Introduction
Cruises have long been synonymous with luxurious vacations, providing an escape to exotic destinations on massive floating resorts. In recent years, a niche within the cruising industry has gained significant popularity — black cruises. These unique experiences offer a distinctive blend of cultural enrichment, entertainment, and a sense of community. In this blog post, we'll delve into the world of black cruises, exploring what they are, why African-Americans are drawn to them, and discuss whether black cruises are worth their price. What are Black Cruises? Black cruises are specialized cruise experiences tailored to the African-American community. These events typically feature curated itineraries that include networking opportunities, themed parties, and entertainment showcasing black performers. From music festivals to wellness retreats, black cruises come in various forms, catering to a diverse range of interests within the community. Why Some African-Americans Choose Black Cruises The entertainment is a big draw. Black cruises often feature entertainment that reflects the diversity and richness of African-American culture. From live performances by renowned black artists to comedy shows that resonate with shared experiences, these cruises offer a level of representation that can be lacking in mainstream cruise entertainment. It’s also common for black cruises to have white parties, referring to all white clothing. People also enjoy the cultural connection. Black cruises provide a unique opportunity for African-Americans to connect with their heritage and culture. From Afrobeat dance parties to discussions on black history, these cruises offer a sense of community and a space where passengers can celebrate their shared identity. Sometimes there are also opportunities to make close-knit connections through various workshops and networking activities. A Common Misconception of Black Cruises It’s a misconception that a black cruise means a ship is occupied by 100% black passengers. When you book into a black cruise, you are basically booking into a private group that will give you access to some additional private activities on a ship. But keep in mind that this group will only be a subset of the overall passengers on a normal cruise ship. In other words, it’s normal, and sometimes quite a shock, for a person to discover that 90% of the people on a ship hosting a black cruise are not black and have nothing to do with the black cruise events. On a cruise ship of 4,000 passengers, there might be 400 people attending the black cruise activities and 3,600 whites, Asians, Hispanics, and others separately going about their business. Are Black Cruises Worth the Price? As a black travel agent, I’m often asked about black cruises. The most common question I get is why black cruises cost so much more than mainstream cruises. The simple answer is that they come with a lot of expenses that need to be covered by the people or organizations producing the events. For example, if you book a black cruise that features three or four 1990’s R&B music performers, the cost of hiring those performers will be passed down to you and will be reflected in the price of your cruise. In many cases the cost of your cruise will be marked up even more to accommodate other special activities that you might or might not want to attend, and a decent profit for whoever produced the event. This all means you could end up paying $2,300 per person for a 7-day cruise that could cost you only $1,600 per person without the production and performers. While cruises technically categorized as “black cruises” can be thrill-filled on a socially relatable level, you can still enjoy the same cruise ships, same destinations, and interaction with other black passengers on a mainstream cruise versus booking a black cruise. The main difference is the access you get to the extra private activities when you book into a black cruise group. Your choice all depends on the experience you hope to have on your cruise, and how much you are willing to pay. Conclusion Black cruises represent more than just vacations; they are experiences that celebrate and embrace the diversity of African-American culture. But these culturally exclusive cruises usually come with a hefty price tag to cover the bells and whistles they provide. While black cruises offer a unique and vibrant alternative to mainstream cruising experiences, mainstream cruises tend to be more affordable, more practical, and a better value overall. A black-owned travel agency like Epix Cruise and Travel can provide information and help you book the perfect mainstream cruise.
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Introduction:
These days it’s common practice to read reviews before making any significant purchase. In this informative guide, we'll dive into the world of cruise line and cruise ship reviews, exploring how to interpret them and make informed decisions when it’s time to book a cruise. One Person’s Trash is Another Person’s Treasure: What one person loves, another person might hate. As you explore reviews about cruises, keep in mind that people write cruise reviews based on their own preferences. As an example don’t decide against one particular cruise just because one person’s review mentioned how it seemed like there were hardly any people on the ship. For a ship that has a capacity of 4,000 people, some won’t be satisfied if the ship sails at any less than 100% capacity. Those people might place more value on the bustling vibe often associated with large cruise ships, so they could get bored if there’s not a big crowd. On the other hand, another person might enjoy that their cruise was calm and relaxing because there were less people. This concept also comes into play in reviews about cruise activities and entertainment. While some review writers will criticize a cruise ship’s activities and entertainment, others will rave about the very same activities and entertainment being the reason for the best vacation they’ve ever had. People Have Different Standards: The overdose of individual preference is enough to make cruise reviews difficult to interpret, but Mister Preference also has a cousin named Miss Standards. While preference tends to cover review subjects such as cruise ship atmosphere and cruise entertainment, standards are more associated with the food, cleanliness, and service offered by a cruise ship or cruise line. Even on the best cruise ships, it’s inevitable that you’ll encounter cruise ship food reviews that bash the food, while the very next review you read will praise it. Likewise, millions of reviewers could never agree on the quality of a cruise ship’s activities or entertainment, so the reviews will range from poor to excellent when reality often resides somewhere in between. I’m often called a clean freak. Having personally been on A LOT of cruises, I can say I’ve never been assigned a cabin that I thought was unacceptably dirty. Yes, I know it does happen occasionally, even on some of the best cruise lines. I know people who spent hours complaining to cruise ship staff for reasons as minor as finding a single hair on the desk in their cruise cabin. For some people, an incident like this can set the tone for a very nasty review that influences other aspects of their cruise, regardless of how nice those other aspects were. Unreasonable Expectations Could be a Factor: If you thought the complexities ended at preference and standards, let’s touch briefly on expectations. When trying to interpret cruise line reviews, it’s also wise to remember that people have a wide range of expectations. Experienced cruisers are generally aware that cruises must be approached with reasonable expectations. This comes from the understanding that cruise staff lives in the process of accomplishing a mammoth task that most places of business would never even attempt. That’s the task of servicing thousands of anxious passengers, in one place, all at the same time. Based on proper expectations, a cruise review will be a bit more lenient. But those who don’t understand this are likely to blast a cruise ship waiter for taking more than three minutes to deliver their dessert. Similarly, someone writing a cruise line review might fluff the negativity because their ship chose to close their rock-climbing wall for a few hours due to high winds. On cruises, “ship happens” – and reasonable review writers know the cruise line is not always to blame. Keep this in mind when reading (and writing) reviews about cruises. Tips to Help Interpret Cruise Reviews:
Conclusion: As a wise vacationer, it’s human nature to want to know what other people think about the cruise line, ship, or destinations you are considering. Wading through the sea of online reviews requires a discerning eye and a clear understanding of your travel priorities. By carefully interpreting reviews and considering the factors that matter most to you, you can confidently make cruise booking decisions that lead to a memorable cruise experience. If the reviews aren’t making your cruise vacation decisions any easier, a good travel agency like Epix Cruise and Travel can help you make sense of it all. |