The Weather is “Hot”….So is Jazz!
They say that you cannot change the weather. That is true if you stay in one place and do not move. Part of the allure of our cruise programs is the ability to take you on a journey “where the weather fits your clothes!” Or, at the very least, where you can choose your surroundings.
Take Journey of Jazz ’25! An early fall cruise on the West Coast with stops in Victoria and San Francisco caught the eye of many, as that sailing is now fully reserved. That the cruise includes some of the “hottest” jazz ever did not hurt, as well as an overwhelming interest in the amazing excursions we have curated for Victoria and San Francisco.
Our plan is to include those offerings, and more, when The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 and Botti at Sea III follow this itinerary in September ’26. Two more examples of “hot” jazz in “cool” environments.
In This Edition of Jazz Notes
In this edition of Jazz Notes, our jazz consultant, Lee Mergner, will be spotlighting the many talents of Katharine McPhee (David Foster: The Hitman Cruise) and will share his thoughts about Inside Straight (Christian McBride’s World at Sea). Michael Lazaroff will provide the latest updates on Journey of Jazz ’25, The Smooth Jazz Cruises in both ’26 and ’27 and the exciting news about Botti at Sea ’26. He will also share his excitement about The Jazz Cruise ’26. Here is a hint as to why he is so “jazzed up” for that cruise: Legends!
Journey of Jazz ’25
Fully Reserved
As shared above, Journey of Jazz ’25 is “fully reserved.” With just over 50 days before the cruise sails, there will be cancellations. All cancellations are filled from the Waitlist. If you are already on the Waitlist and wish to reaffirm your desire to cruise, please contact the office either by phone (888.852.9987) or by email (info@scecruises.com) to express your interest. If you are not on the Waitlist, click HERE to join.
Stay tuned for more information about the next “destination” for Journey of Jazz!
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise
Katharine McPhee:
Singer + Actress = Entertainer
There are so many talented singers out there in the world, not only in jazz, but in just about every genre. But how many of them can act too? When we say “act,” we’re not talking about a part in a local theater product, but rather about performing a role (not just playing themselves) on network television or the Broadway stage or on film.
Katharine McPhee first came into the public eye as a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol, during which she finished as the runner-up. But Katharine had always acted going back to her teen years in Los Angeles. In the hit TV show Smash, about the making of a Broadway musical, she combined her unique gifts as a vocalist and actress in her role as Karen Cartwright. She would go on to another major role in a successful TV show, Scorpion, playing Paige Dineen, during which she even got the opportunity to sing Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” in one episode. With her strong screen presence, Katharine has acted in numerous other shows and films over the years.
But it’s her prowess as a vocalist that brings Katharine aboard the David Foster Hitman Cruise in ’26. Guests of Botti at Sea ‘24 can attest to not only her vocal talents, but also her powerful and charismatic stage presence, owing to her vast experience as an actress. Recently, she has been touring with her husband, David Foster, and she always brings down the house with her dynamic performances. The two comprised a hit duo on yet another hit TV show, The Masked Singer, in which they performed as Banana Split. Katharine sang “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Don’t You Worry About a Thing,” while David conducted something resembling a band in the background. They didn’t win, but they showed the stuff they were made of, sans masks and costumes. A great singer partnered with a great pianist, composer and arranger.
Throughout her illustrious career, Katharine has shown herself to be more than just a singer with both chops and style. Quite simply, Katharine McPhee is an entertainer.
– Lee Mergner
McBride’s World at Sea
Inside Straight: Born at the Village Vanguard
Back in 2007, Christian McBride approached Lorraine Gordon at the Village Vanguard about playing at that historic NYC jazz club where he hadn’t performed for 10 years. Gordon was interested, but she was adamant that the band had to be different from the band he was leading at the time, which was the Christian McBride Band, who mixed acoustic and electric sounds. “Of course it would be okay, I’d love for you to come back, but you know what we do down here,” she told him then. “I don’t want that band that you usually play with here…that is not a band for the Village Vanguard.”
It was a fortuitous request, no demand, from the late owner, because Christian was already thinking of putting together an all-acoustic working band. “Knowing that I was going to play the Village Vanguard, which is the haven for real straight ahead jazz and real creative music, I called the top New York guns that I could think of,” Christian told Esther Belanga-Ryan of All About Jazz.
“Steve Wilson is a Vanguard regular, he is always playing there with someone. And Carl Allen and I have so much history together, he was a no-brainer. Eric Reed, we’ve been friends for 20 years, but we’ve never played together that often. And Warren Wolf, well, he was actually a former student of mine at Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the summer program that I’ve been the artistic director of for the last 10 years. He came out in the summer of, I believe 2000, and he was so incredible, he was so far ahead from everyone else. I promised to him, ‘Warren, one of these days I’m gonna start a band with you in it.’”
The group didn’t have a name during their successful run at the Vanguard. Almost a year later, the band performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival. “We were listed as the Christian McBride Quintet and you know, every jazz band in the world with five guys is called a quintet,” Christian recalled. “It’s boring. So what could we name our band? We were all sitting around trying to think of a name for the band and my manager and I looked at each other and he said ‘Look, let’s have a contest, we’ll have the audience name the band.’”
Among the 3,500 entries for the group’s band name was “Inside Straight,” suggested by Doug & Debra Moody (of North Coast Brewing). “It was catchy, you know?” Christian explained. “Musically, it describes the band. It’s inside, and it’s straight ahead, and it’s a totally acoustic quintet.”
The group, which would later feature Peter Martin on piano, would go on to record three critically acclaimed albums for Mack Avenue and become a headliner at just about every jazz festival and venue in the world.
That all-star quintet is just one of the many stellar bands that Christian will bring to McBride’s World at Sea in January.
