{{short description|Cruise ship operated by Ambassador Cruise Line}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox ship | infobox_caption = | display_title = |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = Croisière AMBITION au port à Casablanca.jpg | image_caption = MS ''Ambition'' at Casablanca in 2023 }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = | flag = | name = *1999–2003: ''Mistral'' *2003–2013: ''Grand Mistral'' *2013–2019: ''Costa neoRiviera'' *2019–2022: ''AIDAmira'' *2022–present: ''Ambition'' | owner = | operator = *1999–2003: Festival Cruises *2003–2013: Iberocruceros *2013–2019: Costa Crociere *2019–2022: AIDA Cruises *2022–present: Ambassador Cruise Line | registry = *{{flagicon|France}} Mata Utu *{{flagicon|Marshall Islands}} Majuro *{{flagicon|Italy|civil}} Genoa *{{flagicon|Portugal}} Madeira *{{flagicon|Italy|civil}} Genoa *{{flagicon|Bahamas|civil}} Nassau | route = | ordered = 1996 | builder = *Chantiers de l'Atlantique *Saint-Nazaire, France | original_cost = | yard_number = J31 | way_number = | laid_down = | launched = 2 January 1999 | completed = | christened = 25 June 1999 | acquired = | maiden_voyage = 17 July 1999 | in_service = 1999–present | out_of_service = | identification = *Call sign: C6FL6 *{{IMO Number|9172777}} *{{MMSI|311001141}} | fate = | status = In service | notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = {{sclass|Mistral|cruise ship}} | tonnage = {{GT|48,200}} | displacement = | length = {{convert|216|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|28.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | height = | draught = | draft = | depth = {{cvt|6.8|m|ftin}} | decks = 8 passenger decks | deck_clearance = | ramps = | ice_class = | power = emissions standard IMO Tier III | propulsion = | speed = {{convert|19.5|kn}} | capacity = 1,248 passengers (double occupancy) 1,727 passengers (maximum capacity) | crew = 670 | notes = When docked can plugin to external power and turn-off engines }} }} '''MS ''Ambition''''' is a cruise ship operated by Ambassador Cruise Line. Completed in France as '''''Mistral''''' for Festival Cruises in 1999, she sailed between 2005 and 2019 as '''''Grand Mistral''''' with Ibero Cruises and '''''Costa neoRiviera''''' with Costa Cruises. The ship was in service as '''''AIDAmira''''' with AIDA Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, until her sale in 2022 to Ambassador Cruise Line, who renamed her '''''Ambition''''', commencing sailing in May 2023.
It and its sister ship "Ambience" featured as the location of the third series of the television show "The Cruise: Fun-Loving Brits at Sea" <ref>{{Cite web |title=The Cruise: Fun-Loving Brits at Sea {{!}} Meet the Cast & Episodes {{!}} Ambassador Cruise |url=https://www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/5/thecruise/ |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=www.ambassadorcruiseline.com |language=en}}</ref>
== History == ===''Mistral''=== [[File:Mistral Kiel2003.jpg|thumb|left|''Mistral'' in Kiel Harbour, May 2003]] The ship was originally ordered by Renaissance Cruises in mid 1996, but the order was later withdrawn.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cybercruises.com/mistral.htm|title=Festival Cruises' Mistral|last=Mazorra|first=Arturo Paniagua|date=1999-12-14|website=Tutto Crociere: The Cyberspace Cruise Magazine}}</ref> The yard and bankers together held ownership of the ship through a company called Auxiliaire Maritime.<ref name=":0" /> During construction at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the order was taken over by Festival Cruises, which would receive its first new-build vessel.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.castlesoftheseas.nl/grand-mistral-1.html|title=Grand Mistral|website=Castles of the Seas}}</ref>
Festival Cruises chartered the ship for the first 12 years, with the option to purchase the ship after the first six years.<ref name=":0" /> The ship was floated out on 2 January 1999 from the shipyard and was christened on 25 June 1999 by Claude Deschamps, wife of French football player Didier Deschamps.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Cruise Ships: The World's Most Luxurious Vessels|last=Smith|first=Peter C.|publisher=Pen & Sword Maritime|year=2010|isbn=978-1-84884-218-2|location=Barnsley, England|pages=91}}</ref> ''Mistral'' sailed on her maiden voyage on 17 July 1999, a seven-day cruise from Genoa to the Greek islands.<ref name=":0" /> She was deployed to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean after her inaugural Mediterranean season and later operated primarily from Cuba.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Festival Cruises collapsed in 2004 and most of the company's fleet, including ''Mistral'', was sold off.<ref name=":1" />
