Kim Kelley, Author at Signature Cruise Experiences

Our Take: Mothers of Achievement

Kim Kelley — Sat, 09 May 2026 05:35:00 +0000

The title of this Our Take is a bit misleading. After all, by definition, all mothers have achieved. They are all mothers, a heroic achievement by any measure. When a mother is able to achieve even more beyond “mere” motherhood, we take notice.

For instance, only three “mothers” have ever won a Grand Slam Tennis tournament: Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Kim Clijsters. Golf has similarly rarified air. Catriona Matthew and Sherri Steinhauer both won Women’s British Opens after becoming mothers. Perhaps the most famous mother/golfer/Major Championships winner is Juli Inkster, who won multiple Majors after having two daughters.

The world of jazz has its super mothers as well. When Sheila Jordan divorced Duke Jordan, she withdrew from the jazz world and worked for 20 years as a legal secretary so that she could raise her daughter, Tracey. At 58, she triumphantly returned to the bandstand and proceeded to carve out a wonderful career that included her being inducted as an NEA Jazz Master, the Grand Slam and Majors equivalent in our world.

Rene Marie was a mother of two by the age of 23. Finally, at age 42, her children were old enough to allow her to fully launch a professional career. Now a GRAMMY® nominated singer and songwriter, she has achieved great success after motherhood.

Two of our favorite vocalists have recently added “being a mother” to their resumes. Melody Gardot, who will perform on Chris Botti at Sea III, and Cyrille Aimée, who joins our Journey of Jazz ’27 lineup, are now both moms! Our Talent Administration personnel tell me that their travel plans for the cruise include significant “child” details, signaling their desire to balance their careers with the joys of being a mom as much as possible.

No Our Take about mothers and jazz would be complete without a nod to my mother, Anita E. Berry, founder of The Jazz Cruise. For those who have heard this story 10 or more times, you have earned a Reserved Seat for the next 10 or more presentations. At age 70, Mom became the first person in the world, male or female, to charter an entire ship for a musical cruise. What seems to be an obvious decision now, seemed amazingly risky back in 2000, when she decided to charter Holland America’s m/s Maasdam.

Emails and social media were very limited. She had a mailing list from her days with NCL and its jazz program (half a ship), but there was no guarantee that those folks would be willing to reserve a stateroom. She also had the full and complete support of the musicians, which proved to be the most important endorsement of all.

Whether Mom was a successful mother before becoming a jazz impresario depends upon your assessment of her three sons. Actually, two of them are more than fine. The jury is still out on me. Whatever time I have going forward will be directed to making her dream of great music cruises come true.

To all mothers, whether you are working, not working, pursuing a career, not pursuing a career or something in the middle, you already have the most difficult job in the world. Make sure that you guilt as many people tomorrow as possible to wait on you, give you gifts and otherwise dote over you.

Turning guilt into action is every mother’s secret weapon.

NOTE: A very special shout out to Aubrey Pavlik, our Director of Guest Communications, who is celebrating her very first Mother’s Day!

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.

This Week!
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27 Livestream

Join the David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream event on May 14 at 4PM ET!

We’ll have an exclusive insider’s look at the world-class music, luxury travel and once-in-a-lifetime experiences our Guests will experience. Plus, we’re giving one lucky attendee a FREE Stateroom aboard The Hitman Cruise Encore!

Wea Culpa

In last week’s edition of The Weekender, we included an item about pianist Ted Rosenthal’s latest album The Good Old Days, featuring his take on early jazz styles. Unfortunately, we included the incorrect link to learn more about the album. Here is the correct link.

LEARN MORE

Wynton Marsalis & Vince Giordano’s
The Wonderful Word of Louis Armstrong

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Blue Engine Records has just released Jazz Summit: Wynton Marsalis & Vince Giordano Play on the Hot Fives and Sevens, The Wonderful Word of Louis Armstrong, featuring fresh interpretations of Louis Armstrong’s classic Hot Fives and Hot Sevens recordings.

The album was originally recorded by Wynton Marsalis (who will perform on Journey of Jazz in New Orleans), Vince Giordano, and members of their ensembles December 26–31, 2012, during an historic run at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club in NYC. The Wonderful Word of Louis Armstrong is the third album in a series from Wynton and Blue Engine exploring jazz’s ethical relationship to democracy, freedom, and collective life. It follows We The People (released in February) and Let Freedom Swing (released in March).

LEARN MORE

Steve Wilson’s Enduring Sonance

Saxophonist and flutist Steve Wilson has sailed on The Jazz Cruise many times as both an All-Star and a member of Christian McBride’s Inside Straight. His new album, Enduring Sonance on Smoke Sessions Records, features compositions that he’s cherished over the course of his musical life.

“Some of the tunes on this record have stayed with me for, in some cases, over 50 years from the time that I first heard them,” Steve says. “I wanted to put some music out there that people can connect with, no matter what kind of music they like.” He’s joined by vibraphonist Joe Locke, bassist Jay Anderson, drummer Kendrick Scott, and pianist Renee Rosnes, who also contributed the album’s arrangements. On two pieces, they’re joined by French horn virtuoso Kevin Newton of Imani Winds.

LEARN MORE

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

SCE Sailings in ’27

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles
9.11.26 – 9.18.26
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

Known as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is Fully Reserved.

If you wish to join the cruise, go to the website and JOIN WAITLIST for any stateroom category you wish. All cancellations for this cruise will be filled from the waitlist.

Botti at Sea III (’26)

Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience
The Weekender Cruise Prices: Good through May 31, 2026

When The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 docks in Los Angeles, we will turn around and head back to Vancouver (via San Francisco and Victoria BC) under the guidance of superstar Chris Botti.

Chris Botti at Sea III will be the perfect combination of a topflight music cruise (featuring Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson) and exciting excursions in San Francisco and Victoria including trips to wineries in Napa and Sonoma.

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa
1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Open Booking
Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

The Jazz Cruise ’27

Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa
1.17.27 – 1.24.27
The Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea
Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

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 Jazz Cruise has reached “fully reserved” every year it has sailed and The Jazz Cruise ’27 is on its way to reaching that goal again. Open Booking began on February 24, 2026 and the cruise is nearly 80% reserved.

