AmaWaterways has expanded its offerings of Soulful Experience sailings in 2025 and 2026. These sailings present experiences and excursions that celebrate Black heritage and culture.
Let’s take a look at the new offerings:
2025
Best of Holland & Belgium
This new-for-2025 seven-night Soulful Experience on AmaStella is unique, as it spans the holidays of Kwanzaa and New Year’s. Guests celebrate Kwanzaa with daily themes honoring Kwanzaa’s seven principles, nightly Kinara candle-lighting ceremonies, and cultural programming including an Amsterdam cultural tour. Other excursion highlights include the island metropolis of Hellevoetsluis and its medieval harbor town, iconic working De Hoop windmill and charming wharf houses, exploring the castles and unique architecture of Brussels and the culinary delights of Antwerp. An optional two-night pre-cruise in Amsterdam is also available.
2026
Enticing Douro
The timing of this Soulful Experience (June 13 to June 23) allows for the celebration of Juneteenth (June 19) with a host of themed events and programing. The seven-night sailing along Portugal’s Douro River on board the 102-passenger AmaDouro, where guests are treated to exclusive Brazilian and African food tastings and authentic Portuguese cuisine and port wines during two shoreside dinners at local wine estates, known as quintas.
Riches of the Mekong
Running from October 11 to 25 this sailing includes one of AmaWaterways’ newest land extension – four-nights in Central Vietnam. The sailing focuses on Vietnam and Cambodia’s connections to Black history as the AmaDara sails along the Mekong River. Adding to the cruise are the land highlights: two days in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An and the opportunity to do a hands-on Vietnamese cuisine cooking class; a stop at the renowned Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang, and two days in Hue, for a royal dinner at Ancient Hue, and visits to the awe-inspiring tomb of Emperor Ming Mang, Hue Historic Citadel, the Thien Mu (Heaven Fairy Lady) Pagoda and the Khai Dinh Tomb.
Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles Christmas
This Christmas Markets cruise with Kwanzaa celebrations starts on December 15 with the seven-night Basel to Amsterdam cruise that offers a host of Black cultural connections along the Rhine River route. This departure also features two nights post-cruise in Amsterdam where guests enjoy an Amsterdam cultural tour and more. Other highlights along AmaVenita’s route include France’s oldest Christmas Market in Strasbourg and open-air wine gardens, and the Christmas Market of Drosselgasse, the cultural heart of Rüdesheim. All along the river are towns and villages brimming with beautiful decor, glittering Christmas trees and holiday spirit.
This article was originally published at River Cruise Advisor.
