Surrounded by Like-Minded Travelers

Soulful Experiences launched in 2023, and AmaWaterways currently includes Soulful sailings to France, Egypt, Portugal, and Colombia, with more destinations in the works. All are welcome, and naturally, a community of like-minded travelers develops, including those who identify as Black and those who want to honor, celebrate, and learn more about Black culture. Many staff members are of African descent to further facilitate an atmosphere of familiarity to Black guests. Excursions and onboard entertainment are Black-culture specific, with expert guides sharing their vast knowledge of Black history with travelers. You can already tell this isn’t your typical cruise itinerary. Rather, it’s your call to travel with intention and open your eyes to the profound legacy of Black culture all over the world.

A French Connection

Follow in Josephine Baker’s breezy footsteps, pretending you’re wearing her iconic faux-banana skirt, during your Soulful Experience in Paris, France. One of the best-known performers to ever take the stage at the Folies Bergère, Baker was a global superstar who later became a spy in the French Resistance during WWII. Guests will feel her spirit come alive as they visit some of her favorite local haunts and enjoy intimate jazz performances and lectures that conjure up the nostalgia of the past. Later, gaze in awe at the magnificent Fers sculpture honoring General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, the first Black general in France and the father of famous author Alexandre Dumas. There are numerous examples of Black people shaping the City of Light and giving it that je ne sais quoi that makes it one of the top travel destinations in the world.

The Soul of a Unique Culture

A town so unique, it was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO—you certainly don’t see that every day. Visit the singular town of San Basilio de Palenque on AmaWaterways’ Wonders of Colombia itinerary, and expand your cultural palate. From cuisine and language to music and medicine, African influence is everywhere (and fiercely preserved) in this first free town in the Americas, founded by maroons who escaped slavery during the colonial era. Crime does not exist here, because everyone in the small, tight-knit community looks out for one another. During your visit, enjoy one-of-a-kind dishes that are a fusion of African and indigenous flavors, dance to drum-heavy music, and learn some words in Palenquero, a mix of Spanish and African languages only spoken in Colombia.

Ancient Rituals, Modern Camaraderie

The Nubian Kingdom of Kush ruled ancient Egypt for almost a century. They built pyramids and monuments throughout the land and were revered as skilled archers and early pioneers of antibiotics. Their influence lives on in modern-day Egypt. A Soulful Experience on AmaWaterways’ highly in-demand Secrets of Egypt and the Nile itinerary introduces travelers to this once-mighty civilization with tours of Nubian villages, exclusive access to Queen Nefertari’s tomb, and visits to local homes. A traditional coffee ritual led by experts, which involves roasting the green coffee beans over an open fire, then grinding and brewing the beans in a traditional clay pot, invites guests to feel the unmatched hospitality and warmth of this multi-faceted community.