Ambassador Cruise Line and Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC) have announced their merger to form the Ambassador Group. The new entity aims to become a leading European cruise operator, specializing in premium, affordable, no-fly cruises for older travellers. The merger is expected to be completed by the end of January 2025.
The Ambassador Group will operate three ships: Ambassador’s Ambience and Ambiton, along with CFC’s recently refurbished Renaissance. Both cruise lines will continue offering their traditional British and French products to their respective markets.
Leveraging Ambassador’s strong presence in the UK and CFC’s prominence in the French no-fly cruise sector, the group plans to capitalise on the projected 12 per cent annual growth of the European cruise market over the next five years. Their focus will be on expanding into new destinations while offering sustainable and authentic cruise experiences.
Christian Verhounig, CEO of Ambassador Cruise Line, expressed enthusiasm for the merger, stating, “The combination of Ambassador and CFC is a bold step towards our shared vision for the cruise industry. By uniting our strengths, we are creating an organization that delivers exceptional experiences to our guests while upholding sustainable practices. Together, we will lead the way in offering affordable, high-quality, authentic, and environmentally responsible cruises.”
Maëlysse Pierrot-Guibourt, CEO of Compagnie Française de Croisières, added, “This exciting merger underscores our collective confidence in the cruise industry’s bright future and our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences. CFC is a new and growing French brand, and this merger with Ambassador, a successful, ambitious British brand that wants to grow markets and destinations, is extremely positive for both businesses.”
The group plans to upgrade Renaissance with advanced environmental technologies during drydock in January 2025, ensuring IMO Tier III compliance and aligning with the company’s sustainability goals.
Starting in winter 2025-26, the Group will launch a fly-cruise Caribbean program in partnership with Corendon, with homeports in Barbados, Martinique, and Curaçao. This marks the Group’s entry into the fly-cruise market and expands its year-round offerings, targeting guests from the UK, France, and the Netherlands.
Photo of Renaissance on the Thames by Fraser Gray.
