FAQs

For The 2024 Soul Train Cruise, proof of vaccination will not be required to sail. We do highly recommend that every guest is fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and boosted (if eligible) at time of sailing.

PER THE HOLLAND AMERICA LINE WEBSITE: Guests will be encouraged to use hand-washing sinks and hand sanitizer dispensers at venue entrances and in high-traffic areas throughout the ship. Public areas and staterooms will be thoroughly and frequently cleaned using a safe disinfectant proven to kill coronaviruses. Ships will have enhanced air filtration with a combination of increased fresh air and upgraded HVAC units with MERV13 (F7) filters throughout. Medical centers will be equipped with COVID-appropriate testing and treatment capabilities. Onboard Medical Centers will have HEPA filtration. We will promptly communicate to our guests any additional information we receive from the cruise line pertaining to health and safety protocols. Additional health and safety guidelines will be available on board and through the Holland America Line Navigator App.

As we continue to review our protocols, we are now able to allow guests using oxygen concentrators or undergoing peritoneal dialysis on our 2024 Soul Train Cruise.

We offer an easy, monthly payment plan to pay for your cabin for the Soul Train Cruise.

To view the details of this plan, click here. 

StarVista LIVE is dedicated to making the payments for cabins as guest-friendly as possible.

*All payments are non-refundable

In addition to admission to all of the amazing performances and onboard events produced by StarVista LIVE, all of the standard items associated with a Holland America Cruise Line are included, which includes but is not limited to meals including 24-hour room service* (except for meals at the specialty restaurants), non-carbonated beverages (i.e. coffee, juice, tea), use of the ship's beautiful pools, and use of the ship's health & fitness center.    

* Additional late-night fees may apply                                 

The price does not include airfare, ground transportation, onboard purchases (i.e. spa services, specialty restaurants, carbonated and bottled beverages, alcoholic beverages, gift shop, etc), gambling, excursions, or travel protection.

Holland America Line does offer drink packages. Please check the Holland America Line site for more information.

StarVista LIVE operates as a charter company contracting with the cruise lines up to two years in advance. Standard stateroom amenities (i.e. robes, yoga mats, sound systems, priority embarkation, etc.) are included as part of the StarVista LIVE cruise. These amenities and services are subject to change. The cruise lines occasionally offer new retail booking promotions (i.e. onboard credit, free internet, drink packages, dining packages, etc.) as enhanced amenities during certain periods of time for some cabin types. Unfortunately, not all the same promotional amenities and services options are available to StarVista LIVE under our contracted agreement and therefore we do not offer them as a standard part of the price of our cabins. If you have questions regarding the amenities and services included with a particular stateroom category, please call our office prior to booking your cabin for confirmation.

All payments made are non-refundable. StarVista LIVE strongly encourages the purchase of Travel Protection. Once you receive your booking confirmation, a link will be provided to purchase Travel Protection from Travel Insured.

The first of the month is the only day on which payments can be made.

Anyone that has ever sailed previously on, or has an active current reservation for, a StarVista LIVE cruise is entitled to Alumni pricing when booking a new StarVista LIVE Cruise. If you’re booking over the phone, just let one of our reservationists know.

If you booked online and need your alumni discount applied to your reservation please email info@soultraincruise.com and provide your full legal name, booking number, and what cruise or cruise(s) you’ve been on with StarVista LIVE and we will add your Alumni discount to your reservation. Please note that in order to receive the discount, you cannot have already paid in full at the time of the application.

We do provide a “Military Rate”. To qualify for our “Military Rate” you must provide a copy of your DD-214 or a military ID.  Please email this to info@soultraincruise.com after booking and the 5% discount will apply to your balance before your first payment installment. Please note that in order to receive the discount, you cannot have already paid in full at the time of the application.

If a particular cabin category is sold out, we encourage you to join our waitlist as we often have cancellations and cabins become available.  You can join our wait list by filling out the form online and your name will automatically be added to our Wait List.  

If cabins open up, you will periodically receive an email stating availability. These cabins will be sold to the first people who contact us to book with priority given to online bookings. It is required that you sign up for a StarVista LIVE account so that you are ready to book online when cabins become available. Due to large demand for waitlist cabins, we cannot guarantee that everyone on the waitlist will get a cabin.

