Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience recently completed 35 years of service, having been delivered as the Regal Princess on July 20, 1991.
First ordered for Sitmar Cruises, the 70,000-ton vessel was acquired by the P&O Group while still under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
Along with a sister ship, the Crown Princess, the vessel was transferred to the Princess Cruises brand, undergoing project changes before being completed.
After leaving Italy, the Regal Princess was christened by former United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The naming ceremony was held in New York City and took place on August 8, 1991.
The 1,578-passenger ship continued to sail for Princess on worldwide itineraries through 2000, when it was transferred to the company’s resident Australia fleet.
In 2007, the Regal Princess was withdrawn from Princess’ fleet and transferred to P&O Cruises Australia.
Renamed the Pacific Dawn, the ship continued to sail for the Carnival Corporation-owned Australian brand through early 2020.
After spending a few months laid up, the vessel was acquired by Ambassador Cruise Line in early 2021.
Then a startup brand, the company invested in a major modernization project for the ship before welcoming its first guests in early 2022.
In 2026, the Ambience is offering a series of cruises from ports in the United Kingdom, including itineraries to Northern Europe, the British Isles, Iceland, Scandinavia, the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean.
The vessel will also offer a special 45-night cruise to the Caribbean in early 2027, sailing roundtrip from Tilbury.
The itinerary is highlighted by overnight visits to a series of destinations, including Puerto Limon in Costa Rica, Cartagena in Colombia and Belize City in Belize.
Before kicking off its 2026 season, the Ambience underwent a three-week drydock refurbishment at a shipyard in the United Kingdom.
The multimillion-pound refurbishment included technical updates, as well as enhancements to public areas and staterooms.
