The Jazz Cruise…the OG of
Signature Cruise Experiences Programs
I can claim authorship of the other programs of Signature Cruise Experiences, but our flagship program, The Jazz Cruise, is a living testament to my mother. Nearly every aspect of that cruise was created and implemented by her.
The Big Band, Keyboard Capers, Farewell Jam, Passenger Jam, T-Shirt Party, Pillow Gifts, All-Star Groups, Formal Night Events, Houston Person Dance Party and more. All are 100% products of Anita E. Berry. Later, I added the Welcome Show and turned the Formal Night cocktail party into The Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame.
We have added some new shows, Shelly Berg with the Singers, Solo Piano in the Rendezvous Lounge, numerous special pairings of star performers and new events such as Celebrity Feud, Music at Birdland and Sip and Sign Autograph sessions.
The Jazz Cruise ’27 will debut one new music show and two new events. Stay tuned for more information.
Since Fall 2001, The Jazz Cruise has been the epitome of great music at sea, presented with love and admiration and shared with the most knowledgeable and lovely jazz fans in the world!
That was Mom’s dream and just as her namesake, Anita’s Big Band, does every year under the brilliant leadership of John Clayton, The Jazz Cruise plays the standards, continues the traditions of the jazz bandstand and makes wonderful memories for guests and musicians alike.
This edition of Jazz Notes is dedicated to the cruise the musicians call “Straight Ahead Jazz Heaven.” We know it as The Jazz Cruise…Mom’s Cruise.
Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences
The Jazz Cruise ’27 Lineup:
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Lineups comprised of performers of various ages, ethnicities, gender and nationalities has been a hallmark of The Jazz Cruise for years. Adapting the ingredients of a perfect wedding, the lineup for The Jazz Cruise ’27 has a bit of everything: something old, something new, something borrowed and something new.
The “old” isn’t an ageing issue. It stands for the Old Guard, the performers who year in and year out form the backbone of the cruise, providing continuity and ensuring authenticity. Meet the OG of The Jazz Cruise: Kurt Elling, Bill Charlap, Renee Rosnes, Catharine Russell, John Pizzarelli, Jeff Hamilton, Wycliffe Gordon, Houston Person, Randy Bracker, James Morrison, Terell Stafford, Gary Smulyan, Shelly Berg, Lewis Nash, Herlin Riley and Niki Haris.
Our fans love to hear the “new” players lineup and play with the OG. They bring energy and optimism to the program, but they also bring our music. Emmet Cohen (Host), Cecile McLorin Salvant, Sullivan Fortner, Philip Norris, Bria Skonberg, Benny Benack III, Kyle Poole and Tyreek McDole.
We do not “borrow” performers, but we do move some of our musicians from cruise to cruise as their talents can be presented on several programs. Dee Dee Bridgewater, Christian McBride, Anat Cohen and Sean Jones.
Then there are great players who are simply “new” to The Jazz Cruise. John Patitucci, Joey Calderazzo, Dave Weckl, Alfredo Rodriguez, Pedrito Martinez and James Carter.
Whether it is a good marriage, a great recipe, a great sports team or a great band, it is the quality of the components that make it work.
As for something “blue”, undoubtedly, The Jazz Cruise ’27 will mourn the loss of Ken Peplowski. If there were a captain of the OG, it would have been Ken. We promise that our events will be a celebration of his life, filled with music and laughter…just as Ken lived.
The Jazz Cruise ’27 lineup is in step with the great lineups of the past and will be a marker for the lineups of the future. With Music Director Eric Marienthal and Jazz Master Lee Mergner at the helm of the lineup team, The Jazz Cruise will “play on” forever.
Reserving a Stateroom: What Choices Remain?
The Jazz Cruise ’27 is nearly 80% reserved. What remains are a dozen or so each of Concierge Class and AquaClass Staterooms, plus a good selection of Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.
Looking for great value, Ocean View Staterooms on all Signature Cruise Experiences programs are now favorably priced. The idea is to make jazz cruising available to a larger segment of the population, particularly those who have not sailed before, but the savings are available to anyone.
To learn more, click the BOOK NOW icon below. There is no obligation or cost to exploring the Cruise Prices and other terms of sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’27.
The Jazz Cruise Introduces Stacy Mackling
Guests are always introducing us to new talent. Most of the time the talent is local to their hometown and though some of the players are quite good, they are not of the caliber required for The Jazz Cruise.
About four months ago, Robert and Jill Kramer introduced us to Stacy Mackling, a 15-year-old saxophonist from Bangor, Maine. They sent us an MP3 of his most recent performance which Eric, Lee and I listened to as we do with every tape sent us. The bad news was his band was not very good, but he sounded amazing.
Given the magic of today’s “tools” and the difficult sounds of his band, we decided that the only way to learn about Stacy was to see him perform live. We saw that he was playing near Baltimore, Lee’s hometown area, so we hooked up at the theater and were blown away.
After the show, we went backstage to meet him. Stacy was totally in awe of Eric (Marienthal). He had dozens of questions for Eric and, as you would bet, Eric answered them all. Stacy’s uncle is his agent. He and I sat down just outside the theater’s Green Room and came to an agreement for The Jazz Cruise ’27 and two other sailings of our choice in ’28. One of the conditions of his appearance is that we must approve his band configuration even if that means he plays with our musicians.
During the next few months, we will be exploring Stacy’s amazing talent and will be making it possible for you to purchase his upcoming recording, a ten-song playlist with six original tunes and four covers. When we have the information needed to secure copies, we will share that data with you.