Yes, you can earn points for sailing on the StarVista LIVE cruises. Unfortunately, you cannot redeem any earned perks through your cruise line membership on a StarVista LIVE cruise. If you have questions regarding a specific perk or amenity, you are welcome to contact the cruise line directly. If you speak with the cruise line, please make sure they understand that this is a full-ship charter.

Uplift gives you the freedom to book travel now and pay over time with simple fixed installments. Some plans include interest while some are interest-free. When you’re ready to checkout, just select “Uplift” as your payment method, complete a short application, and receive a quick decision. Choose the terms of your payment plan, finish checking out, and enjoy your purchase. 

U.S. residents 18 years and older and Canada residents 19 years and older can apply for an installment loan through Uplift. Eligibility is based on your credit information and other factors at the time of application. Residents of IA and WV are not eligible. 

Make your cruise reservation on our website just like you normally would. When you are ready to checkout, simply select Uplift as your payment method. You’ll need to provide some basic information like your mobile number, date of birth, and if you are a US resident, your Social Security Number. If you’re approved, finish checking out and you’re done.

We look at a number of factors, including your credit information, purchase details, and more.

You can make a payment anytime by visiting pay.uplift.com and clicking on the Loans tab. From there, click the Make a Payment button.

We recommend that you enable AutoPay at time of purchase so that your payments are automatically deducted each month.

If you don't have AutoPay enabled, visit pay.uplift.com, click on the Accounts page, and set the AutoPay toggle to ON.

You can also change the form of payment on file with Uplift anytime by visiting pay.uplift.com.

Yes! You do need to allow a few days between booking and your departure date for things to process. Other than that, you are free to travel whenever – even before you’re all paid off.

Yes! Uplift is optional and gives you the extra flexibility to pay with term lengths up to 16 months that can extend past your event date.

StarVista LIVE does also offer interest-free monthly billing with final payment due approximately 45 – 60 days prior to the event.

Here is a link to Uplift’s U.S. Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Here is a link to Uplift’s Canada Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

No. Applications to use Uplift to pay over time are only available when you book your reservation online after selecting "Uplift" at checkout.

Uplift can only be added to new reservations at the time of booking.

To reach the Uplift customer support team, you can email support@uplift.com or call (844) 257-5400. StarVista LIVE representatives cannot make any changes to your Uplift payments, so you will have to contact the Uplift support team.

2024 Cruise Dates, Ports and Times

*Ports of call subject to change

** All times are ET

We typically post the departure terminal approximately 6 weeks before the sailing.  Please check the booked guests page on our website on or around 6 weeks before sailing or look out for an email prior to departure for further instruction. Check for signs at the terminal entrance to confirm the ship location on embarkment day to confirm the ship’s location the day of.

StarVista LIVE does not provide transportation from the airport to the hotel or directly to the Pier. For those Guests staying the night before the cruise in our pre-cruise hotel listed on our website, StarVista LIVE offers luggage service and motor coach transportation on the day of the cruise from the hotel to the seaport. We will load your baggage onto the motor coach, and then, under your watchful eye, deliver it to the porters upon arrival at the port. More information and pricing can be found here.

Each night, we schedule shows in The Mainstage at 6:30pm and 9:00pm, respectively. We accommodate every guest at one of these shows. We also schedule additional performances and events in a number of other venues including B.B. King’s Blues Club, The Crow’s Nest, The Ocean Bar, The Pool and The Mainstage as available.

We try to match the artist and their performance with the most appropriate venue, taking into account the entire schedule, so as to afford guests opportunities to see as much entertainment as possible. Factoring in the total number of guests, the volume of performances and activities, and the size of other venues, we do occasionally run into lines and seating pressure. Get a glimpse of The Soul Train Cruise schedule by clicking here.

We manage this to the best of our ability by opening up the venues early when we can, scheduling multiple shows at the same time, adding shows when we can and communicating the schedule so guests can plan their day and evenings. But like many well attended activities (e.g. concerts, sports events, etc.) lines can develop.

Everyone is guaranteed admission to one nightly show in The Mainstage and will see every one of our headliners perform. There will be two nightly shows at approximately 6:30pm and 9:00 pm, respectively, so that each guest sees a show and can be comfortably accommodated for dinner in the main dining room. At the time of reservation, you will select your show time and corresponding dining time. This will remain your set time for the duration of the cruise. Get a glimpse of The Soul Train Cruise schedule by clicking here.

