Exploring Black Cruises as Cultural Vacations

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.