Ambassador Cruise Line has announced news of key hires and promotions as the premium value, no fly cruise line reinforces its Distribution Team to ensure it has the right commercial structure in place to drive day-to-day trading, enhance third party relationships and offer the very best guest service in the industry.

Trade Team

Ryan Readman will be joining Ambassador as Business Development Manager, Trade Sales on Monday 3 April.  Ryan joins the business from The Scenic Group, which includes Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises, where he was Trade Support Executive. With over 12 years’ experience in the travel industry, Ryan studied Tourism Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, and worked in overseas roles at Walt Disney World Resort and Thomas Cook before moving into management at Contiki Holidays, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises.

With responsibility for the North West, Midlands and South West, Ryan will report into Ambassador’s Divisional Sales Managers, Louise Tansey and Karen Cameron.

On his nomination, Ryan says: “I’m very excited to join Ambassador Cruise Line at such a key time in its journey. As we look to showcase our premium-value product to our valued agent and trade partners, I’m looking forward to working alongside the Ambassador team to help promote all the great opportunities available to them.”

Ambassador has also confirmed the promotion of Andrew Santry as Business Development Executive in the Trade Team. Andrew joined Ambassador in September 2022, and will be moving over from his current role as Senior Reservations Specialist in the Contact Centre. He will start his new position on Monday 24 April, also reporting into DSMs Louise and Karen.

Nicola Harper, Head of Distribution, Ambassador Cruise Line, says: “I am delighted to welcome Ryan to Ambassador and confirm Andrew’s well-deserved promotion as we look to further enhance the Trade Team function at Ambassador. Our valued trade partners are key to our success, and we are dedicated to supporting them in the best way we can by supplying them with all the support and tools they need.  The Trade Team is key to this, and the expansion of the team will ensure we are able to engage with our trade partners on another level with more store visits, trainings and ship visits than ever before.”

Contact Centre

As Ambassador looks to continue to provide exceptional levels of service to agents, trade partners and guests, the cruise line has also announced that Katie O’Doherty has been promoted to the role of Reservations Assistant Manager in its Contact Centre. Reporting into Reservations Manager, Sarah Partridge, Katie will start in her new position on Tuesday 11 April, with responsibility for overseeing the team’s performance and sales to ensure the department continues to serve the business in the most effective and productive way possible.  With more than 10 years’ experience in guest services and operations, Katie has been with Ambassador since the cruise line first launched.

Katie will be joined by two new Reservations Specialists set to join the Contact Centre team. Michelle Shields, who has over 20 years’ experience in the travel industry working for Thomas Cook and, more recently Spear Travel, will join the business on Wednesday 19 April. Rebecca Dedman will come onboard on Monday 24 April, having sought-out a career change and a new challenge with Ambassador. Both will also report directly into Sarah Partridge.

Continues Nicola Harper: “We understand that agents, trade partners and direct guests need quick and efficient service when calling our Contact Centre, and these new appointments will ensure that our industry-leading, short-wait times are maintained as the Ambassador brand continues to go from strength to strength.”