The end of June is upon us, which means that 2025 is half over or time to begin preparing for its second half. Which description you choose will go far in determining whether you are a pessimist or an optimist. In most years, Signature Cruise Experiences would view the end of June as the official end of cruise season and the beginning of the planning season. With a Fall cruise, Journey of Jazz ’25, looming, 2025 will have a different tone and feel for us.
To prepare for the second half of 2025, we will be doing what every eager, dedicated and focused company does…we will be on vacation. Seriously, for as long as I can remember, we have closed the office for the week of July 4th, in part because the Christmas Holiday season is truncated for us in favor of preparing for our January/February sailings and in part because July 4th is one of the easiest holidays to celebrate and taking time off to simply do very little fits our schedule and our temperament. July 4th has no “Eve,” no presents, and seems to bypass the stress that other holidays provide. It puts the “holiday” back into holidays!
You should have received our While We Are Away notice earlier this week, so you know that we are closed from Monday, June 30 and will reopen on Monday, July 7. You may contact us at info@scecruises.com and our online reservation system is fully operational. For the full details, a copy of the While We Are Away notice may be found on our main website (www.scecruises.com). So that our team can enjoy this break to the fullest, there will be no July 2 Edition of Jazz Notes or July 5 Edition of The Weekender. Each will resume their customary schedule on July 9 and July 13, respectively. (Note: For those in need of a Jazz Notes or The Weekender “fix,” check out the main website where all past editions may be found.)
During this brief hiatus, besides the usual mid-summer activities, we will be preparing for our mid-2025 meetings during which we will be assessing our ’26 Programs and planning for our ’27 Programs. Doing so causes me to reflect upon the 25+ years of producing our programs, the musicians we have known and the amazing guests that we have met, befriended and enjoyed. We are very fortunate to be doing something that we love, with people that we respect, and for people whom we wish to make happy at all times. If you have to toil, it makes it so much easier when you love doing it.
As you know, we have expanded our cruise programs to include additional jazz programs (Journey of Jazz and Christian McBride’s World at Sea) together with some entertainment programs that are outside of the world of jazz. Some, like Botti at Sea and David Foster: The Hitman Cruise, though not entirely jazzy, are within the general vicinity of the jazz world. Others, like Top Shelf Country Cruise and past programs like NASCAR and Star Trek are far from striking distance of our music. Since we will be heading into a planning phase for our next set of programs, we thought it would be interesting if we asked our most loyal fans, the readers of The Weekender, to weigh in and suggest what types of cruise programs they would like us to tackle.
You see, we love our music more than anything in the world, but our singular skill is being able to produce a charter theme cruise. Very few people know how to do that and we believe that we do it better than anyone else. Applying that skill set to any theme is doable for us. One of our mission statements is to add a different theme cruise each year. Top Shelf Country Cruise was the choice for ’26. We are excited to announce that there will be a ’27 sailing of Top Shelf Country Cruise. I should have bought those boots instead of renting them!
Back to our request of you. If you have a cruise concept in mind for us to consider producing, please let us know by sending the information to info@scecruises.com. If we select your theme and it becomes a cruise, not only will you sail on the cruise for life for free, but you will be an “owner”!
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.
Samara Joy’s New Single and BBC Orchestral Debut
The jazz vocal star Samara Joy, who will be performing during McBride’s World at Sea, has just released a new single, “Flor de Lis,” a Portuguese outtake from her 2024 album Portrait, on June 27 In the lead up to her upcoming South American dates in Argentina and Brazil.
In addition, Samara will perform with her octet and the BBC Concert Orchestra on July 19. Her first time performing with a full orchestra, the concert will be broadcast live on BBC4.
Christian McBride Big Band Album
Samara will also appear on the upcoming recording from the Christian McBride Big Band, Without Further Ado, Vol. 1, singing “Old Folks.” Released on Mack Avenue on August. 29, the album features classic jazz and pop standards sung by Samara and other special guest vocalists, including Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dianne Reeves, José James, Jeffrey Osborne and Antoinette Henry. The first single from the album has just been released and it features Sting and Andy Summers performing “Murder By Numbers,” their tune from The Police’s 1982 multi-platinum Synchronicity.
“This album has been a fantastic opportunity to record some of my favorite big band arrangements, with some of my favorite singers,” Christian said.
Signature Cruise Experiences’ Mid-Summer Break
As we mentioned in the Our Take, our office will be closed from Monday, June 30 through Friday, July 4. We will be open as usual starting at 10 AM ET on Monday, July 7. Though away from the office, we remain available via email at info@scecruises.com.
All of us at Signature Cruise Experiences wish you and yours a happy, fun and safe July 4th holiday. Whether you spend it on the beach, at a pool, on the deck or just lounging, every holiday deserves a few hours of great jazz! Do not live without it!
Stateroom Availability
Cruise Programs – 2025
| Journey of Jazz | Over 98% 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; Special Prices for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms. Promo Code: CMW |
| The Jazz Cruise ’26 | Over 75% Reserved – 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 | Over 80% Reserved – Open Booking Now |
| Botti at Sea ’26 | Open Booking Now; Final Lineup Announcement Soon! |
Signature Cruise Experiences’ Programs
Journey of Jazz ’25 – Limited Time Promotional Pricing
Journey of Jazz is more than 97% reserved! There are less than 40 available staterooms consisting of Veranda and Inside Staterooms. These remaining staterooms are currently at their final, lowest price. Don’t miss your chance – join us on our Journey this September! *New reservations only
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise – 5 Days, 5 Nights, 5 Star Experience
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise will deliver five incredible days and nights of five-star entertainment, all centered around the music and career of 16-time GRAMMY® winner David Foster. Michael McDonald, Babyface, Katharine McPhee and other preeminent talents will join us aboard. Open Booking has begun and staterooms are already moving fast! Act soon to reserve your stateroom of choice.
Christian McBride’s World at Sea – Limited Time Promotional Pricing
Open Booking has begun! Special pricing available for a limited time on Ocean View & Inside Staterooms. Use Promo Code CMW when you make your reservation! *New reservations only
The Jazz Cruise ’26 is in Open booking
The Jazz Cruise ’26 is in Open Booking! Anyone may now reserve any available stateroom. This program always hits “fully reserved.” The only question is when!
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are Fully Reserved
Of course, you may join the Waitlist. Or, if you’d prefer to sail the West Coast this fall (two novel concepts for this program), consider joining us on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3.
Top Shelf Country Cruise is now in Open Booking
With premium talent like Keith Urban, Lee Brice, Scotty McCreery, Parmalee, LeAnn Rimes, Thelma & James and Kassi Ashton, Top Shelf Country Cruise earns its title as the First-Class Country Music Cruise! Reserve your stateroom today!
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is in Open Booking
For the first time in many years, The Smooth Jazz Cruise will sail on the West Coast! The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is in Open Booking and staterooms are more than 75% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!
Botti at Sea ’26 is in Open Booking
We’re thrilled to be able to announce that Boz Scaggs, Elvis Costello, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle will be onboard Botti at Sea ’26 in Fall 2026. Reserve your stateroom today!