SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES Archives - Signature Cruise Experiences https://dev.scecruises.com/tag/signature-jazz-cruises/ The Gold Standard for Charter Theme Cruises Since 2001 Fri, 28 Mar 2025 15:45:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://dev.scecruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cropped-web-app-manifest-512x512-1-32x32.png SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES Archives - Signature Cruise Experiences https://dev.scecruises.com/tag/signature-jazz-cruises/ 32 32 Our Take: Oscar Peterson at 100 https://dev.scecruises.com/2025/03/24/our-take-oscar-peterson-at-100/ Mon, 24 Mar 2025 13:40:01 +0000 https://scecruises.com/?p=8561 Oscar Peterson celebrates his Centennial Birthday in 2025. The Canadian born jazz pianist is considered one of the top pianists of all time by most fans and the greatest of all time by many. I own virtually every recording Oscar Peterson made. At work, often, I will start playing his music from the time I arrive until […]

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]]> Oscar Peterson celebrates his Centennial Birthday in 2025. The Canadian born jazz pianist is considered one of the top pianists of all time by most fans and the greatest of all time by many. I own virtually every recording Oscar Peterson made. At work, often, I will start playing his music from the time I arrive until late in the afternoon. On those days, I do not achieve much, but I am somewhat more enjoyable to be around. In life, there are choices.

Peterson won 8 GRAMMY® Awards and was heralded by his peers as the “Maharaja of the Keyboard,” a name bestowed upon him by Duke Ellington. The number of awards and honors he earned are countless and his days with Ray Brown and Herb Ellis are considered by many to be the height of his career and jazz royalty.

Often compared to Art Tatum, Peterson was intimidated by Tatum’s skills. He would walk away when folks made the comparison even when done so as the ultimate compliment. Eventually they would become good friends though Peterson would seldom perform in Tatum’s presence.

My admiration of Peterson is a simple person’s love of music, particularly the piano. His sound was complex, but you can hear each note. As UCLA Bruin Basketball coach John Wooden would have said, Peterson was quick, but not in a hurry. Not sure how I decided to use an NCAA basketball coach quote. It must have something to do with March Madness!

When I hear the name Oscar Peterson, besides longing to hear him play, two thoughts come to mind. The first was an experience many years ago. I was visiting the home of Arturo Sandoval for the purpose of inviting him to be part of a cruise program. Upon entering his house, the first item I saw was the largest Bosendorfer piano I have ever seen. Accompanying me on the visit was Dane Butcher, our first Cruise Director. Innocently, Dane asked who in the Sandoval house played piano? Arturo announced that the piano in question was a gift from Oscar Peterson as a “thank you” for some musical advice. Then, Arturo proceeded to play the piano for 30 minutes featuring classical music, jazz and pop.

Had that been the end of the story, it would have been a great memory of a great man, a great gift and a great musician. However, upon finishing the piano program, Arturo announced that he was a better piano player than trumpeter. That boast was lost on me. After all, Arturo Sandoval is to the trumpet what Oscar Peterson is to the piano. Not sure why the exclamation bothered me, but it did and still does. When a great man fails to accept his skills in a particular field and lauds his skill in the field of another, it does not seem right.

The second thought upon hearing his name is to watch and listened to Benny Green talk about his mentor, Oscar Peterson. Benny is one of my favorite pianists. His sound is so distinctive. He can make the piano do things that others cannot, or it seems that way. When Benny feels joy, he can fill a room with smiles. Talking about Oscar Peterson puts him in that mood immediately. It is very cool to watch Benny beam with pride when he talks about his relationship with Oscar Peterson.

Lee Mergner

There is so much more about this great pianist for us to share, but that will have to wait for another edition of Our Take or Jazz Notes.  As you know, I write most of the articles in both publications, but Lee Mergner, the famous former publisher and editor of Jazz Times, is  a major contributor. He knows more about jazz than any person I know. Just like Benny Green drafting off the power of Oscar Peterson, I try to garner whatever I can from Lee. 

As for Lee, I would admire him more if he were not a Phillies fan. Find me one nice Phillies fan in uniform and I will show you a person who is wearing their hat because they lost a bet.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World at Sea, Journey of Jazz, Homecoming: The Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

Three Cohens’ Interaction

The 3 Cohens (Anat, Avishai and Yuvall Cohen) reunited for their fifth album together, the appropriately named Interaction, recorded from a collaborative concert with Germany’s lauded WDR Big Band. The program showcased tailored arrangements by producer Oded Lev-Ari of compositions by himself and each member of The 3 Cohens, as well as fresh takes on Gerry Mulligan’s “Festive Minor” and the Louis Armstrong hit “Tiger Rag,” two longtime family favorites for the Cohens.

“We can talk without talking,” Anat said about the threesome’s sibling rapport. “Often, we don’t even have to look at each other onstage. We have such a history together that we feel each other through the music.”

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Three Cohens Interaction

Gerald Clayton’s “Tuesday Happenings” Series at Sam First

Gerald Clayton Tuesday Happenings

The Los Angeles jazz club Sam First, located near the LAX Airport, presents a weekly series called “Tuesday Happenings,” curated and hosted by Gerald Clayton. Each week a house band performs one set at 7:30pm followed by a jam session from 9:30 to 11pm.

“I was inspired by all of the great jam sessions that I learned so much from coming up in the music, and I felt that it would be good to give back to the community and offer a gathering place for hungry young musicians to work on their craft and get their butt kicked on that stage and come back again and try again,” Gerald explained. “Right now, there are so many great musicians in LA, but it’s such a spread-out city that it’s not automatic that we all get to see each other or get together and play. You have to be a bit more proactive to get that sense of community. I’ve enjoyed that it’s become a great hang.”

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Stateroom Availability

Having been at sea for four weeks, we thought it best to share what is new with respect to our next 9 cruise programs and to highlight special offers for select programs.

Cruise Programs ’25

Journey of Jazz ’25Over 86% Reserved. Balcony Staterooms Available – Special Pricing for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms (Lowest Price Ever – Promo Code:  JOURNEY)

Cruise Programs ’26

Homecoming: The CruiseOpen Booking Now; For Special Prices on Staterooms, use Promo Code:  HTC
Christian McBride’s World at Sea ’26Open Booking Now; For Special Prices for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms, use Promo Code:  CMW
The Jazz Cruise ’26Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.196% Reserved – Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.2Fully Reserved
Top Shelf Country CruiseFull Lineup and Final Itinerary Announcement Monday

Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.376% Reserved – Open Booking Now
Botti at Sea ’26Open Booking Now

Hot Offers

Ocean View and Inside Staterooms are available on Journey of Jazz ’25. You can reserve an Inside Stateroom on the cruise for under $2,000/person and there are special prices for Ocean View staterooms. Reservations may be completed online or by calling the office and 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: JOURNEY).

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Programs

JOURNEY OF JAZZ SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’25
Limited Time Promotional Pricing

Promotional pricing is available on Ocean View and Inside Staterooms for Journey of Jazz! Make your reservation today using promo code WEEKENDER for significant savings*! Exciting land-based concerts and excursions are also available! *Discount applies to new reservations only. 

BOOK NOW

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
HOMECOMING: THE CRUISE ’26
Limited Time Promotional Pricing

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. For the best available prices on all Stateroom Categories, use promo code HTC during the booking process. Reserve Your Stateroom Today! 

BOOK NOW
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDES WORLD AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE’S WORLD AT SEA
Limited Time Promotional Pricing

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! Right now, special pricing is available for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms*. To save, use the promo code CMW during the reservation process. *Discount applies to new reservations only.

BOOK NOW

THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
THE JAZZ CRUISE ’26
Open Booking Now Available

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. The Jazz Cruise ’26 is in Open Booking! Anyone may now reserve any available stateroom. This program always hits “fully reserved.” The only question is when!

BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

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

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 is in Open Booking (anyone may reserve any available stateroom) and staterooms are more than 95% reserved. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.2 is Fully Reserved, but you may join the Waitlist. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

Top Shelf Country Cruise Signature Cruise Experiences
THE TOP SHELF COUNTRY CRUISE
Open Booking Now Available

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. Top Shelf Country Cruise is now in Open Booking! Anyone may select any available stateroom and complete a reservation. Guests are not required to submit a Pre-Sail Reservation and may proceed directly to the Stateroom Selection process. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
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

CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

BOTTI AT SEA’26
Open Booking Now Available

We’re thrilled to be able to announce that Boz Scaggs, Elvis Costello and Melody Gardot will be onboard 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.  Open Booking has begun. Reserve your stateroom today! 

BOOK NOW

Send us Your Mug Shots

We know many readers of The Weekender like to peruse each edition over their morning coffee. And, if you’ve sailed with us, you likely have at least one (or perhaps many) Signature Cruise Experiences mugs just for that purpose. Over the years, The Weekender has featured several pictures of cruisers showing off their mugs, pictures we affectionately refer to as “Mug Shots.”

If you want to share your “Mug Shot” with the 100,000+ readers who receive The Weekender each Saturday, email a photo of yourself and your mug to mugshot@scecruises.com. Who knows? You may just see yourself in a future edition.

Mug Shot of the Week

Mug Shot The Weekender Signature Cruise Experiences
Judy, Josh, Lorri, Laurie, Tom, Kathy

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

The post Our Take: Oscar Peterson at 100 appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> Our Take: How the History of Jazz has Become the Journey of Jazz https://dev.scecruises.com/2025/03/17/our-take-how-the-history-of-jazz-has-become-the-journey-of-jazz/ Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:39:23 +0000 https://scecruises.com/?p=8543 It is one thing to talk about the History of Jazz. It is quite another thing to make that story live with music. For years, Marcus Miller has presented a 60 – 75 minute show which traces the history of jazz from the early days in New Orleans through the end of BeBop and the […]

The post Our Take: How the History of Jazz has Become the Journey of Jazz appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> It is one thing to talk about the History of Jazz. It is quite another thing to make that story live with music. For years, Marcus Miller has presented a 60 – 75 minute show which traces the history of jazz from the early days in New Orleans through the end of BeBop and the beginning of Cool Jazz. Lately, he has added some post-1950 teachings, but we still have not reached the world of jazz post-2000. After all, the subject matter is difficult and giving each defining song its due takes time.

Once you accept that the life of jazz is a journey, the idea of a Journey of Jazz cruise makes a lot of sense. The idea has been bouncing around our development team for years. The time never seemed right and the itineraries never seemed to jive with the concept. But, once we learned about the West Coast sailing of Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles, we jumped at the idea. Yes, that part of the world has a great jazz heritage (think Dave Brubeck/Chet Baker/Etta James), but the allure was more related to the lifestyle that this itinerary suggested – jazz, wine, great food, beautiful cities and countryside.