The rest of the many events are set up in a festival environment in the other places to see performances and events throughout the ship. With the numerous shows and activities going on at the same time and different sized venues, some shows will fill up early. It is suggested that you plan in advance what events you would like to attend and arrive as early as you can.

The cruise is a floating music festival and as such, the artist’s performances are the primary focus of the schedule and autograph sessions are not formally scheduled. However, there is opportunity for informal interaction between the artists and guests in several ways. In some of our smaller venues, we encourage the artists, and they often do time permitting, to greet guests and sign or take a picture after the event or show.  Additionally, some artists will bring copies for sale of their latest project (CDs, books, etc.) and when they do, we will often schedule a formal signing around those sales. When this happens, we communicate these events to guests so they can plan their schedules.

Of course with 2,000 guests, the festival nature of the cruise, the artists’ planned schedules (sound check, performances, Q&A sessions, activities, etc.) and our desire to provide as many performances as possible, it is a very busy week that will limit artist availability.

Many of our artists will be onboard the ship for the entire cruise. However, there may be some cases where an artist must join us during the trip or depart early due to schedule or family commitments.

As of October 2022, per Holland America Line, all guests must check-in online for the Soul Train Cruise. You will be sent a unique booking number approximately 6 weeks before the cruise. Once you have this, log in to hollandamerica.com to check-in online. After you complete your online check-in, all guests must complete the Vaccine Attestation, accept the Passage Contract and Risk Acknowledgment forms and complete the online check-in at least 72 hours before embarkation. You also must complete the pre-cruise Health Questionnaire (available 72-24 hours before you embark the ship) as part of the online check-in process. You’ll be asked to reconfirm your answers when arriving at the port. This questionnaire, your boarding pass and your check-in time will be available on the Navigator App.

If you have not yet accepted the Cruise Terms and Conditions, please make sure you do so as soon as possible to ensure that your reservation is not cancelled.  If you are not sure whether or not you have accepted, you can check your terms and conditions status by logging into your account.

Simply log in to your account and look for an “Accept Terms” button under the reservation. If this button appears, you have not accepted the terms and conditions. Click this button and follow the instructions.

If you do not see this button, this means that you have already accepted the terms and conditions. You may also click on View/Modify under your reservation and you will be taken to the Payment page, which will list all of your important information including cabin number, dining time and Terms and Conditions status on the left hand side of your screen.

If you are unable to check-in online for any reason, please call our reservationists.

For United States Citizens:

For United States Citizens: A valid passport book is required for all travel outside of the United States. Passports must not expire within six months after your date of travel in order to be considered valid. For further information and passport requirements, please visit www.state.gov. Passport cards are not acceptable for this charter.

For Non-United States Citizens: You must have a valid passport and any necessary visas for travel. Please carefully verify the existing identification requirements for your particular travel situation with your local consulate. In addition, non-U.S. citizens who have previously been admitted to the United States for permanent residence must carry their Permanent Residence Card (Form I-551), commonly known as a Green Card. Resident aliens not in possession of this must obtain one at the nearest office of the United States Immigration Service.

Visas: Visa requirements vary depending on the passport under which you are traveling and the countries being visited. Guests traveling under non-U.S., non-Canadian and non-European passports must check with the Consulate of every country visited during the cruise for specific Visa requirements. When contacting the Consulate for the country being visited, be sure to provide the complete itinerary of the cruise so the Consulate can provide the correct information as your Schengen Visa requirements. Guests may also contact a Visa service agency in their country for assistance.

Port Everglades offers on-site covered parking for $15 per day. Please follow the signs to the midport garage.

Handicap parking is complimentary only if there are ADA modifications done to the vehicle such as: hand controls, extended pedals, wheelchair ramp, etc. Also, 100% Disabled Veterans with ADA license placard will receive complimentary parking.

For more information go to: https://www.porteverglades.net/cruise/parking/parking-rates/

PREMIER CRUISE PARKING

Self-uncovered parking with free shuttle to cruise ship terminal.

Check back for special discount parking information, coming soon!

For those Guests staying the night before the cruise in our designated hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, we provide luggage service and motor coach transportation on the day of the cruise from the hotel to the seaport. Again, we will load your baggage onto the motorcoach, and then, under your watchful eye, deliver it to the porters upon arrival at the port. To add Hotel Transfers to your existing reservation, simply log in to your StarVista LIVE account and add Hotel Transfers. Call our reservationists at (844)-266-7685 to find out more information about our Hotel Transfers.

