The Big Easy Cruise: A Feast of Louisiana Music and Food

What could possibly be more fun than a weeklong music cruise where all the performers have a kinship to the jubilant music of New Orleans and Louisiana? A chance to indulge in some delicious Louisiana eats along the way! That's exactly what is being offered during the Big Easy Cruise, a sailing that'll take place Jan. 5-12, 2025 aboard the Holland America Line ship Nieuw Amsterdam with musical stars like Keb' Mo', Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Louisiana's LeRoux and Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers among the featured acts. The Nieuw Amsterdam will sail from Ft. Lauderdale and call at Key West, Florida, Belize City, Belize and Cozumel, Mexico. And for a tasty lagniappe, renowned New Orleans chef Kevin Belton will be aboard offering cooking classes and more.

The Big Easy Cruise is produced by StarVista LIVE, the same folks who bring fans the Flower Power Cruise, the Soul Train Cruise, the '70s Rock & Romance Cruise, the Country Music Cruise, the Ultimate Disco Cruise and several others. Fans can always count on each cruise having a stellar lineup of performers and the roster for the Big Easy Cruise is outstanding. Besides the artists mentioned above, also scheduled to perform are: The Allman Betts Band, Tab Benoit, Tin Men, Bonerama, Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, Blind Boys of Alabama, Johnny Sansone, Anders Osborne, Marcia Ball, The Soul Rebels, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, John Boutte, Sugaray Rayford, Bender Brass Band, Chambers Deslauriers, John "Papa" Gros, Sierra Green and the Giants, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and J'Wan Boudreaux. Wow, what a gumbo! Also on board will be famed New Orleans artist Frenchy and New Orleans' own burlesque queen Trixie Minx presenting her burlesque show. The Big Easy Cruise will be co-hosted by Cole Williams and New Orleans music journalist Keith Spera.

All told the Big Easy Cruise will present more than 75 live performances and give fans more than 20 interactive artist events to participate in. And of course there's tons of fun to be had ashore when the Nieuw Amsterdam makes port in Key West, Belize City and Cozumel as well of lots of additional things to do on the ship including multiple choices for fine dining.

For more information and to book your cabin aboard the Big Easy Cruise go here.

Share this article