For Journey of Jazz, Marcus will use the first night of the cruise to complete the mission he has started over the years. Participating will be his co-host, Gregory Porter, the amazing Dee Dee Bridgewater, Music Director Eric Marienthal and a whole host of top musicians. As for additional insights to the history of jazz, the cruise features the Brubeck Brothers and Ravi Coltrane. Now there is some serious jazz history ready to be shared.

Journey of Jazz features a top lineup of female vocalists as well. In proving that point, in reviewing a recent list of the 25 greatest female jazz singers of all time, 20 are deceased. Of the five remaining, two are sailing on Journey of Jazz. We have mentioned Dee Dee Bridgewater, the talented vocalist and actress who has earned three GRAMMY® Awards, a Tony and induction as an NEA Jazz Master. The other is Diana Krall. To date the top-selling female jazz singer of the 21st Century, this three-time GRAMMY® winner, from British Columbia, combines a sultry voice with dexterous piano skills. For the record, another is Dianne Reeves, who is not on Journey of Jazz, but this 5-time GRAMMY® winner has sailed on our programs for years.

The remaining two living female jazz vocalists in the top 25 are Norah Jones and Madeleine Peyroux. Maybe one day. Journey of Jazz also features 3X GRAMMY® Award winning Cécile McLorin Salvant, whose place on the list of the Top 25 will be secured with time. And, of course, one of our favorite vocalists, Niki Haris, who cannot be defined by any single genre, will be onboard in several capacities.

In keeping with the theme of “journey,” for the first time in more than a decade Signature Cruise Experiences is curating its own excursions. For a complete list of special land-based events, click HERE and our favorite comic, Alonzo Bodden, will walk you through the choices. For those seeking the shorthand version, guests will be able to purchase tickets for a Warren Wolf show in Victoria along with several other offerings, including whale watching. While we are in San Francisco for two full days (one night), we are producing a special show at the famous SFJAZZ theater featuring the legendary Ron Carter with his quartet (Renee Rosnes, Jimmy Greene, Payton Crossley).  Famous food critic, Michael Bauer, will be your guide for dining opportunities including San Francisco’s #1 dim sum restaurant.

For the adventurous, we will have tours of wineries in Napa and Sonoma and guests can spend the day on the Napa Valley Wine Train. One train has already sold out, but we have managed to secure another one. Again, check out offerings, make your selection and get ready to enjoy your excursions. Recently, someone asked us the following question “with all these amazing excursions, will there be less music on the cruise?” The answer is a resounding “NO!” Journey of Jazz has a full schedule of music every late afternoon and night when in port and all day when we are at sea.

The only activity that will be less than our other cruises will be sleeping. Not much time for that.

Finally, though some staterooms with balconies remain, most of the available staterooms are Ocean View and Inside Staterooms. These staterooms are the least expensive on the ship, but, to provide as many jazz fans as possible with the opportunity to sail on this amazing journey, for the time being, we are lowering the price of those staterooms even more. This Special Offer for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms will not last long, so we urge you to call the office or go online to take advantage. Use the Promo Code: JOURNEY.

As you can see, I am as excited about this cruise as any we have ever produced. Great music. Great excursions. Great Journey!

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World at Sea, Journey of Jazz, Homecoming: The Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

What’s Hot?

McBride B2B The Jazz Cruise
Christian McBride's World at Sea and The Jazz Cruise '26

Scheduling the inaugural sailing of Christian McBride’s World at Sea (CMW) back-to-back (B2B) with The Jazz Cruise ’26 (TJC ’26) was meant to create a one-of-a-kind two-week jazz vacation. CMW ends on January 27, 2026 at 7AM ET. TJC ’26 starts boarding four hours later. Guests on both may remain onboard or spend some time in Ft. Lauderdale until we sail that afternoon.

Evidently, the message was clear and well received!

Hundreds of guests have decided to take advantage of this opportunity and have reserved a stateroom on both sailings! There is still time to complete what we call our Jazz Double Play.

Completing the Jazz Double Play

If you have a reservation on either CMW or TJC ‘26, please call the office to see if we can place you in that same stateroom for the other cruise. It may be that we switch your current reservation to keep both reservations with the same stateroom. If that cannot be done, no worries, Celebrity Cruises’ staff will move you to your new stateroom in minutes.

If you do not have a reservation for CMW or TJC ’26, you can call the office or go online to complete your reservation. Again, if you cannot reserve the same stateroom for both sailings, we have you covered! 

Jazz Double Play Benefits

Besides the opportunity to spend two weeks enjoying the music of more than 170 world class jazz musicians, guests who go for the Jazz Double Play are entitled to the following special benefits:
 

  • Transition Day Brunch – January 27, 2026
  • Reserved Seating for CMW Main Show Events
  • Your Cruise Status is applied to both cruises and, to help cover your expenses, you will receive an onboard credit which you may use in any way you wish during the two weeks of sailing. The amount of the onboard credit/person is as follows:
    • Suite: $500
    • Conciere/AquaClass/Veranda: $400
    • Ocean View/Inside: $300

Jazz Double Play by the Numbers

Days of Cruising14
Number of Musicians170+
Hours of Music400+
Memorable MomentsCountless

Butler, Bodden Elliot at the 3rd Annual Desert Jazz Festival

THE DESERT JAZZ FESTIVAL THE WEEKENDER

Artists from the Signature Cruise Experiences’ family will be gracing the stage for the 3rd annual Desert Jazz Festival located in Rancho Mirage, CA in the beautiful Coachella Valley October 2-5, 2025. This full VIP experience is a 3-night, 4-day event filled with music, comedy, food, golf, pickleball and community all nestled within the gorgeous San Jacinto mountains.  

In addition to the stellar talent highlighted there will also be concerts featuring the extraordinary vocals of Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle with more to be announced soon.

For a limited time, anyone who has sailed on any of our cruises in ’24 or ’25 will get 10% off using exclusive code DJFSC10 (valid until April 16th). 

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Spring Jazz Festivals

With April coming, we’ll soon be seeing not only showers and flowers, but also a flurry of jazz festivals.  Here are details on several (listed in chronological order) that will be featuring artists from our Signature Cruise Experiences programs.

Denver Jazz Fest

Denver Jazz Festival

Date: April 3-6
Location: Various venues, Denver, CO
Lineup: Dianne Reeves & Romero Lubambo, Charles McPherson & Terell Stafford, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, others

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Earl Klugh’s Weekend of Jazz at the Broadmoor

Date: April 3-5
Location: The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO
Lineup: Earl Klugh, Bob James, Brian Culbertson, Eric Darius, Damien Escobar, Leslie Odom, Jr., others

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Earl Klugh Weekend of Jazz at the Broadmoor
BERKS JAZZ FEST
Berks Jazz Fest 

Date: April 4-13
Location: Various venues, Reading, PA
Lineup: Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Gerald Albright, Rick Braun & Richard Elliot, David Sanborn Tribute – sponsored by Signature Cruise Experiences and The Smooth Jazz Cruise, others

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Alexander Zonjic’s Cabin Fever Jazz Festival
 

Date: April 5
Location: Southfield Pavillion, Southfield, MI
Lineup: Alexander Zonjic, Keiko Matsui, Peter White, Lin Rountree, Angela Davis

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Alexander Zonjic

Charleston Jazz Festival
Charleston Jazz Festival

Date: April 21-29
Location: Various venues, Charleston, SC
Lineup: Paquito D’Rivera, Jazzmeia Horn, Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, others

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Seabreeze Jazz Festival


Date: April 23-27
Location: Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater, Panama City Beach, FL
Lineup: Gerald Albright, Brian Culbertson, Boney James, Najee, Eric Darius, Norman Brown, Vincent Ingala, others

LEARN MORE
Seabreeze Jazz Festival

Stateroom Availability

Having been at sea for four weeks, we thought it best to share what is new with respect to our next 9 cruise programs and to highlight special offers for select programs.

Cruise Programs 2025

Journey of Jazz ’25Nearly 85% Reserved. Balcony Staterooms Available – Special Pricing for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms (Lowest Price Ever – Promo Code JOURNEY)

Cruise Programs 2026

Homecoming: The CruiseOpen Booking Now; For Special Prices on Staterooms, use Promo Code:  HTC
Christian McBride’s World at Sea ’26Open Booking Now; For Special Prices for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms, use Promo Code:  CMW
The Jazz Cruise ’26Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.196% Reserved – Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.2Fully Reserved
Top Shelf Country CruiseOver 8,000 Pre-Sail Reservations Received

Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.376% Reserved – Open Booking Now
Botti at Sea ’26Open Booking Now

Hot Offers

Ocean View and Inside Staterooms are available on Journey of Jazz ’25. You can reserve an Inside Stateroom on the cruise for under $2,000/person and there are special prices for Ocean View staterooms. Reservations may be completed online or by calling the office and 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: JOURNEY).

Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs

JOURNEY OF JAZZ SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Limited Time Promotional Pricing

Promotional pricing is available on Ocean View and Inside Staterooms for Journey of Jazz! Make your reservation today using promo code JOURNEY for significant savings*! Exciting land-based concerts and excursions are also available! *Discount applies to new reservations only. 

BOOK NOW

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Limited Time Promotional Pricing

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. For the best available prices on all Stateroom Categories, use promo code HTC during the booking process. Reserve Your Stateroom Today! 

BOOK NOW
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDES WORLD AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Limited Time Promotional Pricing

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!

Right now, special pricing is available for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms. To save, use the promo code CMW during the reservation process. Open Booking has begun! Reserve your stateroom today! 

BOOK NOW

THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Open Booking Now Available!

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. Anyone may now reserve any available stateroom. This program always hits “fully reserved.” The only question is when!  

BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Open Booking Now Available

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 is in Open Booking (anyone may reserve any available stateroom) and staterooms are more than 95% reserved. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.2 is Fully Reserved, but you may join the Waitlist. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

Top Shelf Country Cruise Signature Cruise Experiences
Open Booking Now Available

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. Top Shelf Country Cruise is now in Open Booking! Anyone may select any available stateroom and complete a reservation. Guests are not required to submit a Pre-Sail Reservation and may proceed directly to the Stateroom Selection process. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
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

CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Open Booking Now Available

We’re thrilled to be able to announce that Boz Scaggs, Elvis Costello and Melody Gardot will be onboard 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.  Open Booking has begun. Reserve your stateroom today! 

BOOK NOW

Send us Your Mug Shot

We know many readers of The Weekender like to peruse each edition over their morning coffee. And, if you’ve sailed with us, you likely have at least one (or perhaps many) Signature Cruise Experiences mugs just for that purpose. Over the years, The Weekender has featured several pictures of cruisers showing off their mugs, pictures we affectionately refer to as “Mug Shots.”

