AmaWaterways' first Black heritage cruise hits high notes

22.02.2024 - 09:41 / travelweekly.com

ONBOARD THE AMAKRISTINA -- The tears came early on the AmaKristina, on Day 1 of the inaugural Soulful Epicurean Experience cruise, AmaWaterways' first Black heritage river cruise itinerary.

Crystal August, the cruise manager hand-picked to lead the line's groundbreaking itinerary, had just finished a speech introducing Jazzmine Douse, director of national accounts at AmaWaterways, during the welcome reception.

August's remarks centered around perseverance, and in this lounge full of African American travelers, many knew all too well, collectively and individually, what it meant to persevere.

"When you have someone who is brave enough in the office to say, 'Something needs to be changed, and we have to do things differently,' it doesn't come without its challenges. There's going to constantly be people telling you that it can't be done," August said, overcome with emotion as she recalled yearslong efforts led by Douse; Janet Bava, AmaWaterways' former chief marketing officer, now at Windstar; and the group of travel advisors onboard who were behind the idea to launch the sailing and who helped craft its itinerary.

The energy was palpable as August, who is a Black South African, addressed a room filled with faces she said were similar to hers, a sight she had never seen before on an AmaWaterways ship. Midspeech, her voice began to crack.

"But you have to get up and you have to keep going and persevering until that thing comes to life," August continued. "And that's the Soulful Epicurean Experience."

With those words, the tone was set for the journey that would unfold on the Rhone River and later in Paris, over the next 11 days.

We belong here, I thought to myself. We belong everywhere.

Something new on the river

Guests and travel advisors onboard knew this sailing would be unlike any other the brand had hosted.

Sure, it was the line's -- and for that matter, the industry's -- first river cruise itinerary dedicated to Black history in France. And, yes, the sold-out ship made up of Black travelers was an uncommon sight in the overall river cruise industry, which has traditionally catered to a predominantly white clientele.

But there were less obvious and more surprising signs that this cruise was going to be different.

And the first clue proving as much came when several waiters brought out birthday cakes for two guests on the first evening and, as expected, sang the traditional version of "Happy Birthday."

The waiters hadn't finished the song's final note before the dining room, without missing a beat,