This edition of Jazz Notes is a friendly reminder about our upcoming jazz cruises, especially the programs that require immediate action for you to secure your spot. I’ll offer updates on each of our cruises while our Jazz Consultant, Lee Mergner, will share the latest news on Christian McBride and an interview of Dee Dee Bridgewater hosted by Marcus Miller on Journey of Jazz ’25.
If everyone had the energy, drive and talent of Dee Dee, this would be an amazing world in which to live.
Let’s get you ready to sail!
Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences
michael@scecruises.com
Signature Cruise Experiences
Upcoming Programs
There was a time when Signature Cruise Experiences offered two jazz programs, one of which sailed twice, for a total of three sailings. The ship was the same, the dates were consecutive and there was a significant overlap of ports-of-call. Remembering who was who and where we were headed was much easier.
As time has gone by, we’ve seen our guests musical appreciation and palates grow and evolve, broadening our offerings and expanding into different music experiences. As you can see below, we have six different jazz programs and 13 different sailings coming up.
Since the updates below are part of Jazz Notes, information about Top Shelf Country Cruise, our groundbreaking high-end country music cruise or another non-jazz program that we will be announcing soon will be chronicled in separate notes. Nonetheless, feel free to check out those programs on our Signature Cruise Experiences website (www.scecruises.com).
Several jazz cruisers have reserved staterooms on Top Shelf Country Cruise, but have asked for anonymity to ensure that their jazz credentials are not revoked.
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise
1.15.26 – 1.20.26
A 5-Day Weekend Getaway with a Week’s Long Schedule of Talent
The amazing lineup of David Foster, Michael McDonald, Babyface, Katherine McPhee, Take 6, Nathan East, Peter Cincotti, Pia Toscano, Emmet Cohen (and more) is in place for this 5-day Cruise Getaway from Ft. Lauderdale on Celebrity Summit.
Truly a weekend getaway (Thursday – Tuesday) vacation, there will be more than 7 days of music presented in a 5-day cruise! The remaining inventory includes only Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms. Secure the best pricing available with our GETAWAY special. Book online or by calling the office.
Christian McBride’s World at Sea
1.20.26 – 1.27.26
Christian’s Ensembles + World Class Vocalists
Boasting one of the most robust and decorated lineups we have ever presented and led by 9X GRAMMY® Winner Christian McBride, this program will present more than 220 hours of top music over 7 days at sea. Besides Christian’s lineup of amazing ensembles that he leads (Inside Straight, Ursa Major, Christian McBride’s Big Band, Remembering Ray Brown, Christian’s Trio), the cruise also features some of the very best vocalists in the genre; Ledisi, Samara Joy, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Angélique Kidjo, Melissa Walker and José James.
Staterooms in all remaining categories are available at Best Value Cruise Prices. Be sure to use Promo Code: BESTVALUE when booking online or by calling the office.
The Jazz Cruise
’26 (1.27.26 – 2.3.26) – Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea
’27 (1.17.27 – 1.24.27) – Stay Tuned for More Information…Soon!
The Jazz Cruise is the first program that Signature Cruise Experiences ever produced. Since its first sailing in 2001, The Jazz Cruise has been the world leader in presenting “straight ahead” jazz at sea. With the new trend in land-based jazz festivals including non-jazz music, The Jazz Cruise surpasses land based events for “straight ahead” jazz, too.
The musicians call the cruise “Jazz Heaven” for good reason. Every one of the 210+ hours of music are dedicated to this great music. The musicians are the very best jazz musicians in the world and they proudly adhere to the tenets of great jazz.