If you want to share your “Mug Shot” with the 100,000+ readers who receive The Weekender each Saturday, email a photo of yourself and your mug to mugshot@scecruises.com. Who knows? You may just see yourself in a future edition.

Mug Shots

Mug Shot The Weekender Signature Cruise Experiences


Linda M.
North Carolina


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

The post Our Take: How the History of Jazz has Become the Journey of Jazz appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> Our Take: Cruise Musings https://dev.scecruises.com/2025/03/01/our-take-cruise-musings/ Sat, 01 Mar 2025 05:30:00 +0000 https://scecruises.com/?p=8497 Our final cruise program, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.2, ended on Tuesday. Since then, we have pressed forward to address Journey of Jazz ’25, which sails this Fall, and to put the pedal to the metal for our ’26 Sailings. Before turning the page on the past four weeks of programs, I am taking a […]

The post Our Take: Cruise Musings appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> Our final cruise program, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.2, ended on Tuesday. Since then, we have pressed forward to address Journey of Jazz ’25, which sails this Fall, and to put the pedal to the metal for our ’26 Sailings.

Before turning the page on the past four weeks of programs, I am taking a moment to reflect on what transpired. By far, the prevailing sentiment of each sailing was true happiness. I do not recall a season where each cruise featured guests who were constantly smiling, laughing and sharing a great time with their fellow passengers to this degree.

Photo Montage form Signature Cruise Experiences

I would like to believe that our organization, amazing events, top performers and other acts of Signature Cruise Experiences was responsible. And, in part, that is true. I have never been prouder of our team and staff and the dedication and commitment shown by our fabulous lineups of performers.

The shows were crafted brilliantly, executed flawlessly and reflected a true desire by the performers to connect with the guests. A couple of performances missed the target for some, but, overall, the 400 hours of music was memorable, magical and meaningful.

With the benefit of a few days to mull this over, I realize that, though we did a great job, our amazing guests walked onto the ship ready to have fun, craving great music and excited about leaving the travails of the world behind them.

Between the natural disasters, social upheaval and other disorienting events, our guests were seeking the simplicity and joy of these cruise programs. Being able to spend a week with 2,000 like-minded folks, seeing and listening to world class performers and doing so in a safe, friendly and harmonious setting was a small taste of utopia that excited, enthused and invigorated our amazing guests.

In many respects, the fate of the cruises were ours to lose. All we had to do was not mess up and not impair our fans. Granted, we did a lot more than that, but it was an audience ready to party, ready to enjoy themselves and, most of all, ready to share that joy with their fellow passengers.

Among the 8,000 guests we entertained were folks of every gender, race, religion and station in life. At no time did the differences that existed in those categories interfere with or upset the shared experiences on the ship.

For that special feeling, we have the music to thank. Though the music presented on The Jazz Cruise, Botti at Sea and both sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise were different, they shared three commonalities, each of which contributed to the special vibe on the ship.

First, our performers were top notch. Each cruise featured multiple GRAMMY® winners and highly acclaimed musicians. Second, the performances were authentic. No cover bands or tribute artists. It was the real deal at all times.

Finally, the shows were produced with care and expertise, as if each one of them was the main show for that day. The musicians respected the audience’s commitment to excellence and the audience responded with thunderous applause and approval.

Was it 28 days of pure magic and mirth? No cruise program can sustain that level 24/7 for a month, but, from January 28, 2025 – February 25, 2025, we came as close to a perfect score as I can remember. Overall score of 9.8, including the vote of the jazz police.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World at Sea, Journey of Jazz, Homecoming: The Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

Stateroom Availability/Special Offers

Having been at sea for four weeks, we thought it best to share what is new with respect to our next 9 cruise programs and to highlight special offers for select programs.

Cruise Programs 2025

Journey of Jazz
Journey of Jazz Cruise - 2025 SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Journey of Jazz ’25 is our first West Coast Cruise and our first cruise featuring Signature Cruise Experiences curated land events in many years. Led by Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter, the cruise features Diana Krall, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Chucho Valdes, Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Ravi Coltrane, Emmet Cohen, Benny Benack III, Brubeck Brothers and more. 

When we overnight in San Francisco, you can elect to sign up for many of our very own excursions, including trips to Napa and Sonoma, a day on the Napa Valley Wine Train, and a special show at SFJAZZ featuring Ron Carter, Renee Rosnes, Jimmy Greene & Payton Crossley.

SPECIAL OFFER: Though a few Concierge Class, AquaClass and Veranda Staterooms remain available, the bulk of the available staterooms are Inside and Ocean View. For now, those staterooms are priced favorably for readers of The Weekender. Go online and use the promo code: WEEKENDER, for your price. These are the lowest cruise prices for those staterooms and this promotion will end soon.

Cruise Programs 2026

Homecoming: The Cruise
Homecoming The Cruise Signature Cruise Experiences

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 is hosted by Debbie Allen and Norm Nixon 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. 

SPECIAL OFFER: Again, patrons of The Weekender are being provided special prices at this time. The promo code for this offer is HTC. These savings are significant and will not last long…act now.

Christian McBride’s World at Sea
Christian McBride's World At Sea SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

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! 

SPECIAL OFFER: For now, Inside and Ocean View Staterooms are priced favorably for readers of The Weekender. Go online and use the promo code: CMW, for your price.

The Jazz Cruise
THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

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. 

The Jazz Cruise ’26 is in Open Booking! Anyone may now reserve any available stateroom. This program always hits “fully reserved.” The only question is when!  Act Now to secure your stateroom on the most important straight-ahead jazz program in the world.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1/’26.2/’26.3
The Smooth Jazz Cruise Signature Cruise Experiences
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2 is fully reserved and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 has fewer than 50 staterooms remaining. Since The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 does not sail for more than 550 days, there is more availability, but, even so, the cruise is over 75% reserved. Go to www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com for details.

Top Shelf Country Cruise
Top Shelf Country Cruise Signature Cruise Experiences

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. 

Top Shelf Country Cruise is now in Open Booking! Anyone may select any available stateroom and complete a reservation. Guests are not required to submit a Pre-Sail Reservation and may proceed directly to the Stateroom Selection process. Reserve your stateroom today!

Botti at Sea III
CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

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.
  
Open Booking has begun. Reserve your stateroom today! 

New Artist Releases

ARTEMIS’ Arboresque

ARTEMIS Arboresque

The supergroup, ARTEMIS, who has sailed with us on The Jazz Cruise, has just released Arboresque, their third album for Blue Note Records. The recording features a new quintet line-up of the band helmed by pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes with trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer Allison Miller. The 8-song set presents original compositions by each of the band members, as well as Renee’s arrangements of pieces by Wayne Shorter, Burt Bacharach and the unsung pianist Donald Brown.

“Our goal is to make honest music that touches people,” said Renee. “We inspire one another and feel passionate about playing together. All that positive energy comes through in the music and I believe the audiences feel it.”  ARTEMIS will be celebrating the album release with their debut appearance at the legendary Village Vanguard in New York City March 4-9.

LEARN MORE

Peter White’s Light of Day

Fresh off his two weeks sailing with us on The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Peter White has just released Light of Day, his 17th album as a leader.

Featuring guest appearances by saxophonists Ernie Watts and Vincent Ingala, the recording also includes Peter’s tribute to the late guitarist Nick Colionne.

“I think this recording is one of the best I’ve ever made,” Peter said. “I have as much enthusiasm and energy for music as I did in my twenties!”

LEARN MORE
Peter White Light of Day

Mug Shot of the Week

The post Our Take: Cruise Musings appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> Our Take: From Botti to Smooth https://dev.scecruises.com/2025/02/15/our-take-from-botti-to-smooth/ Sat, 15 Feb 2025 03:50:00 +0000 https://scecruises.com/?p=8377 Botti at Sea ’25 ended on Tuesday morning and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 was ready to go by noon that same day. Watching the transformation of the ship, the banners and the stages from one to the other is amazing. Not only are the changes seamless, but they are accomplished so quickly. Kudos to […]

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

]]> Botti at Sea ’25 ended on Tuesday morning and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 was ready to go by noon that same day. Watching the transformation of the ship, the banners and the stages from one to the other is amazing. Not only are the changes seamless, but they are accomplished so quickly. Kudos to Brian Rachko and his very able staff.

When we last “spoke,” we were awaiting the arrival of Diana Krall. And, after 15 years from the first time that we requested her to perform, there she was, on stage, playing and singing with our very own John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton. Iconic guitarist Anthony Wilson came on board to round out the group.

Watching Diana with John and Jeff was an emotional experience. These two men were her first big time accompanists and the love and respect that they have for each other was very evident.

Sunday was Super Bowl Sunday. To provide ample venues for watching the game, some shows were moved to the afternoon and some moved back to the late evening. Peter Cincotti was the star of the afternoon shows and he was spectacular. The warmth of his piano, the strength of his voice and his ever-present smile won over the hearts and minds of our passengers, particularly the female cruisers.

Post-Game (Debacle) shows included a spectacular performance by John Splithoff that filled the entire Cosmopolitan Restaurant. Virtually everyone remained for a late-night comedy show with our very own Alonzo Bodden. Since the game was so one-sided, those two gentlemen provided the only real entertainment of the evening.

Kamasi Washington closed out the cruise on Monday night. His powerful and dynamic personality and superstar talents were the perfect ending to a wonderful cruise week. Of all the new wave jazz performers, Kamasi is perhaps the most identifiable and the most spirited. I enjoy him very much.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 shot to the moon on Tuesday with its traditional opening song, a parody of a R & B classic. Another Saturday Night was chosen this year to be mutilated with words that fit the cruise. The crowd loved it as always and that led them into a two hour show that featured Kirk Whalum and Peter White.

The next day was a huge hit. Jonathan Butler‘s Gospel Show, Annual T-Shirt Party and the first showtime for our very own Super Band, The Summit. What a thrill to see and hear Marcus Miller perform with Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Dave Weckl, Eric Marienthal and Patti Austin. They killed it and the audience was on their feet for most of the show. This show may have been one of the top shows in our long history of special guests.

Before The Summit hit the stage, Alonzo Bodden made his first appearance on the cruise to the delight of everyone. More about him next week when I conclude the first week of The Smooth Jazz Cruise and head into the final week of our four week season.

Co-Host Boney James was the Thursday star and, as always, he mesmerized the crowd playing not only his famous hits, but cuts from his newest recordings. The sound of “Go Boney” rang through the auditorium. 

