While We Are At Sea

Though we are at sea for the next several weeks (January 28 – February 25), please know that while some of us are away, our office will be open during normal business hours, our email lines will be open and the websites for each of our cruise programs will be available 24/7.

These services are available to guests who have questions about their upcoming ’25 Sailings and those who wish to complete or discuss a ’26 Reservation. To contact us, you may choose among the following:

  Call the Office: 
Toll Free US & Canada – 888.852.9987
Toll Free International – 01.800.852.99872
Monday – Thursday: 10 AM ET – 6 PM ET
Friday: 10 AM ET – 5 PM ET

Inquire by E – Mail:
info@scecruises.com

Learn More or Make a Reservation:
www.scecruises.com or review SCE Brand Book
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Stateroom Availability

With 13 active cruise programs, it is difficult to keep up with Stateroom Availability. To assist you with your planning, below is a chart that we will update weekly in The Weekender. 

Cruise Programs 2025

Cruise Programs 2026

Hot Offers

Inside Staterooms are available on Journey of Jazz ’25. From now through February 28, you can reserve an Inside Stateroom on the cruise for under $2,000/person. Reservations are based upon double occupancy, available for new reservations only and non-commissionable. Further, this discount may not be combined with any other offer (Promo Code: ATSEA).

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.2 has been fully reserved for months. Guests do cancel their reservations for various reasons and we place those staterooms with guests on the Wait List. If you are on the Wait List or wish to reserve a stateroom for one of these sailings, call the office for availability and pricing.

Sullivan Fortner’s Southern Nights

The pianist Sullivan Fortner, who was a big hit during the last two weeks with our guests sailing on The Jazz Cruise and Botti at Sea, has just released Southern Nights, his fifth album as a leader. 

Recorded live at the iconic Village Vanguard in NYC, the album features a wide-ranging repertoire, including tunes by Allen Toussaint and Clifford Brown, and tributes to Sullivan’s late mentor Bill Lee and Lee’s sister, the underappreciated pianist and educator Consuela Lee, as well as an original from Sullivan. Accompanied by bassist Peter Washington and drummer Marcus Gilmore, Sullivan celebrates his roots in the Crescent City.

“New Orleans is at the top of the Caribbean,” he explains. “It’s definitely not America. The Spanish and Caribbean influences run deep, and you can hear that in the music.”

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Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs

JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’25
Limited Time Promotional Pricing

Now through February 28, or until fully reserved, promotional pricing is available on Inside Staterooms for Journey of Jazz! Make your reservation today using promo code ATSEA for significant savings*! Exciting land-based concerts and excursions are also available! *Discount applies to new reservations only. 

BOOK NOW

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HOMECOMING: THE CRUISE ’26
Open Booking Now Available!

Join us for a celebration of HBCUs and inspired by the tradition of the Divine Nine Challenge from recent sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Sailing January 15 – 20, 2026 (including MLK Day), this cruise will deliver Excellence, Education and Entertainment. ALLBLK’s Homecoming: The Cruise is produced in association with the National HBCU Alumni Alliance and features Babyface, Chanté Moore, Take 6 and more! The best part is that we will award over $200,000 in scholarships to deserving organizations. Reserve Your Stateroom Today! 

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CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE’S WORLD AT SEA
Open Booking Now Available!

9X GRAMMY® winner Christian McBride will host our newest Signature Jazz Cruises’ program, Christian McBride’s World at Sea! The cruise will feature legions of musicians who comprise the various ensembles that are the hallmarks of Christian’s music world AND first-class comedy talent. See the full lineup here!

Open Booking has begun! Reserve your stateroom today! 

BOOK NOW

THE JAZZ CRUISE ’26
Open Booking Starts February 19!

Hailed as “Jazz Heaven” by musicians and guests alike, The Jazz Cruise ’26 lineup will feature some of the most iconic musicians from the straight-ahead jazz genre. See the full lineup here.  Guests who registered for the Pre-Sail are selecting their staterooms now, and Open Booking will begin on February 19!