===''Grand Mistral''=== [[File:Grand Mistral in Malta Harbor 12 May, 2006 (2) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|''Grand Mistral'' in Malta, 2006|alt=]] ''Mistral'' was initially sold back to Alstom Group, parent of her builders, and chartered to Viajes Iberojet and operated by Ibero Cruises, having been marketed as ''Iberostar Mistral''.<ref name=":1" /> ''Mistral'' was officially sold to Iberojet at an auction and subsequently renamed ''Grand Mistral'', debuting for the cruise line on 30 May 2005.<ref name=":1" />
In 2007, Carnival Corporation & plc formed a joint venture with Orizonia Corporation under the latter's Iberojet Cruceros brand, with Carnival owning 75% and Orizonia owning 25% of the company.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-to-partner-with-Iberojet-Cruceros-in-joint-venture|title=Carnival to partner with Iberojet Cruceros in joint venture|last=Cogswell|first=David|date=2007-02-08|website=Travel Weekly}}</ref> With this, ''Grand Mistral'' would now be owned and operated by the new joint venture company.<ref name=":2" /> thumb|''Grand Mistral'' with new livery, at Tallinn on 22 May 2012 In August 2013, it was announced that ''Grand Mistral'' would be transferred to Costa Cruises in November, and her intended South American itineraries from Santos, Brazil would be cancelled.<ref name=mistral>{{Cite news|url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/iberocruceros-grand-mistral-to-become-costa-neoriviera.html|title=Iberocruceros' Grand Mistral to Become Costa neoRiviera|last=Norton|first=Theresa|work=TravelPulse|date=2013-10-01}}{{Dead link|date=May 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/9804-grand-mistral-south-america-season-cancelled-ship-transferred-to-costa.html|title=Grand Mistral South America Season Cancelled, Ship Transferred to Costa|date=2013-08-29|website=Cruise Industry News}}</ref>
===''Costa neoRiviera''=== [[File:Croisière COSTA NEORIVIERA au port.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|''Costa neoRiviera'' at Casablanca, 2019]] In September 2013, Costa Cruises announced that the transferred ship, which would be renamed ''Costa neoRiviera,'' would take a central role in launching a new sub-product that would focus on smaller ships with longer port calls, more overnights, and new exotic locales among the offered itineraries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/9950-overnights-and-unusual-destinations-mark-new-costa-project.html|title=Overnights and Unusual Destinations Mark New Costa Project|date=28 September 2013|website=Cruise Industry News}}</ref> In October 2013, Costa revealed that she would be based in Dubai, with her debut set for 24 November 2013.<ref name=mistral/> The company reportedly invested €10 million into transforming the ship for integration into its fleet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.portalworldcruises2.com/2013/11/costa-investe-mais-de-10-milhoes-de.html|title=Costa investe mais de 10 milhões de euros na renovação e manutenção de sua frota|last=Capella|first=Daniel|date=9 November 2013}}</ref>
''Costa neoRiviera'' left Costa's fleet in October 2019 after it was announced on 25 May 2018 that the ship would be transferred to sister brand, AIDA Cruises.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/19054-costa-neoriviera-to-become-aidamira-in-2019.html|title=Costa neoRiviera to Become AIDAmira in 2019|date=25 May 2018|website=Cruise Industry News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news-headlines/costa-neoriviera-transferring-become-aidamira|title=Costa neoRiviera is transferring to become AIDAmira|last=Kalosh|first=Anne|date=2018-05-25|website=Seatrade Cruise News}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21622-costa-neoriviera-to-become-aidamira-after-55-million-drydock.html|title=Costa neoRiviera to Become AIDAmira After $55 Million Drydock|last=Mathisen|first=Monty|date=2019-09-25|website=Cruise Industry News}}</ref>