The audiences have been so wonderful. I trust that each of them have enjoyed the cruises as much as we have.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World at Sea, Journey of Jazz, Homecoming: The Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

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
Select the Cruise Program You Wish
Follow prompts

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

Journey of Jazz ’25Balcony Staterooms Available – Inside Stateroom Special Pricing (Lowest Price Ever – Promo Code “ATSEA”)

Cruise Programs 2026

Homecoming: The CruiseOpen Booking Now
Christian McBride’s
World at Sea ’26		Open Booking Now
The Jazz Cruise ’26On-Going Activation of Pre-Sail Reservations

Open Booking Starts on 2.19
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.180% Reserved – Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.290% Reserved – Open Booking Now
Top Shelf Country CruiseOver 6,000 Pre-Sail Reservations Received

Open Booking Begins 2.20
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.370% Reserved – Open Booking Now
Botti at Sea ’26Pre-Sail Reservations Activated on 2.17

Open Booking Starts on 2.28

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.”

LEARN MORE

Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs

JOURNEY OF JAZZ SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

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

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
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! 

BOOK NOW
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDES WORLD AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
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 SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
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!

LEARN MORE

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

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

Top Shelf Country Cruise Signature Cruise Experiences
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! 

LEARN MORE

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
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

CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

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. 

LEARN MORE

Mug Shot of the Week

Elizabeth and Robert G. 
California


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.

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]]> Our Take: Almost Sailing https://dev.scecruises.com/2025/01/25/our-take-almost-sailing/ Sat, 25 Jan 2025 12:52:00 +0000 https://scecruises.com/?p=8141 Last night, we arrived in Ft. Lauderdale. On Tuesday, we will board the Celebrity Summit for the 25th Anniversary Sailing of The Jazz Cruise.

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]]> Last night, we arrived in Ft. Lauderdale. On Tuesday, we will board the Celebrity Summit for the 25th Anniversary Sailing of The Jazz Cruise. The time in between will be spent visiting with some guests who arrived early, chatting it up with Christian McBride and Melissa Walker and being a runner for my wife as she greets the musicians on the cruise at the Musicians’ Hotel as they arrive for the cruise.

Besides getting out of the cold, I am thrilled to be this close to great music, great guests, and 28 days of showing folks how Signature Cruise Experiences produces a cruise. Since we last sailed, we have added a number of sailings, a host of personnel and a boatload of extra enthusiasm.

The first sailing of The Jazz Cruise was in the Fall of 2001, just a few weeks after the 9/11 tragedy. My mother, Anita Berry, who was 72 at the time, was 100% financially responsible for that sailing. There were more than a few shaky moments in advance of that sailing. Were planes going to fly? Were guests willing to board the planes? Would the musicians be concerned?

Remember, corresponding by email or text in those days was not common, particularly among jazz musicians and fans. Most of the cajoling was done by telephone and most of those calls were made by Mom. It all worked out, of course, and now we will soon be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of this iconic program.

I have been asked several times to share my favorite moments on the cruise. I have never done that, but, in honor of Mom and all the guests and musicians that have made The Jazz Cruise so wonderful, here is my list of the 10 most memorable events on the cruise.

10. Watching Frank Manning dance as he was inducted into The Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame.

9. Any and all memories of Jeff Clayton, Red Holloway, Keter Betts and Joe Ascione.

8.  Spending time with my father at the Ocean Bar on Holland America, particularly the night when Richie Cole lost his demeanor.

7. Anytime John Clayton led the Big Band.

6. Listening to Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves or Kurt Elling.

5. All editions of the Gospel Hour with Wycliffe Gordon and Niki Haris.

4. When the entire Big Band stood up and applauded as Johnny Mandel came up to conduct.

3. Being behind the scenes with Shelly Berg, Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Miller, Arturo Sandoval and Lewis Nash as they discussed what tunes they were going to play. Then listening to them play only one of the tunes discussed and taking turns trying to stump the others with their on-the-fly selections.

2. The late-night piano solos performed in the Rendezvous Lounge that provided solace, comfort and time to reflect on how amazing life on the cruise has been.

1. By far, reading notes from guests thanking us for the cruise, telling us how meaningful the cruise is to them, and how their lives have been impacted by these experiences.

On six occasions, guests have chosen to sail on The Jazz Cruise as their last act of life. One guest had the following inscribed on his tombstone: “I’d Rather Be On The Jazz Cruise.” Very touching, indeed.

Not so touching was a phone call from a long-time guest. She called to tell us that her husband of 45 years had died. Since The Jazz Cruise was fewer than two weeks away, I told her that we would, of course, refund her payments. I can still hear her response: “No darling, I will be there. I just wanted to let you know that Ralph will not.” 

I believe in the box theory of life. Every deed, every statement, every action belongs in a particular box. A box that defines the item for the sake of clarity and understanding.

The interaction above with our guest was more than 15 years ago. I am still hunting for a box in which to place her comment.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World at Sea, Journey of Jazz, Homecoming: The Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com

While We Are At Sea

After reading “Our Take” some may ask “What if I want to contact the office from January 28 – February 25?” No worries! Our office will be fully staffed to assist you with any questions you may have about your ’25 Sailing or with reserving a stateroom for one of the eight ’26 Sailings. Check your email on Monday, January 27, 2025 for an in depth “While We Are At Sea” memo. We got this!

Carl Allen’s Trippin’

Carl Allen's Trippin'

Veteran drummer Carl Allen, who will be sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’25 and McBride’s World at Sea ’26 with Inside Straight, has just released Tippin’, his first album as a leader in more than 20 years. Appearing on the recording with Carl is his longtime friend and bandmate Christian McBride, as well as saxophonist Chris Potter. This chordless trio approach originated from Carl’s desire to come up with something different for collaborating with Christian and also from playing with Chris on a recent Renee Rosnes album.

“Listening to Chris reminded me so much of the Sonny Rollins chordless trio date, Live at the Village Vanguard,” Carl explains. “That intuition solidified my decision to record with saxophone, bass and drums. I wanted the recording process to feel organic, natural, and free-flowing. We did not rehearse before entering the studio and we recorded the entire album in about five hours. I trusted the gifts that McBride and Potter brought to the table, allowing their interpretations to shape the music.”

LEARN MORE

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 – ’25

The Jazz Cruise ’25Cancellation Staterooms Available – Call Office
Botti at Sea ’25Cancellation Staterooms Available – Call Office
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1Cancellation Staterooms Available – Call Office
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.2Cancellation Staterooms Available – Call Office
Journey of JazzBalcony Staterooms Available – Inside Stateroom Special Pricing (Lowest Price Ever – Promo Code “ATSEA“)

Cruise Programs – ’26

Homecoming: The CruisePre-Sail Reservations Activated on 1.27
Open Booking Starts on 1.31
Christian McBride’s World at Sea ’26Open Booking Now
The Jazz Cruise ’26Accepting Pre-Sail Reservations through 1.31
Pre-Sail Reservations Activated on 2.6
Open Booking Starts on 2.19
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.175% Reserved – Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.280% Reserved – Open Booking Now
Top Shelf Country CruiseOver 2,000 Pre-Sail Reservations Received
Accepting Pre-Sail Reservations through 2.4
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.370% Reserved – Open Booking Now
Botti at Sea ’26Pre- Sail Reservation end on 2.11
Open Booking Starts on 2.28

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 Jazz Cruise ’25, Botti at Sea ’25 and both The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 and ’25.2 have 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.

Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs

Journey of Jazz Signature Cruise Experiences

JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’25
Limited Time Promotional Pricing!

Now through February 25, or until fully reserved, promotional pricing is available on Ocean View and 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

Homecoming the Cruise Signature Cruise Experiences
HOMECOMING: THE CRUISE ’26
Open Booking Coming Soon!

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. Our newest cruise, sailing January 15 – 20, 2026 (including MLK Day), 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. 

Open Booking begins on January 31! 

LEARN MORE
Christian McBrides World at Sea Signature Cruise Experiences
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 Signature Cruise Experiences
THE JAZZ CRUISE ’26
Artist Lineup Now Available!

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 sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’25 may reserve their current stateroom for the ’26 sailing now through Jan. 31, 2025. New guests and those not sailing in ‘25 may join the Pre-Sail now.

JOIN PRE-SAIL

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.1 & 26.2
Reserve Your Stateroom Today!
The Smooth Jazz Cruise Signature Cruise Experiences

Both sailings for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25 are fully reserved and the Waitlist has more than 4,000 entrants. 
  
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are in Open Booking (anyone may reserve any available stateroom) and are over 80% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

Top Shelf Country Cruise Signature Cruise Experiences
TOP SHELF COUNTRY CRUISE
Join the Pre-Sail Today!  

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 widely popular personalities from iHeart Media’s from The Bobby Bones Show, led by Bobby Bones himself. Pre-Sail reservations are open now. The artist line up is coming soon (and it’s a good one!) Visit topshelfcountrycruise.com for more information and join the Pre-Sail today.

JOIN PRE-SAIL

The Smooth Jazz Cruise Signature Cruise Experiences
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3
Now in Open Booking!

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

Chris Botti at Sea '26 Signature Cruise Experiences
BOTTI AT SEA ’26
Artist Lineup will Feature Boz Scaggs!

While we continue to assemble first-rate musical talent for which Signature Cruise Experiences is known to entertain you on Botti at Sea ‘26, we’re thrilled to be able to announce that Boz Scaggs will be onboard the ’26 Sailing. 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. 

JOIN PRE-SAIL

The post Our Take: Almost Sailing appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> OUR TAKE: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. & Jazz https://dev.scecruises.com/2025/01/18/our-take-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-jazz/ Sat, 18 Jan 2025 10:38:00 +0000 https://scecruises.com/?p=8060 On the eve of the annual celebration of the life and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it is appropriate to remember how important he viewed our music to be.  “Jazz speaks for life. The Blues tell the story of life’s difficulties.” These words were delivered by Dr. King as a written introduction to […]

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]]> On the eve of the annual celebration of the life and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it is appropriate to remember how important he viewed our music to be.
 

“Jazz speaks for life. The Blues tell the story of life’s difficulties.”


These words were delivered by Dr. King as a written introduction to the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1964, the same city where Jesse Owens showed the world what true greatness looks like on a track field, where one of the world’s most odious governments was based and where, for decades, a divided city was the symbol of unrest and fear for us all.

1964 proved to be an important milepost in Dr. King’s life and career as his dream of passing the Civil Rights Act was achieved for which he was heralded worldwide and became Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year.” 60 years later, the efficacy of that legislation can be debated of course, but, at that time, it was groundbreaking and significant. 
 

“Much of the power of our Freedom Movement in the United States has come from this music. It has strengthened us with its sweet rhythms when courage began to fail. It has calmed us with its rich harmonies when spirits were down.”


I have read Dr. King’s speech dozens of times. The passage above speaks to me personally. How many times have you turned to jazz to soothe your nerves, lift your spirits or simply cope? For me, the number is “countless.”

Besides being on the precipice of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we are also just days away from Signature Jazz Cruises’ annual four weeks of jazz at sea. Four weeks of great music, lovely people sharing and being inclusive in every way, and, selfishly, a time to simply take in the beauty of life through music.
 

