I love to watch John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight. His mix of satire, comedy and pathos is exquisitely presented in a confident yet selfless style. He never brags, but you have the sense that he is riding a big white horse, only when he draws his gun, it shoots water, not bullets. No, this is not a plug for HBO. They neither need nor deserve my praise. The reference reflects what I want to share with you…”so much happened last week.”
My normal Sunday ends no later than 9:30PM. I consider Sunday to be the ultimate “school night,” so having a good night’s sleep is essential for a good week. 9:30PM last Sunday found me halfway through a Rachael & Vilray concert in St. Louis. Paraphrasing an old Groucho Marx line about shooting a bear in his pajamas, “how I got there I will never know.” Actually, I was the wingman from my good friend from college, Hall of Fame Announcer Eric Nadel. Eric was doing what no other member of the Hall of Fame was doing, visiting a different city each week to see and hear great music.
Rachael & Vilray are billed as a jazz duo. They’re on the Concord Jazz label and their current recording features Warren Wolf, Steve Wilson, and Adam Dotson, among others, so the claim of being “jazz” can be substantiated, but their songs have a strong folk element. The music is more a vehicle for Vilray’s clever lyrics than a statement of melody. You laugh more than you listen and you walk away remembering the words more than the melody.
I look at every musical performance these days as whether they would work on a cruise, and, if so, which cruise. Rachael & Vilray would be candidates for The Jazz Cruise, but only if John Pizzarelli were incapacitated or unavailable. If I want to listen to clever lyrics, great humor, a guitar and great vocals, I will stick with Piz! However, do not be surprised if you go on one of our websites and find out the Rachael Price is performing on a cruise of ours. That lady can sing. I wish that she had sung the one song that I knew.
I can only judge a voice when a standard or known song is performed. Having heard the song before, I have a baseline for comparison’s sake. For example, I adored Gregory Porter when all I was hearing were songs he wrote. But, when he sings a standard, I realize even more so what a special and extraordinary talent he is. He kills those tunes.
Tuesday night took me back to The Factory, St. Louis’ newest venue. No introduction was needed for this show. No question as to whether this performer should be on a cruise or what cruise it should be. The answers are “YES” and “The Smooth Jazz Cruise.” Of course, I am talking about Brian Culbertson. Brian was in the last leg of his Day Trip Tour, once again showing how versatile, energetic and talented he is. Always evolving. Always entertaining.
Signature Cruise Experiences Production Manager, Brian Rachko, and I were able to spend some time with BC after his VIP “Meet & Greet” and before his show. We were the cold cut in the middle of his jazz tour sandwich. Brian will be sailing on three cruises with us in ’26. Cannot wait.
So, why was Brian Rachko in St. Louis? Did he fly from Sarasota just to see Culbertson? Though that concert was a bonus, the main purpose of Brian’s trip was to join the entire Signature Cruise Experiences team for a week of cruise planning.
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise sails in 63 days. Five days later, it is time for Christian McBride’s World at Sea. When that week is over, we head into a three week cruise period that features The Jazz Cruise ’26, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2. After a few days off, we head out again on the inaugural sailing of Top Shelf Country Cruise, the first country music cruise under the Signature Cruise Experiences’ banner.
Not sure what that will be like, but it should be fun. Keith Urban is our headliner. I have not met him, but I have met the other top draws, Lee Brice, Scotty McCreery and LeAnn Rimes. Each is nicer than the other. And their teams are efficient, cooperative and friendly. There are some jazz cats that will be receiving cowboy hats from me for Christmas as a hint that additional manners would be nice.
During the week, we walked through every minute of every cruise mentioned above. There are very few big issues in producing a cruise, but there can be an overwhelming amount of little things that add up over time. We compare a cruise to a mosaic. The little pieces must come together in the proper order for the picture to be right.
Thursday night featured a company wide Happy Hour. I know we honored the “Happy” part. Somehow, we went way past the “Hour.” When you add up all the stuff we did last week, you can understand how that would happen. By the way, that sound you heard last Thursday at 6PM CT was our entire company toasting you, the greatest cruise and music fans in the world.
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.
The Jazz Cruise ’27:
The Next Trip to Jazz Heaven is Boarding Now
It’s official: The Jazz Cruise ’27 is on the books! Nearly 100 of today’s jazz greats are set to bring seven days of pure, straight-ahead jazz heaven to the sea.
Want in? Visit our website to see the lineup, preview the ports and sign up for a Pre-Sail Reservation to be first in line to snag your dream stateroom.
