Sailing, Launching & Planning
Prior to ’25, September would be a month of planning for the upcoming sailings in January and February, as well as starting to talk about lineups for future cruises. When we added a fall sailing for ’25 and a 5-day cruise in January right before our traditional four-week programming, our operations became year-round.
With Labor Day ’25 in our rearview mirror, this September brings on the full panoply of activities that Signature Cruise Experiences undertakes. We have a sailing, a cruise launch, a special announcement and a “one year from now” cruise milestone.
No complaints mind you. More great music. More great musicians. More fun.
For the ’26 Cruises, we estimate that we will present more than 1,800 hours of music, deploy more than 500 musicians and enjoy more than 60 days at sea.
Exciting stuff, truly.
Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences
michael@scecruises.com
In This Edition of Jazz Notes
In this edition of Jazz Notes, Executive Director, Michael Lazaroff, authors this week’s Signature Cruise Experiences News, which includes a preview of Journey of Jazz ’25, a reminder to guests of the launch of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 and ’27.2, a forecast for the timing of the launch of The Jazz Cruise ’27 and a showcase of Cruise Price Specials for Christian McBride’s World at Sea.
Our jazz guru, Lee Mergner, covers the Broadway debut of Kurt Elling, one of the many stars from The Jazz Cruise, and writes about the new album from the host of McBride’s World at Sea, Christian McBride and his Big Band.
Signature Cruise News
Journey of Jazz ’25
Sailing in Nine Days! Next Sailing is 1.24.27!
Journey of Jazz ’25 is fully reserved, and sets sail for the first time, from Vancouver on 9.12.25. The Performance Schedule for the cruise has been shared with the guests, all travel plans for Artists, Musicians, Crew & Staff are in place and the final Get Ready notices are being sent to the guests.
In our world, that activity means that we are about to sail! With a great lineup, our first West Coast itinerary in years and a full menu of amazing excursions, Journey of Jazz ’25 is poised to be something very special.
The next sailing of Journey of Jazz will be 1.24.27 – 1.31.27 and will include an overnight stop in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. The special plans for that trip will be announced very soon.
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise
Special Pricing for All Remaining Staterooms
Use Promo Code: EOS25
Main Show Reserved Seats for Concierge Class Reservations
Our ’26 Cruise Season starts with the inaugural sailing of David Foster: The Hitman Cruise, a program showcasing the amazing talents of one of the most decorated and honored persons in the world of music. David’s abilities as a performer, composer, arranger, and producer have resulted in 16 GRAMMY® Awards and 47 nominations.
David is known for his ability to take top artists and create amazing and once-in-a-lifetime musical events. His cruise is evidence of his world renowned talents.
Among the stars joining David for the 5-day/5-night program (1.15.26 – 1.20.26) are his wife and star vocalist Katherine McPhee, Babyface, Peter Cincotti, Pia Toscano, Daniel Emmet, Morgan James and Brenna Whitaker. David’s very special guest is Michael McDonald.
Special Cruise Prices are available through September 22, 2025 (use Promo Code: EOS25)*. Guests who reserve Concierge Class Staterooms will also receive a Reserved Seat for the Nightly Main Shows. *New Reservations Only
Christian McBride’s World at Sea
Use Promo Code: 7FOR5
for Special Pricing on ALL Staterooms!
A few hours after David Foster: The Hitman Cruise docks in Ft. Lauderdale on 1.20.27, another inaugural sailing will be launching. Christian McBride’s World at Sea will set sail for 7-days and 7-nights of Christian’s fabulous ensembles, along with the very best lineup of vocalists we have ever presented.
Imagine Ledisi, Samara Joy, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Angélique Kidjo, Melissa Walker & José James on the same ship!
We want every music fan in the world to enjoy this cruise! For the time being, we are offering staterooms for a 7-day/7-night cruise at 5-day/5-night cruise prices (Promo Code: 7FOR5)*! Clearly, the very best value we have ever offered. Join us and enjoy Christian McBride’s World…at sea. It is a world full of great music, great talent and a whole lot of fun. *New Reservations Only
The Jazz Cruise
Discounts for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms
Promo Code: EOS25
Following the McBride cruise is The Jazz Cruise ’26, the most senior, continuous sailing, full ship charter in the world. While jazz festivals all over the world, including those with legendary names and histories, are including performers outside the world of jazz, The Jazz Cruise remains a bastion of this music.
None other than the great trumpeter Randy Brecker has declared The Jazz Cruise to be “straight ahead jazz heaven.” The celestial splendor of The Jazz Cruise ’26 can be found in its splendid array of stars.
Randy is being joined by a host of jazz icons: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paquito D’Rivera, Chucho Valdés, Monty Alexander, Ron Carter, Houston Person, John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, Lewis Nash, Benny Green, Herlin Riley and more.
Emmet Cohen serves as the host of The Jazz Cruise ’26 and leads a group of “recurring stars” that include John, Jeff, Houston, John Pizzarelli, Kurt Elling, Shelly Berg, Catherine Russell, Ken Peplowski, Wycliffe Gordon, Niki Haris and some “frequent stars” such as Anat Cohen, James Morrison, Sean Jones, Terell Stafford, Benny Benack, Veronica Swift and more.
The Jazz Cruise ’26 is nearly 90% reserved and reaches fully reserved every year, so act now. Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms are available through September 22, 2025 (use Promo Code: EOS25)*. Information about The Jazz Cruise ’27 will be available before the end of the year. *New Reservations Only
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ’26.2 are fully reserved. Cancellations do occur and are filled from guests on the Waitlist. To join the Waitlist, click JOIN WAITLIST.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is nearly 90% reserved, so if you wish to sail, please act soon.
Tomorrow, 9.4.25, Marcus Miller and Boney James will announce the details of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 & ’27.2. The Reveal will take place at 3 PM ET. To sign up for the Reveal, click below!
