Today is Day 1 of Signature Cruise Experiences Summer Holiday. Depending upon the day of the week on which July 4th lands, we take the week before or the week after Independence Day off. This year, we chose the week before, which means we will reopen on Monday, July 6.
Though the office is closed, you may contact us by email (info@scecruises.com) and our online reservation system will be available. We will do our best to respond as soon as possible.
Why do we take a week off in the middle of the summer? The answer is simple, unlike many entertainment and travel companies, we cannot close during the Christmas holiday period. Our first sailing in ’27, David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore, departs on January 12, 2027 and we remain at sea through the conclusion of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2 on February 14, 2027. That is 33 days at sea.
Not everyone at Signature Cruise Experiences is sailing the entire time, but each person is engaged in some aspect of preparing and supporting our cruises. In most cases, full-time commitments begin around October 15, roughly 90 days before the first sailing date. If my math is correct, that is a 120-day commitment, roughly one-third of the year.
The commitment of our team does not end there. Top Shelf Country Cruise sails in early March ’27 and we have three sailings scheduled for the Fall. Those who follow our cruise programs carefully recognize that this schedule adds up to 9 cruises in ’27, one more than currently announced. Yes, we have another cruise to announce for ’27! Stay tuned.
I never realized that guests would be so interested in the inner workings of Signature Cruise Experiences, but many guests want to know how we staff our cruises, particularly since we are at sea in January and February for 33 days. We do hire folks (crew and travel directors) specifically for the cruises, which helps, but most of the work is done by our full-time staff. They work hard and deserve to have this upcoming week off.
Taking time off now works for us since 6 of our 8 scheduled programs in ’26 are completed. What remains are The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 and Botti at Sea ’26, two exciting programs that feature our customary first class music lineups but also provide land-based excursions that we have created just for our guests when we overnight in San Francisco and spend a full day in Victoria.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3, as always, is hosted by Marcus Miller and Boney James, features Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler and Candy Dulfer, along with Mindi Abair, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Comic Alonzo Bodden and several featured performers and support bands. Speaking of bands, our Special Guests are WAR and Tower of Power.
Chris Botti at Sea III features an amazing lineup of Adult Contemporary performers, including icons Elvis Costello and Boz Scaggs. International star Melody Gardot will be making her second appearance on Chris’ cruise, as will Emmet Cohen, Veronica Swift, Benny Benack III, Morgan James and Chris’ band members (John Splithoff, Julian Pollack, Daniel Chmielinski, Sy Smith and Caroline Campbell).
Chris and we are proud and excited that Josh Groban has cleared his schedule and will be able to perform on the cruise. This engagement has been a long time in the making and should be one of the highlights of this cruise program.
New this year are Candy Dulfer, Kandace Springs, Harold Lopez-Nussa, Edmar Castaneda and Gregoire Maret. Music Director Eric Marienthal has assembled two great bands for the cruise, SCE All Stars (Wycliffe Gordon, Terell Stafford, Taylor Eigsti, Reuben Rogers and Herlin Riley) and SCE Band (Carnell Harrell, Darnell Taylor, David Dyson and Chris Miskel).
Both The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 and Chris Botti at Sea III will be amazing cruises this fall. The musical influences will be different, but, as shown above, the star power on both sailings is substantial. There are, however, two significant differences between the programs, one logistical and the other rather practical.
On the logistics front, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 starts in Vancouver, then visits Victoria and San Francisco before ending in Los Angeles. Chris Botti at Sea III does the opposite. The cruise starts in Los Angeles and visits San Francisco and Victoria before ending in Vancouver. As you might imagine, many guests are sailing both legs for two magical weeks.
The other difference is practical, very practical. Chris Botti at Sea III has some staterooms available. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 has none and has been Fully Reserved for months. That makes Chris Botti at Sea III your last chance in ’27 to sail with us! For more information about CloseOut Cruise Prices, see below.
Did I mention that I am in Park City, Utah right now visiting my daughter? The time off will do me some good as well.
By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Journey of Jazz, David Foster: The Hitman Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.
Groban & Elvis & Boz, Oh My!
Chris & Melody & Caroline & Sy!
Okay, the headline is a little corny for sure, but it could have been worse. The first draft had “Elvis is on the ship” and “Wizard of Boz.” We make no excuses for being giddy. Chris Botti at Sea III is Adult Contemporary Music heaven!
A few Veranda Plus, Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms are available. Reserving a Veranda Plus Stateroom (formerly known as Concierge and AquaClass Staterooms) also includes a Reserved Seat for the Nightly Main Shows.
