Congratulations, Lee Mergner,
2026 Recipient of the Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award!
What a thrill when one of our favorite team members is honored. Lee Mergner, our Jazz Consultant, will become the 10th recipient of the Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award on January 7 in a ceremony to be held at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
The award was created in 2014 in honor of Bruce Lundvall, the longtime jazz record executive who was a champion and advocate for so many jazz artists over the last four decades. The annual award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and vision in expanding the audience for jazz and has made a difference for artists, the music and audience.
Previous award recipients include Randall Kline, Brice Rosenbloom, Christian McBride, Terri Lyne Carrington, Darlene Chan, Barry Harris, Danilo Perez, Dee Dee Bridgewater and John Clayton.
For more than 30 years, Lee served as an editor and publisher of JazzTimes, which won numerous ASCAP-Deems Taylor awards for music journalism. The publication was founded in 1970 and was described by All Music Guide as “arguably the finest jazz magazine in the world.” Lee remains an at-large contributor to the publication for which he’s written hundreds of profiles and stories.
Lee founded Jazz Connect Conference and has been instrumental in the development of Jazz Congress as well as several other jazz industry organizations. In addition to his invaluable daily contributions to our operations at Signature Cruise Experiences, Lee is also the lead writer for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s concert programs. Over the years, he has been an advisor and volunteer with various jazz organizations and events such as Jazz House KiDS, Montclair Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz Philadelphia, Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, Exit Zero Jazz Festival and several others.
If there is a better friend to jazz than Lee Mergner, I do not know who that would be. As an advocate for jazz, Lee is right out of central casting, humble, unassuming, carefully critical and always subtly in command always. Do not let the Inspector Clouseau act fool you. He possesses a razor-sharp mind and wit, expresses his thoughts with eloquent words and phrases and commands a vast sea of knowledge. I cannot recall a reference that he did not know.
I forgive his Philadelphia sports bias and his penchant for advancing the cause of performers who do not draw well. Lee is a great human being and we are lucky to have him in our midst.
I never met Bruce Lundvall, but I have heard all the stories. He would have 100% endorsed this award to Lee.
Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences
Still Time to SHIP Out on The Jazz Cruise ’26!
As we are sending you this note, fewer than 30 staterooms remain available for The Jazz Cruise ’26. That number varies daily, as some guests complete reservations while others are forced to cancel due to various reasons.
The current limited inventory of staterooms available include a few Concierge Class, Aqua Class, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms, but other Stateroom Categories may open up due to cancellations.
As a past guest, you have the highest priority for these staterooms. If you are interested in learning more about the availability, feel free to contact the office. Or you can reserve one of the available staterooms now!
Just for our past guests, we are extending the Sailing History Individual Pricing (SHIP) offer through January 20, 2026. A sample of those prices are listed below. Ready to return to Straight-Ahead Jazz Heaven?
Select your stateroom and complete your reservation online or by calling the office.
Use Promo Code: SHIP at booking.
| Stateroom Category | Number Available | Standard Cruise Price | SHIP Cruise Price |
| Concierge Class | 6 | $4,350 | |
| AquaClass | 5 | $4,350 | |
| Ocean View | 26 | $2,825 – $3,025 | |
| Inside | 5 | $2,600 |
These prices are per person, based upon double occupancy, do not include Pass Through Charges and are available for new reservations only.
Jazz Cruises Conversation Podcast
A Listening Party with Bria Skonberg
During the Journey of Jazz cruise, Lee Mergner hosted a Listening Party with Bria Skonberg who played tracks from her recent album, What It Means and talked about the making of the recording. The album blends many different influences, but it has a decidedly New Orleans flavor thanks to contributions from Herlin Riley, Don Vappie and Ben Jaffe. Click on the image to the right to hear an excerpt from the conversation.
Signature Cruise Experiences Programs
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26
Sailing Dates: 1.15.26 – 1.20.26
Staterooms Available: Veranda, Ocean View and Inside
Special Offer: FOV Cruise Prices
Best Prices on Ocean View Staterooms
Christian McBride’s World at Sea
Sailing Dates: 1.20.26 – 1.27.26
Staterooms Available: Limited Availability in Most Categories
Special Offer: FINAL Cruise Prices! Best Offer in Years
The Jazz Cruise
Sailing Dates: 1.27.26 – 2.3.26
Nearly Fully Reserved
Staterooms Available: Only 33 Remain; 8 Staterooms with Balconies, 25 Ocean View & Inside Staterooms
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2
Sailing Dates:
2.3.26 – 2.10.26
2.10.26 – 2.17.26
Fully Reserved; JOIN WAITLIST
Top Shelf Country Cruise ‘26
Sailing Dates: 2.27.26 – 3.6.26
82% Reserved
Staterooms Available: Concierge, AquaClass & Veranda
Promo Code: CHRISTMAS
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3
Sailing Dates: 9.11.26 – 9.18.26
96% Reserved; fewer than 60 Staterooms remain
Staterooms Available: Fewer than 50 Staterooms Remain; 21 Concierge Staterooms; 9 Veranda Staterooms;18 Inside Staterooms
Botti at Sea III (’26)
Sailing Dates: 9.18.26 – 9.25.26
65% Reserved
Staterooms Available:
Concierge, AquaClass and Veranda (with balconies); Ocean View and Inside
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27
Sailing Dates: 1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Lineup Announcement: TBD
The Jazz Cruise ’27
Sailing Dates: 1.17.27 – 1.24.27
Guests on TJC ’26: Now through 1.30.26, Guests may Rebook their ’26 Stateroom
Guests Not on TJC ’26: New Guests may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation
Guests with Pre-Sail Reservations may start to select Staterooms on 2.6.26
Journey of Jazz ’27
Sailing Dates: 1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Guests on Journey of Jazz ’25: Now through 12.12.25, Guests may Rebook Stateroom from Journey of Jazz ‘25
Guests Not on Journey of Jazz ’25: Now through 12.12.25, New Guests may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation
Starting on 12.15.25: Guests with Pre-Sail Reservations may start to select Staterooms
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1
Sailing Dates: 1.31.27 – 2.7.27
Guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1: Now through 11.26.25, Guests may rebook their ’26.1 Stateroom/Guests Not on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1: New Guests may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation
Starting on 12.4.25: Guests with Pre-Sail Reservations may start to select Staterooms
Open Booking Starts: 12.29.25
Cruise Prices: As shown on website
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2
Sailing Dates: 2.7.27 – 2.14.27
Guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2: Now thru 11.26.25, Guests may rebook their ’26.2 stateroom/Guests not on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2: New Guests may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation
Starting on 12.4.25: Guests with Pre-Sail Reservations
start to select Staterooms
Open Booking Starts: 12.29.25
Cruise Prices: As shown on website
Top Shelf Country Cruise ‘26
Sailing Dates: TBD
Announcement: TBD
Botti at Sea IV (’27)
Sailing Dates: TBD
Announcement: TBD
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3
Sailing Dates: 10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Announcement: TBD