When someone says, “you know who it is after hearing one name,” they generally mean a first name. On Chris Botti at Sea III (’26), the headliners joining Chris for this Fall ’26 sailing are known to us on a “first name only” basis. When you say Elvis, Boz, Melody, Peabo and Regina, the identities are obvious. Small exception for those who believe that Elvis Presley is still alive!
But last names can be telling as well. Some of the most famous names in American life, Roosevelt, Kennedy or Bush, give strong hints, but only a few last names are definitive. No one would quibble over who the name Lincoln would identify. Sports fans would agree who Mantle or Jordan would be, but might stumble on James or Judge.
In our world, the world of jazz, is there any doubt that the name Marsalis is synonymous with the very best jazz music around? Yes, there are several players in that family, but choosing one is like choosing your favorite ice cream.
Looking at our upcoming cruises, we are proud to be able to announce that Branford Marsalis and his quartet will be our special guest when the Chris Botti at Sea III cruise docks in San Francisco this Fall and Wynton Marsalis, along with the Jazz at Lincoln Center band, will be our Host when Journey of Jazz Cruise docks in New Orleans in late January ’27.
Branford’s show is an excursion available exclusively to our Botti cruise guests at the world famous SFJAZZ venue on the afternoon of September 21, 2026. That exclusivity is consistent with an overall “must see” mantra for Chris Botti at Sea III. Superstars Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs and Melody Gardot only perform very sporadically in North America. Catching one of them in concert is wonderful. Catching all three is amazing!
Talk about scarcity, we were both surprised and honored to learn that Wynton’s performance with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is his first in more than 10 years! Here’s another fun fact: this will be the third time that Wynton has performed on our ships. We must be doing something right!
Scheduling Wynton’s on-the-ship performances amid the lure of New Orleans nightlife was not easy. He will be performing an early show around 5:15 PM and a later show beginning around 9:15 PM. This gives our guests the opportunity to either attend an early Wynton show on the ship followed by dinner in New Orleans or an early dinner followed by Wynton’s show.
And for those that stay on the ship during the “open” time between those two shows, you can catch Rebirth Brass Band, one of New Orleans’s most popular performing groups, filling that slot with great music.
Whether you sail on Chris Botti at Sea III or Journey of Jazz, there will be a Marsalis performing for you. By the way, they are the only family to be named NEA Jazz Masters. Without a doubt, they are the First Family of Jazz.
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.
Elvis is on the (Chris Botti) Cruise!
If we were to ask our jazz fans who is Diana Krall’s husband, I wonder how many would know that it is Elvis Costello, the 2X GRAMMY® Winner and inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Diana has sailed with us on the last Botti at Sea cruise and on Journey of Jazz ’25. She wowed the audience with her beautiful soft voice and exquisite piano performances. Presenting alongside bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, her longtime friends and stalwarts, Diana’s elegance and charm were in full bloom, along with a healthy dose of shyness.
Elvis’ style is quite different. This Englishman is a singer, record producer, songwriter and more. Rolling Stone likened his music profile to those of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison. High praise for sure. He has lived his life and conducted his career on his own terms and, even if that caused friction with some, his music and his ability to write songs has never been questioned.
One of the goals of Chris Botti at Sea is to give our guests the opportunity to enjoy the music of various genres performed by the very best musicians. Elvis Costello fills the bill perfectly. Performing in Victoria, BC, near his home, Elvis should be more than ready to put on a great show.
Upcoming Livestreams
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream
5.14.26 / 4PM ET
Join us for the David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Livestream to meet the lineup, including exciting new additions, learn about the ports, get the details about events performances and learn why one sailing is never enough!
Livestreams On-Demand
Journey of Jazz ’27 Livestream Now Available On-Demand
If you missed our recent Journey of Jazz Livestream or just want to give it another watch, the livestream is now available to view on-demand. We discussed the incredible lineup, explored the exciting ports of call and discussed the unforgettable shore excursions New Orleans! Both of our hosts, Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter, made special guest appearances – you don’t want to miss this!
Chris Botti at Sea III Perfect Cruise Livestream Now Available On-Demand
If you weren’t able to drop-in during this week’s Botti at Sea Livestream, it’s now available to view on demand!
This perfect cruise experience comes to life while we discussed our exciting lineup of world-class talent, explored the beautiful ports of call and introduced the unforgettable shore excursions that make this year’s sailing truly special.
