Next Month, We Sail
In a little over one month, our ’26 Cruise season begins on the Celebrity Summit cruise ship with two new programs. David Foster: The Hitman Cruise is a five-day music festival at sea. When that cruise docks, the seven-day sailing of Christian McBride’s World at Sea begins. Same ship, different music.
For the next three weeks, we stay on the Summit for three more sailings, though they are decidedly not new programs. In fact, they are among the longest running cruise programs in the world, The Jazz Cruise ‘26, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2!
For those keeping score, that is 33 days of cruising, from January 15 – February 17, 2026.
More than 10,000 guests, nearly 1,000 performers and more hours of music than we can count. We cannot wait for the fun to begin!
The balance of this week’s Jazz Notes is dedicated to the overall guest experience on our cruises, particularly the non-music elements and some insight on the latest performer named for the Foster cruise, the amazing Shoshana Bean.
Hoping your Thanksgiving was amazing. Once my wife cleaned up after I managed to spill the brine for the turkey, we had a great one!
Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences
From Laughs to Learning:
The Non-Music Magic on David Foster’s Hitman Cruise
Many of our guests who have never sailed on one of our cruise programs may be wondering what’s happening during the upcoming David Foster: The Hitman Cruise other than music and our port destinations. The answer: More music and more than music.
In addition to the numerous concerts in our four venues – the Celebrity Theater, Sky Lounge, Rendezvous and Cosmopolitan Dining Room – we have a full schedule of events starting every day in the morning and running until late at night.
For example, you can start your day with Morning Stretch and Morning Fitness sessions on the pool deck supervised by Dominique, our on-board fitness guru.
Throughout the day, you can attend our LEARN sessions which feature conversations with our various performers, including some hosted by David himself. You can also catch Listening Parties, in which several of our artists play tracks from a recent recording and take you behind the scenes of their creative process. In addition, a few of our artists will present master classes to demonstrate their prowess on their respective instruments.
For those of you who bring your dancing shoes, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to strut your stuff, from Mario Vines’ Dancing & Cocktails sessions to a Formal Night Ball. If you enjoy your spirits, you can take in a Mixology Class, Martini Master Class or Wine Tasting, each hosted by one of our artists. We’ve also got some special game shows, including Mario’s Who Wants to Be a Jazzillionaire? and Finish the Lyrics sessions.
If you’re sailing solo, we even have a Singles & Solos hang so you can meet and make some new friends. After all, you know you already have a love of music in common.
In short, you can be as busy as you wish to be. Or you can take it easy and relax by the pools. Or go to the spa for me-time.
You have all the options for a memorable experience.
Lee Mergner
Jazz Consultant
Signature Cruise Experiences
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise
Shoshana Bean’s Life On Stage
Like Katharine McPhee, Shoshana Bean is an actress who can sing. Or, if you prefer, a singer who can act. Over the years, Shoshana has maintained careers both in theater and music and, accordingly, she has both a GRAMMY® Award and Tony Award nominations. Her credits in musical theater are extensive.
Shoshana appeared Off-Broadway in the 2000 revival of Godspell and in Songs for a New World at City Center Encores and made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Hairspray. She replaced Idina Menzel in Wicked and Sara Bareilles in Waitress. She earned her first Tony nomination for her performance as Susan Young, opposite Billy Crystal in Mr. Saturday Night.
Most recently, Shoshana has starred in Alicia Keys’ hit Broadway musical, Hells’ Kitchen, in which she plays Jersey, a single mother trying to protect her teenage daughter Ali. It’s a character loosely based off Keys’ own mother, Terri Joseph. The tole brought her a second Tony Award nomination.
“For so long, in this particular space of theater, it’s really been me trying to shrink or shift to fit something,” Shoshana said. “This is the first time that someone has seen me and allowed me to be who I am. And that, to me, means more than anything.”
She’s also brought her singing chops to numerous film and television shows, including The Boys, Sing, Sing 2, Enchanted, Jersey Boys, Glee and Galavant.
At the same time, the powerful vocalist has recorded numerous independent studio albums and EP’s that have landed her on top of the iTunes and Billboard charts, including the peak position of #1 on the Billboard Jazz Chart. She recently released her 7th album, Only Smoke, and made her debut at Carnegie Hall.
Born in Olympia, WA and raised in the Portland, OR area, Shoshana considers herself both a product and a champion of arts education. “I am very certain that growing up in a school and a community that was able to provide a rich arts education gave me the foundation to, not only pursue the career I dreamed of, but also imbued in me the valuable skills that I still carry with me to this day,” she explained. “I am passionate about arts education and am committed to doing whatever I can to ensure that students today do not suffer from budget cuts and are provided the best education possible. That includes the arts.”