Journey of Jazz ’27

Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa
1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Where Jazz Fans Go to Live The Jazz Life
Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

SJC ‘27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27) Tampa – Ocho Rios – Grand Cayman – Tampa (90% Reserved)
SJC ’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27) Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa (95% Reserved)
The Greatest Party at Sea

The Greatest Party at Sea presents its customary back to back weeklong programs in the Caribbean. Tampa is the port of embarkation and disembarkation for the first time and both sailings will call on Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.The Greatest Party at Sea presents its customary back-to-back weeklong programs in the Caribbean. Tampa is the port of embarkation and disembarkation for the first time and both sailings will call on Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.

The star studded lineup is led by hosts Marcus Miller and Boney James and features Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Kirk Whalum, Peter White and more.

Both sailings are in Open Booking and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

Boston – Portland – Saint John (NB) – Sydney (NS) – Charlottetown (PEI) – Quebec City
10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Canada

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 (8.15.26) 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.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

Quebec City – Charlottetown (PEI) – Sydney (NS) – Saint John (NB) – Portland – Boston
10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Smooth Jazz in the Fall!

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3 program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events. Marcus Miller, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer and others will lead the team for another edition of this iconic program.

This cruise is currently in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

The post Our Take: Mothers of Achievement appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Jazz Notes: 5.6.26

Kim Kelley — Wed, 06 May 2026 17:44:01 +0000

I was able to enjoy several shows during Jazz Appreciation Month. All were good, but, on one night, I was treated to one of those jazz experiences that not only exceeded your expectations, but will be part of your musical memory for a long time. The venue was Jazz St. Louis, the most prominent jazz venue in my hometown. The event was part of my subscription which provides a jazz show every other week from September to May. Our seats (a four top table) are for the first show on Friday nights, the same seats we have had for two decades.

I do not and cannot attend every show. I miss a bunch in January and February as we are “at sea” enjoying our own jazz shows. And when I am in town, quite frankly, not every show appeals to me. If the performer is one of our musicians on the ships, I am there early to say hello and to take in the show.

The atmosphere is friendly and familiar. Most of the people around our table have had their seats for years. There are some casual attendees, but, for the most part, this is a jazz setting, filled with jazz fans watching great jazz musicians.

I know I introduced Gene Dobbs Bradford to you recently as being the newest member of the Signature Cruise Experiences’ team. Gene oversaw Jazz St. Louis for more than 20 years before taking a festival job in Savannah. Now back in St. Louis, we were very fortunate to be able to add him to our team. Gene and his wife joined us this night for the show.

Time to get back to the special musical event. My tickets for that night said “Chucho Valdés.” I had no idea if this were to be a group, a trio or some other configuration. To riff the Jerry Maguire line, they had me at “Chucho.”

Even though the show started at 7:30 PM, Paula and I arrive early enough to order dinner. That is our common plan, not because we like the food, but because we want to avoid the traffic generated around the venue. Three of the most prominent performance venues in St. Louis are located next to Jazz St. Louis. From 7 PM on, the narrow city streets become combat zones for cars trying to navigate the other cars, pedestrians and the other city type vendors.

Arriving at 6:30 PM, we walked in and went straight to our table. C4 is the designation for our seats, a location that I have scoped out and secured from the start. My rationale for where we sit will be shared later. As we sat down, we saw that the bandstand included a Steinway piano and two microphones. Nothing else. Clearly Chucho was performing solo.

That recognition brought a huge smile to my face. We were about to hear 75+ minutes of some of the finest piano music in the world today and, perhaps, ever. No accompaniment. No horns or drums interfering with the magical sounds of a Chucho Valdés tune.

Back to the raison d’etre for the location of our seats. Almost always, the piano at Jazz St. Louis is set up stage right, near the front, with the keys facing the audience. From our seats you can see every key being struck, every time the player crosses hands, plays with only one hand and more. It is a level of inside the music that cannot be duplicated from other seat locations.

That night, Chucho was mesmerizing. He did not speak or announce any tune. He had a play list and, in between selections, he smiled, accepted the thunderous applause with a slight head gesture and moved on to the next tune. The tunes covered the gamut of jazz tunes with a smattering of American Songbook and some original compositions.

Whether he was at his bebop best with “A Night in Tunisia” or being the balladeer with “My Funny Valentine,” his touch was supple, his sound filled the room and the presentations were clean, crisp and strong. He was magnificent.

Once he completed the list, he quietly stood up and thanked the crowd for coming to see him and told us how much he enjoyed performing that night. Total word count from Chucho was fewer than 40.

I have been to shows where the performer said very little during the performance. Most of the time I found that to be annoying or just weird. Chucho did not talk at all during his show, and I found it to be lovely, endearing and the stuff that dreams are made of. I consider that evening to be one of the most memorable music experiences of my life and my personal highlight of Jazz Appreciation Month.

Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences

September ’26 –
Signature Cruise Experiences’ Month to Remember

I can remember every minute of Journey of Jazz ’25, our first West Coast cruise in more than 10 years. Vancouver. Victoria. San Francisco. Los Angeles. Napa. Sonoma. Top restaurants in the City by the Bay. Live Music at SFJAZZ. Napa Valley Wine Train. Whale Watching. Alcatraz. All that plus nearly 200 hours of music on the ship!

I do not recall having more fun and being more active in all the years I have been sailing (26+)! In September, I will be back in the great Northwest for, not one, but two sailings. I have decided to sign up for the land excursions that I missed the first time. Whale watching in Victoria for sure, but, when we are in San Francisco, it will be difficult to pass up our two shows at SFJAZZ.

The first sailing is The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 (9.11.26 – 9.18.26) and the SFJAZZ show for that cruise features Brian Simpson and Grace Kelly. That will be fun and exciting. The second sailing is Chris Botti at Sea III (’26) (9.18.26 – 9.25.26). We are very proud to be able to produce the Branford Marsalis Quartet at SFJAZZ on that cruise.

These shows are produced just for our cruise guests. Tickets are available now. There will be a few seats available to past cruise guests who are not sailing on either The Smooth Jazz Cruise or Chris Botti at Sea III.