“…they (Jazz musicians) take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with new hope and sense of triumph.”


Not every Jazz musician has suffered or has had to overcome adversity, but, as a genre, jazz clearly reflects that struggle and that pain. In the end, those who succeed in jazz are those who climb onto the bandstand and have something relevant to say. Not just as a solo performer, but mostly as part of a group of like-minded and like-talented musicians.

Strength of the individual blended with the need to share and get along. Dr. King was talking about jazz, for sure, but, as we who love this music know, jazz is a metaphor for life and how you should conduct your life.
 

“Everybody longs for meaning. Everybody needs to love and be loved. Everybody needs to clap hands and be happy. Everybody longs for faith. In music, especially this broad category called Jazz, there is a stepping stone towards all of these.”


Whether your cause is Civil Rights, saving the environment, curing diseases or, simply providing entertainment and solace for your guests, in living your life every day, remember Dr. King’s words.

May all our actions provide the path, the stepping stones, for happiness and love. It is with great honor for our entire Signature Cruise Experiences’ family to join in the global celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World at Sea, Journey of Jazz, Homecoming: The Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

Angelique Kidjo at Jazz House Kids Benefit in March

On March 6, the dynamic vocalist Angelique Kidjo will perform as the special guest with Christian McBride in NYC at the Ralph Pucci 9th Annual Jazz Set that benefits the Jazz House Kids organization. Kidjo, who will be sailing on Christian McBride’s World at Sea next year, is a five-time GRAMMY® winner with 16 albums to her name. Her striking voice, stage presence and fluency in multiple cultures and languages have won respect from her peers and expanded her following across national borders. Kidjo has cross-pollinated the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz as well as influences from Europe and Latin America.

Held at the ultra-modern 30,000 square-foot New York City showroom and warehouse of Ralph Pucci International, the event features both performance and conversation and will be taped for The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian on SiriusXM. Past performers in this gala event which has raised almost $2 million include Sting, Norah Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Laurie Anderson, Gregory Porter, John Pizzarelli and esperanza spalding. “I am so excited to join my friend Christian at the Ralph Pucci 9th Annual Jazz Set,” Angelique said. “Music unites people from across the globe, and strengthens our communities. The work that Jazz House Kids does every day exemplifies this and I am honored to support its mission.”

LEARN MORE

JANUARY 28
Official Launch of Homecoming: The Cruise

In honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his profound connection to Morehouse College and membership in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, in 2026 the inaugural Homecoming: The Cruise will set sail. Excellence, Education and Entertainment are the guiding themes for this cruise as we honor the importance of Historic Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the sororities and fraternities of the National Pan – Hellenic Council (NPHC), more commonly referred to as the Divine Nine organizations.

The HBCU story, along with the history of the Divine Nine Sororities and Fraternities, are providing the impetus and energy for Homecoming: The Cruise, a Signature Cruise Experiences’ cruise program that will sail in one year from now. Excellence/ Education/ Entertainment…our goal for that sailing.

The Pre-Sail Reservation Procedure ended this week and we are preparing for the Official Launch of Homecoming: The Cruise on January 28, 2025. At that time, anyone may select any available stateroom and complete a reservation for this inaugural cruise.

Whether you are interested in the program’s HBCU Scholarship Program, enjoying the entertainment of Babyface, MC Lyte, Chanté Moore, Take 6, Nephew Tommy and more, or participating in the traditional events that make Homecoming at an HBCU institution or a Divine Nine sorority or fraternity so special. 

Open Booking begins at 10 AM ET on January 28. You can call our office or complete your reservation online. To learn more, go to Homecoming: The Cruise.


Support John Clayton

Kudos to Jeff Hamilton for establishing a support system for his longtime friend and colleague, John Clayton. John and his daughter each lost everything they own in the Los Angeles wildfires. They were not the only ones, of course, but John’s connection to our music, our programs and to our lives has been, and will continue to be, very special.

Besides the fund described below, you may send support to Gail Boyd, John’s longtime manager. For more information, go to gailboyd@gailboyd.com. Signature Cruise Experiences provided support in this manner as it allows for anonymity and avoids the cost of the GoFundMe process. Please note that GoFundMe keeps 14% of the donations.

Either way, we ask that you consider supporting John now. He has earned our assistance.

SUPPORT JOHN CLAYTON

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Programs

JOURNEY OF JAZZ SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’25
Limited Time Promotional Pricing

Now through February 25, or until fully reserved, promotional pricing is available on Ocean View and 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

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
HOMECOMING: THE CRUISE ’26
Open Booking Coming Soon!

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. Our newest cruise, sailing January 15 – 20, 2026 (including MLK Day), 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. Open Booking begins on January 28th! 

LEARN MORE
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDES WORLD AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
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 SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
THE JAZZ CRUISE ’26
Artist Lineup Now Available!

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 sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’25 may reserve their current stateroom for the ’26 sailing now through Jan. 31, 2025. New guests and those not sailing in ‘25 may join the Pre-Sail now.

JOIN PRE-AIL

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.1 & 26.2
Reserve Your Stateroom Today!  

Both sailings for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25 are fully reserved and the Waitlist has more than 4,000 entrants. 
  
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are in Open Booking (anyone may reserve any available stateroom) and are over 80% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3
Now in Open Booking!

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

CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
BOTTI AT SEA’25 is Fully Reserved!
BOTTI AT SEA ’26 Just Announced!

Sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with calls on San Francisco and Victoria, BC, Botti at Sea III (’26) is moving to the West Coast in September ’26! 

The website for the cruise will be available later this month, just before Botti at Sea II (’25) sails in February
Establish your priority for reserving a stateroom NOW by joining the Pre-Sail. 

JOIN PRE-SAIL

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]]> OUR TAKE: A Potpourri of Activities, Emotions & Responses https://dev.scecruises.com/2025/01/13/our-take-a-2025-potpourri/ Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:56:40 +0000 https://scecruises.com/?p=8000 2025 has begun with a bang. Some of it good. Some of it bad. Some of it great. Some of it tragic. Let’s start with the “good.” We are 17 days from the sailing of The Jazz Cruise ‘25, 24 days from the sailing of Botti at Sea ’25, 31 days from the sailing of […]

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]]> 2025 has begun with a bang. Some of it good. Some of it bad. Some of it great. Some of it tragic.

Let’s start with the “good.” We are 17 days from the sailing of The Jazz Cruise ‘25, 24 days from the sailing of Botti at Sea ’25, 31 days from the sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 and 38 days from the sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.2. Souvenir Programs and Daily Programs are nearly completed, production materials are on hand and the Performance Schedules are ready to be shared with our guests.

This pre-cruising period is both exciting and exasperating. “Exciting” because you know that the sailings are right around the corner. “Exasperating” as the number of last-minute changes, issues and undertakings seem to grow each year.

Now, some “bad.” As it happens every year, January sees a few of our guests having to cancel their reservations due to illness, family matters or business commitments. Since all four of the upcoming sailings (The Jazz Cruise ‘25/Botti at Sea ‘25/The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1/The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.2) were sold out, having a few staterooms become available may be what some guests are looking for. Check out the Cancellation Staterooms chart below for stateroom availability.

Thank goodness for the “great.” Last Wednesday, John Clayton, one of the true pillars of our programs for 25 years, will receive the Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award at the 2025 Jazz Congress at Lincoln Center (NYC). Lundvall was the legendary President of Blue Note Records and heralded by many as a jazz genius. Keeping it in the family, Gerald Clayton, John’s son, amazing performer and recurring musician on our cruises, presented the award.

Sadly, the “tragic.” The fires in California have devastated many families. Our hearts and prayers go out to anyone impacted. None more so than John Clayton whose home was destroyed as he was receiving his Lundvall award. Why bad things happen to good people is one of the most compelling mysteries in life.

John Clayton would give you the shirt off his back if that was needed. He is always there for his fellow musicians and the guests on our cruises. No job is too big or too small for him to undertake. Though he may be upset inside, there is always a kind word from his mouth and a smile on his face. That fate chose to cause tragedy to this man is inexplicable.

As I write this edition of Our Take, I realize that all the “good” and all the “great” things in life can balance out, or even surpass, the “bad,” but there is no cure for the “tragic.” At best, you can “cope” and, over time, repair and move on, but most of the scars incurred will remain in some form or another. 

John, I know that you read this column every week. If you found the time to do so amid all that is happening, please know that every asset of Signature Cruise Experiences is here to help you. For nearly 25 years now, you have stood tall and strong for our cruises, our guests, and, most of all, for our music. Lean on us now, please.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World at Sea, Journey of Jazz, Homecoming: The Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

ALLBLK to be the Title Sponsor of
Homecoming: The Cruise

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE SIGNATURE EVENT CRUISES

Media powerhouse, ALLBLK, will be the Title Sponsor of Homecoming: The Cruise! 

ALLBLK is a star in the world of streaming, being the first streaming entertainment service that is inclusively, but unapologetically – Black. Featuring a diverse lineup of content that spans across genres and generations, the ALLBLK library includes exclusive original series, must-see independent films, nostalgic Black cinema, popular We TV originals, lively stage plays and so much more.

Formed by Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), in November 2014, ALLBLK’s growth and influence in the entertainment world has been phenomenal. 

Signature Cruise Experiences welcomes ALLBLK to Homecoming: The Cruise and wishes to thank Brett Dismuke, Head of Content for ALLBLK & We TV, and his entire team for their commitment to the program and its goals of Excellence, Education & Entertainment. For more information about ALLBLK, visit https://allblk.tv/.

To join the Homecoming: The Cruise Pre-Sail click here. Pre-Sail Reservations for Homecoming: The Cruise will be accepted through Wednesday, January 15! Guests holding Pre-Sail Reservations will receive information and directions for selecting a stateroom and completing a Reservation soon thereafter. As of now, Pre-Sail Reservations will be activated starting on Monday, January 20.

Cancellation Staterooms: Last Chance to Sail in ’25

Below, you can find a list of staterooms that are now available due to cancellations as of today (1.11.25). With limited time before sailing, these staterooms can be reserved at prices less than previously quoted. Since Your Cruise History will be a factor in determining the Cruise Price, you must contact the office during normal business hours to learn your Cruise Price and to complete a reservation. Cancellation Staterooms may not be reserved online.

Cancellation StateroomsConcierge ClassAqua ClassVerandaOcean ViewInside
The Jazz Cruise ’25111
Botti at Sea II (’25)1167
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.131
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.21

Reveal Dates for ’25 Cruises’ Performance Schedules

We know that our guests love to review the Performance Schedules for their cruise programs well in advance of sailing. Not only does doing so build excitement and energy for the cruise, but many guests use the schedules to develop their personal plans for shows, dining and more.