Steve Kovalcheck’s Buckshot Blues
The guitarist Steve Kovalcheck has just released Buckshot Blues, an album featuring Jeff Hamilton and bassist Jon Hamar with whom he performed on The Jazz Cruise earlier this year. The album showcases the trio’s unique blend of precision, spontaneity, and playfulness through 13 mostly original tunes.
Filled with soulful grooves and expressive blues inflections, Kovalcheck’s musicianship shines through as he pays tribute to mentors and friends through titles such as “Donald’s Juke Joint,” for pianist Donald Brown or “Bright Child,” in memory of organist Akiko Tsuruga, their bandmate who died in 2025. The result is a vibrant recording that celebrates the spirit of the tradition, while carving out a sound that distinctly belongs to this trio of friends.
Ted Rosenthal’s The Good Old Days
During the last 12 months, pianist Ted Rosenthal has released four albums in a series he calls Piano Trios in 4 Acts. The final recording in the series, The Good Old Days, features a contemporary take on early jazz styles, with songs by Scott Joplin, Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael and Vernon Duke as well as seven originals reflecting that legacy.
In addition to bassists Norika Ueda and Martin Wind, and drummers Tim Horner and Quincy Davis, Ted also welcomes his (and our) late friend Ken Peplowski as a special guest on two tracks.
“I believe a good, well-thought-out program, often with a theme, adds so much for the listener,” Ted said. “Emotional highs and lows, as variety of moods and tempos, and an overall dramatic arc to the set are very important to the audience experience.”
Ben Paterson’s Solo Piano, Vol. 1
Ben Paterson, who most recently sailed on The Jazz Cruise as a member of Catherine Russell’s group, has just released Solo Piano, Vol. 1 featuring a mix of some of the pianist’s favorite jazz standards as well as two classics from the Beatles’ songbook.
“It was a true pleasure recording this solo album, the piano is one of the best Steinways I’ve ever played and the studio captured every nuance,” Ben said. “I hope people enjoy my take on these beautiful melodies and rich harmonic progressions. Somehow, I never get tired of playing them. Perhaps that’s really the best sign of a great tune.”
Ben told us that he’s planning on recording more solo piano albums down the road, hence the Vol. 1 title.
Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs
Sailing in the Next 12 Months
Botti at Sea III (’26)
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent and Fabulous Excursions & Events
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 Botti will be Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle, Emmet Cohen, Veronica Swift, 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.
Botti at Sea III incorporates two experiences. First, is another edition of our famous cruise programs with nightly special shows, hours of additional music and intimate and insightful opportunities to learn more about our performers.
The second aspect of the programs is a robust offering of excursions and events when we dock in San Francisco (overnight) and in Victoria, BC (full day). You can visit wineries in Napa or Sonoma, tour Napa Valley on the Napa Valley Wine Train, dine at the finest restaurants, see special shows at SFJAZZ, and more. Each of these events are curated, produced and presented by us.
To learn more about the cruise and the amazing excursions, check out the Botti Cruise Livestream Video on-demand on our website and on YouTube.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’26.3 (9.11.26 – 9.18.26)
’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)
3 Sailings of “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.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is fully reserved. Guests wishing to sail on the cruise should Join the Wait List now. Any cancellations by current guests will be filled by the Wait List.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1 and ‘27.2 are both in Open Booking and both are nearly 95% reserved. Please note that the itineraries for both sailings have been updated.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1
Tampa – Cozumel – Grand Cayman – Tampa
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2
Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore
1.12.27 – 1.17.27
One Sailing is Never Enough!
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.
The lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27 has been announced and includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.
David Foster The Hitman Cruise Encore is in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.
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 cruise is in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.
The Jazz Cruise reaches Fully Reserved every year and staterooms for The Jazz Cruise ’27 are being reserved faster and sooner than ever.
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 and 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.
Details for the overnight stay in New Orleans are nearly complete. There will be special jazz shows in the city, dining at iconic New Orleans restaurants (Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, Arnaud’s and more), tours of the city on land and by ship and much more. Each event in New Orleans will be curated, produced and presented by Signature Cruise Experiences.
Journey of Jazz ’27 is in Open Booking. You may select and reserve any available stateroom at this time. This may be the jazz experience of the year.
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
Now in Open Booking!
This program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events.
This cruise is currently in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.