Accommodations
Accommodation aboard Renaissance is designed to be comfortable, well organised and easy to settle into. Across the ship, cabins offer a traditional cruise layout with everything you need for a relaxed stay at sea, including dedicated service and a good range of handy in-room features.
All cabin categories come with a set of standard amenities, including two lower beds that convert into a double, an en-suite bathroom (with a shower over the bath in most cabins), and twice-daily cabin service to keep everything fresh and comfortable throughout your cruise. Guests will also find useful extras such as a flat-screen TV with a navigational information channel, a direct-dial telephone, an individual safe, and individually controlled air conditioning so you can keep the cabin at your preferred temperature. A hairdryer is provided, alongside 110/220V electrical outlets, and pool towels are included free of charge, so there’s no need to pack your own. If you fancy refreshments in your cabin, a mini bar is available (at an additional cost), and a cabin service menu is offered from 10 am to midnight for those moments when you’d rather dine in private (also at an additional cost).
The Inside Cabins are a great choice for guests who like to maximise value and plan to spend most of their time exploring the ship or heading ashore. They offer the same comfortable sleeping setup and cabin facilities as other categories, and they’re also the only cabins onboard to feature walk-in showers.
The Ocean View Cabins provide an added sense of space and brightness, thanks to a window or porthole that lets natural light into the cabin and offers a glimpse of the sea. They’re a popular option for guests who prefer a room that feels a little more open during the day, while still keeping things simple and comfortable.
For a cabin that offers a little bit of outdoor space without committing to a full balcony, the Promenade Terrace Cabins are a good option. These cabins open onto the promenade deck area, giving guests easy access to fresh air and a more open feel — ideal if you enjoy stepping outside regularly to watch the world go by.
The Balcony Cabins are perfect for guests who like to make the most of sea days or quieter mornings, offering a private outdoor space to enjoy a coffee, take in the views, or simply relax with a book in the fresh air. They combine comfort with that extra feeling of freedom that comes from having your own balcony space.
At the top end of the accommodation offering, Suites provide the most space and added comfort aboard Renaissance. They’re a great choice for guests who enjoy having more room to relax, spread out and make the cabin feel like a proper home base during the cruise - particularly on longer itineraries.
Activities
Renaissance offers a relaxed mix of onboard activities. Many of the ship’s activity spaces are centred around the mid-ship decks, making it easy to dip in and out throughout the day.
On Deck 7, the Galerie Photos (Photo Gallery) is where guests can view professional photographs taken during the voyage, whether that’s a formal portrait, a special occasion onboard or snapshots captured throughout the cruise. It’s a lovely place to pop into as the days go by, and many guests enjoy choosing a keepsake to take home at the end of their sailing.
Also on Deck 7, the Salle Claude Monet (Claude Monet Conference Room) hosts a range of talks, presentations and organised sessions. Depending on the itinerary, this might include destination-focused briefings, guest speakers or other onboard events designed to bring a little extra depth to the cruise experience.
For guests who enjoy traditional cruise pastimes, the Salle de Jeux Paul Cézanne (Paul Cézanne Card Room) on Deck 7 offers a comfortable space for cards and tabletop games. It’s ideal for a quieter afternoon, especially if you prefer a calm setting away from the busier lounges and pool areas, and it’s a great place to enjoy a bit of friendly competition with fellow guests.
Shopping is also a popular activity onboard, and Renaissance makes it easy to browse at your leisure in Les Boutiques (Shopping Galleria) across Decks 7 and 8. This is where you’ll find a selection of onboard retail spaces, offering everything from cruise essentials and gifts to fragrances, accessories and duty-free treats, making it perfect for picking up a holiday souvenir or a little something for yourself.
Entertainment
Evenings aboard Renaissance are designed to feel relaxed and enjoyable, with entertainment that suits a classic cruise atmosphere.
The ship’s main performance venue is the Théâtre Renaissance, spanning Decks 7 and 8. This is where guests can look forward to a programme of evening entertainment ranging from stage shows and live performances to guest speakers and special presentations. With a comfortable theatre layout and a traditional cruise-style setting, it’s a great place to spend an evening and enjoy the ship’s headline events.
For a different pace, L’Odyssee (The Odyssey) on Deck 7 offers a more informal entertainment space, ideal for guests who enjoy a sociable evening without the formality of a theatre seat. Whether it’s live music, themed events or a lively atmosphere to enjoy after dinner, this venue adds variety to the onboard entertainment line-up and gives guests another place to spend their evenings.
