AmaWaterways Partners with Celebrated Chef Alexander Smalls to Curate Signature Juneteenth Dinner for Soulful Experience Cruises

A Unique Juneteenth Celebration Highlighting African and Black Diaspora Culinary Traditions

Calabasas, CA – August 2025 – AmaWaterways, the luxury river cruise line known for its immersive cultural journeys, is proud to announce a new culinary partnership with James Beard Award Winning Chef, restaurateur, author, and Grammy Award-winning opera singer Alexander Smalls. Beginning in 2025, Smalls will curate the Signature Juneteenth Dinner served on every Soulful Experience sailing, honoring African and Black diaspora culinary traditions through a thoughtfully designed multi-course menu. Drawing inspiration from his Gullah Geechee heritage and the Creole cuisine of New Orleans, Smalls has created a Juneteenth menu that blends heritage, clarity and elegance while honoring the resilience and creativity of African Americans throughout history. Courses highlight ingredients and techniques deeply rooted in African American culinary history, from corn-based soups that use every part of the crop, to hush puppies inspired by outdoor cooking during hunting trips, to sweet pickled shrimp and deviled eggs. Each dish is paired with Smalls’ cultural storytelling, giving guests insight into the historical and personal significance behind every flavor. "Creating this Juneteenth menu for AmaWaterways’ Soulful Experience is deeply personal for me,” said Smalls. “Every dish carries a story, a piece of history, and the resilience of a people who transformed humble ingredients into a vibrant culinary legacy. I wanted guests to taste not only the flavors but also the heritage, the struggle, and the triumph that each recipe represents." Smalls, the former owner of renowned Harlem restaurants The Cecil and Minton’s, is internationally recognized for his role in preserving and elevating the foods of the African diaspora. His partnership with AmaWaterways will ensure that each Juneteenth Dinner served on the Soulful Experience is not only a celebration of flavor but also a journey through history and heritage. “Our Soulful Experience river cruises celebrate the beauty and contributions of the African and Black diaspora, inviting travelers to connect with this rich heritage through the flavors, music, and stories that shaped it,” said Jazzmine Douse, Senior Director of National Accounts at AmaWaterways and visionary of the Soulful Experience sailings. “Partnering with Chef Alexander Smalls is such a gift. His culinary artistry and powerful storytelling will make our Juneteenth celebrations on board even more meaningful and unforgettable.” Alexander Smalls’ Signature Juneteenth Dinner will debut on this month’s Soulful Experience sailing. The special dinner will be featured on all Soulful itineraries in 2025 and beyond, including:

• Enticing Douro: June 13 – 23, 2026 and August 17 – 27, 2027
• Riches of the Mekong: October 11 – 25, 2026
• Colors of Provence: October 19 – 29, 2026 and October 14 – 24, 2027
• Secrets of Egypt & The Nile: November 11 – 22, 2026 and January 18 – 29, 2027
• Swiss Alps & Rhine Castles: December 15 – 24, 2026
• Wonders of Colombia: May 22 – June 1, 2027
• Paris & Normandy Wine Cruise: June 10 – 19, 2027

Each itinerary includes curated land packages highlighting African and Black diaspora heritage in cities such as Lisbon, Cairo, Paris, Panama City, and more. For more information or to reserve an AmaWaterways river cruise and land package for a client, call 1.800.626.0126 or visit AmaWaterways.com. About AmaWaterways Founded in 2002 by pioneering river cruise executives Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, AmaWaterways offers unparalleled river cruise experiences with 31 custom-designed ships sailing Europe’s major rivers, Southeast Asia’s Mekong River, Africa’s Chobe River, Egypt’s Nile River and Colombia’s Magdalena River (2025). The company was recently voted “Best River Cruise Line” by the world’s leading cruise-reviews site Cruise Critic and is renowned for its warm and welcoming crew, innovative and sustainable ship design, wellness activities (including a wide choice of included small-group shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options) and award-winning, locally sourced cuisine paired with complementary fine wine. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, most AmaWaterways ships welcome an average of just 150 guests and feature onboard amenities such as a stunning Main Lounge, specialty Chef’s Table restaurant, hair and massage salons, Sun Deck walking track and heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation, highlighted by the launch of the revolutionary AmaMagna. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travelers and families, as well as group and charter options. AmaWaterways.com