Enjoy the joyfulness and kinship of White Night on a Festival at Sea cruise; (c) Blue World Travel

Black Cruises

First-time cruisers and infrequent cruisers should consider these “Cruising 101 Tips.”

Cruise Line Operators:
Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Holland America, Celebrity, and many others own very large cruise ships for multi-day journeys. They follow strict onboarding & offboarding to keep schedules, so be timely. Big Cruise Line Operators are required to follow Cruise Ship Law which is a bit convoluted to travelers because ports of call in so many nations have different laws. Big Cruise Line Operators do, however, attempt to follow high sanitary and safety standards. If something is not right in your room, report it to the Cruise Line Operator staff. Some Cruise Line Operators include one-day excursion activities on an island they own.

Cruise Group Operators:
The groups listed below organize themed cruises for groups, in this case, Black Cultural Cruises. Some cruises take up a quarter, half, or all of a ship big cruise ship. Other Black Cultural Cruises may have groups of 100-200. The largest Cruise Group Operators have staff to help your journey be more comfortable or better informed. They also tend to have the best entertainment. Only Cruise Group Operators can answer questions about their pricing and services.

Shore Excursion Operators
Independent operators who arrange dining, shopping, cultural tours, snorkeling, and other activities. Their quality and pricing vary. In the Passenger Welcome pitch & brochures, Cruise Line Operators will provide extensive lists. Some have special arrangements with local businesses and receive a commission on sales from tourists in their group. The largest and oldest Cruise Group Operators sometimes have connections with Shore Excursion Operators too. Focus on the Price-Value of the shore excursions you want.

Busiest Domestic & International Cruise Ports
The busiest cruise ports typically have more amenities. From America’s Lower 48 states to the Caribbean, Mexico & Alaska consider excursions from Port Canaveral on Space Coast, Miami, Port Everglades Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, New York & New Jersey, New Orleans, Tampa, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Baltimore. If cruising to the Southern Caribbean consider excursions from Puerto Rico or St. Thomas USVI. In Europe, consider excursions from Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Southhampton, and Marseille.

Packing for a Cruise    TSA ID Requirements    Hurricane Status    Travel Insurance Pros & Cons

The Oldest, Most Respected Black Cruise Operator

Experience White Night Deck Party on Festival At Sea; (c) Blue World Travel

Friends of Festival At Sea
PORTS: Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and the Philippines
SHIP: Regent Seven Seas Explorer
DATES: 10 Nights, February 2025 (SOLD OUT)
WEBSITE: https://www.festivalatsea.com
ITINERARY: For travelers ready to explore the world with a touch of soul, Friends of Festival at Sea offers luxury international trips designed for cultural discovery and adventure. In 2025, the Regent Seven Seas Explorer—known as “the most luxurious ship ever built”—will host 98 friends on an unforgettable journey through Southeast Asia.
This sold-out trip will feature all-inclusive luxury with gourmet dining, premium amenities, and curated excursions in vibrant destinations like Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand. Passengers will enjoy exclusive onboard events that reflect the signature Friends of Festival at Sea experience while exploring dynamic cities, serene beaches, and rich histories.

While this trip is fully booked, Friends has continued to offer unmatched travel experiences, blending the spirit of Festival at Sea with international exploration for over 25 years. Recent trips have included a French river cruise and a Southern Africa adventure, and we can expect more to come!
Want to join the next journey? Joining their mailing list at https://bit.ly/fasfriendsemail

WATCH NOW: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/u5iFNz6wEpc
WATCH NOW: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2FWXq_I8GqU

Friends of Festival at Sea – SOLD OUT
PORTS: Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), La Romana (Dominican Republic), Curaçao, and Aruba
SHIP: Celebrity Reflection
DATES: 8 Nights, July 18–26, 2025; Get on the Waitlist!
WEBSITE: https://www.festivalatsea.com/
ITINERARY: In 1992, Blue World Travel launched Festival at Sea as the first African American cultural cruise program, and 33 years later, it’s still the gold standard in culturally immersive travel. This sold-out event will take over the Celebrity Reflection in 2025, sailing to stunning Caribbean destinations like Curaçao and Aruba while delivering its signature mix of entertainment, community, and celebration of Black culture. From deck parties and live performances to game nights and family-friendly events, FAS creates a sense of camaraderie among its passengers. Whether you’re swaying to live music, competing in dominoes, or dressed to the nines for African Attire Night, there’s something for everyone. Join their mailing list for first access to announcements and priority booking for future sailings.