Stay tuned for information about upcoming Livestream presentations about both The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 and Chris Botti at Sea III.

Donald Harrison – Master Saxophonist and Big Chief

The last time Donald Harrison Jr. sailed on one of our jazz cruises was years ago when The Jazz Cruise stopped for two days in New Orleans, his hometown. He was performing with the Cookers, an all-star ensemble of jazz veterans led by David Weiss. I remember walking off the ship with him and asking him what he was planning to do. He said that he was going to have dinner with the family, but most of his time would be spent sewing and gluing. Because, in addition to being an accomplished saxophonist and bandleader, Donald is the Big Chief of the Congo Square Nation Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group, a Mardi Gras Indian tribe. He inherited that prestigious position from his father, Donald Harrison Sr. That means Donald needs to create a colorful new costume each year in time for Mardi Gras Day in March.

For those not familiar with the tradition of the Mardi Gras Indians, it was said to have originated as early as the 18th century when African-Americans were only allowed to congregate with music and dance in Congo Square. In addition, runaway slaves found shelter with and support from native Americans, whose masking traditions blended with African culture to produce the unique practice of forming costumed and masked tribes each with its own identity. The tradition of Mardi Gras Indians evolved to the present day in New Orleans, where there are dozens of tribes (ranging in size from a half dozen to a few dozen members) who march in full regalia on Mardi Gras Day and St. Joseph’s Day, as well as at events like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

For Donald, that tradition is part and parcel of his identity as a jazz musician. “I have a lot of respect for the guys who consider themselves to be Mardi Gras Indians, but I moved into describing what I do culturally in New Orleans to be Afro-New Orleans music from traveling all over the world,” Donald explained to Offbeat Magazine writer Geraldine Wyckoff. “Going to places like Cuba and Brazil, they always put Afro in front of things that are from their country but are a derivative of African culture. For instance, Eddie Palmieri always says Afro-Caribbean when describing his music.”

Most people outside the New Orleans community know Donald less for his role as a Big Chief than for his long career as an alto saxophonist, who first played with Roy Haynes and Jack McDuff before joining Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, alongside his fellow Crescent City native Terence Blanchard. In the ‘80s, the two left Blakey’s group to co-lead a band that released seven albums as part of the same Young Lions movement that included Wynton and Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr.

In 1990, Donald recorded the first of his nearly 20 albums as a leader. He also has recorded and toured with the Cookers, a group featuring jazz legends from the ‘60s and ‘70s (Eddie Henderson, George Cables, Cecil McBee and Billy Hart) alongside Harrison and Weiss. In 2022 Donald was named a NEA Jazz Master in honor of his dedication to preserving the music and culture of New Orleans.

We’re very fortunate to present Donald in a special concert for guests of Journey of Jazz on Wednesday, January 27 at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market. We don’t know if he will have his costume finished in time for that performance, but we do know he will be playing music that reflects the unique blend of jazz and music styles of his native Crescent City.

Lee Mergner
Jazz Consultant

Upcoming Livestreams

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream

5.14.26 / 4PM ET

Join us for the David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Livestream to meet the lineup, including exciting new additions, learn about the ports, get the details about events performances and learn why one sailing is never enough!

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Cruises

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

SCE Sailings in ’27

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

Known as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3, which departs from Vancouver on 9.11.26 and sails to Victoria, BC and San Francisco, before terminating in Los Angeles on 9.18.26 is fully reserved. If you wish to try to join the cruise, go to the website and JOIN WAITLIST for any stateroom category you wish. All cancellations for this cruise will be filled from the waitlist.

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

When The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 docks in Los Angeles, we will turn around and head back to Vancouver (via San Francisco and Victoria BC) under the guidance of superstar Chris Botti. Chris Botti at Sea III will be the perfect combination of a topflight music cruise and exciting excursions.

Joining Chris on the cruise are several icons of the world of music: Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle and many others. When in San Francisco, guests may take winery tours in Napa and Sonoma, spend the day on the Napa Valley Wine Train, sample the finest cuisine in San Francisco and much more.

Another menu of excursions awaits guests when the cruise docks in Victoria, BC. Trust us, this is the perfect music experience!

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Stay Tuned for the Lineup and Detail

The Jazz Cruise ’27

1.17.27 – 1.24.27

Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea

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.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)

The Greatest Party at Sea presents its customary back to back weeklong programs in the Caribbean. Tampa is the port of embarkation and disembarkation for the first time and both sailings will call on Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.

The star studded lineup is led by hosts Marcus Miller and Boney James and features Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Kirk Whalum, Peter White and more.

Both sailings are in “Open Booking” and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

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!

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3 program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events.

This cruise is currently in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

The post Jazz Notes: 5.6.26 appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Our Take: The Name is Jazz

Kim Kelley — Sat, 02 May 2026 05:55:00 +0000

When someone says, “you know who it is after hearing one name,” they generally mean a first name. On Chris Botti at Sea III (’26), the headliners joining Chris for this Fall ’26 sailing are known to us on a “first name only” basis. When you say Elvis, Boz, Melody, Peabo and Regina, the identities are obvious. Small exception for those who believe that Elvis Presley is still alive!

Melody Gardot

Boz Scaggs

But last names can be telling as well. Some of the most famous names in American life, Roosevelt, Kennedy or Bush, give strong hints, but only a few last names are definitive. No one would quibble over who the name Lincoln would identify. Sports fans would agree who Mantle or Jordan would be, but might stumble on James or Judge.

In our world, the world of jazz, is there any doubt that the name Marsalis is synonymous with the very best jazz music around? Yes, there are several players in that family, but choosing one is like choosing your favorite ice cream.

Looking at our upcoming cruises, we are proud to be able to announce that Branford Marsalis and his quartet will be our special guest when the Chris Botti at Sea III cruise docks in San Francisco this Fall and Wynton Marsalis, along with the Jazz at Lincoln Center band, will be our Host when Journey of Jazz Cruise docks in New Orleans in late January ’27.

