During this brief hiatus, besides the usual mid-summer activities, we will be preparing for our mid-2025 meetings during which we will be assessing our ’26 Programs and planning for our ’27 Programs. Doing so causes me to reflect upon the 25+ years of producing our programs, the musicians we have known and the amazing guests that we have met, befriended and enjoyed. We are very fortunate to be doing something that we love, with people that we respect, and for people whom we wish to make happy at all times. If you have to toil, it makes it so much easier when you love doing it.

As you know, we have expanded our cruise programs to include additional jazz programs (Journey of Jazz and Christian McBride’s World at Sea) together with some entertainment programs that are outside of the world of jazz. Some, like Botti at Sea and David Foster: The Hitman Cruise, though not entirely jazzy, are within the general vicinity of the jazz world. Others, like Top Shelf Country Cruise and past programs like NASCAR and Star Trek are far from striking distance of our music. Since we will be heading into a planning phase for our next set of programs, we thought it would be interesting if we asked our most loyal fans, the readers of The Weekender, to weigh in and suggest what types of cruise programs they would like us to tackle.

You see, we love our music more than anything in the world, but our singular skill is being able to produce a charter theme cruise. Very few people know how to do that and we believe that we do it better than anyone else. Applying that skill set to any theme is doable for us. One of our mission statements is to add a different theme cruise each year. Top Shelf Country Cruise was the choice for ’26. We are excited to announce that there will be a ’27 sailing of Top Shelf Country Cruise. I should have bought those boots instead of renting them!

Back to our request of you. If you have a cruise concept in mind for us to consider producing, please let us know by sending the information to info@scecruises.com. If we select your theme and it becomes a cruise, not only will you sail on the cruise for life for free, but you will be an “owner”!   

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, David Foster: The Hitman Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

Samara Joy’s New Single and BBC Orchestral Debut

The jazz vocal star Samara Joy, who will be performing during McBride’s World at Sea, has just released a new single, “Flor de Lis,” a Portuguese outtake from her 2024 album Portrait, on June 27 In the lead up to her upcoming South American dates in Argentina and Brazil.

In addition, Samara will perform with her octet and the BBC Concert Orchestra on July 19. Her first time performing with a full orchestra, the concert will be broadcast live on BBC4.

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Christian McBride Big Band Album

Samara will also appear on the upcoming recording from the Christian McBride Big Band, Without Further Ado, Vol. 1, singing “Old Folks.” Released on Mack Avenue on August. 29, the album features classic jazz and pop standards sung by Samara and other special guest vocalists, including Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dianne Reeves, José James, Jeffrey Osborne and Antoinette Henry. The first single from the album has just been released and it features Sting and Andy Summers performing “Murder By Numbers,” their tune from The Police’s 1982 multi-platinum Synchronicity.

“This album has been a fantastic opportunity to record some of my favorite big band arrangements, with some of my favorite singers,” Christian said.

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Mid-Summer Break

As we mentioned in the Our Take, our office will be closed from Monday, June 30 through Friday, July 4. We will be open as usual starting at 10 AM ET on Monday, July 7. Though away from the office, we remain available via email at info@scecruises.com. 

All of us at Signature Cruise Experiences wish you and yours a happy, fun and safe July 4th holiday. Whether you spend it on the beach, at a pool, on the deck or just lounging, every holiday deserves a few hours of great jazz! Do not live without it!

Stateroom Availability

Cruise Programs – 2025

Cruise Programs – 2026

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Programs

Journey of Jazz ’25 – Limited Time Promotional Pricing

Journey of Jazz is more than 97% reserved! There are less than 40 available staterooms consisting of Veranda and Inside Staterooms. These remaining staterooms are currently at their final, lowest price. Don’t miss your chance – join us on our Journey this September! *New reservations only

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David Foster: The Hitman Cruise – 5 Days, 5 Nights, 5 Star Experience

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise will deliver five incredible days and nights of five-star entertainment, all centered around the music and career of 16-time GRAMMY® winner David Foster. Michael McDonald, Babyface, Katharine McPhee and other preeminent talents will join us aboard. Open Booking has begun and staterooms are already moving fast! Act soon to reserve your stateroom of choice.

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Christian McBride’s World at Sea – Limited Time Promotional Pricing

Open Booking has begun! Special pricing available for a limited time on Ocean View & Inside Staterooms. Use Promo Code CMW when you make your reservation! *New reservations only

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The Jazz Cruise ’26 is in Open booking

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!

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The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are Fully Reserved

Of course, you may join the Waitlist. Or, if you’d prefer to sail the West Coast this fall (two novel concepts for this program), consider joining us on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3.

JOIN WAITLIST

Top Shelf Country Cruise is now in Open Booking

With premium talent like Keith Urban, Lee Brice, Scotty McCreery, Parmalee, LeAnn Rimes, Thelma & James and Kassi Ashton, Top Shelf Country Cruise earns its title as the First-Class Country Music Cruise! Reserve your stateroom today!

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The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is in Open Booking

For the first time in many years, The Smooth Jazz Cruise will sail on the West Coast! The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is in Open Booking and staterooms are more than 75% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!

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Botti at Sea ’26 is in Open Booking

We’re thrilled to be able to announce that Boz Scaggs, Elvis Costello, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle will be onboard Botti at Sea ’26 in Fall 2026. Reserve your stateroom today!