If you missed booking a 2025 Festival At Sea Cruise, here is your reminder to plan for their 2026 cruise.

Other Established Black Cruises

Super Cruise 2024
16th Annual SuperCruise
PORTS: Aruba, Curacao, Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
DATES: February 17–24, 2024
PAST ITINERARY: Entertainment includes Concerts, Theme Parties, Jam Sessions, Contests, Dancing, Open Mic, Workshops, Card Games, Karaoke, Films, Golf Tournament, and Fitness Classes

Tom Joyner Fantastic Voyage Cruise
“Party with a Purpose” in the Caribbean with Tom Joyner and friends
PORTS: Miami, Labadee, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico
DATES: April 27-May 4, 2024
PAST ITINERARY: Entertainment includes concerts, theme parties, contests, dancing, Open Mic, workshops, card games, karaoke, films, fitness classes
See TJFV CRUISE REVIEW

Love and Harmony Cruise
A medium-sized cruise group that emphasizes friendship and good times
DATES: April 13-18, 2024
PORTS: Fort Lauderdale, Ocho Rios, Nassau
ITINERARY: Includes Live Concerts day & night, meet the performers, parties throughout the ship, plus Roots and Afrobeat music

Grown and Sexy Cruise
Calls itself the “Biggest Party at Sea” and you can’t blame them for trying
PORTS: Miami, Puerto Plata, Bimini
DATES: May 24-29, 2024
ITINERARY: Includes 1 Dinner at a specialty restaurant; Events include Theme Parties, the “SEXYFEST” Island beach party on Great Stirrup Caye, the Nassau “WE TURN UP” party, comedy show, karaoke, game shows, contests

Jamrock Reggae Cruise
Jamrock Productions invites you to take a journey to Jamaica
PORTS: Miami, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Ocho Rios Jamaica
DATES: December 9-14, 2024
ITINERARY: Experience top-tier Reggae artists as they perform in multiple venues on the ship. In addition, there will be sound systems blazing the vibes all day and all night

Smooth Jazz Cruise
It’s like a Jazz concert at sea. After the music, enjoy up-close meet-ups with Jazz greats
DATES: 1/25/2024-2/01/2024 and 2/01/2024-2/08/2024
PORTS: Miami, Aruba, Curacao
ITINERARY: A line-up of nightly performances by Marcus Miller, Boney James, Alonzo Bowden, Jeffrey Osborne, Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Rick Braun, Norman Brown, Mindi Abair, Richard Elliot, Peter White, Vincent Ingala, DW3 and more

Soul Train Cruise
Official cruise of the legendary Soul Train TV show
PORTS: Fort Lauderdale, Tortola BVI, St. Maarten
DATES: January 23-February 3, 2024
ITINERARY: An incredible line-up of nightly Soul, Funk, and R&B performances by The Temptations, Boyz II Men, Stephanie Mills, En Vogue, Melba Moore, Tower of Power, The Dramatics, Rose Royce, and War; activities include Dance the Soul Train Line, dance lessons from original Soul Train Dancers, 25+ Celebrity-hosted events, panel discussions, artist Q&A sessions, happy hours, game shows, wine tasting, trivia contests, Karaoke, pool parties and more

Huddle On The Sea Cruise
Join sexy, accomplished, beautiful people at sea
PORTS: Miami, Dominican Republic, Aruba, Curaçao
DATES: February 10-18, 2024
ITINERARY: Includes Lypc-Sync Battle, Bad & Boozy Beach Bash 2, HOTS Play Date, Pre-Super Bowl Tailgate Party, Trick or Treat Costume Party, HOTS Fitness

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