Please note this service is only available for those guests staying in our pre-cruise hotel.

We do not provide transportation to or from the airport nor do we provide transportation back to the hotel the day we return from the cruise. Guests will be responsible for this transportation on their own.

For Europe, Australia & New Zealand call 313-565-8888 ext. 4146 and ask about The Soul Train Cruise.  

Yes! StarVista LIVE will provide you with a booking number for use with the cruise line about 6 weeks prior to sailing.  That number will allow you to complete your online check-in, as well as reserve other options, such as shore excursions, restaurant reservations, spa appointments, internet packages, etc. Please note that the reservation number that is printed on your email confirmation is for use with StarVista LIVE only and will not work on the cruise line’s website.

In addition, you will be able to book these activities through the Holland America Navigator App that can be downloaded directly to your smartphone. For more information on the Navigator App, please click here.

We do not allow anyone under 18 to sail on one of our themed cruises. Anyone over 18 but not yet 21 must share a cabin with a companion 21 or older.

We recommend that guests arrive a day earlier than the cruise departs if at all possible, as there may be weather related travel delays. We typically secure a limited number of rooms at a special group rate for guests on the nights leading up to the cruise. Check back for updates on our official pre-cruise hotel.

Often, hotels in the departure port city are extremely limited during this season, so we highly recommend that you reserve your hotel accommodations early.

If you are planning to arrive the day of embarkation, we highly recommend arriving before noon.

Drink packages are available through the cruise line and can be purchased through them once you have your cruise line booking number which we will send to you approximately 6 weeks prior to our sailing. Please refer to the Holland America Line Website for the details.

Each cruise line has various internet packages and you can buy one directly from them once you have your cruise line booking number which we will send to you about 6 weeks prior to the sailing. Please refer to the Holland America Line Website for the details.

Alcohol: StarVista LIVE abides by the applicable cruise line’s alcohol policy. Please refer to the Holland America Line’s website for the details.

NOTE per Holland America Line as of June 2021, guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages on board for consumption or any other use except as follows: 

• Guests 21 years and older may bring Wine and Champagne onboard, however a corkage fee of USD $20.00 (which is subject to change without notice) will be applied to each bottle (max 750 ml in volume or less). Limitations apply. Wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused. 
• Wine purchased during company-sponsored shore excursions that visit local wineries are exempt from the on-board corkage fee (offer limited to one bottle of wine per person). 

Soda & Water: StarVista LIVE abides by the applicable cruise line’s soda and water policy. Please refer to the Holland America Line’s website for the details.

NOTE per Holland America Line as of June 2021: Items such as sodas, energy drinks or other non-alcoholic items are not allowed on board in any form. Plastic water bottles are not allowed. However, an allowance of six liters, twelve (12) cans or cartons (500 ml in volume or less) or six (6) cans or cartons (1 liter in volume or less) of water are allowed per stateroom.  Any amount in excess of this allowance will be not be allowed onboard. Water in plastic bottles will not be allowed onboard in any quantity, including in ports of call. Guests will be asked to discard open beverages in plastic containers prior to boarding.   

These policies are subject to change at any time without notification. For more information please contact Holland America Line directly.

The overall dress for the cruise is “smart casual”.

Daytime attire is not subject to limitations, so guests may dress in appropriate and tasteful clothing of their choosing. Cover-ups and footwear are required in all venues and dining areas.

Evening attire is casual attire. Casual attire is upscale clothing typically worn at fine resorts (sometimes called “smart” or “resort” casual), but no shorts, tank tops or t-shirts.  Denim is acceptable attire on this cruise.

On the Soul Train Cruise we like to dress to reflect our feelings about the music of this cruise.  Our late night themes offer you a chance to dress up in theme-appropriate clothing most nights. More information on nightly themes will be released approximately 6 weeks prior to sailing and will be listed on our website.

You may change your traveling companion up until final payment free of charge. After final payment, there is a $150 change fee up until two weeks before sailing. Changes less than two weeks before sailing cannot be accommodated. All parties involved must be aware of the changes occurring so all guests must send an email acknowledging any changes. Please send your emails to info@soultraincruise.com.

We highly recommend that you select a flight that leaves no earlier than 12 pm from Ft. Lauderdale International Airport and 12:30 pm from Miami International Airport.

