Ambassador Cruise Line has become the first cruise operator to partner with Nectar, allowing members of the UK loyalty programme to both collect points on cruise bookings and use existing points towards the cost of a holiday.
The partnership covers Ambassador’s available cruise seasons, including its no-fly sailings from seven regional UK ports and its winter Caribbean fly-cruise programme.
Customers can collect up to 150,000 Nectar points on eligible cruise bookings, equivalent to as much as £750 in Nectar value. Members can also redeem points against their cruise fare, including using enough points to cover the entire eligible cost of a booking.
The arrangement applies across Ambassador’s Saver and Ambassador Fare options, as well as full-priced upgrades and applicable flight classes on Caribbean fly-cruise bookings.
Customers can link their Nectar account through Ambassador’s website. Points can also be collected when booking through the cruise line’s Guest Reservations team or at the Future Cruise Desk aboard its ships by providing a Nectar ID.
Nectar Expands Into Cruise Holidays
The agreement marks Nectar’s first partnership with a cruise line and expands the loyalty programme’s existing range of travel and leisure rewards.
Ambassador currently operates Ambience and Ambition on its UK no-fly programme, with departures from London Tilbury, Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol Royal Portbury and Portsmouth.
Its itineraries include destinations such as the Norwegian Fjords, Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Caribbean and Africa, with a mixture of shorter cruises and longer voyages.
Renaissance, which joined Ambassador following its merger with French operator Compagnie Française de Croisières in January 2025, is being used for the company’s Caribbean fly-cruise programme.
The ship is scheduled to operate from Bridgetown, Barbados, during the 2026-27 winter season, with 14-night fly-cruise holidays running between 29th October 2026 and 1st April 2027. The programme includes direct Virgin Atlantic charter flights from London Heathrow and Manchester, as well as repositioning cruises at the beginning and end of the season.
Amir Rasekh, Managing Director at Nectar360, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to help members get more value from Nectar. Our partnership with Ambassador Cruise Line gives customers another way to turn everyday loyalty into memorable experiences.
“For the first time, Nectar members can use the points they collect through everyday spending towards a cruise holiday. Whether they’re collecting points on a booking or using points towards their next trip, this partnership gives customers another exciting way to get value from Nectar”
Gordon Nardini, Chief Marketing Officer at Ambassador Cruise Line, said: “We’re delighted to become Nectar’s first cruise line partner, offering millions of members a brand-new way to turn the points they collect into unforgettable holidays.”
Nardini described the agreement as one of Ambassador’s most significant brand partnerships since the cruise line launched five years ago.
Sainsbury’s Campaign And Cruise Competition
The partnership is being promoted through an in-store campaign beginning on 16th September and continuing until 13th October 2026 across 300 Sainsbury’s stores.
Ambassador advertising is set to appear at several points within participating stores, including entrance gates, displays, payment terminals and travel money screens, putting the cruise line in front of Nectar members while they shop.
Ambassador and Nectar are also marking the launch with a competition offering one Nectar member a cruise for two people in 2027.
The winner will be able to select either a no-fly cruise or fly-cruise of up to 14 nights. Full entry details are due to be released on 16th September 2026 through Nectar.
Ambassador was founded in 2021 and initially focused on adult-only no-fly cruises from the UK. Its fleet has since expanded to three ships following the January 2025 merger with Compagnie Française de Croisières.
The cruise line offers two principal fare types. Saver Fare covers accommodation, full-board dining and entertainment, while Ambassador Fare adds the Expedition Drinks Package alongside gratuities and service charges.
The Nectar agreement gives Ambassador another route to reach customers outside the traditional cruise market while allowing existing guests who are Nectar members to earn points from their holiday spending.
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