<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000946842</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMIE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001278736</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POLYGON GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O POLYGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4 SLOANE TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SW 1X9DQ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001308098</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Polygon Investments Ltd.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O POLYGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4 SLOANE TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SW 1X9DQ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001400002</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Polygon Investment Management LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O POLYGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4 SLOANE TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SW 1X9DQ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001308513</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Polygon Investment Partners LLP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O POLYGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4 SLOANE TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SW 1X9DQ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001308514</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Polygon Investment Partners LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O POLYGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4 SLOANE TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SW 1X9DQ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001400001</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Polygon Investment Partners GP, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O POLYGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4 SLOANE TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SW 1X9DQ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001399998</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Reade E. Griffith</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O POLYGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4 SLOANE TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SW 1X9DQ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001399996</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Patrick G. G. Dear</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O POLYGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4 SLOANE TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SW 1X9DQ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>94000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>369496</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>56000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>313496</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>This Form 4 is filed on behalf of Polygon Global Opportunities Master Fund, Polygon Investments Ltd., Polygon Investment Management Ltd., Polygon Investment Partners LLP, Polygon Investment Partners LP, Polygon Investment Partners GP, LLC, Mr. Reade E. Griffith and Mr. Patrick G. G. Dear.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>POLYGON GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND By: Polygon Investment Partners LLP, its investment manager; By: /s/ Patrick G. G. Dear, Principal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>POLYGON INVESTMENTS LTD. By: /s/ Patrick G. G. Dear, Principal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>POLYGON INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED By: /s/ Patrick G. G. Dear, Principal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>POLYGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLP By: /s/ Patrick G. G. Dear, Principal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>POLYGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS LP By: /s/ Patrick G. G. Dear, Principal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>POLYGON INVESTMENTS PARTNERS GP, LLC By: /s/ Patrick G. G. Dear, Principal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Reade E. Griffith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Patrick G. G. Dear</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