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THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.1 & 26.2
Open Booking Now Available

 The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are in Open Booking (anyone may reserve any available stateroom) and staterooms are more than 85% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

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THE TOP SHELF COUNTRY CRUISE
Headline Artist Just Announced – Keith Urban

Fans of the country genre love the music that represents the simple, humble American lifestyle and they love to party. Top Shelf Country Cruise brings these ideas together on a luxury ship for one unforgettable week, February 27 – March 6, 2026! The inaugural sailing will feature headline artist Keith Urban and widely popular personalities from iHeartMedia’s The Bobby Bones Show, led by Bobby Bones himself. Pre-Sail reservations are open now through tomorrow, February 9! Visit topshelfcountrycruise.com for more information and join the Pre-Sail today! 

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THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3
Open Booking Now Available

For the first time in many years, The Smooth Jazz Cruise will sail on the West Coast, embarking in Vancouver, sailing to Victoria and San Francisco before disembarking in Los Angeles. Exciting land excursions will be available in the ports-of-call! The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is in Open Booking! Anyone may now reserve any available stateroom.

BOOK NOW

BOTTI AT SEA’25 is Fully Reserved!
Pre-Sail Reservations Accepted Until February 11!
Open Booking Begins February 28

We’re thrilled to be able to announce that Boz Scaggs, Elvis Costello and Melody Gardot will be onboard the Botti at Sea ’26 . Of course, Chris Botti will be there with his very talented band and, as always, we will fill the remaining performance slots with a variety of great music, comedy and more. Establish your priority for reserving a stateroom NOW by joining the Pre-Sail. 

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Mug Shot of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise, @bottiatsea, @thesmoothjazzcruise, #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post Our Take: From Botti to Smooth appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

The recognition for Dianne and Dee Dee can be justified easily. There are only three living female vocalists who are NEA Jazz Masters: Dianne, Dee Dee and Sheila Jordan. Dianne and Dee Dee continue to perform at the highest possible level and are in demand perhaps more than ever. In reviewing the list of NEA Jazz Masters, one is struck by how few musicians who have climbed to the top of the jazz world continue to be a part of the jazz scene today.

Jazz Cruises is proud to include a large number of NEA Jazz Masters still on the scene in its list of current and past on-cruise performers: Roy Haynes (99), Benny Golson (95), Dick Hyman (97), Herbie Hancock, Paquito D’Rivera, George Benson, Kenny Barron, Cedar Walton, Hubert Laws, Wynton Marsalis, Charles Lloyd, Jack DeJohnette, Ron Carter, Gary Burton, Lou Donaldson, Eddie Palmieri, Pat Metheny, Regina Carter, Terence Blanchard and Chucho Valdes. The list of NEA Jazz Masters who performed on a Jazz Cruises’ program prior to their passing is equally impressive: Clark Terry, James Moody, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Heath, Chick Corea, Ramsey Lewis, Phil Woods, Jimmy Cobb, Johnny Mandel, George Wein and Dr. Lonnie Smith.

Cruisers on The Smooth Jazz Cruises may know that Dianne Reeve’s cousin was George Duke and his influence on her career during her formative years in Denver were significant. Fans of The Weekender know that I have long since put Mr. Duke on one of the highest pedestals we have. From a talent, intellectual and human perspective, he had it all. She has shared with me her gratitude to George for teaching her how to be a professional performer. But it is that voice that has captured my allegiance. So pure. So melodious. And, like all the greats, the lyrics matter to her. She is telling you a story with every song.

Dee Dee Bridgewater was the first “star” ever to perform on a Jazz Cruises’ program. For that alone, she will forever be special to us. But there is so much more. She is a performer and entertainer as well as a singer. Her time on stage as an actor has added a dramatic element to her singing style. Never too much, she knows how to make something work with the greatest of ease while never allowing the theatrical elements to obfuscate the importance of the song. There are many vocalists who you cannot stop listening to. With Dee Dee, you also cannot take your eyes from her performances. The combination of song and visual art is unbeatable.

