By
Kasturi Datta |
Ambassador Cruise Line is expanding its fleet with the acquisition of Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Sirena. The ship will be the first of four ships to sail under Ambassador Cruises’ new brand, Ambassador Kreuzfahrten in 2028.
The 670-guest ship will continue to operate under Oceania Cruises until spring 2028, after which it will be renamed Ambella to serve the German market with a fully-German speaking guest experience.
The ship will offer adults-only cruises and isexpected to operate two repositioning cruises and 11 destination-focused itineraries between May and September 2028. Bremerhaven and Kiel in Germany will serve as homeports.
“The acquisition of the Oceania Sirena, its future launch as Ambella, and the launch of Ambassador Cruises represent a significant milestone in our journey to establish Ambassador as Europe’s leading cruise provider for affordable quality in the silver-ager segment,” said Christian Verhounig, CEO of Ambassador Cruise Lines. “When we launched Ambassador in 2021, we recognised a clear market gap for an affordable, high-quality cruise experience that is authentic, welcoming, and accessible.
“We set out to combine the traditions of classic cruising with the standards and expectations of today’s guests, and this philosophy remains fundamental to our success. Entering the German market with Ambassador Cruises is the next phase of this growth strategy.”
Ambella will also support the new partnership between Ambassador Cruise Line and the non-profit organisation, Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE), which offers students the opportunity to combine learning with international voyages.
“Without a doubt, Ambassador will be the right partner and Ambella is the right ship to advance the ‘Semester at Sea’ programme in a profound and positive way,” said Scott Marshall, president and CEO of ISE. “Our goals and values align with those of Ambassador. On board Ambella, our ambitions for the programme will be amplified even further.”
The acquisition of Ambella follows Ambassador Cruise Line’s merger with French operator Companie Française de Croisières in January 2025 which saw Renaissance join the Ambassador fleet.