Budget-minded mature travelers who like a British, no-frills mid-size ship.
Think twice if: Older ship sold mainly in the UK: few US departures, British style and prices in pounds.
See her Europe sailings ↓ · Where is she now? → · Ambassador Cruise Line's page for this ship →
What she's like
Easy to find your way around. Fewer crowds getting off in port. About 41 tons of ship per guest. As a rule of thumb, 40 or more feels roomy and under 30 feels busy.
UK line sailing from UK ports; nationality mix not published.
Our judgment, from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (ultra-luxury).
Cabin, meals in main venues, entertainment. Drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions and service charges extra (drinks packages include service charges).
Ambition and Ambience are adults only (18+); families with children 3-17 welcome on Renaissance.
Casual by day; evening dress suggested daily; generally two formal/gala nights per 7-12 nights (dinner jacket or lounge suit; no jeans, T-shirts or shorts in main restaurant those nights); 'smart' and 'casual' nights otherwise.
Where she sails in Europe
Western Mediterranean, British Isles, Atlantic Coast (Spain, Portugal, France)
We don't have her sailing-by-sailing schedule yet. See the line's site for dates.
What it costs beyond the fare
| Tips for the crew | GBP 7 (GBP 6 on cruises of 16+ nights); GBP 4 for ages 12-17; Added to your bill automatically |
|---|---|
| Drinks package | Ambassador Drinks Packages (include service charges; cheaper pre-cruise); prices not published. Sample bar prices: G&T about GBP 7.50, large beer GBP 4.50, cocktails about GBP 7. |
| Wifi | Starlink packages (Basic, Value, Premium) bought onboard, per device; prices not published. |
| Money on board | GBP ('The currency onboard Ambience, Ambition & Renaissance is Pound Sterling') |
How tipping and money work on a European cruise → · Build a full trip budget →
Her restaurants · 2 included, 2 extra
| Where to eat | Cost |
|---|---|
| Grand Restaurant | Included |
| Belle-Vue Restaurant | Included |
| Lotus Restaurant | Extra charge |
| Kreole by Mondi Restaurant | Extra charge |
Which cabin to book, and which to avoid
The line doesn't publish cabin sizes for this ship that we could find.
Good to know before you pick
- Key marks 'view partially obstructed' (triangle) and 'view totally obstructed' (X); on Deck 6 many cabins at both ends carry these marks (promenade/lifeboat side)
- Deck 6 balcony cabins open onto the shared promenade per key symbol (non-private access to promenade deck)
- Deck 10 aft balcony cabins sit beside the Le Grand Large pool and Outdoor Bar
- Partially accessible cabins per key: 1050 Suite and 5000, 5001, 5002 (step in bathroom); 4004, 4006, 4009, 4011, 6089, 6090, 9200, 9202 (walk-in shower)
- Porthole (not window) cabins marked on Deck 4 forward
If you use a wheelchair or walk with difficulty
Guests with disabilities should travel with an able-bodied companion; adapted cabins: Ambience 13, Ambition 2, Renaissance 2 (partial). Tender policy not published. Elevators: Lift banks ('A') aft, midship and forward on decks 6-8; decks 11-12 show lifts forward and aft Our accessibility guide →
Find your way around
Our own deck plans, drawn from the line's official plan: tap a deck to see it from above, with what's at the front, middle and back of the ship. Use “Find on board” to light up every deck with a pool, a bar or a restaurant. Not to scale.
- Deck 12 · Horizon Deck , Sport Court; Culissant Glass Dome; Walkers track; Le Panoramique / Panoramic Lounge
- Deck 11 · Lido Deck , Belle Vue Terrace; Belle Vue; Kreole; Bar Le Lido / Lido Bar; Piscine Le Lido / Swimming Pool; Le Lido Grill; Beauty Salon; Green Sea Spa; Thermal Suite; Fitness Centre / Active Studio & Gym; Observation Deck
- Deck 10 , Le Grand Large Outdoor Pool; Outdoor Terrace; Outdoor Bar; Gateway
- Deck 9 · Sea Deck , Cabins
- Deck 8 · Main Deck , Vatel (upper level); La Table du Chef; Lotus; Terre & Mer; Futures Croisieres / Future Cruises; Les Explorateurs / The Explorers; Bar Aria; La Perle; Le Fou Chantant Piano Bar; Salon Massalia Lounge; Bar Le Rendez-vous; La Reserve; Les Boutiques / Shopping Galleria; Maison Renaissance; La Traboule; Le Foyer; Bar Ocean / Ocean Bar; Theatre Renaissance (upper level)
- Deck 7 · Reception Deck , Grand Restaurant Vatel; Salle Claude Monet Conference; Salle de jeux Paul Cezanne / Card Room; L'Odyssee / The Odyssey; Le Decanteur; Reception; Le Foyer; Excursions / Destination Experiences; Galerie Photos / Photo Gallery; Theatre Renaissance
- Deck 6 , Promenade De L'esplanade / Promenade Francois 1st (wrap-around); Laundry; Grand Foyer; Cabins
- Deck 5 , Cabins
- Deck 4 , Medical centre (cross symbol); Cabins
What to book, and when
Booking, check-in and reservations
Online check-in opens within 72 hours of sailing once Advance Passenger Information is submitted.
Paying and cancelling
not published (ABTA-protected UK bookings).
Tips for her Europe sailings
Sails from regional UK ports (Tilbury, Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle, Dundee, Belfast, Portsmouth); prices in sterling.
The ship in numbers
- Cruise line
- Ambassador Cruise Line
- Kind of ship
- Mass-market
- Built
- 1993
- Last refit
- 2023
- Guests
- 1,358
- Crew
- 580
- Cabins
- 629
- Guest decks
- 9
- Gross tons
- 55,575
- Length
- 219 m (719 ft)
- Width
- 31 m (101 ft)
- Flag
- Bermuda
- Class
- Statendam (S) class (ex Holland America Maasdam, 1993)
- Ship number
- IMO 8919257
- In Europe 2026–27
- Western Mediterranean, British Isles, Atlantic Coast (Spain, Portugal, France)
Highlights
- Formerly Holland America's Maasdam (1993) (Wikipedia)
- About 1,100 guests in 629 cabins; 9 guest decks (Ambassador)
- Refit at Damen Brest 2022-23 before relaunch (Wikipedia)
More pictures
Sources & what we could not confirm · 8 sources · checked 2026-11
- Ambassador: Renaissance ship profile
- Ambassador: Renaissance deck plans
- Ambassador: Renaissance leisure facilities and dining (Included/Extra labels)
- Wikipedia: MS Renaissance (1992) (secondary)
- VesselFinder vessel record (registry: flag, gross tonnage, year)
- Ambassador Cruise Line FAQs
- Ambassador: what's on board / Wi-Fi FAQ
- Ambassador: travelling to port
- Deck names from Ambassador's deck plan page; venue labels are only in images/PDF, so per-deck venues not listed
- Crew count not published by Ambassador; Wikipedia gives 580
- Ambassador lists 'Built 2025/2023 (1992)'; refurbishment year 2023 taken from Wikipedia's refit account; speed is max 22 knots (cruising 14)
- Ambassador Cruise Line: Drinks package and Wi-Fi prices
- Ambassador Cruise Line: Deposit/final payment/cancellation
- Ambassador Cruise Line: Tender policy
- Ambassador Cruise Line: Wi-Fi FAQ URL path truncated in our extract
- Deck plan: Cabin sizes not stated on the Renaissance deck plan page (cabins page returned 404)
- Deck plan: Deck 6 file is labelled as a slice of the ship overview; deck name not shown on the image