Our Take: Talent Seeking

As our portfolio of cruises grows, the hunt for talent has become more arduous. Maintaining relationships with the core performers on each program is at a premium, as is looking for new musicians and creating special shows and programs. On top of that, we must be sure to create separation and distinctiveness among our programs. This juggling act can be fun and challenging. It can also be stressful and overwhelming.

Though our cruises have different names, each of which intended to convey a certain image of the cruise, the only way to define a cruise program is to examine the musicians. Take the upcoming sailing of Journey of Jazz. Hosted by Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter, the cruise features Dee Dee Bridgewater, Chucho Valdés, Diana Krall and the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. There is little doubt that this cruise will be a strong lean to the jazzy side of music. No surprises, just great music performed by category killers.

The lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise reflects the virtually borderless range of David Foster’s musical life and interests. Michael McDonald and Babyface. Katharine McPhee and Take 6. These performers share two things. Each are among the best in the world and each are part of Foster’s world. This program is a cruise of personality, style and panache. Every night will be exciting. Every performance will shine brightly. The talent is first-class and so is the cruise. What would you expect from a 16X GRAMMY® winner?

When we approached Christian McBride about doing a cruise, we shared our belief that his musical world was a jazz festival all by itself. With his Big Band, performing groups like Inside Straight and Remembering Ray Brown and his very hip Ursa Major, McBride’s ensembles alone would produce a festival full of music. Christian’s affinity for and relationships with the top vocalists in the genre (Samara Joy, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Ledisi, Angélique Kidjo, José James, and Melissa Walker) was the perfect complement. This cruise is a tour de force of strong personalities and strong musical identities. With a 9X GRAMMY® winning bassist “pulling the strings,” it will be a joyous journey.

If any cruise is understood by its name, The Jazz Cruise might be the one. Simply stated, it is THE jazz cruise. With 100 jazz musicians, among them four NEA Jazz Masters, and countless musicians who should be, Randy Brecker’s call that The Jazz Cruise is “jazz heaven” is right on the money. The cruise is certainly known for the superb quality of its performers, but that is somewhat secondary to the program’s place as the most significant straight-ahead jazz event in the world. With well over 200 hours of great jazz during the week, all other events will fight for second place in this genre. Under the guidance of host Emmet Cohen, The Jazz Cruise lineup reads like a Who’s Who of Jazz.

Finding the talent for three sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise would be difficult except for the fact that following the wishes of our guests makes those decisions much easier. They love Marcus Miller and Boney James as hosts and would be very upset if Brian Culbertson or Jonathan Butler were missing. From there, we have a host of top players that join us in various waves, each time creating happiness and excitement for our amazing bevy of guests. Having said that, The Smooth Jazz Cruise is also defined by its nickname, “The Greatest Party at Sea”! Most of us realize that it would not be much of a party without our amazing performers.

Chris Botti travels the world with his band, performing perhaps more than any other large ensemble. The show, like his cruise, Botti at Sea, is a tour de force of individual talent blended together to create a magical evening of topflight music. Therein lies the beauty of his cruise. Our job is to assist him in finding talent that reflects this level of excellence and eclectic entertainment. Enter Boz Scaggs, Elvis Costello and Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle and others. Every night on Botti at Sea is like going out for the evening, having a great dinner, and enjoying a great show. When the ship enters the wee hours and you move into the “club” entertainment phase of the cruise, you know that your “night on the town” has become an adventure. Again, it is the talent that makes this work.

SPECIAL NOTE: The full lineup for Botti at Sea III (’26) will be announced very soon.  We are excited to share the news.

Some of our ardent jazz fans have asked why we are presenting Top Shelf Country Cruise, our country music program. The short answer is because iHeart Media asked us to do so. The long answer, though different, is the talent available for this cruise program was…well, “top shelf.” Keith Urban is our headliner, but Lee Brice, Parmalee, Scotty McCreery and LeAnn Rimes are stars in their own right.

Granted, I did not know much about this music until iHeart came calling. In fact, when they told us that they wanted to do cruises with us and that the first one would be a “country” cruise, I coyly responded “which country?”.

Now I know which country and I have learned that there is room in this country for several genres of music. After all, as my father would say, there are only two kinds of music…good and bad. The trick is finding the right talent for the right program, or in this case, the right cruise! And, again, if you are trying to define a cruise, look no further than the talent presented. The lineup tells all.

(Reminder: Tomorrow is Father’s Day. A suggestion to all sons and daughters: Do something that will make your dad smile. Any gift will soon be forgotten, consumed or lost, but the memory of making them smile or laugh will carry forward…at least until you do something amazingly dumb! My parents are deceased, so giving Father’s Day and Mother’s Day advice comes with no penalty or concern.)

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World 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.

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Jazz Community News

Two of the nation’s most prominent jazz organizations have just announced the concert schedule for their ’25/’26 seasons.

Jazz at Lincoln Center

SFJAZZ

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Stateroom Availability

Cruise Programs – 2025

Journey of Jazz

Over 97% Reserved. Final Pricing for Remaining Staterooms (Veranda and Inside) Now Announced on Website

Cruise Programs – 2026

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise	Open Booking Now
Christian McBride’s World at Sea	Open Booking Now; For Special Prices for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms, use Promo Code:  CMW
The Jazz Cruise ’26	Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1	Join Waitlist
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.2	Join Waitlist
Top Shelf Country Cruise	Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3	80% Reserved – Open Booking Now
Botti at Sea ’26	Open Booking Now; Final Lineup Announcement Coming Soon!

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Signature Cruise Experiences’ Programs

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