So that the Performance Schedules that we present are as accurate as possible, we issue the Performance Schedules 10 days before each sailing. Guests will receive an email with the appropriate link at that time and the Performance Schedule will be posted on the website (see chart below for Reveal Dates for Performance Schedules).

As always, there will be changes to the schedule. The Performance Schedule link will be updated in real time and, once again, we will be providing a mobile app that you can utilize when you are on the ship that will keep you up to date with the schedule. You will also have a Daily Program delivered to your stateroom each night that includes the Performance Schedule for the next day. Finally, when needed, we make announcement on the ship’s public address system for last minute changes.

Cruise ProgramsPerformance Schedule Reveal Date
The Jazz Cruise ’251.18.25
Botti at Sea II (’25)1.25.25
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.12.1.25
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.22.8.25

Join the Webinars

SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES WEBINAR

Below is the schedule for the upcoming webinars related to the ’25 Cruises. We urge you to sign up and attend. If that is not possible, each webinar will be recorded and available on the respective website of each cruise. 

(Note: It is much more fun to be on the webinar. We have fun doing it.)

Botti at Sea ’25
Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM ET

REGISTER FOR THE BOTTI AT SEA ’25 WEBINAR

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM ET

REGISTER FOR SJC WEBINAR

Journey of Jazz ’25

Our First West Coast Cruise in More than 10 Years!
Limited Offer/Significant Savings

Journey of Jazz Cruise

With all that is happening at Signature Cruise Experiences, we have not spent much time talking about Journey of Jazz ’25, our first West Coast cruise in more than 10 years. Though we do not sail for over 9 months from now, the cruise is 80% reserved and many of the special excursions are fully subscribed.

The first excursion that filled up was the Napa Valley Wine Train, which was surprising only because it was the most expensive of all the choices. We are investigating chartering another train for those who wish to enjoy traveling through the wine country, drinking great wine and enjoying gourmet food. Reading that description takes some of the mystery out of why the excursion sold out so quickly.

Most Expensive First Offer

The “Most Expensive First” syndrome for Journey of Jazz also applies to stateroom selection. The higher end staterooms were the first to go and most of the remaining inventory are Ocean View and Inside Staterooms! Amazing! Since our entire team will soon be “at sea” for a month, we decided to offer some of these staterooms at favorable prices. From now through February 25, 2025, the day we head back home or until the staterooms are fully reserved, you can use promo code ATSEA to reserve an Ocean View or Inside Stateroom at these amazing prices.

And, with the significant savings, you can afford a luxurious excursion! 

Journey of Jazz ’25Current PriceSpecial “ATSEA” Price
Ocean View$3,000$2,500
Inside$2,850$2.250

Cruise Prices are Per Person based on Double Occupancy
Reservations are Non-Commissionable 
This Offer may not be combined with any other offer or discount
New Reservations Only
Cruise Prices do not include per person Pass Through Charges

BOOK NOW

Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs

THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
THE JAZZ CRUISE ’26
Artist Lineup Now Available!

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 sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’25 may reserve their current stateroom for the ’26 sailing now through Jan. 31, 2025. New guests and those not sailing in ‘25 may join the Pre-Sail now.

JOIN PRE-AIL

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.1 & 26.2
Reserve Your Stateroom Today!  

Both sailings for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25 are fully reserved and the Waitlist has more than 4,000 entrants. 
  
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are in Open Booking (anyone may reserve any available stateroom) and are over 80% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3
Now in Open Booking!

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

CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
BOTTI AT SEA’25 is Fully Reserved!
BOTTI AT SEA ’26 Just Announced!

Sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with calls on San Francisco and Victoria, BC, Botti at Sea III (’26) is moving to the West Coast in September ’26! 

The website for the cruise will be available later this month, just before Botti at Sea II (’25) sails in February
Establish your priority for reserving a stateroom NOW by joining the Pre-Sail. 

JOIN PRE-SAIL

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDES WORLD AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
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

JOURNEY OF JAZZ SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’25
Limited Time Promotional Pricing!

Now through February 25, or until fully reserved, promotional pricing is available on Ocean View and 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

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
HOMECOMING: THE CRUISE ’26
New Cruise Just Announced!

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. Our newest cruise, sailing January 15 – 20, 2026 (including MLK Day), will deliver Excellence, Education and Entertainment. 

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. Establish your priority for reserving a stateroom NOW by joining the Pre-Sail before it closes on January 15!

JOIN PRE-SAIL

Mug Shot of the Week

Tony and Connie P. – Florida

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@jazzcruisesllc.com.

The post OUR TAKE: A Potpourri of Activities, Emotions & Responses appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> OUR TAKE: 2025 is Here. We are Ready! https://dev.scecruises.com/2025/01/04/our-take-2025-is-here-we-are-ready/ Sat, 04 Jan 2025 07:48:00 +0000 https://scecruises.com/?p=7986 Happy New Year! I trust that everyone had a fun and safe New Year’s Eve celebration and that we are ready to take on the challenge and excitement of a new year.  We had a wonderful New Year’s Eve. Nice (early) dinner and then a show. There was no jazz show for us to attend, […]

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]]> Happy New Year! I trust that everyone had a fun and safe New Year’s Eve celebration and that we are ready to take on the challenge and excitement of a new year. 

We had a wonderful New Year’s Eve. Nice (early) dinner and then a show. There was no jazz show for us to attend, but we did the very best next thing. We saw Alonzo Bodden’s New Year’s Eve Show. He was hilarious, topical and brought the house down. All that was missing was his typical calling out of the musicians. That will have to wait for a few more weeks.

In most years, we would start packing on New Year’s Day for the weeks on the cruises coming up. With Celebrity Summit being in drydock, our four weeks of amazing music starts on January 28, 2025, at least two weeks later than usual, so packing will start next week or so.

For those who are sailing on the upcoming cruises, be sure to join us for the webinars scheduled for each of the sailings. In each session, we walk through the various aspects of the cruises, talk about check-in, provide hints to make the cruise experience more enjoyable and answer your questions in real time.

For more information check out our Cruise ’25 Webinars below.

Customarily, I take the first “OUR TAKE” of the year and detail the New Year’s Resolutions for the company and for me personally. As someone who will soon be 75, I must choose resolutions that are important, but do not require extensive commitment. Learning Chinese or going around the world in a canoe have been ruled out, as an example.

What has not been ruled out is continuing to enjoy every moment of our cruises and to broaden my personal music palate and experiences. For the company, meaning Signature Cruise Experiences, our resolutions center on broadening our reach as well, while making sure that our jazz programs are stronger than ever.

Following up on the resolutions for Signature Cruise Experiences, you have seen, or heard about, two new programs we are advancing, Homecoming: The Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. 

Homecoming is active and we are pleased to report that the HBCU and Divine Nine communities are enthusiastically supporting the programs. The scholarship component of the cruise is up and running and our entertainers, Debbie Allen, Norm Nixon, Babyface, MC Lyte, Nephew Tommy, Chante Moore, Take 6, etc., are completing their own promotional materials.

Top Shelf Country Cruise will be launched in the coming weeks. If we were unsure as to the meaning of “mosey,” finalizing the terms and conditions of this program has confirmed our understanding. Crystal clear. But, when it is ready, it will be amazing. We are working closely with iHeart Radio on the concept and the cruise will feature some of their top country music proponents. Led by Bobby Bones, radio personalities Crook & Chase, Lunchbox and others will be key elements of the promotion and on ship programming. Top performers are being lined up for what will be the “top-shelf” example of a country music cruise.

2025 will also see the promotion of a new jazz program, as Christian McBride’s World at Sea ’26 joins The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Botti at Sea and Journey of Jazz as the largest fleet of jazz cruises in the world. We will strive to make each program unique and special yet sharing the ideals and branding that Signature Cruise Experiences draws from its predecessor producer, Jazz Cruises, LLC.

Other company goals including continuing to expand our management team and to add services and opportunities for our guests to enjoy great music with great musicians. Being able to provide such joy and spirit for a week each year is inspirational to our entire team. We know how much our guests look forward to being with their friends, family and colleagues on the ship and we are dedicated to continuing to make that experience special.

And, we want to spend more time understanding what our guests want to see in future programs, whether that means additional genres, different talent or other aspects of the cruise program. Our programs belong to the guests, are defined by the guests and will be designed for the guests for the future.

Learning about more musicians is my main personal resolution for 2025. To do so, I have identified 10 musicians (4 vocalists and 6 instrumentalists) that I have “heard of,” but do not know well. Each month, I will write about one of these folks, telling you their story and how I went about learning about them. No need to send in names for me to consider, as I spent several hours on New Year’s Day making my selections. Combing the internet to learn about names I have accumulated over the past few months was fun and provided respite from watching some really bad football.

Now that project fits my definition of a resolution for me. Important, but not overly ambitious or too long term. If you want to share your musical New Year’s Resolution, feel free to send them to me. We will print these Wish Lists right next to the Mug Shots.

Bring on 2025! We are more than ready! 

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World at Sea, Journey of Jazz, Homecoming: The Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com

Join the Webinars

SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES WEBINAR

Below is the schedule for the upcoming webinars related to the ’25 Cruises. We urge you to sign up and attend. If that is not possible, each webinar will be recorded and available on the respective website of each cruise. 

(Note: It is much more fun to be on the webinar. We have fun doing it.)

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Date: Thursday, January 9, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM ET

REGISTER FOR THE JAZZ CRUISE ’25 WEBINAR

Botti at Sea ’25
Date: Thursday, January 14, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM ET

REGISTER FOR BOTTI AT SEA ’25 WEBINAR

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM ET

REGISTER FOR THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘25.1 & ‘25.2 WEBINAR

Homecoming: The Cruise
Pre-Sail Reservation Ends on 01.15.25

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Due to high volume and some confusion as to dates over the holiday, Pre-Sail Reservations for Homecoming: The Cruise will be accepted through Wednesday, January 15! Guests holding Pre-Sail Reservations will receive information and directions for selecting a stateroom and completing a Reservation soon thereafter. As of now, Pre-Sail Reservations will be activated starting on Monday, January 20.

Securing a Pre-Sail Reservation is easy, without cost and does not obligate the guest in any way. A Pre-Sail Reservation is, however, the very best way to jump to the head of the line to select a stateroom.

JOIN THE PRE-SAIL

Journey of Jazz ’25

Our First West Coast Cruise in More than 10 Years!
Limited Offer/Significant Savings!

With all that is happening at Signature Cruise Experiences, we have not spent much time talking about Journey of Jazz ’25, our first West Coast cruise in more than 10 years. Though we do not sail for over 9 months from now, the cruise is 80% reserved and many of the special excursions are fully subscribed.

The first excursion that filled up was the Napa Valley Wine Train, which was surprising only because it was the most expensive of all the choices. We are investigating chartering another train for those who wish to enjoy traveling through the wine country, drinking great wine and enjoying gourmet food. Reading that description takes some of the mystery out of why the excursion sold out so quickly.

