Ambassador Cruise Line – Covid FAQ’s

We are continuing to work hard to ensure that you can book and sail with confidence. Please find below a list of Q&A’s, advising on how we plan to continue running our smooth operations, safely and securely, for the protection of both our guests and our crew. You will find everything you need to know from arrivals, getting onboard, testing and our vaccination policies. These policies will be continually reviewed in line with local government guidelines and were last updated 22 June 2023.

We look forward to welcoming you onboard one of our ships soon, for what is sure to be the warmest welcome at sea. 

Pre Cruise Queries 

Do I need to be fully vaccinated to travel with Ambassador Cruise Line?

We are pleased to advise that Ambassador Cruise Line have now lifted all vaccination and testing requirements, meaning that all guests regardless of vaccination status, are now welcome to sail with us.

Although many of the COVID-19 restrictions have now been lifted, we are very conscious that the virus still affects many people.  We recommend that Guests have two doses of a UK Government approved vaccination however, this is not mandatory for many of our cruises. 

Requirements may differ for our longer duration cruises (such as Ambience’s 2024 Grand Round the Word Cruise and Ambition’s 2024 Highlights of Brazil and West Indies Adventure) but we will communicate this to those booked in due course. 

Does my Travel Insurance Policy have to include Covid cover?

It is a condition of booking that all guests hold fully comprehensive travel insurance that specifically covers cruise holidays, is valid for the entire duration of your chosen itinerary and the relevant countries guests will visit, provides full health coverage for all pre-existing conditions and the costs of medical repatriations, plus specific cover for COVID-19 related issues.  
Guests travel insurance information should be added to their “My Ambassador Sailing Account” either before, or during the online check-in process.

Do I need to take a COVID-19 test before my journey to the ship?

We are pleased to advise guests are not required to take a lateral flow test before travelling with us.  

If however you are feeling unwell within 72 hours of sailing (including a high temperature, a new continuous cough, shortness of breath or a loss or change to taste or smell), out of courtesy for your fellow travellers and our crew onboard, we kindly ask that you take a covid-19 test at home. Any guest who is unwell and tests positive for Covid-19 within 72 hours prior to sailing, will not be able to travel with us. Guests should contact their travel insurance provider for a refund of monies paid, in line with their policy cover.

Do you offer assistance with visa, passport and entry requirements?

Visa, testing and entry requirements can change at any time, and it is your own responsibility to ensure that you check with a professionally qualified source and comply with such requirements.

Around 14 days prior to sailing, you will receive an email confirming specific information relating to your chosen itinerary. This will confirm any important, destination specific requirements, so it is crucial that you have provided us with your email address at time of booking. 

The Travel Visa Company is Ambassador Cruise Line’s preferred visa, testing and entry provider. They can offer help and advice on specific requirements for Ambassador Cruise Line’s cruising itineraries as well as independent travel. For your convenience, The Travel Visa company’s online portal provides detailed visa, testing and entry information for Ambassador’s cruises, as well as online and downloadable applications. 

For more information please visit the Travel Visa Company website, call on 01270 904 907 or email enquiries@thetravelvisacompany.co.uk.

Please note that if you do not possess the correct documentation, you may be denied boarding, without refund of the cruise fare, subject to any fine or other costs incurred by Ambassador Cruise Line.

What documents will I need to bring to the port?

Ambassador is a ticketless cruise line, so we will not issue guests with a physical cruise ticket. Instead, once within 90 days of departure (but no later than 24 hours before sailing), all guests are required to submit their API (Advance Passenger Information) to us via our website, by visiting our My Ambassador Sailing facility or via the Ambassador Cruise Line App.

Once this information has been submitted, you will be able to log in to ‘My Ambassador Sailing’ to check in online and to download your boarding pass and final documentation once online check in opens, 72 hours prior to sailing.

To ensure a stress-free embarkation journey, you will need to bring the following with you. You will be asked to present all of these documents to staff when you arrive:

• A valid 10-year passport. For travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must meet the Schengen area rules. Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be: 1. less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’) 2. valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’).  For travel outside of the EU your passport should be valid for 6 months after the date of your return. Please note that these requirements apply to all cruises, even those only visiting the British Isles. 
  If you or any member of your party is not a British citizen or holds a non-British passport, you must check passport and visa requirements with the Embassy or Consulate of the country(ies) to or through which you are intending to travel. 
• A digital or printed copy of your boarding pass. Online check-in will open 72 hours prior to departure and to ensure a smooth embarkation process at the port, we strongly encourage you to check-in online and download your boarding pass in advance by logging on to My Ambassador Sailing. 
• If you haven’t completed the online check-in process, you will be required to swipe your credit/debit card at embarkation, in order to activate your Onboard Account. For those guests not wishing to pay by credit/debit card, payment can be made in cash, but you must deposit cash at Reception, by midnight on embarkation day. Your onboard account will not be active until you have done so. 
• Your travel insurance documents. Please ensure that it covers you for both cruise travel and COVID-19.

How do I pay my remaining balance?

If you are booked directly with us, the easiest and quickest way to pay your balance, is by visiting My Ambassador Sailing.

If it is your first time logging in to My Ambassador Sailing facility, this short video will help guide you through setting up your account.
 

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Covid Cancellation Policy 

Any guest who is unwell and tests positive for Covid-19 within 72 hours prior to sailing, will not be able to travel with us. Guests should contact their travel insurance provider for a refund of monies paid, in line with their policy cover.

Covid Cancellation Policy (if guests test positive during the sailing)

Guests experiencing symptoms of COVID whilst onboard, are asked to report to our Medical Centres for testing. 

We do our utmost to care for anyone affected by COVID during their cruise and will ask that anyone testing positive, or who has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, isolates themselves in their cabin.  We have a great range of cabin services and will be happy to look after you until you test negative again.

Once Onboard the Ship

Are there any social distancing or face mask measures are in place in public areas?

We remain committed to maintaining good hygiene practices and Guests are requested to keep up all the good hygiene habits we learned over the last few years. 

Mask wearing is not required, but is always welcomed in areas such as our Palladium Theatres. 

Hand sanitising stations are available throughout our ships and we encourage everyone to use them and wash their hands on a regular basis.

We have aimed to make our health and hygiene measures easy to follow and suitable to making sure that you can enjoy your holiday.  We are always monitoring developments with health and hygiene and have robust procedures ready in case we need to respond to particular concerns.

After Your Cruise

Are there any testing or entry requirements for my return to the UK?

We are pleased to advise that currently, there are no requirements to complete any entry documentation or to undertake any COVID-19 testing when returning back in to the UK.