Mr. Bodden Goes to Washington
Alonzo Bodden is a staple on so many of our programs, and we love to keep track of what he’s up to in the off-season.
Coming up, he’s not actually going to our nation’s capital, but rather across the Potomac to Arlington, Virginia, for shows at the Arlington Draft House November 28-29, during Thanksgiving weekend. “I always love Arlington Draft House,” Alonzo says. “It’s close enough to DC to have a smart crowd who are on top of everything. But far enough away that politicians won’t hear me making fun of them.”
Kenny Barron’s Songbook
For his latest recording, Songbook, Kenny Barron enlisted the help of eight vocalists, many of whom have sailed with us on The Jazz Cruise and other SCE programs, to bring to life 13 of his compositions. The songwriter Janice Jarrett provided the lyrics to the pianist’s songs, which are sung by Catherine Russell, Kurt Elling, Cècile McLorin Salvant, Jean Baylor, Ann Hampton Callaway and others.
“Kenny and Janice are both poets,” Ann says. “A poet distills truths and makes them come alive in unexpected ways. They are a fine writing team because Kenny paints stories and Janice brings them alive with words that leave room for the imagination.”
Kenny says that this is a project he’s always wanted to do. “This project had been running through my head for more than three decades,” Kenny explains. “So, I decided that this would be the perfect time.”
Signature Cruise Experiences Programs
’26 Sailings
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise
Christian McBride’s World at Sea
The Jazz Cruise ’26
Sailing Dates: 1.15.26 – 1.20.26
Open Booking in Effect
Only Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms Remain Available
Special Offer
Remaining Staterooms Are Available at FORASONG Cruise Prices!
Sailing Dates: 1.20.26 – 1.27.26
Open Booking in Effect
Only Concierge, AquaClass, Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms Remain Available
Remaining Staterooms Are Available at FINAL Cruise Prices!
Best Offer in Years!
Sailing Dates: 1.27.26 – 2.3.26
Open Booking in Effect
SPECIAL NOTE: Though only 50 Staterooms remain available, the inventory includes Staterooms with Balconies as well as Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.
No special pricing available.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2
Top Shelf Country Cruise
Sailing Dates: 2.3.26 – 2.10.26
Fully Reserved
JOIN WAITLIST
No Special Pricing
Sailing Dates: 2.10.26 – 2.17.26
Fully Reserved
JOIN WAITLIST
No Special Pricing
Sailing Dates: 2.27.26 – 3.6.26
Open Booking in Effect
82% Reserved
Only Concierge, AquaClass & Veranda Staterooms Available
SPECIAL NOTE: From now through November 14, use the Promo Code: READY for special pricing on select staterooms.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2
Sailing Dates: 2.3.26 – 2.10.26
Fully Reserved
JOIN WAITLIST
No Special Pricing
Sailing Dates: 2.10.26 – 2.17.26
Fully Reserved
JOIN WAITLIST
No Special Pricing
’27 Sailings
The Jazz Cruise ’27
Journey of Jazz ’27
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1
Sailing Dates: 1.17.27 – 1.24.27
Announcement: 11.13.25
Sailing Dates: 1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Guests on Journey of Jazz ’25: Now through 12.12.25: Past Guests may Rebook Stateroom from Journey of Jazz ‘25
Guests Not on Journey of Jazz ’25: NOW: New Guests may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation
Starting on 12.15.25: Guests with Pre-Sail Reservations may start to select Staterooms
Open Booking Starts:12.30.25
Cruise Prices: As shown on website
Sailing Dates: 1.31.27 – 2.7.27
Guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1: Now through 11.26.25 Past Guests may Rebook Stateroom from The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1
Guests Not on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1: NOW: New Guests may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation
Starting on 12.4.25: Guests with Pre-Sail Reservations may start to select Staterooms
Open Booking Starts: 12.29.25
Cruise Prices: As shown on website
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2
Botti at Sea ’27
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3
Sailing Dates: 2.7.27 – 2.14.27
Guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2: Now through 11.26.25: Past Guests may Rebook Stateroom from The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2
Guests Not on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2: NOW: New Guests may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation
Starting on 12.4.25: Guests with Pre-Sail Reservations may start to select Staterooms
Open Booking Starts: 12.29.25
Cruise Prices: As shown on website
Sailing Dates: 10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Announcement: TBD
Sailing Dates: 10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Announcement: TBD