JOURNEY OF JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Most Expensive First Special Offer

The “Most Expensive First” syndrome for Journey of Jazz also applies to stateroom selection. The higher end staterooms were the first to go and most of the remaining inventory are Ocean View and Inside Staterooms! Amazing! Since our entire team will soon be “at sea” for a month, we decided to offer some of these staterooms at favorable prices. From now through February 25, 2025, the day we head back home or until the staterooms are fully reserved, you can use promo code ATSEA to reserve an Ocean View or Inside Stateroom at these amazing prices.

And, with the significant savings, you can afford a luxurious excursion! 

Journey of Jazz ’25Current PriceSpecial Price
Ocean View$3,000$2,500
Inside$2,850$2,250

Cruise Prices are Per Person based on Double Occupancy
Reservations are Non-Commissionable 
This Offer may not be combined with any other offer or discount
Cruise Prices do not include per person Pass Through Charges

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 Hotel Reservations:
Stay with the Artists!

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE HILTON FT LAUDERDALE MARINA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Still arranging your travel plans for The Smooth Jazz Cruise 25.1? Good news: We’ve managed to reserve another room block at a special rate for our guests at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina!

And because you’re reading this, you’re one of the first to know that this is the same hotel the artists will be staying at!

We will also be offering coach transportation from the hotel to the pier on Embarkation Day. Guests may register for this service now ($30/person) by completing the transportation form. 

There are a limited number of rooms available, so make sure you book soon. Just click the button below to get started.

BOOK AT THE ARTISTS’ HOTEL

Jazz in NYC

In large part because of the sprawling APAP conference dedicated to performing arts presenters, early January in New York City has become a hotbed for jazz artists, professionals and fans. Three major jazz-focused events during that time bring together members of the jazz community from all over the world. And you’ll find many artists who have been associated with our cruise programs involved in each of those events.

Jazz Congress (January 8-9)

JOHN CLAYTON JAZZ CONGRESS SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

This jazz industry conference, produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center and our own Lee Mergner, features a series of panels, workshops and events, dedicated to expanding the audience for jazz. John Clayton will receive the Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award, named for the longtime jazz record executive. The life and music of Russell Malone will be celebrated in an all-star performance featuring John, Ron Carter, Diana Krall, Christian McBride, Monty Alexander, Kenny Barron, Benny Green and others. Bryan Stevenson, the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, will give the keynote address. Other artists from our cruises who are participating in the conference include Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bria Skonberg, Etienne Charles and Patrice Rushen.

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Unity Jazz Festival (January 10-11)

Now in its second year, this two-day jazz festival will also take place at the beautiful facilities of Jazz at Lincoln Center and will feature more than 20 performances by artists such as Sullivan Fortner, Rachael & Villray, Helen Sung and many others. Our own Emmet Cohen will host a musical celebration of one of his mentors, Tootie Heath. In addition, there will be a special all-star tribute to Roy Haynes, featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dave Holland, Graham Haynes, Marcus Gilmore, Terri Lyne Carrington, John Patitucci, Dave Kikoski, Jaleel Shaw, Kenny Barron and more.

LEARN MORE
EMMET COHEN UNITY JAZZ FESTIVAL SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Winter JazzFest (January 9-15)

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE WINTER JAZZFEST SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Founded in 2005 by impresario Brice Rosenbloom, this festival takes place at various venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn and is anchored by two “Marathon” nights on January 10 and 11. During those evenings, performances by more than 40 groups take place at 18 venues. Attendees get a pass to experience the music in pub crawl fashion with Friday night being held in Manhattan and Saturday night in Brooklyn. The lineup features a mix of established and emerging artists, with an emphasis on the more cutting-edge styles of jazz. Among the more mainstream jazz performers in the program are the Christian McBride Big Band, Orrin Evans Big Band with Lisa Fischer, Matthew Whitaker, Tyreek McDole, Melissa Aldana and JD Allen.

LEARN MORE

Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs

THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
THE JAZZ CRUISE ’26
Artist Lineup Now Available!

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 sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’25 may reserve their current stateroom for the ’26 sailing now through Jan. 31, 2025. New guests and those not sailing in ‘25 may join the Pre-Sail now.

JOIN PRE-AIL

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.1 & 26.2
Reserve Your Stateroom Today!  

Both sailings for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25 are fully reserved and the Waitlist has more than 4,000 entrants. 
  
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are in Open Booking (anyone may reserve any available stateroom) and are over 80% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3
Now in Open Booking!

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

CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
BOTTI AT SEA’25 is Fully Reserved!
BOTTI AT SEA ’26 Just Announced!

Sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with calls on San Francisco and Victoria, BC, Botti at Sea III (’26) is moving to the West Coast in September ’26! 

The website for the cruise will be available later this month, just before Botti at Sea II (’25) sails in February
Establish your priority for reserving a stateroom NOW by joining the Pre-Sail. 

JOIN PRE-SAIL

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDES WORLD AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
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

JOURNEY OF JAZZ SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’25
Excursions Available to Book Now!

In addition to a spectacular lineup of musicians, Journey of Jazz ’25 includes a brilliant offering of special excursions, events and entertainment while the ship is docked in both Victoria, BC and San Francisco, CA.
  Check out the wide range of Signature Jazz Cruises’ curated trips to Wine Country, Special Land Based Concerts and more. New opportunities are available to book now.

BOOK NOW

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
HOMECOMING: THE CRUISE ’26
New Cruise Just Announced!

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. Our newest cruise, sailing January 15 – 20, 2026 (including MLK Day), will deliver Excellence, Education and Entertainment. 

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! Establish your priority for reserving a stateroom NOW by joining the Pre-Sail.

JOIN PRE-SAIL

Mug Shots of the Week

MUG SHOTS SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Veronica T – Delaware
MUG SHOTS SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Julie W. – New York


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: 2025 is Here. We are Ready! appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> OUR TAKE: Seeing the Forest for the Trees https://dev.scecruises.com/2024/12/28/our-take-seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/ Sat, 28 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://jazzcruisesllc.com/?p=7937 I often scoff at idioms. Generally, they appear when a more complex thought should be utilized. Reviewing some common idioms proves this point.  Do the phrases “break a leg,” “better late than never” or “it’s not rocket science” tell the real story you wish to share? To me, doing so is like “cutting corners.” I […]

The post OUR TAKE: Seeing the Forest for the Trees appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> I often scoff at idioms. Generally, they appear when a more complex thought should be utilized. Reviewing some common idioms proves this point. 

Do the phrases “break a leg,” “better late than never” or “it’s not rocket science” tell the real story you wish to share? To me, doing so is like “cutting corners.” I prefer to “get my act together,” “hang in there” and “bite the bullet.” Otherwise, let’s just “call it a day” and “hit the sack.”

Occasionally, an event or a series of events can be a “blessing in disguise,” force one to “hit the reset button” and “cut somebody (or something) some lack.” Last Sunday, December 22, “a light went on” and forced me to “go back to the drawing board” about the meaning of one particular idiom.

“Seeing the forest for the trees” refers to the admonition to see the big picture either together with or in lieu of the elements that comprise that situation. One can be so engrossed in a particular tree that they forget that they are amid a larger space, in this case a forest.

For those new to this column, not mentioning jazz by the fifth paragraph is the “final straw” before matters “get out of hand.” So, “to make a long story short” and to make sure that we do not “miss the boat,” let’s talk about the musicians that were on television last Sunday night. (Note: It was only recently that I came to know that “don’t miss the boat” was an idiom. I was taught it was a commandment.)

On Sunday, CBS’ celebrated news program, 60 Minutes, featured a segment on Samara Joy, which included some time with Christian McBride. Later that evening the annual Kennedy Center Honors show was aired. Arturo Sandoval was one of the honorees and Chris Botti performed in his honor, together with his band. Other performers included Keb Mo, Debbie Allen, Randy Brecker, Kendrick Scott, Chucho Valdes, Don Was and Kamasi Washington.

Sometimes, when we are working on our cruise programs, we view our stars without the stature and recognition that they enjoy elsewhere. We are so immersed in the trees (tasks and undertakings to make the cruises work) that we lose sight of the forest in which we reside. That forest is the international world of top talent, amazing musicians and world-renowned performers.

Earlier this year, my wife, Paula, was escorting Paquito D’Rivera and Chucho Valdes from one site to another in Miami. She described that four block walk as being part of a rock star entourage, with many, many people stopping to say hello and pay their respects. A similar reaction occurred years ago when David Sanborn joined the musicians of The Jazz Cruise for the pre-cruise meeting. The muttering of “that’s David Sanborn” resembled the “wave” that fans initiate in arenas and stadiums.

Seeing musicians that we know well and are part of our cruise programs year after year on national television and in worldwide settings is an example of the “proof is in the pudding” that our guests know and understand the significance of the entertainment they enjoy on our programs.

Jesus suggested that “a prophet has little honor in his hometown.” I doubt that is an idiom. Probably just a wise saying, but it points out the fact that let’s not forget the forest while discussing the trees.

The big picture here is that we are blessed to be able to enjoy great music, performed by the very best musicians in the world, and we have access to them that is unlike most other music genres. Next time you are fighting about the merits of fusion, the importance of smooth jazz or the current state of straight ahead jazz, just remember to realize that you are in the greatest forest in the world of music.

“Does a tree that falls in the forest when no one is there make a sound?” is not a question we need to ask in jazz. We will always be there. We will always hear those sounds. We will continue to plant and nourish our trees.

God bless our music and may everyone enjoy a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

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

What Are They Doing on New Year’s Eve?

Several of our artists have made plans to perform shows tied to the welcoming of the New Year. Here’s a partial list (in alphabetical order). Our apologies for any we may have missed.

Mindi Abair
December 29-31
Loews Coronado Bay Resort, San Diego, CA

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Monty Alexander
December 28-31
Blues Alley, Washington, DC

LEARN MORE

Benny Benack III
December 28-31
Black Cat, San Francisco, CA

LEARN MORE

Alonzo Bodden
December 31
Helium Comedy Club, St. Louis, MO

LEARN MORE

Chris Botti
December 28-31
The Blue Note, New York, NY

LEARN MORE

Rick Braun with Gerald Albright,
Richard Elliot and Peter White
December 30
Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, FL

LEARN MORE

Kurt Elling & SuperBlue 
December 31
The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC

LEARN MORE

Boney James
December 29-31
Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA

LEARN MORE

Gregory Porter
December 30
Dolby Theater, Hollywood, CA

LEARN MORE

Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs

THE JAZZ CRUISE 26 SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
THE JAZZ CRUISE ’25
Lineup Just Announced!

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 sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’25 may reserve their current stateroom for the ’26 sailing now through Jan. 31, 2025. New guests and those not sailing in ‘25 may join the Pre-Sail now.