Branford Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis

Branford’s show is an excursion available exclusively to our Botti cruise guests at the world famous SFJAZZ venue on the afternoon of September 21, 2026. That exclusivity is consistent with an overall “must see” mantra for Chris Botti at Sea III. Superstars Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs and Melody Gardot only perform very sporadically in North America. Catching one of them in concert is wonderful. Catching all three is amazing!

Talk about scarcity, we were both surprised and honored to learn that Wynton’s performance with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is his first in more than 10 years! Here’s another fun fact: this will be the third time that Wynton has performed on our ships. We must be doing something right!

Scheduling Wynton’s on-the-ship performances amid the lure of New Orleans nightlife was not easy. He will be performing an early show around 5:15 PM and a later show beginning around 9:15 PM. This gives our guests the opportunity to either attend an early Wynton show on the ship followed by dinner in New Orleans or an early dinner followed by Wynton’s show.

And for those that stay on the ship during the “open” time between those two shows, you can catch Rebirth Brass Band, one of New Orleans’s most popular performing groups, filling that slot with great music.

Whether you sail on Chris Botti at Sea III or Journey of Jazz, there will be a Marsalis performing for you. By the way, they are the only family to be named NEA Jazz Masters. Without a doubt, they are the First Family of Jazz.

Elvis is on the (Chris Botti) Cruise!

If we were to ask our jazz fans who is Diana Krall’s husband, I wonder how many would know that it is Elvis Costello, the 2X GRAMMY® Winner and inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Diana has sailed with us on the last Botti at Sea cruise and on Journey of Jazz ’25. She wowed the audience with her beautiful soft voice and exquisite piano performances. Presenting alongside bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, her longtime friends and stalwarts, Diana’s elegance and charm were in full bloom, along with a healthy dose of shyness.

Elvis’ style is quite different. This Englishman is a singer, record producer, songwriter and more. Rolling Stone likened his music profile to those of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison. High praise for sure. He has lived his life and conducted his career on his own terms and, even if that caused friction with some, his music and his ability to write songs has never been questioned.

One of the goals of Chris Botti at Sea is to give our guests the opportunity to enjoy the music of various genres performed by the very best musicians. Elvis Costello fills the bill perfectly. Performing in Victoria, BC, near his home, Elvis should be more than ready to put on a great show.

Upcoming Livestreams

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream

5.14.26 / 4PM ET

Livestreams On-Demand

Journey of Jazz ’27 Livestream Now Available On-Demand

If you missed our recent Journey of Jazz Livestream or just want to give it another watch, the livestream is now available to view on-demand. We discussed the incredible lineup, explored the exciting ports of call and discussed the unforgettable shore excursions New Orleans! Both of our hosts, Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter, made special guest appearances – you don’t want to miss this!

WATCH ON-DEMAND

Chris Botti at Sea III Perfect Cruise Livestream Now Available On-Demand

If you weren’t able to drop-in during this week’s Botti at Sea Livestream, it’s now available to view on demand!
This perfect cruise experience comes to life while we discussed our exciting lineup of world-class talent, explored the beautiful ports of call and introduced the unforgettable shore excursions that make this year’s sailing truly special.

WATCH ON-DEMAND

Steve Kovalcheck’s Buckshot Blues

The guitarist Steve Kovalcheck has just released Buckshot Blues, an album featuring Jeff Hamilton and bassist Jon Hamar with whom he performed on The Jazz Cruise earlier this year. The album showcases the trio’s unique blend of precision, spontaneity, and playfulness through 13 mostly original tunes.

Filled with soulful grooves and expressive blues inflections, Kovalcheck’s musicianship shines through as he pays tribute to mentors and friends through titles such as “Donald’s Juke Joint,” for pianist Donald Brown or “Bright Child,” in memory of organist Akiko Tsuruga, their bandmate who died in 2025. The result is a vibrant recording that celebrates the spirit of the tradition, while carving out a sound that distinctly belongs to this trio of friends.

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Ted Rosenthal’s The Good Old Days

During the last 12 months, pianist Ted Rosenthal has released four albums in a series he calls Piano Trios in 4 Acts. The final recording in the series, The Good Old Days, features a contemporary take on early jazz styles, with songs by Scott Joplin, Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael and Vernon Duke as well as seven originals reflecting that legacy.

In addition to bassists Norika Ueda and Martin Wind, and drummers Tim Horner and Quincy Davis, Ted also welcomes his (and our) late friend Ken Peplowski as a special guest on two tracks.

“I believe a good, well-thought-out program, often with a theme, adds so much for the listener,” Ted said. “Emotional highs and lows, as variety of moods and tempos, and an overall dramatic arc to the set are very important to the audience experience.”

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Ben Paterson’s Solo Piano, Vol. 1

Ben Paterson, who most recently sailed on The Jazz Cruise as a member of Catherine Russell’s group, has just released Solo Piano, Vol. 1 featuring a mix of some of the pianist’s favorite jazz standards as well as two classics from the Beatles’ songbook.

“It was a true pleasure recording this solo album, the piano is one of the best Steinways I’ve ever played and the studio captured every nuance,” Ben said. “I hope people enjoy my take on these beautiful melodies and rich harmonic progressions. Somehow, I never get tired of playing them. Perhaps that’s really the best sign of a great tune.”

Ben told us that he’s planning on recording more solo piano albums down the road, hence the Vol. 1 title.

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Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

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Sailing in the Next 12 Months

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent and Fabulous Excursions & Events

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 Botti 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.

Botti at Sea III incorporates two experiences. First, is another edition of our famous cruise programs with nightly special shows, hours of additional music and intimate and insightful opportunities to learn more about our performers.

The second aspect of the programs is a robust offering of excursions and events when we dock in San Francisco (overnight) and in Victoria, BC (full day). You can visit wineries in Napa or Sonoma, tour Napa Valley on the Napa Valley Wine Train, dine at the finest restaurants, see special shows at SFJAZZ, and more. Each of these events are curated, produced and presented by us.

To learn more about the cruise and the amazing excursions, check out the Botti Cruise Livestream Video on-demand on our website and on YouTube.

