Ambassador Cruise Line has been forced to switch Ambience’s scheduled operation with Ambition’s after the former was required to enter dry dock in Germany for extended maintenance work.
It comes after routine inspections found both propellor shafts and stern bearings have been damaged by metal grinding, which requires essential repair works which would risk leaking oil into the environment if not addressed.
Chief executive of Ambassador Cruise Line Christian Verhounig said the line was informed over the weekend the additional maintenance works will not be concluded in time to operate the vessel’s itineraries as scheduled, with the ship only able to return to the UK in early January ahead of its Grand Round the World Cruise.
“As a result of the unexpected but essential works that will see Ambience remain in dry dock longer than originally planned, it made operational sense to swap this itinerary over from Ambience to Ambition,” he added.
“With over 6,600 guests due to be on board Ambience in December and 800 booked on Ambition, it made operational sense to cancel the one sailing over this period on Ambition than all Ambience’s planned itineraries, which limits the impact on most guests with forward bookings.”
He continued: “It is never an easy decision to change or cancel any Ambassador sailing, particularly at this time of year, and I would personally like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. I fully understand that an apology does not cover what many of you may be feeling right now.”
Ambassador apologises for ‘difficult decision’
Ambition’s West Indies sailing on 11 December has therefore been cancelled, as well as Ambience’s Festive Event lunch and dinner sittings on 9 December.
Ambience’s German Xmas Markets cruise on 10 December will now take place on Ambition with the duration reduced from five nights to four nights. The departure date has been change from 10 December to 11 December. A call in Hamburg has been replaced with an overnight stay in Antwerp.
Elsewhere, Ambience’s Festive Event lunch and dinner on 15 and 16 December will now take place on Ambition, as well as the vessel’s Festive Market Getaway on 17 December and its Christmas & New Year voyage on 21 December.
The duration of the latter will change from 16 to 17 nights and so will return to Tilbury on 7 January instead of the planned 6 January. The itinerary has been amended to incorporate a Rotterdam drop-off on 6 January instead of 7 January.