The Jazz Cruise ’26 was amazing. Many called it the very best. In terms of talent and excitement, they may be right.
After three standing room shows on the ship, Dee Dee Bridgewater left us last Saturday to fly to the GRAMMY® Awards to serve as the presenter for the jazz awards. Two performers learned they won while performing with us, Matthew Whitaker and Sullivan Fortner. (Special Note: Christian McBride and Samara Joy, fresh off of McBride’s World at Sea also took home GRAMMY® Awards last week.)
There were so many special moments on The Jazz Cruise that it is difficult to share them all. Piano Duets, John Clayton’s presentation of Anita Berry’s Big Band and the centennial tributes to Miles Davis, Ray Brown and Oscar Peterson come to mind. We would be remiss if we did not single out the performances of the icons of jazz on board, including Ron Carter, Monty Alexander, Houston Person, Paquito D’Rivera and Randy Brecker.
Paquito and Chucho Valdés were the ’26 inductees to The Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Chucho was unable to cruise due to illness, but Paquito and cruise Emmet Cohen made sure that Chucho was well represented. Emmet performed one of Chucho’s favorite tunes and did so with great heart and feeling.
The Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame Show was masterfully programmed by Ken Peplowski who performed with Paquito and Anat Cohen, creating a trio of the most skilled clarinetists in the world. Ken’s wit and self-effacing barbs made the show work for everyone.
As shared in Jazz Notes (2.4.26), on Monday, Ken died on ship. He was 66. The cause of death has not been determined.
There was little time for mourning however, as the very next day was the start of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1, the Greatest Party at Sea! From the very start, the cruise was cool as cool could be. Though the skies were blue and the sun was shining brightly, the temperature rose to only 62 degrees, making it one of the coolest starts to this program in its history.
It may have been cool on the outside, but the music quickly warmed up the audience on the inside. The Smooth Jazz Cruise “Opening Song” one of the highlights of the programming brought everyone to their feet and that energy spilled into our first main show of the week, Peter White and Vincent Ingala. Words of wisdom and welcome by our hosts, Marcus Miller and Boney James, along with comic insertions from Alonzo Bodden made the Welcome Show a hit.
To cap off the first night, Mindi Abair exploded onto The Theatre’s stage with a high energy show that kept the audience hopping despite the late hour DW3 and Lin Rountree packed the other late-night venues as well.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 was only getting started and tonight Kenny G joins us for two amazing shows. Rather than sharing a few matters now and the rest later, stay tuned for a full rundown of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 next Saturday.
I cannot imagine a nicer gift for Valentine’s Day!
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 Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1 Update
It’s official! The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 will be headed to Grand Cayman rather than Costa Maya! Unfortunately, it took longer than usual to confirm that change. Nothing against Costa Maya, but we never wanted to go there two years in a row.
The Jazz Cruise ’26: One More Look
Photo Credits: johnabbottphoto
Save the Date: Step Aboard! A Live Look at Chris Botti at Sea 2026
We know the lineup is stacked and the onboard experience is lush. Now it’s time to find out how Botti at Sea III’s once-in-a-lifetime West Coast excursions will turn dreams into memories.
Join SCE Director Michael Lazaroff for an exclusive live online event with tantalizing details on what awaits you once you step off the ship and into our incredible ports-of-call, San Francisco, California and Victoria, British Columbia.
And, if two of the West Coast’s most beautiful and historic cities isn’t enough, attendees will be treated to a special visit from our cruise visionary, superstar Chris Botti himself!
Date: February 20, 2026
Time: 3PM ET
Topics:
Extended Port Stays
Excursion Previews
Live Q and A
This is one you won’t want to miss!
Alonzo & Christian: Comedy & All That Jazz
Our comedian-in-residence Alonzo Bodden is joining forces with Christian McBride for a unique night of comedy and jazz on Thursday, March 5 at the PHI Center in Montreal. With sets to be taped at 6:30 PM and 9 PM, the show “Comedy and All That Jazz: Volume 4” will blend Alonzo’s stand-up with live jazz accompaniment from Christian.
“I will always love Montreal,” says Alonzo. “It’s where it all started for me. My career really started when I was discovered at the New Faces of Comedy at the Just For Laughs Festival. After that show, I gave up the day job, and it has been nothing but comedy ever since. For me, Montreal is over 25 years of the festival, the food, the streets, the art. I love everything about Montreal. I can’t wait to tape this show.”
Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’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)
5 Sailings of “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.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1, ‘26.2 & ’26.3 are fully reserved. The Rebooking and Pre-Sail Reservation procedures for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1 and ‘27.2 have been completed and both sailings are in Open Booking and are more than 80% reserved.
As discussed above, guests sailing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 (’26 Guests) will have the exclusive opportunity to reserve their ’26 stateroom for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3, starting on 1.20.26. This sailing starts in Quebec City on 10.13.27 and sails through Canada terminating in Boston on 10.20.27. Fall colors and other special events will be featured. Those who are not ’26 Guests will be able to establish their priority for selecting a stateroom at that time by completing a Pre-Sail Reservation.
Botti at Sea III (’26)
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent
Botti at Sea III (’26) is in Open Booking. Anyone may select any available stateroom and complete a reservation.
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.
Botti at Sea IV (’27)
10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec
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 for more programming and reservation procedure details. As is always the case on a Signature Cruise Experiences program, guests on Botti at Sea III (’26) (’26 Guests) will be able to rebook their current staterooms and those who are not ’26 Guests will be eligible to submit a Pre-Sail Reservation which will establish their stateroom selection priority after the ’26 Guests complete their rebooking procedure.
Look for most of this to happen around 8.15.26!
Journey of Jazz ’27
1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Now in Open Booking
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 and learn more about the history of jazz. As an example, Journey of Jazz ’27 will present Ledisi as a main show performer on the ship. In keeping with the theme of the cruise, Ledisi will perform her universally beloved Tribute to Dinah (Washington) program.
Journey of Jazz ’27 is in Open Booking