The Signature Cruise Experiences team members are at their various homes today, with many having completed over 30 days at sea (and some nearly 40!).
If our experience were like an F1 or NASCAR race, this weekend is more like a pit stop for fuel and new tires as many will be boarding Celebrity Reflection (see above) shortly for the first sailing of Top Shelf Country Cruise.
That the theme of Top Shelf is different from the five sailings we just completed is obvious. The only “country” music on those sailings was Daniel Emmet singing in Italian and much of the music of Paquito D’Rivera. That Top Shelf will be a new experience for us can be summed up in a few statistics.
| 10,000 | Number of guests who sailed with us between January 15th to February 17th of this year |
| 22,000 | Number of guests who have sailed with us FOUR + times since 2001 |
| 200,000 | Number of guests who have sailed with us in total since 2001 |
| 10 or Fewer | Number of Top Shelf Country Cruise guests who have sailed with us before |
This influx of new guests is not entirely unprecedented, as over 80% of the guests on David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26 were new cruisers, but, in terms of sheer volume of newbies, Top Shelf stands alone.
Watching new cruisers enjoy our cruise programs is fun and very rewarding. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2 was the first Signature Cruise Experiences sailing for nearly 40% of the guests. Besides being a testament to the vitality of the genre and the popularity of the program, that volume of fresh eyes and ears added a level of excitement for both the artists and our staff.
We were particularly alert to the comments and observations from the new guests. By far the most common response was, “this cruise is bigger and more exciting than I anticipated.” Understanding the scope of our programming, the number of shows, the quality of the performances and the production level of every event is difficult to anticipate. And, largely due to the advancement of technology, we add “bells and whistles” each year. Hats off to Brian Rachko, our Production Manager, and the entire Production Team.
We try to understand the path that each new guest took to join us for a cruise. Here, again, there was a common theme. “My friends have been coming for years, and they finally convinced me to go. I wish I had listened to them earlier.” Yes, we do “market” the cruises, but the overwhelming majority of new guests are enticed to join us through our loyal “influencers” who sail often and share their experiences.
As I shared with our 10+ Guests (guests who have sailed with us over 10 times) at the events we hosted to honor and thank them for their support, Signature Cruise Experiences is dedicated to providing our past guests with the best of everything, whether it’s cruise prices, stateroom selection, seating or the latest information. The commitment and support of our past guests, particularly during the Pandemic, has sustained us, enabled our growth and allowed us to continue to improve and upgrade our programs.
When the Top Shelf guests board (Celebrity Reflection) next Friday, the process of earning their respect and loyalty begins anew. Though we have produced over 100 full ship charters since 2001, we are new to these guests, and they are new to us. This reality is exciting and a bit nerve racking at the same time. I wish we had a few more “off days” between our last sailing and Top Shelf, but the short “pit stop” we are enjoying right now adds to the electric atmosphere among our team.
Making guests happy. Knowing that they have enjoyed their vacation and look forward to the next chapter of the program. Knowing that they feel they made a great choice by sailing with us. These are emotions we wish to produce and the results that matter. Signature Cruise Experiences always takes the long view. We love all guests, no doubt, but, there is something very special about our relationship with our past guests.
The ultimate compliment for us is when a guest elects to rebook a stateroom or return to the cruises after a period. The ultimate challenge for us is providing guests the type of experience that makes them want to do so.
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.
Ron Carter & Ricky Dillard’s Sweet, Sweet Spirit
Ron Carter, who just sailed with us on The Jazz Cruise and also performed during Journey of Jazz in September, has just released a new album in collaboration with the legendary gospel choirmaster Ricky Dillard. Sweet, Sweet Spirit brings together Dillard’s famed New-G choir with the masterful improvisations of jazz bass maestro Carter.
A deeply personal project for Carter, Sweet, Sweet Spirit honors the memory of his late mother, Mrs. Willie O. Carter, whose favorite hymns shaped the musical foundation of the Carter household and the Detroit church community where they worshipped. . The album revives those cherished hymns, originally sung a cappella by parishioners as the only instruments in the room.
. The origins of Sweet, Sweet Spirit trace back nearly thirty years. When Mrs. Carter transitioned to a live-in care facility, her daughters requested that Ron arrange and record ten of her most beloved hymns. Carter composed and captured his bass interpretations so she could listen to them during her final weeks; a private gift of music, memory, and devotion. “I think that when this music is released I predict that it will open up a lot more doors to people’s hearts, unifying them,” said Ron.
Sarasota Jazz Festival
On March 9-14, the 46th edition of the Sarasota Jazz Festival, sponsored by Signature Cruise Experiences, will be held in that scenic Gulf Coast city. In addition to the main stage concerts in the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, the festival features several performances and events around town. Headliners include the John Pizzarelli Trio (in a tribute to Tony Bennett), Sammy Figueroa (with a tribute to Cal Tjader), Arturo Sandoval and Terell Stafford, who also serves as the festival’s music director.
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 ’26.3 is fully reserved, and a Wait List is growing. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1 and ‘27.2 are both in Open Booking. ’27.1 is more than 80% reserved and ’27.2 is more than 90% 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, Veronica Swift, 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.
The Jazz Cruise reaches “fully reserved” every year and staterooms for The Jazz Cruise ’27 are being reserved faster and sooner than ever.
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!