I Didn’t Think This Cruise Line Would Last 5 Minutes!

We sailed on Renaissance, the newest cruise ship in the Ambassador Cruise Line fleet — and honestly, this was one of the most fascinating, confusing, and surprisingly enjoyable cruises we’ve done this year. Renaissance is a cruise ship with three very distinct identities — British, French, and something in between, and somehow they all seem to be competing for dominance. If you’re a regular viewer, you’ll know our relationship with Ambassador Cruise Line hasn’t always been smooth cruising. When the company first launched in 2022 with Ambience, we were openly critical — the ship wasn’t ready, the early reviews were rough, and the brand felt like it was still trying to find its sea legs. We even said publicly that we weren’t sure they’d last. Fast-forward to now, and we couldn’t be happier to admit we were wrong. In this episode of Sail Away: On Watch, Dan sits down to unpack our full experience onboard Renaissance — what works, what doesn’t, and what Ambassador needs to fix fast. From French bathrobes and Holland America artwork to three different brand logos dotted around the ship, Renaissance is a design puzzle that keeps you guessing. But beneath the identity crisis, there’s a genuinely charming cruise ship with huge potential, and a cruise line that deserves real credit for how far it’s come since its rocky beginnings. Subscribe to Sail Away Magazine for just £4.95 every two months: https://sailawaymagazine.com/cruise-magazine/ YouTube: @sailawaymag Instagram: @sailawaymag Facebook: @sailawaymagazine TikTok: @sailawaymag Twitter: @sailawaymag Website: https://sailawaymagazine.com/ Contact us: info@sailawaymagazine.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ✔✔ You Can Check Out Our Other Videos Here : 👀 SS Rotterdam: The Ship That Refused To Fade | Full Documentary [2025] Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tE96kWOHjU&t=1055s 👀 Simon Calder on P&O’s EMBARRASSING Last-Minute Cruise Cancellation Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgNfJlyzimI&t=1592s 👀 Are Older Cruisers Being Discriminated Against By Cruise Lines? Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QmZfsmVTys&t=112s 👀 Is Cruising REALLY That Good Anymore? Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt5XPd14tKc&t=66s 👀 American Tipping Culture is OUT OF CONTROL! Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyuXdIVJWZg 👀 Travel Blog Jamie: YouTube Scandals & Pet Peeves with Cruising Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXnryZEMNa4&t=1390s 👀 What's a SWINGERS CRUISE Really Like? Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzqUkD0bl3E&t=166s 👀 JANE BOULTON Spills Airline SECRETS You Never Saw on TV! Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6swIFbEEOuk&t=7s 👀 Virgin Voyages: Sex, Parties, and X-Rated Cruising! Link: https://youtu.be/eYQopfu_0tg?si=kkLmckV0ez-QVJlR 👀 Cruise Ship Officer Reveals What It's REALLY Like Working at Sea Link: https://youtu.be/bXbDyHy-KL8?si=LQm4PjCY0CtlncbM 👀 P&O Cruises vs. Maleth Aero: Who Owes Passengers £500K? Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cWi8fp1Tqc&t=266s