If you hate flying or are tired of waiting in line at international airports, boarding a boat at Tilbury Dock on the River Thames in Essex, England is simple and hassle-free.
The tidal conditions of the Thames Estuary allow ocean liners such as Ambition to anchor near London, with easy access to the M25 motorway and less than a mile from Tilbury Town Train Station. (Ambassador Cruises also has seven other regional ports in the UK.)
My mom and I stayed in one of Ambition’s 680 cozy cabins (125 of which had balconies) and we quickly settled in and unpacked next to the boarding ramp. We sailed to Hamburg and Antwerp to visit the Christmas markets, a five-night cruise with two days at sea to familiarize ourselves with all the optional organized activities listed in the daily bulletin.
Ambition cabin on board ©BWatts
First, of course, there was a guest safety drill – gathering at the various lifeboat stations – followed by a tour of the ship, checking all the facilities and finding the nearest lift. It was great to meet the cruise crew, who were almost all multinational. We learned that Captain Ambition Oleksi led us across the North Sea smoothly. from Ukraine, while Green Sea Spa manager Sergei is from Serbia.
Grand Sparkle Ambassador Cruises
Christmas decorations on the boat © BWatts
After booking an excursion to Ghent and a spa treatment, it was time to relax. A Nice & Easy Trivia quiz lured us out of the cottage and after changing our clothes, we were ready to head to the bar for some live music before dinner.
As we chatted with other passengers in the cozy Clifton Lounge, it quickly became our favorite “local bar.” We had opted for the all-inclusive drinks package, so we had an Ambassador cocktail or two. The cocktail was purple in color to match the Ambassador brand color, and was a mix of vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, lime juice, and lavender syrup, and it tasted really good.
The evening performance at the Palladium Theatre is a must-see. As the first night performance, Nashville Nights It did not disappoint. The performers on the cruise were a professional and skilled bunch who put on a great show. We early risers enjoyed the show at 8:30pm, but you don’t have to rush. There was a second show at 10:15pm.
The restaurants at Buckingham Palace and Holyrood Palace offer waiter service, but if you prefer to relax you can also head to the Borough Market buffet restaurant. The Captain’s Reception and Dinner is a night to dress up to impress. It is an event of glitz and glamour.
Spicy Burger
Arriving in Hamburg, we found the city covered in snow and looking very festive. Our guide, Frank, who was a lively and well-informed storyteller, explained that during World War II, Half of the city was flattened by Allied bombing. King Charles visited the city And laid wreaths at the demolished St. Nicholas Church to symbolize reconciliation.
Hamburg landscape © BWatts
The Beatles arrived in 1960, and the historic rope-making district along the Reeperbahn – A street along the Elbe River – It has become a seedy red-light district filled with cheap bars and strip clubs. The area remains a hub of entertainment, with new theatres, restaurants and art galleries. The Beatles’ good times here are commemorated by life-size cutouts at Beatles Square.
Hamburg mulled wine ©BWatts
Hamburg’s largest Christmas market is located on Rathausplatz, next to the historic town hall with its distinctive green copper roof. Stalls sell glass ornaments, local crafts, leather goods, jewellery and a wide range of cakes and sweets. We sipped mulled wine from small ceramic mugs that were included in the price and which we kept as a nice souvenir.
A cheerful “Dankeschön” (thank you) is always welcome, and it’s good luck to say “Prost!” before a drink with your companions.
Nearby St Petri church has more than 200 illuminated fir trees decorating the grounds. Here you can buy handmade toys and try some hearty currywurst: deep-fried sausages cut into small pieces and served with curry ketchup. “There’s also Santa Pauli, which is open only to adults,” Franck tells us. “This is Hamburg’s ‘hottest’ Christmas market.” So if you want to buy some truly hot gifts, you know where to go.
Antwerp and Ghent
The Belgian port city of Antwerp dates back to the Middle Ages and features Flemish Renaissance architecture and a one-square-mile diamond district. The Grand Markt is considered one of the most beautiful town squares in Europe, but Ghent, the historic capital of Flanders, is even more beautiful and is just an hour away.
Ghent Pier © BWatts
Ghent sits on a network of waterways, with its centre being the confluence of two rivers. It’s a great place for a stroll, as traffic is diverted via tunnels rather than road bridges over the canals. During our scenic boat tour we were told that 300 bicycles are pulled out of the water each year during dredging, but this is only a fraction of the estimated 15,000 bicycles in Amsterdam.
The wooden Christmas market stalls stretch all the way to the end of the Korenmarkt, where there is a seasonal Ferris wheel and ice rink. Belgium is considered the “Chocolate Capital of the World” and cocoa was introduced 17th century. Today, a manufacturer of premium chocolate Made with sustainable cocoa and 100% pure cocoa butter. Specialty chocolates include dark chocolate filled with pistachio-flavored almonds and milk chocolate filled with soft pralines.
Belgium is also known for its craft beer, which has been perfected by monks in monasteries for centuries. Five Belgian Trappist beer producers continue to produce handcrafted beers, which are experiencing a resurgence.
We drove past the imposing Earls Castle, a medieval fortification complete with moat, gatehouse and ramparts. This spooky building houses a unique set of dungeon torture instruments, now stored in a former food storeroom. Items include thumbscrews, barbed iron collars and branding irons. It’s a fascinating display, but not as tempting as sitting in the sun with a Chimay Gold Trappist beer with a hint of coriander.
No doubt the students who stormed and occupied the castle in 1949 over a new tax on beer would have agreed.
How many
flight Ambassador Cruises’ 2024 non-flight cruises depart from London Tilbury, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol and Falmouth. Enjoy a festive break on Ambience’s Germany and Holland Festival sailing from London Tilbury on 8 December 2024, from just £512 per person.