After the Reveal, everyone receiving this note will be provided information regarding reserving a stateroom on that cruise based upon their Cruise History with Signature Cruise Experiences.
Information about The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3 will be announced before the end of the year.
Botti at Sea
The complete lineup for Chris Botti at Sea III has been announced and it is spectacular! Joining international star Chris Botti are Peabo Bryson, John Splithoff, Candy Dulfer, Morgan James, Kandace Springs and many other top performers.
Of course, any discussion about Chris Botti at Sea III, starts with our three superstar talents:
- Elvis Costello
- Boz Scaggs
- Melody Gardot
Together with Chris, these talents form the most dynamic quartet of stars in the history of Signature Cruise Experiences.
This program is in Open Booking and, though it is more than a year from now, the cruise is filling up fast. Stay tuned for more information about the fabulous excursions that will be offered when Botti at Sea III docks in Victoria, BC and overnights in San Francisco.
Kurt Elling Makes Broadway Debut in Hadestown
Yesterday, the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown welcomed an entirely new principal cast to Broadway’s Walter Kerr Theatre. Included in the cast is our very own Kurt Elling who will make his Broadway debut in the role of the Greek god Hermes, for which Andre DeShields won a Tony. Hadestown is currently in its sixth year on Broadway and the record-breaking North American tour has just completed its three-year run, and productions recently opened across the globe in Sydney, Melbourne and Amsterdam.
The singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell wrote the musical that “layers the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with that of Hades and Persephone, intertwining the actions – and consequences – of gods and mortals.” Hadestown originally began as a theatrical concert performed by Mitchell. The show premiered on Broadway in 2019 and at the 73rd Tony Awards, Hadestown received 14 nominations and won eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.
For his part, Kurt is no stranger to theater. In addition to multi-disciplinary performances at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater and the City of Chicago, Kurt co-wrote and starred in The Big Blind, a jazz musical that premiered at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Nonetheless, he admits to being bowled over by the opportunity. “Isn’t that wild, man?” Kurt told JazzTimes. “For a jazz guy to swoop in…surely there’s over 150 qualified guys who would give [anything] for this role, so to get the ball tossed to me, I have to really throw down.”
Kurt said that he rehearsed the material while on tour with the Yellowjackets this summer. “For the last month as we criss-crossed Europe, the Yellowjackets and our road team have had to sit in a sprinter and endure my incessantly muttering lines and softly singing the script to Hadestown,” he told me.
Although there is time off, the show is a six-month commitment that has required Kurt to spend the bulk of his time in New York City, away from his wife and 8-year-old son. “It’s already a sacrifice for all of us that I do the road dates I commit to as a jazz singer,” he explained. “Being a ‘road dog’ is a privilege for me, but it is very hard on the members of the family, especially on my son, with whom I am very close.”
He is excited by the opportunity to go deep into the world of musical theater. “It is a thrill to step into a wholly new creative circle,” Kurt said. “I am excited about connecting to, collaborating with and learning from whole constellations of artists that are unknown to me at this time. And I must say, Hadestown itself is a beautifully wrought and extremely timely retelling of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice.
“I am so grateful to life that, at 57 years old, I have been given a Broadway premiere in a show that actually means something real and important at a time when our nation, her people and our culture is in such peril. I feel like this show contributes in bona fide content to holding up the spirit of humanity, compassion and… well… goodness.”
– Lee Mergner
New Album by the Christian McBride Big Band
Last Friday, Christian McBride released his 20th album as a leader. Without Further Ado, Vol. 1 features his big band, which won a GRAMMY® for the 2020 release For Jimmy, Wes & Oliver. On the new recording, Christian enlisted contributions from an all-star cast of guest stars: Sting, Andy Summers, Jeffrey Osborne, Samara Joy, José James, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dianne Reeves and Antoinette Henry.
Many of the arrangements for the vocalists came from the big band’s role as the house band for the annual gala at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for whom Christian has served as the jazz advisor and artistic director since 2012.
“The impetus for this recording actually stems from the annual gala at NJPAC,” Christian told WBGO’s Doug Doyle. “My big band has been the house band for the gala ever since. We’ve invited all kinds of great singers to come and sing at those galas. Between the gala and the James Moody Festival, we’ve had Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Jeffrey Osborne, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Lizz Wright, Fantasia, Cynthia Erivo, Philip Bailey…every singer you could possibly think of. Every year I had to write arrangements for these singers and they only got played once. After more than ten years, I’m looking at my library and I got this huge pile of big band music. I thought they shouldn’t go to waste.”
Among the compositions featuring those special arrangements are “Old Folks” (with Samara Joy), “Moanin’” ( José James), and “All Through the Night” (with Cécile McLorin Salvant). All three of those vocalists will be performing with Christian’s big band on McBride’s World at Sea in January.
Watch this video of a live performance of “Op. 49: Cold Chicken Suite, 3rd Movement” from his big band’s set on the main stage at Newport Jazz Festival this year.
– Lee Mergner
Signature Cruise Experiences Programs
’25 CRUISES
Journey of Jazz ’25
9.12.25 – 9.19.25
’26 CRUISES
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise
1.15.26 – 1.20.26
Christian McBride’s World at Sea
1.20.26 – 1.27.26
The Jazz Cruise
1.27.26 – 2.3.26
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1
2.3.26 – 2.10.26
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2
2.10.26 – 2.17.26
Top Shelf Country Cruise ‘26
2.27.26 – 3.6.26
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3
9.11.26 – 9.18.26
Botti at Sea III
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
’27 CRUISES
Journey of Jazz ’27
1.24.27 – 1.31.27
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1
1.31.27 – 2.7.27
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.2
2.7.27 – 2.14.27