Luxury Cruising Editorial

UK-based Ambassador Cruise Line and France’s Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC) are merging to form Ambassador Group, a new European cruise brand.

The combined fleet will feature three mid-size ships and focus on expanding into key European markets, offering no-fly cruises alongside new Caribbean itineraries.

The newly formed brand will unite Ambassador’s Ambience and Ambition with CFC’s Renaissance, each retaining its distinctive British and French onboard experiences.

The merger is set to be finalised by the end of January 2025.

Caribbean Expansion and Sustainable Initiatives

A notable highlight of the merger is the launch of a Caribbean cruise program in October 2025, marking a significant departure from the cruise lines’ traditional no-fly offerings.

Cruises will target source markets in the UK, France, and the Netherlands, with embarkation ports including Barbados, Martinique, and Curaçao.

The Caribbean series will be operated in partnership with Dutch travel operator Corendon, which also owns Corendon Airlines, a likely backbone for the fly-cruise packages. Few additional details about the itineraries have been revealed.

Sustainability remains a key focus for the new company. The 1,200-guest Renaissance, refurbished in 2023, will enter dry dock in January 2025 to install IMO Tier III environmental technologies, aligning it with the International Maritime Organization’s stringent nitrogen oxide emission standards. Both Ambassador ships are already compliant.

Tapping into a growing market

The merger positions Ambassador Group to tap into Europe’s growing cruise market, projected to increase by 12% over the next five years.

“The combination of Ambassador and CFC is a bold step towards our shared vision for the cruise industry. By uniting our strengths, we are creating an organisation that delivers exceptional experiences to our guests while upholding sustainable practices.”

Christian Verhounig, CEO of Ambassador Cruise Line

“CFC is a new and growing French brand, and this merger with Ambassador, a successful, ambitious British brand that wants to grow markets and destinations, is extremely positive for both businesses, maximising synergies to create a formidable force in the cruise industry.”

Maëlysse Pierrot-Guibourt, CEO of CFC

The three ships in the fleet reflect the unique legacies of both brands.

• Renaissance: Formerly Holland America Line’s Maasdam, entered service in 1993. It underwent a major renovation before launching with CFC and accommodates 1,200 guests.
• Ambience: Built in 1991, this 1,400-guest vessel joined Ambassador in 2022 and previously sailed with P&O Cruises Australia.
• Ambition: Formerly known as AIDAmira, this 1,248-guest ship joined Ambassador in 2023 after serving with AIDA Cruises and several other lines.

Following the merger, the new company aims to maintain the cultural identity of each ship, appealing to a broad range of European cruisers.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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A Royal Caribbean passenger’s relaxing cruise turned into a costly lesson after returning home to discover a $1,300 cell phone bill, stemming from a simple but expensive mistake.

The incident highlights the importance of preparation and vigilance when managing technology on cruise vacations.

The passenger, who has not been named, assumed their purchase of Royal Caribbean’s WiFi package covered all cell phone use while onboard.

However, their device was not set to Airplane Mode, allowing it to connect to the ship’s roaming network.

As a result, the phone silently racked up roaming charges, downloading background updates and data throughout the cruise.

Adding to the financial sting, the passenger’s child unknowingly compounded the issue by streaming videos using the same phone. The combined usage led to the eye-watering bill.

When contacted, Royal Caribbean stated that it is each passenger’s responsibility to ensure devices are placed in Airplane Mode, and the cruise line declined liability for the charges.

A common problem at sea

This type of issue is not unique to Royal Caribbean.

Smartphones can incur substantial roaming charges on cruises, even when locked away in a cabin safe, as apps, updates, and downloads continue to run in the background.

Popular YouTube personality Jayson Judson brought attention to this case, cautioning viewers about the financial traps onboard cruise ships, which often result from passenger oversights.

While some carriers like T-Mobile occasionally adjust bills for roaming charges, others, such as AT&T and Verizon, may not be as forgiving.

Mobile technology isn’t the only source of unexpected expenses.

Cruise ship arcades are another potential financial pitfall, especially for families. Arcade machines typically require passengers to swipe their cabin room key for access, but costs aren’t always displayed.

This makes it easy for children to unknowingly rack up hundreds of dollars in charges, often only discovered when the final bill arrives.

To avoid such surprises, parents are encouraged to:

• Set spending limits on room key cards before boarding.
• Switch all devices to Airplane Mode to prevent roaming charges.
• Monitor children’s activities closely, particularly in areas like the arcade.

While cruising offers incredible experiences, this incident serves as a cautionary tale about potential financial pitfalls.

By taking proactive steps and educating all travellers about spending limits and device management, cruisers can avoid unexpected costs and enjoy a stress-free vacation.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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A 51-year-old father-of-four tragically died on Boxing Day after jumping from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic in the Caribbean, despite his family’s desperate attempts to restrain him.

Dan McGilvray, a financial advisor from Broomfield, Colorado, reportedly overpowered his family members, including his 75-year-old mother, before leaping from the balcony of the cruise ship at approximately 3 pm.

McGilvray is said to have screamed, “I can’t take it anymore,” before plunging into the sea.

The incident unfolded as the ship sailed near the Bahamas.

Failed rescue efforts

The Norwegian Epic immediately halted its journey to initiate search and rescue operations.

Efforts by the Royal Bahamas Police Force and OPBAT, a multi-agency rescue unit, were unsuccessful.

“Preliminary reports indicate that despite attempts to restrain him, he jumped from a balcony into the sea. Rescue efforts…proved fruitless in locating him,”

Police statement

The ship eventually diverted to Nassau, where the Royal Bahamas Police Force concluded their search.

A GoFundMe campaign launched to support McGilvray’s wife, Heather, and their four sons has raised over $36,000 (£29,000) to assist the family during this difficult time.

The campaign described McGilvray as “brilliant, honest, hardworking, funny and devoted to his family and friends.”

It continued: “Dan was the primary provider for their family, and the next year will be incredibly difficult for Heather to support her boys and learn to live without Dan. Thank you for honouring his legacy with any support you can provide.”

Norwegian Cruise Line issued a statement offering condolences.

“The guest was traveling with a large group and his family on board is being attended to and supported during this very challenging situation. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

NCL statement

McGilvray’s death is being investigated by authorities in the Bahamas, who suspect a possible reaction to medication prescribed for seizures may have contributed to the distressing event.

While rare, it’s not unheard of for people to jump from a cruise ship, although when it does happen it often occurs overnight, implying that alcohol may be a factor.

There were other incidents in December 2024, including a woman who attempted to jump from Sky Princess but instead hit a lifeboat and landed on a lower deck. Tragically she also lost her life.

It is extremely unlikely that anyone jumping from a ship could survive.

Incidents are almost always intentional too – there are railings in place to prevent anyone slipping and falling, and so only someone choosing to jump or acting unsafe by climbing on railings would be likely to fall.

It also highlights how jumping overboard is a very serious issue, and not one to be trivialised – as this TikTok content creator found out after a huge backlash to her onboard ‘prank’ when she told a crew member she was going to jump off the ship.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

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