The river cruise company AmaWaterways announced this week that it will offer three brand-new itineraries in 2024 that will honour African history.
The cruise line expanded the dates for its Soulful Epicurean Experience voyages following the strong interest in the inaugural voyage, which is scheduled to start in August. The cruises will include excursions and onboard activities that highlight Black history and culture in Egypt.
Kristin Karst, executive vice president and co-founder of AmaWaterways, stated in an email that the need and desire for these cruises is present. “Our first Soulful Epicurean Experience river cruise and land package in France set for 2023 sold out almost immediately,” she added. We announced three extra possibilities to honour the rich Black legacy in 2024, two on the Rhone River with Paris and one on the Nile River with Cairo.
The Soulful Epicurean Experience cruises depart when in 2024.
On May 17, the first of the 2024 sailings will depart from Cairo, Egypt. According to a press statement, the others will begin on June 13 in Arles, France, and on June 17 in Paris, respectively.
In conversations with its Black travel advisor partners, the line, according to Karst, “encouraged us to show more diversity in our marketing material and to consider adding special interest tours or excursions that would appeal more to Black travellers.” The line then developed the itineraries in response, Karst said.
Karst continued, “We take great pleasure in the friendly, welcoming atmosphere on board our ships and are always open to innovations that would improve the experience for all our visitors.
From where do the cruises depart?
The itinerary for May 17, 2024, will be combined with the cruise line’s 11-night Secrets of Egypt & The Nile cruise and land tour, calling at Edfu, Aswan, and other locations.
The cruise will include a stop at a Nubian village in addition to Egyptologists-led tours of the Great Pyramid of Giza and other sites. Among other things, visitors can enjoy a private tour of the tomb of Queen Nefertari.
Other activities that are specific to that voyage “are being curated and will be released soon,” the company said on its website.
The AmaWaterways Colors of Provence itinerary is matched with the seven-night sailings on June 13 and 17, which, depending on the day, can start or end with a three-night land package in Paris.
The cruises are comparable; they include guided tours that include jazz music, fine food, and wine, as well as stops in places like Avignon and Vienne. Visitors can go on a trip focused on Josephine Baker, a performer and civil rights activist, as well as a Black history tour in Paris.
By consulting with specialists in the sector and collaborating with Black travel vendors there, we made sure that the experiences we are providing to our customers are genuine, according to Karst.
What are the prices for the Soulful Epicurean Experience cruises?
According to the cruise line’s website, the May 17 sailing starts at $5,049 per person, while the June 13 and 17 sailings begin at $4,499 per person. The prices are based on double occupancy and are per person.
All meals are included in the prices, along with Wi-Fi, hotel stays, wine, beer, and soft beverages with lunch and supper.