Travel Protection can help protect you and your travel investment and can help provide coverage for unforeseen circumstances during your trip. Plans include coverages for Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Baggage & Personal Effects, Accident & Sickness Medical Expense, and more. We encourage you to contact our provider, Travel Insured International, at 800-243-3174 or www.travelinsured.com to find a plan that works for you. 

The cost for your Travel Protection plan is dependent upon several factors, which may include your per-person trip cost, your place of residence, and your age. We encourage you to contact our provider, Travel Insured International, at 800-243-3174 or www.travelinsured.com to review plan options and related costs.

You can contact our provider, Travel Insured International, at 800-243-3174 or www.travelinsured.com. Be sure to mention your trip dates and that you are traveling on a StarVista LIVE cruise.

Yes, you can contact our provider, Travel Insured International, at 800-243-3174 or www.travelinsured.com to see what plans are still available for you. You can also log into your StarVista LIVE account, go to My Reservations, and a button will appear with more information on how to get a travel protection quote.

Guests with any mobility needs, severe allergies, respiratory needs, and other accessibility requirements who are booked on our 2024 cruise must enroll in our SAFE program by filling out the form below before November 1, 2023.

Click here to fill out our Special Assistance Form

Guests who require a handicap accessible room should give our office a call to check availability and book directly with one of our helpful reservationists. Please have appropriate documentation available to confirm your booking need. Please note we have a limited amount of handicapped accessible rooms, so inquire early. A waitlist will be available in the event that all of our handicapped accessible rooms are sold out.

Holland America Line is committed to providing safe, easy, and accessible accommodations for all persons with disabilities, to the extent that is feasible. Accessibility information can be found through Holland America Line.

The occupancy limit varies by cabin, some of which can accommodate 3 or 4 guests. Please note that the cabin size will stay the same regardless of how many guests are booked. In most cases, a convertible sofa bed is provided for the 3rd guest. A 4th occupant will be sleeping on a Pullman (trundle) bed that folds down from the ceiling. This guest must have the physical dexterity to climb up to the bunk bed.

Guests traveling by themselves are certainly welcome! There is a small selection of inside cabins that are priced at a special single rate. If those are sold out, single guests may reserve any other stateroom and the cost will be doubled (this is known as the “single supplement”). If you are looking for a roommate we can provide a list of names and you would contact them directly to arrange your own partnership. We will help organize the reservation when you both are ready.

You are welcome to select a new cabin as available.  If the cabin you would like is sold out, please contact us at (844) 266-7685 and we can add your name to the Wait List. If one opens up, we will notify you by email  and you will need to book a new cabin online.  You should then call the office and your current reservation will be applied to the new upgraded booking.

Next year’s cruise will open for public sale shortly after this year's cruise returns. Keep in mind that the current guests have the ability to rebook for the following year, so inventory may be limited upon return. Check back to the website often for more specific details and get on our email list to learn about any pre-sale opportunities.

StarVista LIVE, through its dedicated reservation department, provides an opportunity for registered Travel Agents to book guests on our unique theme music cruises and be significantly compensated for that effort.  For more information visit the Travel Agent page on our website.

The smoking policy designates all interior space, including staterooms and casino, as non-smoking areas. This includes cigarettes, cigars and pipes. Electronic cigarettes are allowed in staterooms (because they do not leave any residual odor) but cannot be used in public areas. Anyone who violates the ban on smoking in the staterooms will be charged a $250 cleaning fee. No smoking of any kind will be permitted on stateroom balconies.                                                           

For guests who wish to smoke, there will be a designated area available for smoking outside on Deck 9, Sea View Bar and Pool. Clearly marked “Designated Smoking Area,” the area includes a sufficient number of ashtrays that are emptied regularly. Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted in the Designated Smoking Area.

Holland America Line reserves the right to modify the smoking policy onboard or alter the locations where smoking is permissible at any time. Please refer to the Holland America Line website for any other information.

While we often conduct vow renewal ceremonies onboard our cruise, we cannot offer opportunities for wedding ceremonies at this time. Guests are welcome to choose to get married on land at a port of call during the sailing, but this is not something that StarVista LIVE or the cruise line is able to assist with. Congrats to you and yours!

If your stateroom is close to one of our main venues, you may be able to hear performances. Please be advised that some performances occur past 10 PM. Cabins near stairwells, the main dining room, and the pool can also be subject to operational sound.