Exploring the hidden gems of France, Spain and Portugal with Ambassador Cruise Line
What a nice surprise to find a walk-in wardrobe in my cabin!
My 13 pairs of shoes and, with an additional supply of 10 hangers, everything else has a place on my Ambassador cruise to France, Spain and Portugal.
After a seamless check-in and very warm welcome at Liverpool Docks, within 15 minutes I'm on Ambition's Deck 10 in a Junior Suite on, with sofa, comfortable bed,, deep balcony, bathroom, tv, fridge, tea/coffee-making facilities, bowl of fruit, (replenished daily) and pre-dinner canapés. My home for 12 nights. What a treat!
Both Ambassador's Ambition and flagship, Ambience, look like proper ships compared with the mighty multi-storey vessels. This is a traditional, affordable, cruising experience in the small ship category. You don't need a map to get around and it's easy to find your cabin! There are 1256 passengers on board Ambition (1257 with guide dog, Poppy). The average age is 60-70 with younger cruisers and many still cruising into their 80s and 90s. We're well looked after by the ever-smiling crew who keep everyone comfortable and happy. I don't know how, but they seem to remember names too!
There's an excellent choice of food in the elegant Holyrood and Buckingham restaurants. I do like to dress for dinner and choose from a menu while chatting to table companions. But those who prefer buffet style dining can opt for the wide variety of dishes on offer in the Borough Market. Afternoon tea with freshly-baked warm scones is available every day here as well. The Chef's Table dining (supplement £89) is a sublime experience. The culinary excellence, visual delight and nine courses of exquisite tastings and wine pairings is exceptional. Saffron speciality restaurant offers the fragrant flavours of Indian cuisine and the semi al fresco Lupino's presents a pleasing mezze of Mediterranean dishes.
No need to be bored onboard with lectures, craft/fitness classes, choir, card room, library, gym, shopping gallery and much more. In the four bars, lounges and pub, entertainment includes cabaret, game shows and karaoke. The Palladium tiered theatre's entertainment showcases such as excerpts from West End shows. I think the cast members who deliver the rousing:'Do You Hear the People Sing' from Les Miserables probably hear the audience singing along as well! The incredible scenes and songs from The Lion King have me on my feet, cheering.
The sunny, warm sea days find me reading, relaxing and people watching. Other cruisers splash about or swim in one of the two pools. The Green Sea Spa provides the ultimate in relaxation therapy. My Wish Pro anti-ageing facial leaves my skin glowing with an attractive dewy finish, but let's face it, there's no turning back the clock.
Our coach ride from Lexioes, Portugal, takes us to Alveiro, where I have more than a dewy finish when the rain starts. But the pastel hues of the stunning Art Nouveau buildings come alive when the sun appears. The area is known as 'Little Venice'. Our traditional Moliceiro, colourful, gondola shaped boat, navigates the city's small canals and bridges while we pass the living scene of diners at red parasol-fronted cafes plus fishermen's cottages, shopping arcades, art centres and museums.
Following our first stop at Belfast, where there's an opportunity to visit the largest Titanic visitor experience, at La Coruna, many passengers visit Galicia's Santiago de Compostela. This is the culmination of the Camino de Compostela pilgrimage route and alleged burial site of apostle St James. The impressive, historic cathedral is the main attraction.
The production of the famous Portuguese pasteis de nata dates back to pre 18th century, when they created by Jeronimos Monastery monks in Santa Maria de Belem, Lisbon. At busy times, queues for the delectable, creamy custard-style pastries form all day outside the Pasteis de Belem Apparently, the six people who know their recipe are sworn to secrecy. Who cares? I'd rather eat them in Lisbon than try to make them at home! Inside the cafe, the crunchy pastries are served crisp and warm with coffee. And it's considered impolite to eat less than two! Oh go on then!
Just 30 minutes from Bilbao is the delightful, small fishing village of Castro Urdiales, which has tuna, sardine and anchovy factories plus two sandy beaches and a Gothic-style castle dating back to the Middle Ages. But next we're in Bilbao itself where the magnificent Guggenheim museum, an outstanding example of 20th century, pioneering architecture, is formed by almost 33,000 gleaming titanic tiles which reflect natural light and make up the iconic facade. Standing behind the museum is Maman, the monumental 'spider' structure, at a height of almost nine metres. 'Puppy' the 43ft living flower-covered Highland Terrier statue guards the museum frontage.
The port of Le Verdon in the Gironde area of south western France is around 100km north of Bordeaux. We take a 50-minute ferry ride to the seaside town of Royan, which has a marina, five beaches and one of the best indoor/outdoor gastronomic markets in France. It's a hot day and quite a walk to the Wednesday Marche Centrale but the aroma from the food stalls keeps us going.
I speak my best French in a cafe and then a shop in Brittany's Concarneau, pleased to be understood. It's an important fishing port which boasts a charming,14th century walled town built on an island in the harbour. Quaint cobbled streets are crammed with small shops and cafes.
Enchanting little Pont Aven is named for its a rippling stream and old stone footbridges, located in the lush Aven estuary. Gaugin's school of painters adored the luminosity and charm of this bijou little town.
Oh, and just to mention, I wore 10 of the 13 pairs of shoes I took on board this wonderful cruise!.
Marion Ainge December 2024
Factfile
Ambassador's Ambition Wonders of Western Europe 12-night cruise departs Liverpool, April 15, 2025. Price from £1,039 pp.
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