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WINDSTAR CRUISES Windstar sails to Costa Rica, Belize, and the Panama Canal and docks in ports such as Cartagena, Colombia, and places filled with cultural traditions. Windstar works with

local vendors to support the communities and create sustainable commerce by sourcing everything from rum-spiced cakes from small bakeries in the Caribbean to turndown amenities aboard their

ships. “Our goal is to elevate local brands that our guests may not be familiar with, and also ensure our spend and dollars impact the community where we sail,” says Sally Spaulding,

Windstar’s account director. In Roseau, Dominica, travelers spend a day with a local family, creating traditional dishes using local produce with Dominican flavors.  COST: Windstar Cruises’

7-Day “Panama Canal, Cartagena, San Blas Islands & More” itinerary is $3,021 for all-inclusive, or $2,398 for cruise only. Travelers who participate in a safari excursion while sailing

on a 49-day Holland America cruise stay at Thornybush Game Lodge. Courtesy Holland America HOLLAND AMERICA Holland America’s “49-Day Grand World Voyage” extends the African diaspora

experience for those excited to see and do more. With port stops in South Africa, safari excursions take cruisers into the wild. Guests leave the ship in Durban for a four- to five-day

inland stay to experience wildlife and see Victoria Falls, says Melissa Wheeler, public relations specialist for Holland America. Those who disembarked for that excursion then rejoin the

ship in Cape Town. This excursion includes accommodations at Thornybush Game Lodge within Kruger National Park, viewing Africa’s Big Five game — lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants and

African buffalo — in 4x4 vehicles, or stretching your comfort zone with a safari on foot. COST: Holland America’s “49-Day Grand World Voyage” sets sail in March 2025 with fares starting at

$8,609.  SEABOURN Sailing around the West Coast of Africa on Seabourn’s African itineraries can take you to ports with meaningful ties to the African American community. The “31-Day

Enchanting West African Shores” itinerary offers a rich history and stories for travelers. In Benin, an old Portuguese fortress that was part of the slave trade or Senegal’s House of Slaves

on Gorée Island, can be an emotional experience for those who stand in what is called “the Door of No Return.” For nature lovers, walk along Namibia’s Namib Desert dunes where each step

brings you closer to the sea.