually find me… hurling myself up a mountain, as I mutter to myself that it will be worth it when I get to the top for the view. Either that or reading at the beach. Adrenaline or chill, there is no in-between.
The first thing I notice about a person when I meet them is… their positivity and energy. I love nothing more than being surrounded by glass-half-full people. I always leave feeling super motivated, like I could take on the world.
If I won the Lottery tomorrow, I would… buy myself a yacht, but I’d definitely need to hire a captain! I know how to sell the dream of being at sea, but sailing it? That’s best left to the experts!
