Black Travelers: ‘I Love it When We’re Cruisin’ Together’
AmaWaterways has launched a groundbreaking luxury river cruise experience celebrating Black culture and heritage under its “Soulful Epicurean Experience” brand. These excursions span 10 to 12 days and allow travelers to experience a unique blend of cultural immersion, luxury, and history in destinations such as France, Egypt, and Portugal. Targeted toward travelers eager to learn about Black culture worldwide, this experience marks a significant shift in the river cruising landscape, historically dominated by a predominantly white clientele.
Entities in the luxury travel industry rarely include the Black experience within their itineraries or excursions. Now there is an opportunity to celebrate the culture beyond the Americas and witness its profound influence on the rest of the world. The Soulful Epicurean Experience is a transformative concept by Jazzmine Douse, Director of National Accounts for AmaWaterways.
“I hope these cruises illuminate the Black community and their buying power,” Douse told DETOUR “This initiative will challenge other luxury companies to take the Black dollar seriously and cater to the Black traveler profile in a similar way that the luxury world tends to do with the mainstream customer profile.”
For far too long, certain experiences, like river cruising, have been seen as predominantly “white” activities. This perception stemmed not from fear, but from a lack of access and opportunity due to the systemic disparities ancestors have faced in education, business, and wealth. Now, with a growing thirst for knowledge and cultural enrichment, Black travelers are carving out spaces in every aspect of luxury travel, including river cruising.
Staterooms, Amenities, & Dining
Upon arrival at Marseille Airport, guests are greeted by a driver, who takes them to the AmaKristina, their home for the next 12 days. Though smaller than the typical Caribbean cruise ship, the AmaKristina boasts spacious staterooms with large bathrooms inside each room, a sundeck with a swim-up bar, and two dining areas, all offering beautiful views of southern France along the Rhone River.
The culinary experience onboard was a highlight, with the main restaurant offering a range of dishes, from sea bass and filet mignon to Western favorites like pizza and burgers. Guests also enjoyed a six-course meal prepared by Bahamas-born Chef Bri Bullard of Authentique Delights, whose Caribbean-inspired dishes included chicken & waffle bites with habanero syrup and a decadent drunken peach cobbler.
Experience The Stops Along The Rhône River
The cruise’s itinerary included stops in five cities: Arles, Avignon, Viviers, Tournon, Vienne, and Lyon. A bonus train ride from Lyon to Paris capped off the journey with three days in the heart of the French capital. Each city offered a unique cultural experience, from learning about truffle farming in Viviers to exploring vineyards in Tournon. After a day of exploring, evenings aboard the AmaKristina were filled with exquisite dinners and live entertainment, featuring local French artists performing jazz and covers of popular Black artists.
DETOUR had the opportunity to join AmaWaterways on the France itinerary, where the ship is docked in the historic city of Arles. One of the oldest cities in France, Arles was a key trading port in the 19th century and is filled with quintessential French charm—cafés, monuments, and Roman ruins dating back to 90 AD.
The first stop on the cruise was Marseille, where visitors were introduced to the city’s deep connection to Black culture. Figures such as Josephine Baker, Claude McKay, and Alexandre Dumas left their mark on this historic port city. The excursion included a visit to La Jolie Joliette, France’s historic Port of Entry and a key setting in McKay’s 1929 novel Banjo. The tour also explored the Chateau d’If, the legendary fortress made famous in Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo. Marseille played a pivotal role in Black history, from its involvement in the slave trade during the 1700s to becoming a hub for Black jazz musicians after World War II.
The journey continued to Avignon, known as the “City of Popes” for its role as the center of Catholicism in the 14th century. In Avignon, visitors explored the Foundation Blachére, a gallery dedicated to showcasing contemporary African artists. Each year, selected African artists are invited to live and work at the Artist’s House in Apt, just minutes from the gallery, fostering an ongoing dialogue between African art and the broader world.
In Lyon, the last stop on their cruise, the travelers visited the town of Chasselay and its Sudanese cemetery, which honors 196 soldiers from West Africa who were killed defending France against Germany in 1940. After the cruise, they took a train to Paris and embarked on a full-day Black history tour. Highlights included the Arc de Triomphe, the monument to the abolition of slavery, and Montmartre, an artistic hub for legendary Black jazz musicians. They also explored Paris’s African district and visited Pantheon Square, where Josephine Baker was honored in 2021 as the first Black woman interred among France’s most influential figures.
AmaWaterways’ Soulful Epicurean Experience offers Black travelers a new and exciting way to explore the world’s history and culture while enjoying the luxury of river cruising. This journey through France’s rich heritage was an unforgettable experience that left the group eager to see where AmaWaterways will take them next.
Rafael Peña has spent the last decade as a travel strategist, journalist, and public speaker, dedicated to reshaping his community’s approach to travel. With a focus on transformative food experiences and luxury travel through savvy travel hacks, Peña shares his expert insights and personal experiences to help others explore the world like seasoned travelers.
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