AmaWaterways has expanded its “Soulful Experiences” for 2025 and 2026. Joining the 2025 lineup of cruises in Egypt, France, Colombia and Portugal is the “Best of Holland & Belgium.” This is the first “Soulful Experience” that includes the celebrations of Kwanza and New Year’s, sailing round-trip from Amsterdam on December 27, 2025. In 2026, there will be three additional sailings, with two being entirely new “Soulful” itineraries, joining the existing France and Egypt offerings. “Enticing Douro,” first offered in 2025, will be available in June 2026, alongside two new itineraries: “Riches of the Mekong” in October 2026, and the “Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles Christmas” in December 2026.
New for 2025, “Best of Holland & Belgium” is a seven-night “Soulful Experience” on AmaStella, departing December 27 and spanning 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 wharf houses, castles and unique architecture of Brussels, and Antwerp’s local cuisine. An optional two-night pre-cruise in Amsterdam is also available.
The timing of the “Enticing Douro” (June 13–23) itinerary allows for the celebration of Juneteenth (June 19) with a host of themed events and programing. The cruise kicks off with three nights in Lisbon, a city that was home to a significant population of free Africans and was the site of Europe’s first African neighborhood, according to AmaWaterways. The seven-night sailing along Portugal’s Douro River is offered onboard the 102-passenger AmaDouro, where guests are treated to Brazilian and African food tastings. Guests can also enjoy Portuguese cuisine and port wines during two shoreside dinners at local wine estates, known as quintas.
Running October 11–25, 2026, the “Riches of the Mekong” itinerary includes a four-night “Central Vietnam Land Extension.” The cruise 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 a hands-on Vietnamese cuisine cooking class; a stop at the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang; and two days in Hue, for a royal dinner at Ancient Hue, plus visits to the tomb of Emperor Ming Mang, Hue Historic Citadel, the Thien Mu (Heaven Fairy Lady) Pagoda and the Khai Dinh Tomb. This is coupled with one pre-cruise night in Cambodia’s city of Siem Reap and two post-cruise nights in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City.
The “Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles Christmas” itinerary with Kwanzaa celebrations starts on December 15, 2026 with the seven-night Basel-to-Amsterdam cruise offering a host of Black cultural connections along the Rhine River route, before ending with two nights post cruise in Amsterdam where guests enjoy a 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.
Every “Soulful Experience” sailing presents genuine experiences and excursions that celebrate Black heritage and culture with select excursions and experiences.
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