We are so excited. Stacy will rock The Jazz Cruise.
The Jazz Cruise Trivia Challenge
There are folks on The Jazz Cruise who claim to know everything about The Jazz Cruise.
It is time to separate the pretenders from the experts. Below are 10 questions which will test your knowledge of The Jazz Cruise. Please email your answers to us at
tjctrivia@scecruises.com. Those with 9 or more correct answers will earn a $150 credit towards their next cruise.
- Name 5 of the 9 different ships that The Jazz Cruise has chartered for its sailings.
- There have been four Music Directors for The Jazz Cruise. Can you name three?
- Two men are tied for the most appearances on The Jazz Cruise. Name them.
- In 2001, the first sailing of The Jazz Cruise featured a female vocalist who has performed on six additional sailings. Name her.
- In the early years of The Jazz Cruise, one man served as the Cruise Host doing the interviews and emceeing the Formal Night Cocktail Party. Name him.
- Though The Jazz Cruise has featured several “big bands,” since creating Anita’s Big Band, there have been only two Big Band Directors. Name them.
- Within one, how many sailings of The Jazz Cruise have there been?
- Only one musician was both a guest/passenger and a performer on The Jazz Cruise. Name him.
- Name the woman who has appeared on more sailings of The Jazz Cruise than any other.
The founder of The Jazz Cruise was Anita E. Berry. What does the “E” stand for?
Back-to-Back with The Jazz Cruise ’27 and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1
Journey of Jazz ’27 was intentionally scheduled between The Jazz Cruise ’27 and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1.Though each of those cruises has its own identity, there are sufficient similarities between Journey of Jazz ’27 in terms of lineup and musical styles with each of the other programs that guests could easily create a two-week special music cruise vacation.
Benefits and pricing for sailing back-to-back will be dependent upon the Sailing History of the guest. If interested in doing so, please contact us at the office for Cruise Prices and other information.
Great Time to Reserve a Stateroom
The Jazz Cruise ’26 was fully reserved months before sailing, so we advise guests to select a stateroom and complete a reservation now. Stateroom selection and reservation may be completed online or by calling the office during regular business hours.
Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs
SCE Sailings in ’26
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’26.3 (9.11.26 – 9.18.26)
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”
Known as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3, which departs from Vancouver on 9.11.26 and sails to Victoria, BC and San Francisco, before terminating in Los Angeles on 9.18.26 is fully reserved. If you wish to try to join the cruise, go to the website and JOIN WAITLIST for any stateroom category you wish. All cancellations for this cruise will be filled from the waitlist.
Botti at Sea III (’26)
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience
When The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 docks in Los Angeles, we will turn around and head back to Vancouver (via San Francisco and Victoria BC) under the guidance of superstar Chris Botti. Chris Botti at Sea III will be the perfect combination of a topflight music cruise and exciting excursions.
Joining Chris on the cruise are several icons of the world of music: Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle and many others. When in San Francisco, guests may take winery tours in Napa and Sonoma, spend the day on the Napa Valley Wine Train, sample the finest cuisine in San Francisco and much more.
Another menu of excursions awaits guests when the cruise docks in Victoria, BC. Trust us, this is the perfect music experience!
SCE Sailings in ’27
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27
1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Encore! Encore!
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26 (Foster ’26) was a runaway hit program. From the first note to the last song, the brilliance of David Foster was evident in every show and event. As you recall, David wanted to learn more about how the cruise programs unfold before he casted the lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27.
That moment has arrived. Last week, the lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27 was announced and includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.
Foster ’26 Guests are currently able to finalize rebooking of their staterooms through April 10, after which Pre-Sail Reservations holders will be eligible to select a stateroom and complete their reservation. There is still time to complete a Pre-Sail Reservation (no deposit or obligation required) on the website here.
The Jazz Cruise ’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 Jazz Cruise has reached “fully reserved” every year it has sailed and The Jazz Cruise ’27 is on its way to reaching that goal again. Open Booking began on February 24, 2026 and the cruise is nearly 80% reserved.
Journey of Jazz ’27
1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Now in Open Booking
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. As an example, Journey of Jazz ’27 will present Ledisi as a main show performer on the ship. In keeping with the theme of the cruise, Ledisi will perform her universally beloved Tribute to Dinah (Washington) program.
Journey of Jazz ’27 is in Open Booking.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)
The Greatest Party at Sea presents its customary back to back weeklong programs in the Caribbean. Tampa is the port of embarkation and disembarkation for the first time and both sailings will call on Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.
The star studded lineup is led by hosts Marcus Miller and Boney James and features Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Kirk Whalum, Peter White and more.
Both sailings are in “Open Booking” and both are 90% reserved at this time.
Sailing in 18 Months
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. As is always the case on a Signature Cruise Experiences program, guests on Botti at Sea III (’26) (’26 Guests) will be able to rebook their current staterooms and those who are not ’26 Guests will be eligible to submit a Pre-Sail Reservation which will establish their stateroom selection priority after the ’26 Guests complete their rebooking procedure.
Look for most of this to happen around 8.15.26!
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3
10.13.27 – 10.20.27
This program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events.
The exclusive rebooking window for guests of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 closed on March 31, 2026. Guests who completed a Pre-Sail Reservation will be invited to select their stateroom and complete their reservation starting on April 6, 2026.
Pre-Sail Reservations remain open through April 10, 2026 and are the best way to reserve a stateroom prior to Open Booking, which begins April 16, 2026.