Be alert to Special Cruise Prices for Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms. Eligibility varies based upon sailing history, stateroom location and other factors. You should have received an email earlier this week indicating your individual options.
Inventory is limited, so act now. Due to the need to finalize the sign ups for the excursions in San Francisco and Victoria, we may need to close the reservations earlier than customary.
We Aren’t Joshin’!
Become a GroFan!
Within days of the announcement that Josh was performing on the cruise, Josh Groban fans were organizing and asking if there was going to be a connection to his non-profit, the Find Your Light Foundation.
That’s how the GroFan Club was born.
The GroFan mission is simple:
Enjoy Josh’s performance on Botti at Sea III to the fullest, and show your appreciation by supporting the Find Your Light Foundation.
GroFan benefits, including chances to win a Botti at Sea III headliner meet-and-greet, are waiting for you this September. Book your stateroom, make a contribution to Find Your Light and you’ll unlock those benefits as a GroFan.
On-Demand Livestream:
All About Signature Cruise Experiences
If you missed this week’s All About Signature Cruise Experiences livestream, or just want to catch all the fun again, this livestream is now available for you to view on-demand!
For more than 25 years, Signature Cruise Experiences has been creating extraordinary journeys that bring together legendary artists, passionate fans and incredible destinations. During this livestream, we show what sets our cruises apart — from world-class performances by industry icons and intimate artist interactions you won’t find anywhere else, to exceptional service, immersive programming and unforgettable ports of call.
Watch our livestream on-demand to get an insider’s look at our collection of themed cruises, hear stories from the Signature community and enjoy a special surprise appearance from one of our talented artists!
July Jazz Festivals in Europe
| JAZZ FESTIVAL | DATE | LOCATION | MORE INFO |
| Istanbul Jazz Festival | June 30-July 13 | Istanbul, Turkey | LINK |
| Kongsberg Jazzfestival | July 1-4 | Kongsberg, Norway | LINK |
| Festival Rīgas Ritmi | July 1-4 | Riga, Latvia | LINK |
| Gent Jazz | July 2-18 | Ghent, Belgium | LINK |
| Umbria Jazz | July 3-12 | Arena Santa Giuliana, Perugia, Italy | LINK |
| Montreux Jazz Festival | July 3-18 | Auditorium Stravinski, Montreux, Switzerland | LINK |
| Canarias Jazz & Más Festival | July 3-25 | Canary Islands, Spain | LINK |
| Jazz à Juan | July 9-19 | Pinède Gould, Antibes Juan-les-Pins, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, France | LINK |
| North Sea Jazz Festival | July 10-12 | Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands | LINK |
| Moldejazz | July 13-18 | Molde, Norway | LINK |
| Bohemia JazzFest | July 14-21 | Prague, Plzen, Prachatice, Hluboka and Brno in the Czech Republic | LINK |
| Langnau Jazz Nights | July 21-25 | Langnau, Bern, Switzerland | LINK |
| Jazzaldia/San Sebastian Jazz Festival | July 22-26 | San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain | LINK |
Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs
SCE Sailings in ’26
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3
9.11.26 – 9.18.26
Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles
34th Sailing of The Greatest Party at Sea
Known as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is Fully Reserved.
If you wish 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 ’26
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver
Josh Groban Just Announced! Stateroom CloseOut in Effect!
In addition to the recently announced Josh Groban, joining Chris on the cruise are several music icons: Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs and Melody Gardot, 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!
SPECIAL NOTE: Chris Botti at Sea III is the only Signature Cruise Experiences’ program that has staterooms available in ’26. A limited number of Veranda Plus, Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms may be reserved at CloseOut Cruise Prices for both Past Guests and New Guests. A payment plan that allows for the final payment to be made after the cruise is also available. Act now!
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore
1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa
One Sailing is Not Enough
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’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.
The star-studded lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.
The Jazz Cruise ’27
1.17.27 – 1.24.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa
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.
Journey of Jazz ’27
1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa
Time to Take the Journey
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.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
Tampa – Ocho Rios – Grand Cayman – Tampa
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)
Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa
The Greatest Party at Sea – No Doubt!
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 nearly 95% reserved at this time.
Botti at Sea ’27
10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney –
Charlottetown – Quebec City
Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Canada
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 (8.15.26) for more programming and reservation procedure details.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3
10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Quebec City – Charlottetown – Sydney –
Saint John – Portland – Boston
The Smooth Jazz Cruise Heads to Canada in the Fall
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3 program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events. Marcus Miller, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer and others will lead the team for another edition of this iconic program.
This cruise is currently in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.