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The post Our Take: Is it a June Swoon or Just a Nice Break? appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

We are back home from London now, but we were at the matches this week and had the good fortune of being there for the Round of 16. The 32 best gentlemen and ladies’ players in the tournament were on display for us to watch. You could not see them all, but you could sample what you wanted and linger when you chose to do so. It was a great time, particularly because my wife, Paula, who recently has become a tennis fan and a very good tennis player, enjoyed each minute.

Being in the cruise business, we rarely take a vacation as we travel a lot for the company. Our last vacation was years ago, long before the Pandemic. We planned this trip for a year, made our reservations through a very competent organization that specializes in Grand Slam Tennis events, and carefully plotted out each minute of the trip.

As fate would have it, though we came to London for the tennis, our most lasting memories will be the “jazz” portion of the trip. First, on the day after the Round of 16, Paula and I had lunch at the Reform Club with one of the most revered guests of The Jazz Cruise, Keith McDowall. Keith is 94 and has sailed with us in some form or another for more than 30 years, having started with my mother, Anita Berry, on the SS Norway.

Keith was the husband of another legend of The Jazz Cruise, Brenda Dean, Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde. Brenda came from a modest home, but, at a very young age, she became involved with the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers, rising through the ranks of the union and becoming one of the most powerful members in the country. Dean was raised to the peerage in October 1993 as Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde, of Eccles in the County of Greater Manchester and was appointed to the Privy Council in 1998. She passed quite suddenly a few years ago and her life was celebrated in England and on The Jazz Cruise. On my desk is a coffee mug (more likely for tea) that she presented to me from the House of Lords. I treasure that memento.

The Reform Club deserves a few lines of its own. Founded in 1836, the club was formed for the benefit of Radicals and Whigs who supported the Great Reform Act of 1832. Eventually, the club became the political headquarters of the Liberal Party. Perhaps the club is best known as the locale for the start and creation of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days.

Now to jazz event #2. Our last night in London was equally dedicated to our jazz roots, only this time there was amazing music to be enjoyed. We had the good fortune of being in London when the famed local jazz club, Ronnie Scott’s, was presenting our very own Marcus Miller. Attending the show with Jazz Cruise leaders, Aubrey and Brad Pavlik, seeing Marcus, talking with Brenda…it was like being on the ship. Had Alonzo Bodden made an appearance, it would have been a “perfect” cruise event.

As always, Marcus was amazing. Great band. Great atmosphere. Great ending to one of the most memorable weeks ever. No matter where we go, there is always a Jazz Cruises’ connection to enjoy. Special music makes great things happen.

Now, it is our turn to go back to work to create several amazing weeks of enjoyment for you, the greatest fans in the world.

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

Fall Festivals

Although most people think of the summer as the prime time of the year for jazz festivals, September has become a very popular month for jazz events, in part because some organizations moved their events from the summer during the pandemic. Here are four jazz festivals that are coming up in the fall and that feature several artists associated with Jazz Cruises programs. Listed in chronological order.

Montclair Jazz Festival
September 14, 2024
Montclair, NJ

This event is produced by our friends at Jazz House Kids, under the leadership of Melissa Walker and Christian McBride. Although the festival includes a concert series during the summer, it’s the Grand Finale that takes over the streets of Montclair, NJ with three stages featuring performances by Christian McBride & Inside Straight, Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton, Edmar Castenada, Steve Turre, Jerome Jennings, Brianna Thomas and the Jazz House All-Stars.

Pittsburgh Jazz Festival
September 19-22, 2024
Pittsburgh, PA

This free outdoor festival returns to the streets of downtown Pittsburgh and features several artists who have performed on our sailings, including Maysa, Emmet Cohen, Sean Jones, Robert Glasper and Dan Wilson, as well as other headliners such as Orrin Evans, Shemekia Copeland, Average White Band and many more. The festival also hosts a jazz train that leaves from New York City with stops in Newark and Philadelphia before arriving in the Iron City in time for the start of the festival.

Atlantic City JazzFest
September 21, 2024
Atlantic City, NJ

Held at the Hard Rock Casino on the boardwalk of the Jersey seaside resort, this one-day event is the fifth annual Atlantic City JazzFest and will feature performances by Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler and Jazmin Ghent.

Monterey Jazz Festival
September 27-29, 2024
Monterey, CA

Considered one of the most prestigious jazz festivals in the world, the Monterey Jazz Festival celebrates its 67th anniversary with performances in various venues on the hallowed ground of the Monterey Fairgrounds. Among the headliners are numerous favorites of our Jazz Cruises guests, including Samara Joy, Jose James, Robert Glasper, Gerald Clayton, Avery*Sunshine, Ben Williams, Don Was, Chief Adjuah, Cory Henry and many others.

Mid-Summer Vacation July 3 – 14

The Jazz Cruise office is closed through July 14 for a mid-Summer Vacation. We will reopen at the usual time (10 AM ET) on Monday, July 15, 2024. During this time, guests may complete reservations online, check their Jazz Cruises account and submit questions to us at info@scecruises.com. Responses may take a bit longer, but we will answer all questions submitted.

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

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

Mug Shots of the Week

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

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

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