Food & Drink
Dining aboard Renaissance is great. The main complimentary option is the Grand Restaurant Vatel, set across Decks 7 and 8, where you can enjoy unhurried, waiter-served meals in a more traditional setting. For something more informal, Belle Vue Up on Deck 11 is the easygoing buffet venue - ideal for grazing at your own pace, whether that’s breakfast before a port day or a lighter dinner after an excursion. And when you want something quick and satisfying between sea-day activities, you can pop to Le Lido Grill on Deck 10 for laid-back bites close to the pool.
If you fancy turning dinner into an occasion, Renaissance has several speciality restaurants that add a little extra sparkle to your evenings. You’ll find a cluster of tempting choices around Deck 8, including Terre & Mer, Lotus, Maison Renaissance, La Traboule, La Perle, La Reserve and the intimate La Table du Chef - perfect for those nights when you’re in the mood to dress up, linger over courses, and make the most of being at sea. For something with bolder, warmer flavours, Kreole on Deck 11 offers a vibrant change of pace, bringing a Caribbean-inspired feel to dinner.
When it comes to cocktails, nightcaps and everything in between, Renaissance is nicely set up for a “one more drink?” kind of evening. Start with a glass of something special at Le Décanteur on Deck 7, a dedicated wine bar that’s made for pre-dinner plans and leisurely sips. Up on Deck 8, the ship’s social heart really comes to life: Bar Océan sits in the atrium area and is a natural meeting point for a drink with a bit of atmosphere, while Bar Le Rendez-Vous has more of a lively, sociable feel—great for settling in before the night’s entertainment. If you prefer your evenings with a soundtrack, Le Fou Chantant Piano Bar on Deck 8 brings that classic cruise charm, and Les Explorateurs doubles as a café-style spot by day and a relaxed place to unwind later on.
Up on the open decks, the mood shifts to pure holiday mode: the Outdoor Bar and Bar Le Grand Large (the Pool Bar) on Deck 10 keep things refreshingly simple for sunny afternoons, with Bar Le Lido on Deck 11 close by when you’re drifting between the pool and the buffet. And for a proper end-of-evening moment, head up to Le Panoramique on Deck 12, where the views do most of the talking as the ship sails on into the night.
Relaxation & Fitness
If your idea of the perfect sea day starts with a dip and ends with a snooze in the sunshine, Renaissance makes it wonderfully easy. The ship’s outdoor spaces centre around Le Grand Large on Deck 10, an open-air pool area made for slow mornings, sun-lounger afternoons and a cooling swim when the heat builds, with Piscine Le Lido nearby on the same deck if you fancy a change of scene (or simply a quieter corner). Renaissance also has both indoor and outdoor pools to play with, which is handy when the weather can’t quite make up its mind. When you’re ready to properly switch off, head up to Deck 11 for the Green Sea Spa: a calm, grown-up retreat with treatment rooms and a curated menu of feel-good options, from massages and facials to salon services. The spa area also includes heat-based facilities such as a sauna and steam room, ideal for post-excursion unwinding, plus a thermal suite (Suite Thermale) for a little extra relaxation.
For guests who like to keep up with their fitness routines, Renaissance offers a range of ways to stay active without it feeling like hard work. The fitness centre, active studio and gym on Deck 11 are on hand for anything from a light stretch to a more energising workout, and it’s a great spot to set yourself up for the day before heading ashore. Up on Deck 12, you’ll find Marcheurs, the ship’s walkers’ track - perfect for a few laps with fresh sea air and horizon views - alongside the Terrain de Sport sports court for a casual game and a bit of friendly competition at sea.
Renaissance Destinations
Renaissance is all about winter sun, with Ambassador Cruise Line focusing the ship’s itineraries exclusively on the Caribbean. Most sailings are designed as easy fly-cruises for British guests, typically starting with direct flights to Barbados before you step onboard in Bridgetown and begin island-hopping around the region.
Across the season, you can look forward to a mix of classic favourites and lesser-visited gems—think the lush peaks and laid-back charm of St Lucia, colourful French-Caribbean culture in Martinique, and postcard-pretty islands such as Antigua, St Kitts and St Maarten, with sunshine-soaked stops further south like Curaçao, depending on your itinerary.
