Key Aspects:
- Ambassador Cruise Line reduced its standard spirit measure from 40ml to 25ml.
- The 15-drink daily cap was removed, and double measures are now allowed.
- Passengers complain the smaller pours reduce the value of their drink packages.
Passengers sailing with Ambassador Cruise Line may notice a change at the bar. The cruise line confirmed it has reduced the size of a standard spirit serving on its ships.
The changes apply to the company’s two vessels, Ambience and Ambition, which operate the brand’s “no-fly” itineraries primarily from the United Kingdom.
The update surfaced after passengers discussed the change online, with some saying they expected larger drinks based on information they were shown when they purchased beverage packages.
In response to questions on social media, the cruise line confirmed that the measure for a single spirit has been reduced from 40 milliliters to 25 milliliters, a 37.5% reduction.
“We can confirm that Ambassador has recently implemented revised spirit measures across our no-fly ships. Effective immediately, the standard single spirit measure served on board Ambience and Ambition is 25ml, replacing the previous 40ml serving,” said the cruise line.
Some passengers argued that the smaller drink sizes reduce the value of their drink packages, with one saying, “People are not happy because they paid for what was shown at the time of booking.”
However, Ambassador Cruise Line also revealed that it has removed its 15-beverage cap and is also allowing passengers to request double spirit measures, which had previously been prohibited.
“This [change] has been accompanied by a change in process that sees the 15 drinks per day individual limit on alcohol consumption removed and a new service standard introduced whereby guests can request double spirit measures of 50ml total,” it shared.
Pour sizes apply to all guests ordering spirits, whether individually or as part of a drinks package, which actually means guests most affected by the change are those who do not purchase the cruise line’s drink packages.
Ambassador’s Drinks Packages
Ambassador Cruise Line offers several drink packages that bundle beverages into a daily price, with different tiers depending on whether guests want alcohol, premium drinks, or non-alcoholic options. The packages do not mention any pour sizes.
The Ambassador Experience Package, which covers non-alcoholic beverages, is the lowest-priced option. For voyages lasting between 5 and 29 nights, the package costs £20.95 per person per night if purchased before the cruise, or £22.95 per person per night onboard.
It includes unlimited soft drinks, juices, bottled water, mocktails, and other alcohol-free beverages served throughout the ship.
For guests who want alcoholic drinks, the Ambassador Explorer Package is a standard offering. On most sailings of 5 to 29 nights, it costs £42.95 per person per night when purchased in advance and £47.95 per person per night if purchased onboard.
The Explorer package includes house wines by the glass, draft beers, spirits, cocktails, and the same non-alcoholic drinks included in the Experience package.
The most inclusive option is the Ambassador Expedition Package, which adds premium spirits, higher-tier wines, and cocktails to the selection. For typical sailings of 5 to 29 nights, it costs £49.95 per person per night in advance or £55.95 per person per night onboard.
This package also includes premium teas and specialty coffees, which are not included in the lower-tier packages.
Ambassador also sells Adventurers drinks packages for younger passengers, priced at £14 per night for children ages 3 to 11 and £17 per night for teenagers ages 12 to 17 when purchased in advance.
The onboard price rises to £16 and £19 per night, respectively. These packages cover soft drinks, juices, and other alcohol-free beverages for younger guests.
Passengers must purchase drinks packages for the entire duration of the cruise, and all adults sharing the same cabin typically must buy the same package if one person chooses to add it.
For shorter sailings of 2 to 4 nights, the cruise line charges a per-cruise price rather than a nightly rate, with packages starting around £65 for the non-alcoholic option and reaching £129 for the premium package if purchased before sailing.