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)
3 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. Guests wishing to sail on the cruise should Join the Wait List now. Any cancellations by current guests will be filled by the Wait List.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1 and ‘27.2 are both in Open Booking and both are nearly 95% reserved. Please note that the itineraries for both sailings have been updated.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1
Tampa – Cozumel – Grand Cayman – Tampa

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2
Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

One Sailing is Never Enough!

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26 (Foster ’26) was a runaway hit program. From the first note to the last song, the brilliance of David Foster was evident in every show and event.

The lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27 has been announced and includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.

David Foster The Hitman Cruise Encore is in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

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.

The cruise is in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

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 and 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.

Details for the overnight stay in New Orleans are nearly complete. There will be special jazz shows in the city, dining at iconic New Orleans restaurants (Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, Arnaud’s and more), tours of the city on land and by ship and much more. Each event in New Orleans will be curated, produced and presented by Signature Cruise Experiences.

Journey of Jazz ’27 is in Open Booking. You may select and reserve any available stateroom at this time. This may be the jazz experience of the year.

Sailing in 18 Months

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!

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Now in Open Booking!

This program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events.

This cruise is currently in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

The post Our Take: The Name is Jazz appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Jazz Notes: 4.29.26

Kim Kelley — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:35:50 +0000

Tomorrow is International Jazz Day

Tomorrow evening, the International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert will take place at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. It is a star-studded event that features a wide array of national and international talent, many of whom have performed on our cruises over the years.

Cruise Hosts Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter will be performing along with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling, Marquis Hill, Joel Ross and, native Chicagoan, Herbie Hancock. Signature Cruise Experiences’ Jazz Advisor, Lee Mergner, will be attending as well. Lee’s initial thoughts about this event are below and he will file another report in next week’s edition of Jazz Notes.

We know that the event will be special, well-attended, and musically wonderful. The perfect ending to Jazz Appreciation Month.

Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences

Veranda Plus: A New Stateroom Category on the Ship!

In The Weekender dated 4.15.26, we introduced the Veranda Plus Stateroom, the new category name for both the Concierge and AquaClass Staterooms on Botti at Sea III (’26), David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27 and Journey of Jazz ‘27. Those staterooms offered more square footage than the Veranda Staterooms and included some additional benefits.

Combining those staterooms into one new category, Veranda Plus Staterooms eliminates the minor differences between Concierge and AquaClass Staterooms and enables us to provide one set of significant extras.

Veranda Plus Stateroom Amenities

Embarkation Day Lunch in the Cosmopolitan Restaurant (no charge)
Daily Breakfast in Blu Restaurant (no charge)
No Upcharge for one (1) Specialty Dining Experience – Tuscan Grille, Luminae, Signature Steakhouse and A Taste of San Francisco (up to $50/person)

Plus, for a limited time, guests reserving a Veranda Plus Stateroom will be eligible for a Reserved Seat for all Nightly Main Shows – seven nights on Botti at Sea III (’26) and Journey of Jazz ’27, and five nights on David Foster: The Hitman Cruise

Veranda Plus Stateroom Rules

Reserving a Veranda Plus Stateroom, either online or by calling the office, is subject to the following rules:
Veranda Plus Staterooms are currently available on the following programs:
Chris Botti at Sea III
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore
Journey of Jazz ’27

Guests sailing on those cruises with current Concierge or AquaClass Stateroom reservations may either:
Retain the amenities that are included in those reservations or
Convert, at no cost, to a Veranda Plus reservation at the same Cruise Price.

Reserved Seat eligibility expires at the earlier of:
Reserved Seat Expiration Date
The close of available inventory of Reserved Seats for the cruise selected.

Reserved Seat Expiration Dates:
Chris Botti at Sea III: 5.31.26
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore: 6.15.26
Journey of Jazz ’27: 6.30.26

Have questions? Contact the office for details on the Veranda Plus Stateroom program and secure your stateroom today.

International Jazz Day in Chicago

As Michael wrote above, Jazz Appreciation Month will culminate in an All-Star Global Concert held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on International Jazz Day – Thursday, April 30. That concert will be streamed online here. In addition, befitting the term “International” in the title, there will be thousands of events throughout the world on that day, from intimate performances to large-scale concerts at leading cultural institutions. Artists, educators and organizations around the globe will present masterclasses, jam sessions, panel discussions, and educational workshops. You can see a partial list of participants here.

The event’s origins go back to November 2011, when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. From the beginning International Jazz Day has been chaired and led by the UNESCO Director-General and pianist/composer Herbie Hancock, who serves as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue and also as Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.

The Institute is the nonprofit that’s charged with planning, promoting and producing this annual celebration. Over the years, the concert has been hosted in cities all over the world, including Osaka, Istanbul, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Havana, New Orleans, St. Petersburg, Melbourne, New York City and Washington, DC (at the White House).

“I’m excited that Chicago, my hometown, is hosting International Jazz Day 2026,” said Hancock. “It was in my Chicago high school auditorium that I discovered jazz, an event that sparked a lifelong passion and commitment to this powerful art form. Jazz opened doors to creativity, self-expression and freedom. I hope that this Day will inspire young artists and audiences in the same way that I was inspired during those formative years.”

Much of the credit for the IJD coming to Chicago rests with our own Kurt Elling, a native of that city, who brought together a coalition of local organizations to create the Chicago Jazz Alliance, which includes partners such as the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), the Jazz Institute of Chicago, the Ravinia Festival, and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago, among many others.

“I am thrilled beyond words that IJD is originating from my home city of Chicago this year,” Kurt told us. “Chicago has served as home to generations of virtuoso masters of this music from its earliest days, when Louis Armstrong moved here to join King Oliver’s band and record his Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings. Chicagoans have played pivotal roles in the development of this music — from Meade ‘Luxe’ Lewis to Benny Goodman to Barrett Deems, Nat Cole and Franz Jackson, Ahmad Jamal, Johnny Griffin, Dorothy Donegan, Willie Pickens, Ramsey Lewis, Eddie Harris, The Freeman Family, Mel Torme, Geraldine DeHaas and Andy Bey, from Oscar Brown, Jr. to Judy Roberts to Joe Williams to Sun Ra and Muhal Richard Abrams and Lester Bowie … to Herbie Hancock.

