Hidden Gems of The Netherlands, Belgium, and the British Isles

9 nights from £950pp departing Sunday 27th Apr 2025

Explore the historic charm of Belfast and the picturesque allure of Honfleur. Carry on to the bustling ports of Zeebrugge, Belgium and Ijmuiden in The Netherlands, for optional tours to Bruges and Amsterdam. Conclude your journey in the serene St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, where pristine landscapes meet maritime history. Whether you're a history buff, an art enthusiast, or simply seeking moments of tranquillity, this voyage offers something for everyone.

CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Belfast... pan style="color:#6B207D">
Belfast, Northern Ireland's capital, reveals a vibrant cityscape interwoven with history. From the old docklands of the Titanic Quarter to dynamic neighborhoods filled with mural art, Belfast offers endless opportunities to explore.

Honfleur
Nestled on France's Normandy coast, Honfleur mesmerises with its historic harbour and artistic ambiance. Travel back in time as you explore cobbled streets and art galleries showcasing works by renowned painters like Eugene Boudin.

Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge, nestled along Belgium's coast, offers maritime history and serene beauty. Explore the historic port, visit the Maritime Museum, and savour Belgian cuisine at seaside cafes. With picturesque views of the North Sea, it's a charming retreat for those seeking a refreshing coastal experience.

Ijmuiden
Ijmuiden, on the Dutch coast, showcases the comings and goings of a bustling harbour. Explore historic landmarks like the North Sea Canal, visit Felison Cruise Terminal, and experience the unique atmosphere of this Dutch city along the North Sea.

Itinerary

Map

					Arrive	Depart
	27th27	AprApr	202525	Liverpool, England, embark on the Ambition		17:00
From world-class attractions and sports to legendary music, Liverpool offers old-world charm with modern sophistication, underpinned by a rich cultural history.
	28th28	AprApr	202525	Belfast, Northern Ireland	08:00	17:00
Before English and Scottish settlers arrived in the 1600s, Belfast was a tiny village called Béal Feirste ("sandbank ford") belonging to Ulster's ancient O'Neill clan. With the advent of the Plantation period (when settlers arrived in the 1600s), Sir Arthur Chichester, from Devon in southwestern England, received the city from the English Crown, and his son was made Earl of Donegall. Huguenots fleeing persecution from France settled near here, bringing their valuable linen-work skills. In the 18th century, Belfast underwent a phenomenal expansion—its population doubled every 10 years, despite an ever-present sectarian divide. Although the Anglican gentry despised the Presbyterian artisans—who, in turn, distrusted the native Catholics—Belfast's growth continued at a dizzying speed. The city was a great Victorian success story, an industrial boomtown whose prosperity was built on trade, especially linen and shipbuilding. Famously (or infamously), the Titanic was built here, giving Belfast, for a time, the nickname "Titanic Town." Having laid the foundation stone of the city's university in 1845, Queen Victoria returned to Belfast in 1849 (she is recalled in the names of buildings, streets, bars, monuments, and other places around the city), and in the same year, the university opened under the name Queen's College. Nearly 40 years later, in 1888, Victoria granted Belfast its city charter. Today its population is nearly 300,000, tourist numbers have increased, and this dramatically transformed city is enjoying an unparalleled renaissance.This is all a welcome change from the period when news about Belfast meant reports about "the Troubles." Since the 1994 ceasefire, Northern Ireland's capital city has benefited from major hotel investment, gentrified quaysides (or strands), a sophisticated new performing arts center, and major initiatives to boost tourism. Although the 1996 bombing of offices at Canary Wharf in London disrupted the 1994 peace agreement, the ceasefire was officially reestablished on July 20, 1997, and this embattled city began its quest for a newfound identity.Since 2008, the city has restored all its major public buildings such as museums, churches, theaters, City Hall, Ulster Hall—and even the glorious Crown Bar—spending millions of pounds on its built heritage. A gaol that at the height of the Troubles held some of the most notorious murderers involved in paramilitary violence is now a major visitor attraction.Belfast's city center is made up of three roughly contiguous areas that are easy to navigate on foot. From the south end to the north, it's about an hour's leisurely walk.
	29th29	AprApr	202525	At Sea
	30th30	AprApr	202525	Honfleur, France	06:00	16:00
Honfleur, the most picturesque of the Côte Fleurie's seaside towns, is a time-burnished place with a surplus of half-timber houses and cobbled streets that are lined with a stunning selection of stylish boutiques. Much of its Renaissance architecture remains intact—especially around the 17th-century Vieux Bassin harbor, where the water is fronted on one side by two-story stone houses with low, sloping roofs and on the other by tall slate-topped houses with wooden facades. Maritime expeditions (including some of the first voyages to Canada) departed from here; later, Impressionists were inspired to capture it on canvas. But the town as a whole has become increasingly crowded since the Pont de Normandie opened in 1995. Providing a direct link with Upper Normandy, the world's sixth-largest cable-stayed bridge is supported by two concrete pylons taller than the Eiffel Tower and designed to resist winds of 257 kph (160 mph).
	1st01	MayMay	202525	Zeebrugge, Belgium	09:30	19:00
In 1895 work began to construct a new seaport and harbour next to the tiny village of Zeebrugge, situated on the North Sea coast. Today the fast-expanding port of Zeebrugge is one of the busiest in Europe and its marina is Belgium’s most important fishing port. Many attempts were made to destroy this important port during both World Wars. Zeebrugge is ideally located for discovering the historic city of Bruges, and delightful seaside resorts with long sandy beaches can be visited by using the trams that run the whole length of the Belgian coast. Please note that no food may be taken ashore in Belgium. We shall not be offering shuttle buses to Bruges, but you may visit the city on an optional excursion: those visiting Bruges should note that there may be quite a long walk from the coach to the town centre.
	2nd02	MayMay	202525	IJmuiden, Netherlands	08:00	19:00
North Holland’s ‘Gate to the North Sea’, IJmuiden has four harbours: the Vissershaven, Haringhaven, IJmondhaven and the Seaport Marina - the latter used by pleasure craft. It is the largest Dutch fishing port, but is a relatively young town: it grew up in the 1870s when the North Sea Canal was opened. During World War II, the German Navy demolished much of the town and built huge fortified concrete bunkers for their torpedo boats and submarines. After 1945, the town was rebuilt by the architect Willem Marinus Dudok. He designed IJmuiden’s most impressive building, the Stadhuis van Velsen, which houses local government offices. For cruise passengers IJmuiden is the gateway to Amsterdam, the Dutch capital and one of Europe’s truly great cities, where elegant canals are lined by old brick gabled houses, and superb art galleries and museums are home to some of the world’s best-known paintings. Please note that complimentary shuttle buses operate from the port to the centre of IJmuiden, not to Amsterdam.
	3rd03	MayMay	202525	At Sea
	4th04	MayMay	202525	Saint Mary's, Isles of Scilly, England	08:00	18:00
St Mary’s is the Isle of Scilly’s largest island with a population of 1800 residents and an area of 6.58 square Kilometres; this is the gateway to the rest of the magnificent islands. Hugh town -a beautiful Old town with its own beach, nature reserve and church is the main attractions of St Mary’s, with tiny streets brimming with shops to pick up the perfect souvenir. St Mary’s is a hidden gem, with long stretches of white sandy beaches and a breath-taking untouched landscape. The coastline holds many archaeological sites along with miles of splendid walks along the coastal and country paths.
	5th05	MayMay	202525	At Sea
	6th06	MayMay	202525	Liverpool, England, disembark the Ambition	08:00
From world-class attractions and sports to legendary music, Liverpool offers old-world charm with modern sophistication, underpinned by a rich cultural history.