Diana Krall is not an NEA Jazz Master. She might be later, but her claim to be the G.L.O.V.E. is due to the impact of her music and her performances on jazz fans and non-jazz fans alike. Folks who think “bebop” is a form of pickleball know who Diana Krall is. She has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide and Billboard magazine named her the second greatest jazz artist of the decade (2000–2009), establishing her as one of the best-selling artists of her time. She has “it,” whether that is good looks, sultry style, marriage to Elvis Costello or simply the enjoyment of a great piano player singing great songs, Diana Krall is a force.

Dianne will be sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’25. Diana will be on Botti at Sea ’25. Dee Dee will make our Journey of Jazz ’25 cruise amazing. They are not the only female vocalists on our cruises in ’25. Patti Austin will be making a starring role on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25. Her long overdue return to the cruise is exciting our fans. Judith Hill will be there as well. Catherine Russell and Ann Hampton Callaway will ignite The Jazz Cruise ’25. Katharine McPhee and esperanza spalding are on Botti at Sea ’25 and the very gifted Cecile McLorin Salvant joins us for Journey of Jazz ’25 along with Dee Dee.

Female vocalists have defined the image of jazz for decades. That trend is alive and well today among whomever you may decide is the G.L.O.V.E. Just remember, if you are looking for more information about the history of the G.L.O.V.E., you will be disappointed. There is none, but I am working on a petition to the NEA to establish the G.L.O.V.E. as an annual award. Who knows, perhaps we could have the ceremony on one of our cruises. We’re excited for Dianne Reeves, Diana Krall and Dee Dee Bridgewater to join us aboard….the G.L.O.V.E. Boat!

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

Journey of Jazz ’25 Excursions Launch

When Jazz Cruises first announced its plans for a West Coast sailing (Journey of Jazz), we promised special excursions for the day we have in Victoria, British Columbia and for the two days and one night we are docked in San Francisco. After weeks and weeks of nailing down the details for the excursions, we are nearly ready to share the options with our guests.

Soon, perhaps as early as next week, guests on Journey of Jazz will have their opportunity to select among the following very special excursions and events.

In Victoria on 09.13.25:
o Afternoon Concert at McPherson Playhouse featuring Warren Wolf‘s History of Vibes
o Culinary/Dining Experience with Michael Bauer, former Food Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle
o Whale Watching & Wildlife Tour
o Tour of Craigdarroch Castle & The Butchart Gardens

In San Francisco on 09.16.25:
o Tours of selected famous wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valleys
o Luncheon and wine tasting on the Napa Valley Wine Train (100% chartered by Jazz Cruises)
o Culinary/Dining Experience with Michael Bauer, former Food Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle
o Afternoon Concert at SFJAZZ auditorium featuring the SFJAZZ Collective (Chris Potter, David Sanchez, Mike Rodriguez, Warren Wolf, Edward Simon, Matt Brewer and Kendrick Scott)
o Special Tours of San Francisco

In San Francisco on 09.17.25:
o Tours of selected famous wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valleys
o Culinary/Dining Experience with Michael Bauer, former Food Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle
o Afternoon Concert at SFJAZZ auditorium featuring Ron Carter, Renee Rosnes, Jimmy Greene and Payton Crossley
o Special Tours of San Francisco

Each tour and event have been curated by Jazz Cruises for its guests and made available to guests at cost, with no fee or surcharge applied. In its 25-year history of producing cruises, Jazz Cruises has rarely offered its own on-land excursions. That Journey of Jazz is docked all day in the idyllic town of Victoria and will overnight in San Francisco, one of the most exciting cities in the world, has provided the impetus for this unprecedented addition to this Jazz Cruises’ program.

Almost all excursions have limited availability, so we urge guests to make their reservations and selections as soon as the “menu” is made available. If you have not yet completed your reservation for the cruise, you have time to do so before the on land events are made available.

25-25-25-25-25
The Jazz Cruise ’25 Update

The Jazz Cruise ’25, which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary, has only 25 Veranda Staterooms and 25 Inside Staterooms remaining. The story is just that simple. To make it even simpler, we are extending the SUMMERBREAK special prices for the remaining Inside Staterooms for another 25 days, giving everyone until August 14th (or while rooms last) to complete their reservations.