“Beyond the obvious history in the music, I knew from the beginning that Chicago had exactly the temperament, energy, resources and heart to bring this vision to life. Take a look for yourself here and you will see that the city has brought her A-Game in response to the call for action. We are a 26.5-mile-long juggernaut of jazz action this week! I couldn’t be more delighted.”

Lee Mergner
Jazz Consultant

Upcoming Livestream Events

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream:
5.14.26 / 4PM ET

Join us for the David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Livestream on May 14 at 4PM ET to meet the lineup, including exciting new additions, learn about the ports, get the details about events performances and learn why one sailing is never enough!

On-Demand Livestream Events

Journey of Jazz Livestream Available On-Demand

VIEW ON-DEMAND

Botti at Sea Livestream Available On-Demand

If you weren’t able to drop-in during this week’s Botti at Sea Livestream, it’s now available to view on demand!

This perfect cruise experience comes to life while we discussed our exciting lineup of world-class talent, explored the beautiful ports of call and introduced the unforgettable shore excursions that make this year’s sailing truly special.

VIEW ON-DEMAND

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

SCE Sailings in ’27

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Stay Tuned for the Lineup and Detail

The Jazz Cruise ’27

1.17.27 – 1.24.27

Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27

Now in Open Booking

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)

The Greatest Party at Sea presents its customary back to back weeklong programs in the Caribbean. Tampa is the port of embarkation and disembarkation for the first time and both sailings will call on Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.

The star studded lineup is led by hosts Marcus Miller and Boney James and features Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Kirk Whalum, Peter White and more.

Both sailings are in “Open Booking” and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27

The post Jazz Notes: 4.29.26 appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Our Take: Signature Cruise Experiences Foundation LLC

Kim Kelley — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:50:00 +0000

From its inception, our company, now named Signature Cruise Experiences (SCE), has contributed to funds and foundations that promote jazz education and those who provide relief and assistance to jazz musicians in need. Our contributions have been sent to organizations from New York to Los Angeles and countless recipients in between.

Over the years, many of the organizations we supported have reduced in size and most have become highly localized. Though our contributions remain a valuable aspect of the funding of these organizations, our ability to impact the constituencies they serve has been limited.

Consolidation of our efforts and helping the most people possible are our goals now. The first step was to create the Signature Cruise Experiences Foundation, LLC, an entity funded by our company the sole goal of which is to promote and support the world of jazz. Now in place, SCEF fields all requests for contributions and is actively pursuing opportunities to become involved in worthwhile undertakings.

Finding ways to “help the most people possible” has proven to be a more difficult task. Today, there exist many jazz organizations that support jazz education, funding for those in need and more. As I mentioned above, their memberships are not expanding and their charitable reach is narrowing.

I wish that there was a United Way of Jazz, an umbrella organization that could streamline the process of raising money and distributing money where and when needed. If anyone reading this note wants to work with me to establish such an organization, now is the time.

I have gathered a list of all charitable organizations in the world of jazz. I wish I knew what to say that would energize others to swap their parochial interests for the benefits of a larger organization.

The closest organization to my ideal seems to be Jazz Foundation of America. Not perfectly aligned, but appears to be trying to do what I am seeking, JFA will be the recipient of our ’26 contributions. I am hoping that SCE and JFA can forge an alliance that will move the cause of benefits for needy musicians forward and, in the near future, become a force for good in jazz education for kids.

I promise to continue to report on this subject in future editions.

Our Newest Stateroom Category: Veranda Plus Staterooms

Since moving to their ships in 2017, Celebrity Cruises has, from time to time, changed the names of the Stateroom Categories for various marketing reasons. Creating new stateroom categories affords Celebrity Cruises the opportunity to assign various amenities to those categories and provide more choices for their guests. Believe it or not, most Celebrity Cruises’ ships have as many as 16 different stateroom categories.

For our cruises, the category distinctions are not amenity-driven. Our guests share the same amenities, mainly our amazing music programs, on an equal basis. Any stateroom category difference that we have is intended to describe the size or the nature of the stateroom.

Bucking the trend to name more staterooms, Signature Cruise Experiences is reducing the number of stateroom categories. Current categories, Concierge Class and AquaClass Staterooms, are virtually identical in size with only minor amenity differences. Starting now with Botti at Sea III (’26), those staterooms will be known as Veranda Plus Staterooms and will share the same amenities. Over time, other cruises will have a similar adjustment.

To celebrate the new category, those reserving a Veranda Plus Stateroom now will be entitled to the following special amenities:

Special Embarkation Day Lunch in the Cosmopolitan Restaurant
Daily Breakfast in Blu Restaurant
$50/person Onboard Credit for Specialty Dining
And, for a limited time, a Reserved Seat for All Seven (7) Nightly Main Shows (through 5.31.26)

If you have already reserved a stateroom in this category, you automatically qualify for these benefits.

Special Message from Christian McBride

As promised in this week’s edition of Jazz Notes, here’s a special video from Christian McBride filmed when we met up with him after his incredible concert in St. Louis last weekend.

Upcoming Livestreams

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream

5.14.26 / 4PM ET

Livestreams On-Demand

Journey of Jazz ’27 Livestream Now Available On-Demand

If you missed our recent Journey of Jazz Livestream or just want to give it another watch, the livestream is now available to view on-demand. We discussed the incredible lineup, explored the exciting ports of call and discussed the unforgettable shore excursions New Orleans!

Both of our hosts, Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter, made special guest appearances – you don’t want to miss this!

WATCH ON-DEMAND

Chris Botti at Sea III Perfect Cruise Livestream Now Available On-Demand

If you weren’t able to drop-in during this week’s Botti at Sea Livestream, it’s now available to view on demand!

This perfect cruise experience comes to life while we discussed our exciting lineup of world-class talent, explored the beautiful ports of call and introduced the unforgettable shore excursions that make this year’s sailing truly special.

WATCH ON-DEMAND

Jazz Appreciation Month

SCE Artists on Jazz

In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, we asked 30 artists who sail on our programs what jazz means to them. We’ll be posting a new one to our social media pages every day in April. You can read each artist’s entire essay here.