This cruise is fully reserved every year and fewer than 90 staterooms remain for the ’26 sailing. Past Guests may use the Promo Code: SHIP to reserve a stateroom at favorable prices based on their sailing history. Information about The Jazz Cruise ’27 will be available on or before November 13, 2025.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’26.1 (2.3.26 – 2.10.26)
’26.2 (2.10.26 – 2.17.26)
’26.3 (9.11.26 – 9.18.26)
’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)
’27.3 (10.13.27 – 10.20.27)
6 Opportunities to sail on “The Greatest Party at Sea”
Known as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise has sailed over 30 times since 2004. Year after year, there is a waitlist for staterooms and the cruises hit “fully reserved” earlier and earlier. Rich with great musicians, great fans and great times, The Smooth Jazz Cruise has created a community of fans that span the globe. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2, both of which sail in the Caribbean, are fully reserved with significant waitlists. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3, which will sail from Vancouver to Los Angeles with calls in Victoria and San Francisco, is more than 93% reserved at this time. This is a great opportunity to secure a reservation on this cruise which establishes your priority for other sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise.
Guests sailing on ’26.1 & ’26.2 have until November 26, 2025 to reserve their current stateroom for ’27.1 & ’27.2, respectively. Guests not sailing on either ’26.1 or ’26.2 may queue up for the ’27 cruises by completing a Pre-Sail Reservation. Pre-Sail Reservations are activated in the order received starting on December 4, 2025. Over 600 Pre-Sail Reservations, representing nearly 1,200 guests, have completed a Pre-Sail Reservation for the ’27 Cruises.
Guests on ’26.3 have opportunities to book on any of the ’27 cruises, subject to rules which have been shared with them. If you are a guest on ’26.3 and you have not received that information, please call the office (888.852.9987).
Botti at Sea III (’26)
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent
The wait is over. It is time to begin planning for Botti at Sea III (’26). The lineup has been set for a few months. Joining Chris will be Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle, Emmet Cohen, Candy Dulfer, John Splithoff, Morgan James, Benny Benack III, Kandace Springs, Harold Lopez-Nussa Trio ft. Gregoire Maret and more. The cruise will sail from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with calls in San Francisco and Victoria. Open Booking has already started, meaning any guest may select any available stateroom and complete a reservation online or by calling the office.
Journey of Jazz ‘27
1.25.27 – 1.31.27
Where is Journey of Jazz Headed Next? New Orleans!
The inaugural sailing of Journey of Jazz ended a few weeks ago. The cruise was a wonderful experience and both hosts, Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter, are coming back for the next voyage. In keeping with our theme of great jazz experiences, Journey of Jazz ’27 will be headed to New Orleans for a special overnight jazz experience. Guests who sailed on Journey of Jazz ’25 have until December 12, 2025 to rebook their current stateroom. Others may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation through December 10, 2025. The full lineup will be announced on November 4, 2025.
Latest Christian McBride News
Christian, our host for McBride’s World at Sea, has been very busy recently. He’s currently touring with his longtime friend and colleague, pianist Brad Mehldau. This week, they’ll perform in Minneapolis, Kansas City and Chicago, with more dates to follow.
On Monday, Christian performed for the first time in a duo setting with saxophonist Nicole Glover, who plays with Christian in Ursa Major on WXPN’s popular radio show World Café Live.
On Tuesday, Christian brought a slimmed-down version of his big band along with guest singer Jeffrey Osborne for an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! during which they performed the song “Back in Love Again” from his recent album, Without Further Ado, Vol. 1.
The recording features his big band with special guests including Osborne, Sting, Andy Summers, Samara Joy, José James, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dianne Reeves and Antoinette Henry.
Not surprisingly, the album was #1 on both JazzWeek and NACC Jazz charts this past week.
– Lee Mergner
Jazz Cruises Conversations Podcast: Dee Dee Bridgewater with Marcus Miller
In the latest episode of the Jazz Cruises Conversations podcast, Journey of Jazz co-host Marcus Miller interviewed the charismatic and expressive Dee Dee Bridgewater, who shared stories from her remarkable career of more than five decades.
Dee Dee talked with Marcus about how she approaches singing a song, about her love for Nancy Wilson, about living in Paris for many years, about her unique connection to Josephine Baker, about the career of her daughter China Moses, about working with Thad Jones and, finally, about the mentoring organization for women that she ran called the Woodshed Network.
If there is a theme throughout the interview, it’s about facing challenges and overcoming adversity.
Click below to hear Dee Dee explain her family’s connection to the legendary Josephine Baker.
– Lee Mergner