Ambition

Launch Year

1999

Refit Year

2023

Tonnage

48,123

Capacity

1,200

Cabins

713

Accessible

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

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Holiday Summary

	9 nights aboard the Ambition
	Port Taxes and Fees
	ABTA and ATOL Protection*

Interior staterooms from		£950pp
INS07AFT	Inside Cabin (Aft - Deck 7)
INS08AFT	Inside Cabin (Aft - Deck 8)	£950pp
INS08FWD	Inside Cabin (Forward - Deck 8)	£950pp
INS08MID	Inside Cabin (Midship - Deck 8)	£978pp
INS09AFT	Inside Cabin (Aft - Deck 9)	£1,007pp
INS09FWD	Inside Cabin (Forward - Deck 9)	£1,007pp
INS09MID	Inside Cabin (Midship - Deck 9)	£1,122pp
INS10AFT	Inside Cabin (Aft - Deck 10)	£1,151pp

Oceanview staterooms from		£1,175pp
OUT07AFT	Ocean View Cabin (Aft - Deck 7)	£1,175pp
OUT07MIDO	Ocean View Cabin - Obstructed View (Midship - Deck 7)	£1,410pp
OUT08AFT	Ocean View Cabin (Aft - Deck 8)	£1,567pp
OUT08FWD	Ocean View Cabin (Forward - Deck 8)	£1,410pp
OUT08MID	Ocean View Cabin (Midship - Deck 8)	£1,489pp
OUT09AFT	Ocean View Cabin (Aft - Deck 9)	£1,646pp
OUT09FWD	Ocean View Cabin (Forward - Deck 9)	£1,567pp
OUT09MID	Ocean View Cabin (Midship - Deck 9)	£1,646pp
OUT10AFT	Ocean View Cabin (Aft - Deck 10)	£1,567pp

Balcony staterooms from		£2,148pp
BAL09AFT	Balcony Cabin (Aft - Deck 9)	£2,148pp
BAL10AFT	Balcony Cabin (Aft - Deck 10)	£2,148pp

Suite staterooms from		£2,287pp
SUI10FWD	Suite (Forward - Deck 10)	£2,287pp
SUI10MID	Suite (Midship - Deck 10)	£2,628pp
DLX07AFT	Deluxe Suite (Aft - Deck 7)	£3,175pp
DLX08AFT	Deluxe Suite (Aft - Deck 8)	£3,255pp
SUI12AFT	Suite (Aft - Deck 12)	£2,798pp
PRM07AFT	Premium Suite (Aft - Deck 7)	£2,855pp
PRM08AFT	Premium Suite (Aft - Deck 8)	£3,055pp
PRM09AFT	Premium Suite (Aft - Deck 9)	£3,255pp
PRM10AFT	Premium Suite (Aft - Deck 10)	£3,135pp
PRM12AFT	Premium Suite (Aft - Deck 12)	£3,135pp