===''AIDAmira''=== [[File:At Playa de Las Teresitas, Tenerife 2021 018 (cropped).jpg|alt=|left|thumb|''AIDAmira'' at Tenerife in 2021]] ''Costa neoRiviera'' entered dry dock at the San Giorgio del Porto shipyard in Genoa on 30 October 2019 for a $55 million transformation to integrate her into the AIDA fleet.<ref name=":4" /> She departed the shipyard on 28 November 2019 and arrived in Palma de Mallorca on 29 November 2019 for her christening.<ref name=":4" /> ''AIDAmira'' was officially christened by Franziska Knuppe on 30 November 2019 in Palma de Mallorca.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/22006-aidamira-christened.html|title=AIDAmira Christened|date=2019-12-01|website=Cruise Industry News}}</ref>
''AIDAmira'' was the fourth ship to be in AIDA's "AIDA Selection" program, along with {{ship||AIDAaura}}, {{ship||AIDAcara}}, and {{ship||AIDAvita}}, utilizing the fleet's smaller ships to perform longer itineraries calling in exotic locales.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/first-aidamira-cruise-canceled-last-minute|title=First AIDAmira cruise canceled last minute|last=Erdmann|first=Frederik|date=2019-12-02|website=Seatrade Cruise News}}</ref> Her inaugural cruise was scheduled to leave on 4 December 2019 to Sète and Barcelona,<ref name=":5" /> but was cancelled at the last minute due to continued renovations requiring her to stay in Palma de Mallorca until 4 December.<ref name=":6" /> The ship left for her maiden season in South Africa, offering 14-day cruises from Cape Town.<ref name=":4" />
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, six passengers were quarantined on ''AIDAmira'', after they had flown on a plane with another guest who had later tested positive for COVID-19.<ref name="aidamira.times" /> Ultimately, more than 1,700 passengers were held, pending their test results, while the ship was docked at Cape Town.<ref name="aidamira.times">{{cite web|title= 1,700 trapped on Cape Town cruise ship in Covid-19 drama|url= https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-03-17-1700-trapped-on-cape-town-cruise-ship-in-covid-19-drama/|website= The Sunday Times|date= 18 March 2020|access-date= 18 March 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200318012422/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-03-17-1700-trapped-on-cape-town-cruise-ship-in-covid-19-drama/|archive-date= 18 March 2020|url-status= live}}</ref> By 19 March, all tests returned negative, and passengers were allowed to disembark.<ref name="aidamira.arabia">{{cite web|url=https://cruisearabiaonline.com/2020/03/19/aidamira-cleared-of-coronavirus-in-cape-town-as-sa-shuts-down-cruise-operations/|title=AIDAmira cleared of Coronavirus in Cape Town as SA shuts down cruise operations|work=Cruise Arabia & Africa|date=19 March 2020|access-date=17 May 2021}}</ref> She was scheduled to return to the Mediterranean from May to September 2020, sailing within the Eastern Mediterranean region from Corfu,<ref name=":5" /> but the pandemic caused AIDA to suspend its operations through the summer.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kalosh|first=Anne|date=27 May 2020|title=May 27 updates: Costa/AIDA delay, Victory won't operate in 2020, new AQSC timeline|work=Seatrade Cruise News|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/may-27-updates-costaaida-delay-victory-wont-operate-2020-new-aqsc-timeline|access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>
After being laid up since 2020, AIDA Cruises sold the ship in January 2022 to Ambassador Cruise Line.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aida.de/aida-cruises/presse/pressearchiv/newsdetails/aida-cruises-baut-selection-programm-aus.24494.html|title=AIDA Cruises baut Selection-Programm aus|date=2022-01-26|access-date=2022-01-26|language=german}}</ref><ref name=CIN05042022>{{cite news |title=Former AIDAmira Arrives in Bar City, Montenegro |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27526-ambassador-cruise-line-launches-deployment-for-2023-2024.html |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=Cruise Industry News |date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406075458/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27149-former-aidamira-arrives-in-bar-city-montenegro.html |archive-date=6 April 2022 |location=New York}}</ref>