Vincent Ingala’s Escape With Me

Just out this week is a new album by a longtime favorite of our guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Saxophonist (and multi-instrumentalist) Vincent Ingala has released Escape With Me, his eighth album as a leader, on Shanachie Entertainment. The recording features a cameo appearance by vocalist Lindsey Webster, who sings a duet with Vincent on a cover of the dance hit “Free.”

Vincent is quick to point to the major influences on his own evolving sound. “There are countless saxophonists that have shaped my influences over the years, the main three for me have always been Sam Butera, Wilton Felder and Gato Barbieri,” he says. “I remember hearing Sam Butera’s saxophone solo on ‘Oh Marie’ on the car radio one day while my cousin was driving us around, and immediately knowing that I wanted to play tenor sax. He is one of the most underrated saxophonists of all time.”

Alonzo Bodden on the Yosemite Jazz Train

Yosemite National Park in California is one of the country’s most popular national parks with its waterfalls, deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias and a vast wilderness area within its 1,200 square miles. Right outside the park, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad offers scenic train trips through the Sierra National Forest. And, on select Sundays this summer and fall, they’re also offering a three-hour trip on the Yosemite Jazz Train, featuring performances by some special artists, including our own Alonzo Bodden (July 28), as well as David Benoit (August 9), Keiko Matsui (September 15) and Hiroshima (September 29).

Alonzo told us that he’s going to turn the Jazz Train into a Comedy Train for that one day. And that he’ll improvise a bit to keep it jazzy. He promises that no bears will be in attendance.

Brian Culbertson’s Jazz Getaway – It’s a Vibe!

Music – Food – Wine – Community

Brian Culbertson knows how to throw a party! It is time to plan your vacation, and Jazz Getaway has you covered with three uniquely incredible locations.

This September in Chicago, Brian Culbertson hosts Peabo Bryson, Avery*Sunshine, Najee, Eric Darius and more. Single Day tickets are on sale now!

Next March, Jazz Getaway is bringing the party to The Big Easy with the 2nd Annual New Orleans Jazz Getaway. Take the hassle out of your travel and stay at the luxurious host hotel, the JW Marriot, the site of our Welcome Dinner, with the Platinum package. The Platinum package includes floor seats to the Main Concert events at Civic Theatre, plus shuttles to and from the show.

Finally next June, the 12th Annual Napa Valley Jazz Getaway returns to the Meritage Resort and Westin Verasa Napa. Don’t miss all three nights of concerts with the SILVER package. Plus, ticket holders get exclusive access to a discounted room block at the Meritage Resort.

Signature Cruise Experiences’ ’25 Programs

1-Day Tickets to STL Jazz Fest
Are on Sale Now!

1-Day tickets for STL Jazz Fest are now on sale! For details about the festival and information on how to purchase tickets, see below:

STL JAZZ FEST
Produced by Jazz Cruises
The Factory – Chesterfield (St. Louis) Missouri

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2024
Eric Marienthal Quintet, featuring Niki Haris
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
GREGORY PORTER

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2024
Mindi Abair with Eric Marienthal & Friends
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
BRIAN CULBERTSON

Doors 6 PM / Showtime 7 PM

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: Dianne, Diana & Dee Dee appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Our corner of the world is still embracing the loss of David Sanborn. As shared before, knowing that you will never see him perform live again is difficult to absorb. Though their “playing days” are long in the past, the deaths of Willie Mays (Greatest Baseball Player) and Jerry West (The Logo) conjure up memories from my youth and adolescence. I appreciate those who are not snickering by that statement as many are waiting for the real termination date of my adolescence. All I can say is “good luck with that.” As their nicknames connote, their passing is more than just the passing of an athlete. 

Seeing all the advertisements coming our way, the summer jazz festival season is in high gear. Calling out a few festivals is dangerous as we will undoubtedly miss one or two important shows, but we are throwing caution to the wind and going for it. Our good friend, Christian McBride, is curating the Newport Jazz Festival, August 2 – 4, which features many Jazz Cruises’ performers. Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, Samara Joy, Artemis, Ravi Coltrane, Kenny Barron, Anat Cohen and Gerald Clayton will be there along with Christian’s Jam Jawn, an all-star group that features Russell Gunn, Christian Sands and one of our (and mine) favorite performers in the world, Dianne Reeves.