JOIN PRE-SAIL

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE 26 SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.1 & 26.2
Reserve Your Stateroom Today!  

Both sailings for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25 are fully reserved and the Waitlist has more than 4,000 entrants. 
  
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are in Open Booking (anyone may reserve any available stateroom) and are over 80% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE 26 SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3
Now in Open Booking!

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

CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
BOTTI AT SEA’25 is Fully Reserved!
BOTTI AT SEA ’26 Just Announced!

Sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with calls on San Francisco and Victoria, BC, Botti at Sea III (’26) is moving to the West Coast in September ’26! 

The website for the cruise will be available early next year, just before Botti at Sea II (’25) sails in February! Establish your priority for reserving a stateroom NOW by joining the Pre-Sail. 

JOIN PRE-SAIL

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDES WORLD AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
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

JOURNEY OF JAZZ SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’25
Excursions Available to Book Now!

In addition to a spectacular lineup of musicians, Journey of Jazz ’25 includes a brilliant offering of special excursions, events and entertainment while the ship is docked in both Victoria, BC and San Francisco, CA.

Check out the wide range of Signature Jazz Cruises’ curated trips to Wine Country, Special Land Based Concerts and more. New opportunities are available to book now.

BOOK NOW

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

HOMECOMING: THE CRUISE
New Cruise Just Announced!

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. Our newest cruise, sailing January 15 – 20, 2026 (including MLK Day), will deliver Excellence, Education and Entertainment. 

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! Establish your priority for reserving a stateroom NOW by joining the Pre-Sail.

BOOK NOW

Mug Shot of the Week

Bill and Hilda S
Connecticut


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: Seeing the Forest for the Trees appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> OUR TAKE: The Gift of Celebration https://dev.scecruises.com/2024/12/21/our-take-the-gift-of-celebration/ Sat, 21 Dec 2024 08:19:00 +0000 https://jazzcruisesllc.com/?p=7916 Later this week, folks will be celebrating Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa. While these holidays do not cover the entire world, it is a very good start. Each holiday has its own underpinnings and origins, but the messaging is very similar. It is time to be thankful, humble and grateful for family, friends, colleagues and the […]

The post OUR TAKE: The Gift of Celebration appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> Later this week, folks will be celebrating Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa. While these holidays do not cover the entire world, it is a very good start. Each holiday has its own underpinnings and origins, but the messaging is very similar. It is time to be thankful, humble and grateful for family, friends, colleagues and the pursuit of joy.

More than ever, we, at Signature Cruise Experiences, find ourselves in the “joy” business. We are moving forward, consciously and deliberately, to provide cruise experiences for new guests and new audiences. Even our core programs are experiencing a marked influx of new guests. 40% of the guests boarding The Jazz Cruise ’25, Botti at Sea ’25, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.2 are first-time cruisers.

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE

Buoyed by this continued growth, last Thursday we launched Homecoming: The Cruise, our tribute to the rich history and grandeur of HBCUs and Divine Nine organizations. Yesterday was the public launch of Christian McBride’s World at Sea ’26, our newest jazz cruise program, and an homage to the vast world of jazz that Christian has created.

That we launched those sailings during the holiday season is no accident. These programs exude a reverence and aura of celebration that befits this season. Both will be joyous celebrations of inspiration, excellence, and service.

And at the heart of each program will be music, dance and camaraderie — the sacred trio of expressing joy at sea. Homecoming: The Cruise will be hosted by Debbie Allen and her husband, Norm Nixon. The music headliner will be Babyface with Chanté Moore and Take 6 joining as well. Determined to promote higher education through the HBCU system, up to $100,000 in scholarship grants will be made as part of the cruise’s activities.

For those in the know, Homecoming at an HBCU institution is a “can’t miss” event. Planned all year, the celebration includes both traditional events as well as today’s entertainment. 

When we sat down to talk to Christian McBride about the direction of his cruise, we shared with him our respect for his ability to create and perpetuate several jazz projects at the same time. Tribute to Ray Brown, Inside Straight, Christian’s Big Band, Ursa Major and others travel the globe individually and seasonally, presenting an array of jazz profiles.

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDES WORLD AT SEA CRUISE

Christian McBride’s World at Sea cruise will feature the amazing musicians who comprise those groups, plus top vocalists and guest musicians. Being able to see and hear virtually all of Christian’s projects at one time has never been available. The cruise format provides this rare and exciting opportunity.

Though the lineup is not final, we’re excited to share that Jose James, Cecile McLorin Salvant and Angelique Kidjo will be joining Christian and his groups.

What you may not know is that Christian is a deft DJ, operating under the moniker Brother Mister. Check him out on the cruise. And Christian is a comedy fan as well. Of course, that means the presence of Alonzo Bodden, our favorite comics, but to gild the lily, the legendary George Wallace will be onboard as well.

CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA CRUISE

Soon, we will have updates on Botti at Sea ’26, which is sailing on the West Coast in Fall ’26. The lure of this new itinerary and dates for Chris’ cruise has enabled us to secure two amazing guests. Doing so with more than 650 days before sailing is a testament to Chris’ stature in the world of music and the excitement for the new program.

We have one more surprise to share, but we will leave that for the next “Our Take.” Before taking us to task for the scope of the new program, remember that embracing all forms of music can be an important bridge for fans all over the world. If this sounds ominous, it is, but all in good fun.

I will leave our year-end musings for next week’s edition as well, but, to tease that note, we at Signature Cruise Experiences had a wonderful and enjoyable year. Our core cruises were exciting. Our “pop-up” cruise featuring Michael McDonald and Patti LaBelle was a hit. We expanded our programs and embarked upon a new path for the future under a new name and organization.

But most of all, we were able to provide our guests with the very best cruise experience without the restriction imposed by the Pandemic, the fear of harm to our patrons and limitations on the talent we could present. I am not sure what “back to normal” means anymore, but, let’s just say that 2024 felt good.

Hug your family and say hi to your friends this holiday season. None of us can predict the future, so enjoy what you can when you can, whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or another holiday. This admonition holds true for a cruise vacation as well.

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

Still Searching for that Perfect Holiday Gift?
Check out Holiday Prices for Journey of Jazz ’25!

Journey of Jazz ’25 is our first West Coast sailing in many years. Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter are the hosts and we are featuring an amazing lineup that includes Cecile McLorin Salvant, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Diana Krall! 

Overnighting in San Francisco allows us to visit Napa, Sonoma and have shows at SFJAZZ. This program is very special in so many ways.

Staterooms are being reserved at a record pace, but we do have more Ocean View and Inside Staterooms available than usual. We decided that this is a great opportunity to lower the prices for those staterooms significantly for holiday purchases. 

From now through January 15, 2025, the promo code HOLIDAY will open the door for you to reserve an Ocean View or Inside Stateroom and sail on our Journey of Jazz ’25.

RESERVE TODAY

Jazz at Sam First in LA

SAM FIRST JAZZ CLUB

We’re always excited to hear about a new venue presenting jazz, so we were happy to learn about Sam First, a jazz club in LA located inexplicably near the LAX airport. Honestly, we’re a little late to this party because the club has been quietly building an audience there since 2017. In the ensuing years, the club has been a go-to spot not only for serious jazz fans but also for so many great jazz artists, many of whom have sailed with us over the years.

Their upcoming schedule of shows includes the Joe LaBarbara Quintet (January 10-11), Gilad Hekselman Trio with Ben Williams (January16-18), Edward Simon Trio (January 24-25), Larry Goldings Trio (February 14-15), Ben Allison Trio (Mar. 8), Anthony Wilson Nonet (March 21-22) and Tamir Hendelman Quartet (March 28-29). Sam First is also a record label, but more on that in a later edition of The Weekender

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Jazz at Birdland in LA

BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB

We don’t need to introduce our guests and followers to Birdland Jazz in NYC, who have been a valued partner with The Jazz Cruise for many years. But we’re pleased to share with you news of the upcoming performances by so many of our artists. 

Kurt Elling returns to Birdland January 8-11 for performances with the Ulysses Owens, Jr. Big Band. Performing sets in the Birdland Theater on January 9 are Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendelman. Two of our favorite pianists, Isaiah J. Thompson and Emmet Cohen, follow Kurt and Tierney with shows on January 12 and 13, respectively. Later than month, Dee Dee Bridgewater, another longtime favorite of our guests, will appear for four nights (January 22-25). Two more great vocalists follow in shows by Lisa Fischer (January 28 – February 1) and Catherine Russell (February 11-15), the latter coming from her week as a host of The Jazz Cruise. Her friend and frequent collaborator, John Pizzarelli will perform at Birdland for five nights (March 4-8). Tell Gianni we sent you!

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Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs

JOURNEY OF JAZZ
JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’25
Excursions Available to Book Now!

In addition to a spectacular lineup of musicians, Journey of Jazz ’25 includes a brilliant offering of special excursions, events and entertainment while the ship is docked in both Victoria, BC and San Francisco, CA.

Check out the wide range of Signature Jazz Cruises’ curated trips to Wine Country, Special Land Based Concerts and more. New opportunities are available to book now.

BOOK NOW

THE JAZZ CRUISE 2026
THE JAZZ CRUISE ’25
Lineup Just Announced!

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 sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’25 may reserve their current stateroom for the ’26 sailing now through Jan. 31, 2025. New guests and those not sailing in ‘25 may join the Pre-Sail now.

JOIN PRE-SAIL

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE 26.1 AND 26.2

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.1 & 26.2
Reserve Your Stateroom Today!  

Both sailings for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25 are fully reserved and the Waitlist has more than 4,000 entrants. 
  
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are in Open Booking (anyone may reserve any available stateroom) and are over 80% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE 26.3
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3
Reserve your Stateroom Today! 

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

CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA
BOTTI AT SEA’25 is Fully Reserved!
BOTTI AT SEA ’26 Just Announced!

Sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with calls on San Francisco and Victoria, BC, Botti at Sea III (’26) is moving to the West Coast in September ’26! 

The website for the cruise will be available early next year, just before Botti at Sea II (’25) sails in February! 

JOIN PRE-SAIL

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDES WORLD AT SEA
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

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE

HOMECOMING: THE CRUISE
New Cruise Just Announced!

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. Our newest cruise, sailing January 15 – 20, 2026 (including MLK Day), will deliver Excellence, Education and Entertainment. 

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! Establish your priority for reserving a stateroom NOW by joining the Pre-Sail.

JOIN PRE-SAIL

Mug Shots of the Week

MUG SHOTS SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES SHARON TENNESSEE CANDACE CALIFORNIA
Sharon – Tennessee
Candace – California
SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES MUG SHOTS JUDITH AND MARTY VIRGINIA
Judith and Mary
Virginia


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.

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