High Holy Days…At Sea

In ’26, Rosh Hashanah starts on the first night of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3. Yom Kippur (Kol Nidre) takes place during Chris Botti at Sea III. Not optimal scheduling, but manageable.

Years ago, our ultra-luxury program, Signature Jazz Cruise, sailed during Yom Kippur as well and we performed one of the most moving Kol Nidre services ever on the ship. Clarinetist Anat Cohen spent a couple hours learning to play Avenu Malkenu. To paraphrase Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof), the “holiday was never so sweet.”

For those sailing on either cruise or considering doing so, please know that each sailing will have a proper service on the first night of each holiday as well as a Mourner’s Service the next day. Celebrity Cruises will provide a rabbi for us, however, if folks sailing on the cruise would rather conduct a service among ourselves, let us know. We have had rabbis as guests before!

As for the ritual of fasting on Yom Kippur, perhaps there is a cruise vacation exception that we can invoke. Seriously, we know that sailing during the High Holy days is anathema to many and our only goal is to provide a dignified and meaningful option for our guests who observe.

Newport Jazz Festival Lineup Announced

The iconic Newport Jazz Festival has just announced the lineup for its 2026 edition, held July 31 – August 2 at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI.

Curated by drummer/bandleader Nate Smith, who has taken over the artistic director duties from Christian McBride, the lineup includes many artists who have performed on our jazz programs over the years, including Herbie Hancock, Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, Chief Adjuah, Lalah Hathaway, Charles Lloyd, Sullivan Fortner and Billy Hart.

LEARN MORE

Exit Zero Jazz Festival

The spring edition of the Exit Zero Jazz Festival will be held May 15-17 in the scenic seaside town of Cape May, NJ.

Among the headliners are Ravi Coltrane, Jose James (performing the music of John Coltrane), Carmen Lundy, Orrin Evans, Jeremy Pelt, Sarah Hanahan and Ekep Nkwelle. Shows are presented at the town’s Convention Hall, as well as at venues throughout the town.

LEARN MORE

Jazz Foundation of America’s Great Night Gala

Since 1990, the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) has provided assistance and support to jazz musicians in need, in the form of housing assistance, pro bono medical care, disaster relief, dignified employment, free community concerts and direct financial support. Their annual Great Night Gala will be held on May 21 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC.

This year’s program includes headliner Norah Jones. In addition, featured acts include a centennial tribute to Miles Davis with Gary Bartz, Patrice Rushen and JFA Artistic Director Steve Jordan; Buster Williams’ Something More (including Steve Wilson, Stefon Harris, George Colligan and Lenny White), A Tribute to Ernest Ranglin featuring 17-year old guitar phenom Marel Hidalgo, with more talent to be announced.

“This is my favorite night of the year,” says actor and activist Danny Glover. “It’s so meaningful, with the best musicians in the world coming out for an organization that helps so many, straight from the heart.”

LEARN MORE

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

Sailing in the Next 12 Months

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent and Fabulous Excursions & Events

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)
3 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. Guests wishing to sail on the cruise should Join the Wait List now. Any cancellations by current guests will be filled by the Wait List.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1 and ‘27.2 are both in Open Booking and both are more than 90% reserved at this time. Please note that the itineraries for both sailings have been updated.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1
Tampa – Cozumel – Grand Cayman – Tampa

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2
Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

One Sailing is Never Enough!

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26 (Foster ’26) was a runaway hit program. From the first note to the last song, the brilliance of David Foster was evident in every show and event.

The lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27 has been announced and includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.

Foster ’26 Guests have finalized rebooking their staterooms and Pre-Sail Reservations holders are currently selecting staterooms and completing their reservations.

Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom, begins on April 27, 2026.

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.

The cruise is in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

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 and 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.

Details for the overnight stay in New Orleans are nearly complete. There will be special jazz shows in the city, dining at iconic New Orleans restaurants (Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, Arnaud’s and more), tours of the city on land and by ship and much more. Each event in New Orleans will be curated, produced and presented by Signature Cruise Experiences.

Journey of Jazz ’27 is in Open Booking. You may select and reserve any available stateroom at this time. This may be the jazz experience of the year.

Sailing in 18 Months

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!

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Now in Open Booking!

The post Our Take: Signature Cruise Experiences Foundation LLC appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Jazz Notes: 4.22.26

Kim Kelley — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:22:35 +0000

More Jazz Appreciation Month Musings

Jazz Appreciation Month is in full swing and we couldn’t be enjoying it more. Jazz is the driving pulse behind the energy of our guests and the excitement about our programs. Let’s look at some of the highlights and what’s coming up.

Christian McBride Was Here

Earlier this year, many of you saw Christian McBride leading several of his amazing ensembles on Christian McBride’s World at Sea. Inside Straight, Remembering Ray Brown, Ursa Major, New Jawn and Christian’s Big Band are just a sampling of his many collaborations. Last saturday night, The Sheldon here in St. Louis hosted Christian. Any guesses as to what band he was leading?

Well, it wasn’t any of those. Christian was joined by iconic bassist Edgar Meyer for a stunning duet. Watching these two artists play bass together was a rare treat. I was mesmerized by the musicianship, and fully engaged from the first note through the last. It makes me wonder why we’ve never presented a configuration like that on any of our cruises.

Those two (with a combined 15 GRAMMY® Awards between them) have released a new record, cleverly named But Who’s Gonna Play the Melody. I just ordered it and will report back when it comes in.

Stay tuned for a special message from Christian in the 4.25.26 edition of The Weekender.

Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director

The Jazz Cruise Quiz is Over! We Have a Winner!

In honor of Jazz Appreciation Month we challenged our guests to submit answers to a 10-question The Jazz Cruise Trivia Quiz, with participants with nine or more correct answers earning a $150 credit towards their next cruise.

The test proved more difficult than we expected. No one submitted 10 correct answers. No one cleared the bar with nine. The closest anyone got was Noah Shaffer, who had eight correct answers. We decided to honor his feat and change the rules, so please join us in congratulating Noah as the winner of The Jazz Cruise Trivia Quiz. Congratulations! Noah is sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’27 and will be recognized at that time along with his $150 credit towards his Cruise Price.

