Ambassador Cruise Line has acquired an older ship, Oceania Sirena, from Oceania Cruises as part of its expansion plans into the German market. The ship is set to be renamed Ambella and will operate under a new, German-focused brand called Ambassador Kreuzfahrten.
The 670-guest vessel will remain with Oceania Cruises until spring 2028 under a leaseback agreement before joining Ambassador in summer 2028. Ambella will be adult-only and fully German-language, homeporting in Bremerhaven and Kiel.
The ship is expected to offer two repositioning cruises and 11 destination-focused itineraries between May and September 2028, covering northern Europe, the Baltics, and some southern European destinations. Additionally, Ambella will host Semester at Sea programmes for about eight months annually, starting from September 2028 through April 2029, as part of a new 10-year partnership with the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE).
Christian Verhounig, chief executive of Ambassador Cruise Line, stated that the acquisition and launch of Ambassador Kreuzfahrten mark a significant step in establishing Ambassador as a leading European cruise operator for the "silver market." He noted that Germany is Europe's largest cruise market and presents an opportunity to offer German guests a distinctive, smaller ship experience.