Shoshana, who has performed with David Foster in the past, has been added to the lineup of the David Foster: The Hitman Cruise in January.
Lee Mergner
Jazz Consultant
Signature Cruise Experiences
Jazz Cruises Conversations Podcast:
Gregory Porter on Nat King Cole
This episode, from the Journey of Jazz cruise, features an interview by Michael Lazaroff with co-hosts Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter, who shared memories and stories from their lives. Click the image to listen to a clip or click below to hear the entire episode!
Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs &
Price Updates for ’26 and ’27 Sailings
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise
1.15.26 – 1.20.26
A 5-Day Weekend Getaway with a Week’s Long Schedule of Talent
The amazing lineup of David Foster, Michael McDonald, Babyface, Shoshana Bean, Take 6, Nathan East, Peter Cincotti, Pia Toscano, Emmet Cohen (and more) is in place for this 5-day Cruise Getaway from Ft. Lauderdale on Celebrity Summit.
Truly a weekend getaway (Thursday – Tuesday) vacation, there will be more than 7 days of music presented in a 5-day cruise! The remaining inventory includes only Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.
Christian McBride’s World at Sea
1.20.26 – 1.27.26
Christian’s Ensembles + World Class Vocalists
Boasting one of the most robust and decorated lineups we have ever presented and led by 9X GRAMMY® Winner Christian McBride, this program will present more than 220 hours of top music over 7 days at sea. Besides Christian’s lineup of amazing ensembles that he leads (Inside Straight, Ursa Major, Christian McBride’s Big Band, Remembering Ray Brown, Christian’s Trio), the cruise also features some of the very best vocalists in the genre: Ledisi, Samara Joy, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Angélique Kidjo, Melissa Walker and José James. Ledisi, Samara and Angélique were nominated for GRAMMY® Awards last month.
Staterooms in all remaining categories are available at FINAL Prices. Be sure to use Promo Code: FINAL when booking online or by calling the office.
The Jazz Cruise
’26 (1.27.26 – 2.3.26)
’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 musicians call the cruise “Jazz Heaven” for good reason. Every one of the 210+ hours of music are dedicated to this great music.
This cruise is fully reserved every year and fewer than 30 staterooms remain for the ’26 sailing. At this time, ’26 Guests are invited to rebook their current staterooms for The Jazz Cruise ’27 and those not sailing in ’26 may establish their priority for the ’27 sailing by completing a Pre-Sail Reservation.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’26.1 (2.3.26 – 2.10.26)
’26.2 (2.10.26 – 2.17.26)
’26.3 (9.11.26 – 9.18.26)
’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)
’27.3 (10.13.27 – 10.20.27)
6 Opportunities to sail on “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. Rich with great musicians, great fans and great times, The Smooth Jazz Cruise has created a community of fans that span the globe. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2, both of which sail in the Caribbean, are fully reserved with significant waitlists. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3, which will sail from Vancouver to Los Angeles with calls in Victoria and San Francisco, is more than 95% reserved at this time. This is a great opportunity to secure a reservation on this cruise which establishes your priority for other sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise.
Guests sailing on ’26.1 & ’26.2 had until November 30, 2025 to reserve their current stateroom for ’27.1 & ’27.2, respectively. In that same timeframe, over 700 Pre-Sail Reservations (representing nearly 1,400 Guests) were completed by Guests not sailing on either ’26.1 or ’26.2. Starting tomorrow (December 4, 2025), those Pre-Sail Reservations will be activated in the order received.
Guests on ’26.3 have opportunities to book on any of the ’27 cruises, subject to rules which have been shared with them. If you are a guest on ’26.3 and you have not received that information, please call the office (888.852.9987).
Botti at Sea III (’26)
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent
The wait is over. It is time to begin the planning process for Botti at Sea III (’26). The lineup has been set for a few months. Joining Chris will be Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle, Emmet Cohen, 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. Open Booking has already started, meaning any guest may select any available stateroom and complete a reservation online or by calling the office.
Journey of Jazz ’27
1.25.27 – 1.31.27
Where is Journey of Jazz Headed Next? New Orleans!
The inaugural sailing of Journey of Jazz was last September and the cruise was a wonderful experience. Both hosts, Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter, are coming back for the next voyage. Joining them on the cruise as the special guest host in New Orleans is Wynton Marsalis. Indelibly sketched in our minds as the ultimate NOLA jazzman, we are honored to have him join us on the program.
In keeping with our theme of great jazz experiences, Journey of Jazz ’27 will be headed to New Orleans for a special overnight jazz experience. Guests who sailed on Journey of Jazz ’25 have until 10 days after the lineup announcement to rebook their current stateroom. Others may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation through that same time frame. The full lineup will be announced mid-December.