– Lee Mergner
Don’t Miss Out on Christmas in July
Christian McBride loves Christmas. He loves giving gifts and making people happy. So, when he learned that some folks who want to sail on Christian McBride’s World at Sea might need a little wiggle in the Cruise Price, he was determined to devise an offer that would please all.
So, with a Ho! Ho! Ho! and a twinkle in his eye, Christian has declared the first ever Christmas in July Cruise Offer. Savings of around $1,300 per person ($2,600 per couple) are available.
You can call the office or book online. This offer is for new reservations only and may not be used with any other offer or promotion. Be sure to use the Promo Code: XMAS.
The Jazz Cruise ’26
The Jazz Cruise is Legendary
The Jazz Cruise started in 2001, a quarter of a century ago, as the first program produced by the company now known as Signature Cruise Experiences. What began as a solid, but modest, cruise program that featured 50 or so jazz musicians has doubled in size, both in terms of the number of players and in the cruise’s prestige and profile. Many call it “Jazz Heaven.” Many say it is the most important “straight ahead” jazz event of the year. Everyone who sails on the cruise calls it “home.”
Part of the appeal of The Jazz Cruise has been its lineup, which is always a blend of legends, current stars and rising musicians. The only requirement is talent and the willingness to share that talent with other musicians and our guests. The balance of these categories is customarily pretty even, though occasionally one category overshadows the others, giving the cruise a particular vibe. For The Jazz Cruise ’26, the legends rule the roost…and I could not be more excited.
Yes, Emmet Cohen is the host. Not yet a legend, but someone who has made a career of promoting honoring them. Check out this list:
There are nearly 50 more of the world’s best jazz musicians on The Jazz Cruise ’26. When it comes to “straight ahead” jazz, they are all legends and, for the week of The Jazz Cruise, we will be in awe of their talents and their commitment to this program. The way in which they collaborate, unselfishly and brilliantly, is what makes this cruise so special to me and to our guests.
Where does this attitude and manner come from? What is the motivation for these top talents to be so respectful of each other? The answer is quite simple. Each follows the examples of the Legends mentioned above who, in turn, have followed the examples of the Legends before them. Each of them can point to one or more musicians who guided their careers and provided the model for their music.
Unabashedly, I admire and love the musicians on The Jazz Cruise. They represent all that is good about jazz, about music and about life. January 27, 2026, the first day of The Jazz Cruise ’26, could not come sooner.
– Michael Lazaroff
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26
A Tail of Three Sailings
Since 2004, there have been 35 sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Each one fully reserved. Each one fully programmed with top musicians, exciting shows and great events. The ’26 sailings will, undoubtedly, follow in the footsteps of those great programs.
Both The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2 are fully reserved. With more than 200 days from sailing, there will be cancellations and opportunities for those who are not booked to sail. Again, all cancellations are filled through the Waitlist, so, if you want to sail on either cruise, be sure to click on www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com, go to the Pricing page of the sailing you want and complete a JOIN WAITLIST entry.
Though The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 sails in over 420 days (September 11 – 18, 2026), that sailing is already 85% reserved. This program will be embarking from Vancouver with stops in Victoria and an overnight in San Francisco before disembarking in Los Angeles. The same excursions that we are offering for the upcoming sailing of Journey of Jazz ’25 will be available for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3. An announcement as to when folks may begin to reserve excursions will be made soon!
A Tease of Three More Sailings
Plans for three sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise in ’27 are nearly complete. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2 will follow our customary Caribbean schedule, while The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3 will have its own itinerary and schedule. For now, we can say that the program will sail in the fall and will present ports of call that have never been scheduled for The Smooth Jazz Cruise.
As the title says…we are teasing these sailings.
Botti at Sea ’26
August 6 – Mark Your Calendars
Launch of Botti at Sea III
Today is 423 days before Chris Botti at Sea III (Botti Cruise) embarks from Los Angeles for Vancouver, BC, with an overnight in San Francisco and a full day in Victoria. This itinerary is the reverse of the itinerary that Journey of Jazz ’25 (JOJ) will be enjoying in just over 50 days. You could say that JOJ is doing a scouting run for the Botti Cruise.
Our leader, Chris Botti, has announced some superstar performers for this cruise: Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle. Amazing! With those announcements, fans have been reserving staterooms for this sailing. But, now it is time to announce the full lineup as well as share the schedule of great excursions that we have curated for your time in San Francisco and Victoria!
The expanded lineup includes many Featured Performers and Band Members who, with our top-notch Headliners, create a formidable group of performers. Most of the excursions are the same as the wildly popular excursions that our JOJ guests will be experiencing in September ’25. We have added a few new excursions, increased the dining options in both San Francisco and Victoria, and mixed in a new winery tour (Napa and Sonoma).
The full lineup and excursion reveal date is August 6, 2025. Sign up here for our “real time” presentation of the news (3 PM ET). Yes, you guessed it – Chris Botti himself will be participating in the presentation, along with members of the staff of Signature Cruise Experiences. We will answer questions submitted and, of course, there will be a surprise or two for those “guests” participating.
Whether you have already reserved a stateroom, intend to do so or are just curious to learn more about the cruise, you are welcomed to join us for a fun hour or so. No obligation. No charge. Only a lot of information and the chance to hear Chris talk about his amazing cruise!
Signature Cruise Experiences’ Programs
JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’25
Fully Reserved
DAVID FOSTER: THE HITMAN CRUISE
is in Open Booking
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE’S WORLD AT SEA
is in Open Booking
THE JAZZ CRUISE ’26
is in Open Booking
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.1 & 26.2
are Fully Reserved
THE TOP SHELF COUNTRY CRUISE
is in Open Booking
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3
is in Open Booking