Newport Jazz Festival has so many special memories for us at Jazz Cruises. It was the first “must see” festival of my life. Besides being the site of some of the most famous jazz performances in the history of the genre, I spent four years of my life in college near there, so the aura of being there is overwhelming. Newport is also the home of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Jazz and tennis. If Newport becomes a Major League Baseball town, I will move in a heartbeat.

Labor Day Weekend brings us both the Detroit Jazz Festival and the Vail Jazz Party. Here again, the lineups include many, many Jazz Cruises’ regulars and special guests. In Detroit, you can see and hear Christian McBride & Inside Straight, Ravi Coltrane, Monty Alexander, Billy Childs, Marquis Hill, Nate Smith and Isaiah J. Thompson. There is no charge for this event which makes it one of the most amazing opportunities to enjoy jazz simply by showing up!

Detroit has special meaning as well for us. After spending four years near Newport, I spent the next three years near Detroit. Now, they have a baseball team, but the town is not known for tennis and is too cold in the winter to live there year around. Aubrey and Brad Pavlik, our Chief of Staff and Director of Cruise Operations, respectively, also reside near Detroit.

The Vail Jazz Party, the iconic jazz event curated for years by the late Howard Stone and his wife, Cathy, has been a part of Jazz Cruises’ lore forever! As I have shared before, the end of this event each year was the signal of beginning for our cruise season programming for the next set of cruises. Always inspiring, Vail Jazz Party is special to us and to its many followers. The ’24 edition features John Clayton, Lewis Nash, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, Dick Oatts, Bill Cunliffe, James Morrison, Ann Hampton Callaway and Niki Haris. I love being in Vail, but, as I age, the altitude effect makes it difficult for me, leaving Vail on the “visit” and not on the “residence” list.

Yes, I poke fun at St. Louis, my hometown, for there are many reasons not to live here, but we have Major League Baseball (Cardinals), an amazing jazz tradition (Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Clark Terry and many more) and a sterling tennis history as well. What is the tennis history in St. Louis, you are asking? St. Louis was the birthplace of Dwight F. Davis, founder of the international tennis competition that bears his name, Davis Cup.

Davis was the Assistant Secretary of War from 1923 to 1925 and Secretary of War from 1925 to 1929. His grandfather and cousin were Mayors of St. Louis. His tennis prowess is evidenced by being the runner up in the US Championships in 1989 and 1899, being the intercollegiate singles champion (Harvard) in 1899 and a runner up in Men’s Doubles at Wimbledon in 1901.

Which brings me back to what I am doing now, which is preparing for my first ever visit to Wimbledon, which will be tomorrow. London has jazz for sure and we will be at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in a few days to see Marcus Miller perform. Small world, right? No need to think about moving to London. Yes, they have jazz and tennis, but it will be a long time before Major League Baseball makes it over here.

Cricket? Seriously, can anyone explain to me why that sport is entertaining? Plus, I have been told that you cannot buy a hot dog at a cricket match!

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com

New Music

Recently, two young pianists who have performed in the past on The Jazz Cruise released new albums.

Brandon Goldberg’s Live at Dizzy’s

Pianist Brandon Goldberg first played on The Jazz Cruise as a guest when he was just 9 years old. The now 18-year-old will sail and perform on The Jazz Cruise ’25 as a contracted performer. Brandon recently released the album Live at Dizzy’s on the Cellar Music Group label. Recorded with Ben Wolfe (bass) and Aaron Kimmel (drums), Brandon’s trio concept is grounded in the great piano trios of the 1950s and 1960s. Drawing on the influence of legends such as Ahmad Jamal, Red Garland, Oscar Peterson and Sonny Clark, Brandon’s arrangements and compositions seek to pay homage to his predecessors through both tasteful renditions and intentional curation. Live at Dizzy’s presents the trio’s modernized take on the music of these historic trios while still giving respect to the pianists and traditions of those by whom Brandon was inspired.

