‘Summer of ’85 Revisited’ to set sail on 40th anniversary of Live Aid. Ambassador set to rock the boat with Live Aid themed cruise departing Bristol on 13 July 2025
Ambassador Cruise Line, the UK’s affordable quality cruise line that offers traditional holiday experiences primarily aimed at the 50-plus market, is set to turn the clock back this summer with a week-long sailing that pays tribute to Live Aid.
Live Aid, the global event aimed at raising funds for the Ethiopian famine disaster that led to the era-defining musical moment of the 20th Century that is as iconic and memorable today as it ever was.
Departing from Bristol Royal Portbury on 13 July 2025 – exactly 40 years to the day since the legendary concert rocked London and Philadelphia – the Summer of ’85 Revisited sailing (formerly known as the Channel Islands & the Netherlands Experience) on board Ambition will take guests on a pure nostalgia trip back in time.
The six-night cruise – which Ambassador line has affectionately dubbed ‘Line Aid’ – will offer guests the chance to relive the soundtrack of yesteryear courtesy of a stellar line-up of tribute performers celebrating the leading musical lights who made their mark at the legendary Wembley concert.
In true Ambassador style, the Summer of ’85 Revisited promises electrifying entertainment, unforgettable performances and the warmest welcome at sea, combining rock and relaxing exploration during a sailing that will not only see guests roll back the years but also visit the vibrant city of Amsterdam, the historic Channel Island ports of Guernsey and Jersey and call at picturesque Honfleur in Normandy, France.
With world-class tribute acts set to perform beloved hits by the Live Aid legends that helped change the world in the mid-80s, performers set to star on the sailing include:
The RPJ Band
Kicking off the ‘Line Aid’ nostalgia-fuelled celebrations in fitting style will be the RPJ Band, led by Rick Parfitt Junior. As the son of the late Rick Parfitt of Status Quo fame, Rick grew up surrounded by music, and his performance ability is a result of years of being able to watch some of the best front men in the world rock big stages.
Rick is driven by an obsessive attention to detail to be the best and continually strives to make the RPJ show ‘the most incredible, fun, emotive and downright rock ’n’ roll show you will ever see at any event’. In a poignant nod to the original Live Aid concert – which opened with Status Quo’s rousing performance of Rockin’ All Over the World – Rick and his band look set to bring their own brand of full-throttle rock energy to the Palladium stage.
Seriously Collins – as a solo artist and with his band, the third highest-selling artist of the 1980s played on both sides of the Atlantic on 13 July courtesy of Concorde, and guests on the Line Aid sailing will be able to take a flight back in time when Seriously Collins celebrate the legendary hits of Phil Collins and Genesis!
Delivered with passion and precision by frontman Chris Hayward, Seriously Collins isn’t just a tribute show – it’s an electrifying journey through the music that has touched hearts and defined generations that’s set to delight guests on board Ambition, their Home by The Sea for the duration of the sailing.
Aladdinsane – Frontman and former Stars in Their Eyes winner Paul Henderson AKA Aladdinsane – The Sound and Vision of Bowie is widely acclaimed as the UK’s best David Bowie tribute. Delivering an ‘uncanny performance’ of one of music’s greatest-ever Heroes, Paul’s stunning vocals, mannerisms and costume changes span Bowie’s legendary tours, creating an electrifying, unpredictable show. With classics like Starman, Ashes to Ashes and Life on Mars, Aladdinsane promises to deliver an unforgettable guest experience sprinkled with Stardust, glitz, glam and more.
Supersonic Queen – No Live Aid homage would be complete without a tribute to Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon and Freddie Mercury, whose Wembley showpiece – immortalised in the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody movie – was described by Bob Geldof himself as nothing less than ‘magnificent’.
The sailing will see Supersonic Queen, the UK’s premier Queen tribute band, ‘keep the fire alive in the heart of every Queen fan by meticulously crafting the most authentic, hard-hitting rock and roll performance possible’ to recreate the spirit, sound and spectacle of the band that stole the show back in 1985 and made the world go Ga Ga !
Chris O’Neill as Paul McCartney – The penultimate song of the original Wembley Live Aid concert (the last was Do They Know It’s Christmas) was Let It Be, performed by its writer and former Wings-man, Paul McCartney. Liverpool-born musician and actor Chris O’Neill, who starred in the BAFTA Award-winning Beatles movie Backbeat and has earned recognition as one of the best Paul McCartney impersonators in the world, is maybe set to Amaze guests on this Magical Mystery Tour of a sailing.
Known for his uncanny vocals and left-handed bass mastery, Chris’s excellent musicianship, combined with his ‘irrepressible scouse humour’, is sure to get the thumbs up!
Ambassador’s all-new addition to its innovative roster of themed cruises will see guests encouraged to rock and roll back the years and get into the spirit of things on the Summer of ’85 Revisited sailing. This includes fancy dress nights celebrating the bold fashion of the 80s, including double denim, leather jackets, big hair and more, and travellers of all natures can also look forward to enjoying talks, themed menus, parties and surprise moments throughout the week.
Bob McGowan, Chief Experience Officer, Ambassador Cruise Line, said: “We’re thrilled to bring the spirit of one of the greatest rock and roll concerts ever to life with our brand-new themed sailing. Live Aid holds such a special place in the hearts of many of our guests, some of whom would have been at Wembley on the day itself, and this 40th anniversary tribute sailing is the perfect way to celebrate the music, the memories and the magic of that one moment in time.
“At Ambassador, we’re always looking to deliver truly memorable ‘Ambassador Moments’, and the Summer of ’85 Revisited themed sailing promises to be one of our most electrifying cruise experiences yet. With a handpicked selection of outstanding tribute acts and a few surprises along the way, this is set to be a cruise that rocks from start to finish!”
Summer of ’85 Revisited
A Tribute to the Greatest Rock ’n’ Roll Concert… Ever!
Summer of 85 Revisited (the sailing formerly known as The Channel Islands and the Netherlands Experience) – 13 July 2025 – Ambition, Bristol Royal Portbury – 6 nights
Departing from Bristol Royal Portbury on 13 July 2025, this six-night itinerary aboard Ambition offers a charming blend of culture, coastline and cruising set to perfectly compliment the amazing tribute bands on show and exceptional service guests will enjoy while on board.
The itinerary will take in three captivating destinations, each offering its own unique charm. After calling at Falmouth, Ambition will sail to the picturesque St. Peter Port, Guernsey, where guests can wander through cobbled streets, discover historic landmarks such as Castle Cornet and enjoy stunning coastal views.
The next stop takes guests to Ijmuiden, a bustling Dutch port town with a blend of urban sophistication and maritime history close to the capital city of Amsterdam. Here, guests can explore the North Sea Canal and the Felison Cruise Terminal before soaking in the atmosphere of this vibrant coastal city.
Guests on this sailing can benefit from 50% off the Ambassador Fare, which includes the Expedition drinks package, as part of Ambassador’s “Raise your Spirits with Half Price Drinks” promotion. Running until 9 July, guests can enjoy all premium and house brand spirits and wines (by the glass), premium teas and coffees, non-alcoholic beverages including unlimited soft drinks, all gratuities and service charges, plus preferential dinner sitting selection from just £648.85 per person based on two people sharing an Inside Cabin.
Low Saver Fares on the The Summer of ’85 Revisited cruise, which do not include the Expedition drinks package, start from just £499 based on two people sharing an Inside Cabin.
(‘Summer of ’85 Revisited’ to set sail on 40th anniversary of Live Aid. Ambassador set to rock the boat with Live Aid themed cruise departing Bristol on 13 July 2025)
