If oxygen masks are deployed while you’re flying, the flight attendant instructs you to place the mask on you first before helping others. A comedian once quipped that the best thing he could do for people in need was not to be one of them.
The first story is helpful. The second is inordinately cynical. But the message is the same: take care of yourself first. In both instances, what is missing is the following:
“Once you are safe and sufficient, it is your duty to help others.”
Signature Cruise Experiences has had a successful career of producing cruise programs. In return, we have an obligation to support the communities and causes that we serve.
Our first outreach was to assist with several jazz organizations who helped young musicians, local music events and musicians who needed a helping hand.
Vail Jazz Organization (20+ years)
Los Angeles Jazz Society (20+ years)
Berks JazzFest (20+ years)
California Jazz Foundation (20+ years)
Jazz House KiDS (5+ years)
SFJAZZ (5+ years)
Monterey Jazz Festival (5+ years)
Detroit Jazz Festival (5+ years)
Recently, we broadened our support to various charities that were consistent with the new cruise programs we are producing. Proudly listed below are the entities we currently support.
Jazz Foundation of America
For 37 years, the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) has provided financial support and other services to jazz musicians in need. With compassion and discretion, JFA makes it possible to pay someone’s rent and keep them from eviction or homelessness when illness, accident or old age prevents them from working. Its social work services and Musicians’ Emergency Fund provide housing assistance, pro bono medical care, disaster relief and financial support to musicians and their families in times of crisis. In the past year, JFA assisted in more than 7,000 cases. Through its “Jazz and Blues in the Schools” and “Gig Fund” performance programs, JFA creates purpose and dignified employment for hundreds of musicians every month and brings free concerts to thousands of underserved audience members at public schools, hospitals, nursing homes, museums, parks, libraries and community centers across the country.
On May 21, JFA hosted a gala and concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center to raise funds for its operations and services. The organization honored Norah Jones with its 2026 Dr. Billy Taylor Humanitarian Award honoree. In addition, the concert featured: a centennial tribute to Miles Davis with Gary Bartz and Patrice Rushen; Buster Williams‘ Something More with Lenny White; A Tribute to Ernest Ranglin featuring 17-year old guitar phenom Marel Hidalgo; and a tribute to Cal Tjader and Willie Bobo featuring Juan Diego Villalobos and Sammy Figueroa. Drummer and producer Steve Jordan (Rolling Stones) served as artistic director for the concert.
SCE donated cabins on the upcoming sailings of The Jazz Cruise and Journey of Jazz for the gala auction, enabling the organization to raise considerable funds for its worthy programs.
The Find Your Light Foundation
With Josh Groban joining Chris Botti to perform during Botti at Sea III, we are supporting the Find Your Light Foundation, which Josh founded to provide support for arts education programs across the United States, concentrating on underserved communities where quality art programs are often unavailable or have been reduced or eliminated.
“I was lucky to grow up in an arts education household – my mother was a visual art teacher, my father played trumpet, and my brother is a filmmaker,” Josh explains. “It is our pride and joy to have started this foundation and with a small but mighty team we endeavor to make arts education accessible to young people across the country.” Already in 2026, the organization has already donated $1.5 million towards arts education programs.
On October 19, 2026, Find Your Light will bring together acclaimed artists, students and supporters for the Third Annual Benefit Concert for Arts Education at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Hosted by Josh, the evening will celebrate the belief that every young person deserves access to the arts, with all proceeds supporting Find Your Light’s advocacy and arts education initiatives nationwide. The event will honor Wynton Marsalis with the Find Your Light Award for his extraordinary contributions to arts education and present the Arts for Healing Award to the Oliver Sacks Foundation.
Find Your Light is the designated charity for Chris Botti at Sea III. Money will be raised through onboard auctions, guest contributions and matching funds from us.
The David Foster Foundation
he David Foster Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support to Canadian families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants. In addition to helping families with their non-medical expenses, the Foundation strives to increase public awareness and education about the importance of becoming a registered organ donor in Canada and the United States.
For the past 38 years, the David Foster Foundation has assisted over 1,450 families with children in need of major organ transplants and provided much-needed dollars in direct family support. The Foundation works in collaboration with the transplant teams at children’s hospitals across Canada to provide support to children under 18 years of age, from the time they are listed for pediatric transplant and up to and including their post-operative checkups.
David Foster Foundation is the designated charity for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise. Money will be raised through gifts of staterooms to the foundation, guest contributions and matching funds from us.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a pediatric treatment and research hospital headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962, it is a 501(c)(3) designated nonprofit medical corporation which focuses on children’s catastrophic diseases, particularly leukemia and other cancers. In the 2021 fiscal year, St. Jude received $2 billion in donations. Daily operating costs average $1.7 million, but patients are not charged for care. St. Jude’s covers some, but not all cancer-related costs. St. Jude treats patients up to age 21 and, for some conditions, up to age 25.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is one of the official charities for Top Shelf Country Cruise. The ’26 sailing of Top Shelf Country Cruise contributed over $250,000 to St. Jude, money that was raised by an on-ship auction and additional contributions from guests.
Folds of Honor
Folds of Honor is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational scholarships to the spouses and children of U.S. military service members and first responders who have fallen or become disabled while serving our country and communities. Since 2007, the organization has awarded nearly 73,000 scholarships totaling more than $340 million across all 50 states.
Folds of Honor is also an official charity partner of Top Shelf Country Cruise. Funds will be raised through donated staterooms, guest contributions and matching funds from us. Through this partnership, we are proud to introduce the first Top Shelf Country Cruise Folds of Honor Scholarship, helping support students from military and first responder families as they pursue their education and future goals.
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
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
STATEROOM CLOSEOUT SALE IN EFFECT
For more information, see above.
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore
1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa
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 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
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 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
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 ‘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.