Ambassador Cruise Line has acquired Oceania Cruises’ Sirena and will use the vessel to launch a new German operation in 2028, while also securing a recurring winter charter arrangement with Semester at Sea.
The 30,200-ton, 670-passenger ship was purchased from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and will initially remain with Oceania under a leaseback agreement through spring 2028.
After leaving the Oceania fleet, Sirena will be renamed Ambella and begin sailing for the newly created Ambassador Kreuzfahrten brand. The move will take Ambassador into Germany alongside its existing operations in the UK and France.
Ambassador’s entry into Germany follows its expansion into the French market through the acquisition of CFC, which has since been renamed Ambassador Croisière.
Ambella To Launch From Germany In 2028
Ambella is scheduled to begin its first Ambassador season in May 2028, operating an adults-only product developed specifically for German-speaking passengers.
The inaugural programme will run until September and comprise 11 cruises departing from Bremerhaven and Kiel, together with two repositioning voyages. Bookings are due to open in November 2026.
Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea will feature prominently in the programme, while selected itineraries will also take Ambella to Southern Europe.
Ambassador said the vessel’s relatively small size will allow the new brand to include destinations and ports that are less suitable for larger cruise ships.
The company plans to position Ambassador Kreuzfahrten towards experienced cruise passengers, couples and river cruise customers interested in moving into ocean cruising. Its onboard offering is expected to emphasise personalised service and upscale dining while retaining Ambassador’s focus on value.
Germany represents a significant expansion for the company as it seeks to build a broader European presence in the over-50s cruise market.
“The acquisition of the Oceania Sirena, its future launch as the Ambella, and the launch of Ambassador Kreuzfahrten represent a significant milestone in our journey to establish Ambassador as Europe’s leading cruise provider for affordable quality in the silver segment,” said CEO Christian Verhounig.
“When we launched Ambassador in 2021, we recognized a clear market gap for an affordable, high-quality cruise experience that is authentic, welcoming and accessible. We set out to combine the traditions of classic cruising with the standards and expectations of today’s guests, and this philosophy remains fundamental to our success,” he added.
Semester At Sea To Use Ambella During Winter
Ambella will not remain with Ambassador throughout the year. After completing its first German summer season, the vessel is due to be chartered to the Institute for Shipboard Education, which operates the Semester at Sea programme.
The ship is scheduled to host the fall 2028 and spring 2029 Semester at Sea programmes before returning to Ambassador for its summer 2029 cruise season.
Ambassador expects the alternating arrangement to continue over the longer term, effectively dividing the vessel’s annual deployment between summer cruise operations in Europe and Semester at Sea voyages during the winter period.
The acquisition also resolves the identity of Sirena’s previously undisclosed buyer. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings had announced the sale of the vessel earlier in 2026 without naming its new owner.
Sirena entered service in 2000 and was originally built for Renaissance Cruises as the fourth vessel in its eight-ship R-class series. The design subsequently became widely represented across the premium and luxury cruise sectors.
The ship will continue sailing for Oceania Cruises under the leaseback arrangement before its transition to Ambassador and conversion to the Ambella identity ahead of the 2028 German programme.
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