===''Ambition''=== thumb|''Ambition'' in drydock in April 2023 Ambassador Cruise Line renamed the ship ''Ambition'' and in April 2022 sent her to Bar, Montenegro to await an extensive refit prior to commencing service in March 2023.<ref name="CIN05042022" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Payne|first1=Holly|title=Ambassador purchases AIDAmira, will enter service next year as Ambition|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/ambassador-purchases-aidamira-will-enter-service-next-year-ambition|access-date=27 January 2022|work=Seatrade Cruise News|date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127205544/https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/ambassador-purchases-aidamira-will-enter-service-next-year-ambition|archive-date=27 January 2022|location=Colchester}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://portalcruceros.cl/ex-aidamira-llega-a-montenegro-a-la-espera-de-remodelacion/|title=Ex AIDAmira llega a Montenegro a la espera de remodelación|date=2022-04-06|accessdate=2022-04-06}}</ref> In September 2022, the ship began a six-month charter to the Scottish Government to provide accommodation on the River Clyde in Glasgow for refugees from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, delaying commencement of her cruise program.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-16 |title=Ambassador Cruise Line Charters Ship to the Scottish Government |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28054-ambassador-cruise-line-charters-ship-to-the-scottish-government.html |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Cruise Industry News |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Boonzaler |first1=Jonathan |title=Ambition will join Tallink-owned cruise ferry in Scotland to house Ukrainian refugees |url=https://www.tradewindsnews.com/cruise-and-ferry/ambassador-lines-up-refugee-role-for-recently-purchased-cruise-ship/2-1-1278223 |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=TradeWinds |date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821171841/https://www.tradewindsnews.com/cruise-and-ferry/ambassador-lines-up-refugee-role-for-recently-purchased-cruise-ship/2-1-1278223 |archive-date=21 August 2022 |location=Oslo}}</ref>
In April 2023, a four-week refit took place at the Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Kreuzfahrtschiff "Ambition" verlässt Bremerhavener Lloyd Werft |url=https://www.nordsee-zeitung.de/Bremerhaven/Kreuzfahrtschiff-Ambition-verlaesst-Bremerhavener-Lloyd-Werft-136417.html |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=NZ-Online |language=de}}</ref> ''Ambition'' was upgraded to comply with the International Maritime Organization's Tier III emission standards, which required a reduction in the ship's production of nitrogen oxide. The dock work at Lloyd Werft also included maintenance work on the propulsion units, rudders and stabilizers, as well as a new coat of paint in the shipping company's colors.<ref name=":3" /> ''Ambition'' left Bremerhaven on 8 May 2023 before travelling to Port of Tyne in Newcastle on 11 May for the naming ceremony.<ref name=":3" /> Former sailing champion and double Olympic Gold medalist Shirley Robertson christened and was named godmother of the ship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shirley Robertson OBE to christen Ambassador Cruise Line's Ambition |url=https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/shirley-robertson-obe-to-christen-ambassador-cruise-lines-ambition-1 |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=CruiseandFerry.net |language=en-GB}}</ref> The first stop on the ship's maiden voyage from Newcastle was at Dundee, Robertson's birthplace.
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category|IMO 9172777}} *[https://www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/our-ships/ambition/ ''Ambition'' at Ambassador Cruise Line] *[https://www.costacruise.com/usa/costa_neoriviera.html Costa neoRomantica - pictures and video of the ship|Costa Cruises]
{{Portal bar|Transport}} {{Mistral class}} {{Ibero Cruises}} {{Costa Cruises}} {{AIDA Ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ambition}} Category:1999 ships Category:Ships of AIDA Cruises Category:Ships of Costa Cruises Category:Cruise ships of Italy Category:Ships built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique