Happy New Year Edition
I have always found New Year’s Eve to be a time for reflection, more than a time for elation. For those who feel the opposite, what are you celebrating that night? That ’25 is over? That ’26 is beginning? I understand the idea, but I cannot connect the dots between those feelings and wearing party hats, drinking champagne and singing “Auld Lang Syne.”
If ’25 was a great year, why do we celebrate it being over? If it was a bad year, why are we celebrating at all? To celebrate the new year has some teeth to it, but, again, I see this as a time for thought, a time to set goals and reassess dreams.
There is a difference between “goals” and “resolutions.” Goals matter. Resolutions are more often trivial. I have had the same set of resolutions for 20 years. One of these years, hopefully soon, I intend to enact them, or at least the ones that require the lowest level of energy and sacrifice.
I have chosen ’26 as the year that I stop swearing. I am committed to making that happen. Just curious, do you have to start a resolution on New Year’s Eve when you announce them or do you start on New Year’s Day? Damn it. I need to find out.
The average lifespan of a New Year’s resolution is 11 days. Certainly, I can beat that. For those of you fortunate enough to be sailing with us on David Foster: The Hitman Cruise, look me up on January 15 and I will share my progress.
On a serious note, on behalf of the team at Signature Cruise Experiences, thank you for a wonderful ’25 and we hope to see as many of you as possible in ’26. Until then, enjoy life, be safe, stay healthy and never let a day go by without music.
Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences
The Two Newest Vocalists to Join David Foster: The Hitman Cruise
If you missed the earlier announcement, Katharine McPhee has been offered a part in an upcoming movie that will start production during the cruise dates. Though we will miss her dearly, our goal is to enhance the careers of our performers, so granting her time for the movie was an easy call. Shoshana Bean was considered for the cruise, however, her previous engagements were so close to our sailing dates that it wasn’t possible to include her. Luckily for us, the stars have aligned!
David Foster is known for how his production and arrangements have changed and shaped the careers of countless female vocalists like Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand and Whitney Houston. So it was no surprise when it came time to find a replacement for Katharine on the cruise, David had ample choices and has worked hard to find just the right voices for the cruise. I say “voices” because David has decided that he needs two vocalists to do the job right.
Welcome to the cruise, Jessica Vosk and Sheléa!
Vocalist and musical theater actress Jessica Vosk is best known for her performance as Elphaba in the musical Wicked – first on tour and then joining the show’s 15th anniversary on Broadway. She played the green witch for two years and was featured performing “Defying Gravity” in the PBS Great Performances 50th Anniversary Concert. However, since her Broadway debut in 2014 in Jason Robert Brown‘s The Bridges of Madison County, Vosk has played prominent roles in many high profile productions, including Waitress, Sarah Silverman’s The Bedwetter, Becoming Nancy, Something to Dance About, Fiddler on the Roof, Finding Neverland and, most recently, Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen. In March 2026, she will star as Cee Cee Bloom in the Broadway production of Beaches, alongside Kelli Barrett.
Vosk had an unconventional journey to Broadway, beginning her career on Wall Street before taking the leap of faith to pursue her dreams on stage. In addition to her theatrical work, Vosk has made many concert appearances at performing arts centers and concert halls, including her 2021 debut at Carnegie Hall. She has released two independently produced solo albums – Wild and Free (2018) and A Very Coco Christmas (2020) – both of which debuted on the Billboard and iTunes charts.
Also coming aboard David’s cruise is singer, songwriter and pianist Sheléa, a protege of Stevie Wonder who has worked with hit producers such as Quincy Jones and, of course, David Foster.
Born in Redwood City, CA and raised in Bakersfield, CA (also the home of Gregory Porter), Sheléa was inspired by the vocal gifts of both Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston and has performed numerous tributes to the latter. With a rich foundation in soul, R&B, jazz and gospel, Sheléa has released three full-length albums and an EP. Her gospel roots contributed to her starring role as Dorinda Clark-Cole in the 2020 Clark Sisters biopic The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel. An accomplished songwriter, Sheléa wrote and performed the track “Love Fell On Me” for the 2011 film Jumping the Broom.
“Growing up in a home where we listened exclusively to gospel music, I have beautiful memories of being a toddler harmonizing with my mom and sitting at a wooden piano, writing little songs,” says Sheléa. “I’ve always said I didn’t choose music. It’s a divine thing and God chose me to be a vessel of musicality. No matter what I’ve been through in my life, I’ve never lost my childlike love of singing and creating it.”
NOLA, NOLA NOLA, NOLA
Journey of Jazz ’27 – New Orleans
It is Bowl Season and colleges all over the country are rooting for their team to bring home the honor of winning a bowl game. Congratulations to NC State, winner of the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. The name of that bowl game saves me four paragraphs of describing how silly the bowl season has become.
Though no college cheer includes a tribute to NOLA (New Orleans, LA), for those guests on Journey of Jazz ’27, the cries of NOLA, NOLA will be heard loud and clear in the Bayou as we spend two amazing days and one glorious night in the Crescent City.
The fine points of the opportunities will be presented soon, but we can share with you now most of the amazing events during our stay.
Wednesday, January 26, 2027
8:00AM – Journey of Jazz ’27 arrives in NOLA
9:00AM – Hidden Gem of New Orleans Tour (4 hours)/Discover Magazine Street (3 hours)/MardiGras World (3 hours)
11:00AM – Steamboat Natchez Tour & Lunch – Exclusive for JOJ Guests
2:00PM – Live Concert at New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market (2 hours)
3:30PM – Poolside NOLA Jazz Show
5:00PM – First Seating Fine Dining Dinner Options
5:30PM – Wynton Marsalis – Onboard Performance for Guests with BLUE Cards
7:30PM – Special Show in The Theatre: Rebirth Brass Band (All Guests)
7:45PM – Second Seating Fine Dining Dinner Options
9:30PM – Wynton Marsalis – Onboard Performance for Guests with RED Cards
11:30PM – NOLA, NOLA Party – Poolside Show and Party with Wycliffe Gordon
Thursday, January 27, 2027
9:00AM – Hidden Gem of New Orleans Tour (4 hours)/Discover Magazine Street (3 hrs.)/MardiGras World (3 hrs)
9:30AM – Brunch at Brennan’s – Exclusive for JOJ Guests
1:30PM – Live Concert at New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market (2 hours)
3:30PM – Poolside NOLA Jazz Show & Sail Away (All Guests)
6:00PM – Journey of Jazz ’27 departs from NOLA
Signature Cruise Experiences Programs
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26 – 1.15.26 – 1.20.26
Sails in 16 Days; A 5-Day Weekend Getaway with a Week’s Long Schedule of Talent
Take Advantage of Special Ocean View Stateroom Cruise Prices
The amazing lineup of David Foster, Michael McDonald, Babyface, Take 6, Nathan East, Peter Cincotti, Pia Toscano, Emmet Cohen, Jessica Vosk, Shelèa (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! Only a few staterooms remain available…special Cruise Prices for Ocean View Staterooms. Be sure to use Promo Code: BREAK when booking online or by calling the office.
Christian McBride’s World at Sea – 1.20.26 – 1.27.26
Sails in 21 Days! 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 remaining are available at FINAL Prices. Be sure to use Promo Code: FINAL when booking online or by calling the office.
The Jazz Cruise
’26 (1.27.26 – 2.3.26) ’27 (1.17.27 – 1.24.27)
Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea
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. 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.
The Jazz Cruise is fully reserved every year and fewer than 20 staterooms remain for the ’26 sailing. At this time, ’26 Guests are invited to rebook their current staterooms for The Jazz Cruise ’27 and those not sailing in ’26 may establish their priority for the ’27 sailing by completing a Pre-Sail Reservation.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’26.1 (2.3.26 – 2.10.26) ’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’26.2 (2.10.26 – 2.17.26) ’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)
’26.3 (9.11.26 – 9.18.26) ’27.3 (10.13.27 – 10.20.27)
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.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2 are fully reserved and fewer than 35 staterooms are available for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3, which sails from Vancouver to Los Angeles with a stop in Victoria and a special overnight stay in San Francisco.
Guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2 and guests who completed Pre-Sail Reservations have had exclusive opportunities to reserve a stateroom for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 & ’27.2. Those procedures have been completed. Starting yesterday, both sailings are now in Open Booking, which means that anyone may reserve any available stateroom either by calling the office or completing a reservation online. Both sailings are more than 75% reserved.
Guests sailing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 (’26 Guests) will soon have the exclusive opportunity to reserve their ’26 stateroom for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3. This sailing starts in Quebec City on 10.13.27 and sails through Canada terminating in Boston on 10.20.27. Fall colors and other special events will be featured. Guests not sailing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 will be eligible to establish their priority for the cruise by completing a Pre-Sail Reservation during the same time that ’26.3 Guests are rebooking their staterooms.
Botti at Sea III (’26) – 9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent
Botti at Sea III (’26) is in Open Booking. Anyone may select any available stateroom and complete a reservation.
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.
Botti at Sea IV (’27) – 10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec
A Canadian itinerary in the Fall is one of the most popular cruise itineraries in the industry. Fall colors, beautiful scenery, hands on adventures in famous ports-of-call. If nothing else was taking place on the ship, a cruise with these features would be in high demand. So, when Chris Botti decided to take his amazing cruise program from Boston to Quebec City, with a full complement of the entertainers and performers that you have grown to love and expect, not only was he gilding the lily, but he was creating one of the top music cruise experiences ever offered.
Stay tuned for more programming and reservation procedure details.
Journey of Jazz ’27 – 1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Open Booking Begins 1.6.25
As shown above, Journey of Jazz ’27 will be an amazing cruise program featuring hosts Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter, a full lineup of great musicians and vocalists, a special two days in New Orleans which features Wynton Marsalis and a group of his hand-picked musicians.
In its second season Journey of Jazz proudly combines the very best music with opportunities to live the jazz life and learn more about the history of jazz. Journey of Jazz ’27 will start Open Booking on January 6, 2026 – which makes “now” the very best time to complete your reservation.