Julius Rodriguez’s Evergreen

Pianist Julius Rodriguez sailed with us on The Jazz Cruise earlier this year as a member of Kurt Elling’s band. Already in his young career, Julius has played with a wide range of jazz (and jazz-leaning) artists, such as Carmen Lundy, Lakecia Benjamin, Joe Farnsworth, Meshell Ndegeocello, Macy Gray, Morgan James, Wynton Marsalis and the late Roy Hargrove. His latest album, Evergreen, released on Verve, is an eclectic and often electric project that showcases his versatility and virtuosity on keyboards. The recording features special guests Keyon Harrold, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Nate Mercereau.

I kept seeing the word Evergreen everywhere,” he explains. “I looked up the definition, and it struck me. An ‘Evergreen’ is a plant whose foliage remains functional for all seasons. That’s similar to how I like to be; I want to be myself no matter the genre I’m playing or what’s going on around me. There are a lot of styles on this record, but it’s recognizably my voice.”

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary
The Last 70 Staterooms…Act Now! 

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 94% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that anyone may reserve any available stateroom. The remaining inventory, totaling just under 70 staterooms, includes Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade
Both Sailings Fully Reserved

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST. WAITLIST guests qualify for special terms when reserving a stateroom on The Jazz Cruise ’25 or Botti at Sea II.

JOIN WAITLIST

1-Day Tickets to STL Jazz Fest are On Sale Now!

Mug Shots

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: Odds and Ends appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

New Music

Two artists who have sailed on several of our programs have just released new albums. We hope you will give them a listen.

Etienne Charles’ Creole Orchestra

With Creole Orchestra, his 10th album as a leader and first for a large ensemble, trumpeter/composer/arranger (and Trinidad native) Etienne Charles delivers a mix of creole flavors, channeling a cross section of energies from reggae and soca dancehalls to hip-hop and then back in time to the swinging days of the Savoy Ballroom. Showcased on the new album are the Haitian-American rhythm section tandem of drummer Obed Calvaire and bassist Jonathan Michel, as well as pianist Sullivan Fortner, trumpeter Giveton Gelin, saxophonist Godwin Louis, and cuatro maestro Jorge Glem. Vocalist Rene Marie makes a guest star appearance on three tracks, including two of her own compositions.

The history of big band influence in the Caribbean stems from the establishment of two U.S. naval bases on Trinidad during World War II. Along with the military bases came Trinidad’s first radio station, “and the music played was big band music, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington,” said Etienne. “You immediately started hearing mini-big band arrangements mimicking the Ellington and Miller styles on Trinidadian calypso recordings.” 

Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble

Also released this week was drummer/composer Matt Wilson’s latest album which celebrates the legacy of John Lewis. Standing on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama 55 years to the day after he was nearly killed while marching for Civil Rights, Congressman John Lewis urged the crowd to, “Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” Those words have inspired countless Americans in the last few years, Wilson among them.

“I tend to think about what we do as musicians as ‘good trouble,’” Wilson says. “We want to be provocative, we want to make statements, we want to open doors for people. Representative Lewis’ words inspire people to do what they can do from where they are. I’m not an elected official, but there are things we can do with just good deeds.” That mission drives the music on Good Trouble, which also debuts a new quintet, also christened Good Trouble, which features a blend of longtime collaborators and new acquaintances: alto saxophonist Tia Fuller, tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Jeff Lederer, pianist and vocalist Dawn Clement and bassist Ben Allison.

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary
The Last 90 Staterooms…Act Now!

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 92% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that anyone may reserve any available stateroom. The remaining inventory, totaling 90+ staterooms, includes Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade
Both Sailings Fully Reserved

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST. WAITLIST guests qualify for special terms when reserving a stateroom on The Jazz Cruise ’25 or Botti at Sea II.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town
New Performer – Diana Krall!

Botti at Sea II is over 65% reserved. Anyone may reserve an available stateroom by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online. It was this time last year that there was a “run” on staterooms, so act now! Diana Krall just added to the lineup! 

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
Reserve Now – Land Events Menu Soon 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, is in Open Booking. Though not sailing for 15 months, the cruise is more than 65% reserved. Menu of land-based events in Victoria and San Francisco to be announced in late July! Reserve your stateroom now to be eligible for events at that time. 

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: The Circle of Jazz appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.