It is Day 31 at sea for the Signature Cruise Experiences production team. On Tuesday, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2 returns to port and the team will head home for a brief respite before returning to Ft. Lauderdale for the launch of the inaugural sailing of Top Shelf Country Cruise ’26.
This is currently our 34th sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise. It is quite interesting to compare the preparation and excitement for a cruise that is sailing for the first time (like Top Shelf) and one that has been produced since 2004 (like The Smooth Jazz Cruise). Both are challenging. Both are fun to present.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 ended last Tuesday. Besides amazing performances by the stars of the cruise (Marcus Miller, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Candy Dulfer, Jonathan Butler, Mindi Abair, Peter White, Vincent Ingala, Keiko Matsui and Music Director, Eric Marienthal), our incredible featured performers and three of the most talented bands ever assembled, the cruise was treated to an evening with Kenny G, as well as one of the best Super Bowl celebrations we have produced.
Kenny G’s first-ever appearance on The Smooth Jazz Cruise was thrilling. From the time he stepped onto the ship, there was a palpable buzz throughout. Unlike most other “on and off” special guests, Kenny boarded early, just after 10:30 AM. His timing was chosen to allow him to include his daily 3-hour practice session before he sat down for an interview with Marcus Miller. While many artists, hoping to avoid controversy, provide pat answers to questions, Kenny took every question head on, providing great insight to his personality and makeup.
Kenny’s show was an extraordinary display of musicianship as well as a walk down memory lane. Kenny shared his ability to hold a note for long periods of time, his skills at producing notes in a rapid-fire manner and his willingness to share the bandstand with his talented and long-standing band members.
Always the consummate performer, Kenny asked us several times whether he could perform past the 90 minute show segment provided for each of his two shows. The first show clocked in at 105 minutes and the second show just under 110 minutes. He was determined to entertain! (Note: Kenny G played for our guests Saturday night and the very next day stood alongside singer and keyboardist Charlie Puth at the Super Bowl. In fact, Puth provided the private plane that enabled Kenny G to make the show. Not a bad 24 hours!)
On the non-musical front, the cruise featured another edition of Star Feud. After some (fun) accusations of rules violations from both groups, Team Marcus (Miller, Butler, Matsui, White & Culbertson) took down Team Boney (James, Ingala, Abair, Dulfer, Anderson) in a hotly contested match.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2, which started on Tuesday, is a carbon copy of the first sailing, only no Super Bowl. This week’s guests are just as thrilled and engaged as last week’s and we are having a great, great time. Kenny G comes back to the ship tonight for two more performances. Since today is Valentine’s Day, we are anticipating a few surprises in the program.
The success of The Smooth Jazz Cruise is due to a great team of musicians, an expert staff and, most of all, the greatest music fans in the world. We are also grateful for the leadership and direction provided by our hosts, Marcus Miller and Boney James.
“The enthusiasm of the guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise elevates the performances of all of us,” offered Marcus Miller and Boney James has repeatedly declared that “The Smooth Jazz Cruise is my favorite time of the year!”
When The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2 is completed, we will have been at sea for 33 days, entertained nearly 11,000 guests and presented hundreds of musicians and vocalists We will not count the number of trips through the buffet or the amount of adult beverages consumed.
What we will count are the number of smiles, “thank yous” and other indications of excitement and gratitude that permeated the weeks. Trust me, as good as land and home sound now, being at sea with great music and great guests never gets old. It is what we do and our goal, now and forever, is to do it better than anyone else.
By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti 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 ’26 in Photos
John Abbott and his team of expert photographers captured nearly every moment of our sailing – here’s a small taste. As soon as our photo gallery is complete, we’ll make it available for you to access and download photos for free.
Photo Credit: John Abbott Photo
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!
Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’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)
4 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 ‘27.1 and ‘27.2 are both in Open Booking and are more than 80% reserved.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3, which departs from Quebec City on 10.13.27 and sails through Canada terminating in Boston on 10.20.27, has been announced. This program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events.
Currently, guests sailing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 (’26 Guests) have the exclusive opportunity to reserve their ’26 stateroom for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3 through 3.31.26. Those who are not ’26 Guests may establish their priority for selecting a stateroom for that cruise 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.
The Jazz Cruise ’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.
Rebooking for The Jazz Cruise ’26 Guests is complete. Guests with Pre-Sail Reservations are selecting staterooms and completing reservations now. Open Booking, when anyone may reserve any available stateroom, begins February 24, 2026.
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.
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!