Ambassador Cruise Line and Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC) have signed an agreement that will see the two companies merge to become the Ambassador Group, specialising in premium, affordable, no-fly European cruises for older travelers.

The merger is expected to be completed by the end of January 2025, but the two distinct cruise brands, Ambassador and CFC, will continue to operate as distinct entities serving the British and French markets respectively.

The Ambassador Group will operate three ships: Ambassador’s Ambience and Ambition and CFC’s recently refurbished Renaissance. 

In a release, Ambassador Group said it will leverage Ambassador’s UK presence and CFC’s strong presence in the French no-fly cruise sector to capitalise on the projected 12 percent annual growth of the European cruise market over the next five years. 

The focus will be expanding into new destinations while offering sustainable and authentic cruise experiences.

“The combination of Ambassador and CFC is a bold step towards our shared vision for the cruise industry,” said Christian Verhounig, CEO of Ambassador Cruise Line. “By uniting our strengths, we are creating an organisation 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,” Verhounig added.

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.

“This exciting merger underscores our collective confidence in the cruise industry’s bright future and our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences,” said Maëlysse Pierrot-Guibourt, CEO of Compagnie Française de Croisières. “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, maximising synergies to create a formidable force in the cruise industry.”

“CFC, with its highly impressive levels of guest satisfaction and repeat business, offers authentic and unique premium French cruise experiences which will not only be retained but further enriched,” Pierrot-Guibourt added.

Although specialising in no-fly cruises, for the 2025/26 winter cruise season, the group will launch a fly-cruise Caribbean programme 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.

Ambassador Group will be majority-owned by Njord Partners, with Cheyne Capital holding a minority stake.