Key Aspects:
- Ambassador Cruise Line is holding Ambition in port at Stavanger overnight due to rough weather.
- The planned visit to Kristiansand, Norway on Thursday, September 4 will not be possible.
- This is the second port change for the ship’s current 11-night Norway sailing.
It can be disappointing when a cruise ship can’t make its planned itinerary due to rough weather, but safety is always a cruise line’s top priority. It doesn’t matter how big or small either the cruise line or the individual ship may be, safety comes first.
This is the case with Ambassador Cruise Line’s ship Ambition. The cruise line only has three ships and Ambition is the smallest of the fleet at just 48,123 gross tons with a guest capacity of 1,727 when fully booked.
Nevertheless, the cruise line has kept a close eye on developing weather for Ambition‘s current itinerary. The 11-night “Summertime Fjords” voyage departed Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
While the ship has enjoyed various Norwegian port visits already, the next-to-last destination, Kristiansand, will not be possible.
“As a result of the forecasted weather, we have taken the decision for Ambition to cancel the scheduled call to Kristiansand tomorrow, Thursday 4th September as these weather conditions exceed our safety parameters,” the cruise line explained.
The decision comes after consulting not only weather forecasts, but also port authorities in Kristiansand. Localized swells from 13-20 feet are expected on Thursday, along with wind gusts that could reach as high as 60 miles per hour.
Worth Reading: Cruise Line Alerts Passengers Over Safety Concerns at Mediterranean Port
These conditions make it impossible for the cruise ship to dock, as the motion from swells would disrupt the gangway and make it unsafe for use.
“Ambition will now remain in Stavanger overnight to allow us to avoid the worst of the weather, and the revised departure time is now scheduled for 06:00 tomorrow [Thursday] morning,” the cruise line notified guests on Wednesday.
“We do apologise for any inconvenience this may cause however the safety and comfort our guests and crew are always our top priority and we thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”
The ship’s planned visit to Oslo, Norway is not impacted. Ambition will visit the Norwegian capital city from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, September 5. A day at sea will follow on Saturday, and the ship will return to Newcastle Upon Tyne on Sunday, September 7 for debarkation.
While guests are understandably disappointed in the port cancellation, the general consensus is that safety should always be most important.
Missing Kristiansand comes after the ship already missed the stop in Geiranger, Norway that had been planned for Saturday, August 30.
That port cancellation was due to a minor operational issue. Instead, the ship was able to visit Andalsnes, another fjord port in western Norway, giving guests an alternative as opposed to another day at sea.
Poor Weather Is More Than Hurricanes
From June through November, most cruisers focus their attention on the Caribbean for hurricane-related port changes and itinerary adjustments.
Read Also: Cruising During Hurricane Season – What You Must Know!
While these are certainly frequent when a storm forms, rough weather in northern Europe can extend from Iceland to the UK to Scandinavia.
This can encompass dozens of cruise ports, all of which might be impacted by swells, strong winds, and other poor conditions that make docking unsafe.
In fact, Ambition has had significant weather-related changes at different times of the year. In November 2024, the ship also missed Kristiansand due to foul weather in the North Sea.
Later that same month, Storm Bert was so severe that the ship had to remain docked at her then homeport, Port of Tilbury, for an entire cruise. Guests were onboard and enjoyed the ship’s amenities, but it was not possible to set sail at all.