For the curious, below are the questions and answers. Questions 5, 8 and 10 proved to be the most challenging.

Ready to Test Your TJC IQ?

Name five of the nine different ships that The Jazz Cruise has chartered for its sailings.
HAL Maasdam, HAL Xandam, HAL Vendam, HAL Zuiderdam, HAL Noordam, HAL Oosterdam, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Millennium
There have been four Music Directors for The Jazz Cruise. Can you name three?
Cherrie Scheets, Ken Peplowski, Shelly Berg, Eric Marienthal
Two men are tied for the most appearances on The Jazz Cruise? Name them.
John Clayton, Wycliffe Gordon
In 2001, the first sailing of The Jazz Cruise featured a female vocalist who who has since performed on six additional sailings. Name her.
Dee Dee Bridgewater
In the early years of The Jazz Cruise, one man served as the Cruise Host doing the interviews and emceeing the Formal Night Cocktail Party. Name him.
Don Wolff
Though The Jazz Cruise has featured several “big bands,” since creating Anita’s Big Band, there have been only two Big Band Directors. Name them.
John Fedchock, John Clayton
Within one, how many sailings of The Jazz Cruise have there been?
23
Only one musician was both a guest/passenger and a performer on The Jazz Cruise. Name him.
Kenny Barron
Name the woman who has performed on more sailings of The Jazz Cruise than any other?
Niki Haris
The founder of The Jazz Cruise was Anita E. Berry. What does the “E” stand for?
Eileen

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26 on Watercolors

Last week, we announced that Watercolors will be celebrating the heritage of jazz with two full weeks of select live performances from some of the top contemporary artists of our time (including Marcus Miller, Boney James, Brian Culbertson and more), recorded aboard The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.

To date, Peter White & Vincent Ingala, Candy Dulfer, Jonathan Butler, Lin Rountree, Boney James, Marcus Miller and Keiko Matsui have been presented. On the air every night at 6 PM ET, a number of great shows remain to be heard and, of course, you can access all the shows on the SiriusXM website or app.

April 22: Mindi Abair
April 23: Peter White
April 24: Brian Culbertson
April 25: Double play: Nicholas Cole followed by Vincent Ingala
April 26: Boney James and Peter White
April 27: Marqueal Jordan
April 28: Eric Marienthal
April 29: Keiko Matsui Apr 30: International Jazz Day feature: All-Star show “Songs That Inspired Me” (Individual performances by headliners on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.)

Confession Time: We Punked You

In the 4.1.26 edition of Jazz Notes, we introduced Stacy Mackling, a 15-year-old saxophone prodigy named as the latest addition to The Jazz Cruise ’27. The date of that note should have been a clue…April Fool’s! There is no Stacy Mackling.

Interestingly, no one called us out on this prank. What’s worse, one guest, who will remain nameless, joined us in our excitement and indicated that he had seen Stacy perform recently.

A “New” Home for Signature Cruise Experiences

About 10 days ago, we officially moved into our new office. Still in St. Louis. Actually, still in the same building. Instead of occupying the full 5th floor of 135 N. Meramec Avenue (Clayton, MO), we now occupy the full 3rd floor.

Our full-floor layout on the 5th floor was actually occupying two offices that were connected by opening two fire doors and using door wedges to maintain that path. The landlord told us that the 6th floor tenant wanted to expand to add the 5th floor to their space. With the 3rd floor being totally vacant, we were able to custom build out that space.

We do not have many walk-in guests, so the space is entirely for us and built to be efficient for our operations. They did however find a way to make the space look good. When in St. Louis, come by and check us out! Not sure it is worth a separate trip, however!

April Planning Meetings

Most of Signature Cruise Experiences’ staff live in St. Louis, but we have team members who live in California, Michigan, Tennessee, District of Columbia and Florida. Even with modern methods of communication available, we gather in St. Louis a few times a year for planning purposes.

The April meetings, which run from Monday (4.20) through Thursday (4.23), are meant to review the 6 cruises we completed in January – March and do some additional planning for the two cruises in September. Plans for ’27 and the cruise schedule for ’28 will also be discussed.

Check out the first staff photo from our new office. A couple of people are missing, but, for the most part, this is the team that produces our cruises.

One more week of Jazz Appreciation Month to go. Let’s see what happens!

Celebrating JAM: Words from Jazz Masters

In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), we contacted 30 artists who sail on our jazz programs to ask them about their affinity and love for jazz – from the first jazz album they bought to their first jazz concert to what jazz means to them. Each day of the month, we’ve posted a short excerpt from these essays to our social media pages. In addition, we’re publishing all of the essays on a dedicated JAM page on our Signature Cruise Experiences website.

We decided to also include a section of quotes about jazz and music from numerous jazz legends — from Louis Armstrong to Joe Zawinul. We’ve posted those on the same page of the SCE site. Below are some samples.

We hope you enjoy this look at the unique qualities of jazz.

– Lee Mergner

“What we play is life.”
– Louis Armstrong

“Jazz is freedom. You think about that.”
– Thelonious Monk

“As a jazz musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and have one foot forward in the future.”
– Dizzy Gillespie

“Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life.”
– Art Blakey

“Jazz is love.”
– Sonny Rollins

“The definition of jazz is never play the same thing …once.”
– Shelly Manne

TOMORROW
Journey of Jazz ’27 Livestream
4.23.26 / 4 PM ET

Join us for a special livestream on April 23 at 4 PM ET to explore the Journey of Jazz. We’ll showcase our incredible lineup of world-class jazz artists, explore exciting ports of call, and uncover unforgettable shore excursions to experience the best of the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans! Don’t miss this chance to learn more about the Journey of Jazz.

TOMORROW
Chris Botti at Sea III Livestream
4.23.26 / 7PM ET

Join us for a special livestream on April 23 at 7 PM ET to learn more about the Perfect Cruise Experience on Botti at Sea III. Get an inside look at our exciting lineup of world-class talent, explore the beautiful ports of call and discover the unforgettable shore excursions that make this year’s sailing truly special. Don’t miss this opportunity to see what makes Botti at Sea III so exceptional.

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Livestream
5.14.26 / 4 PM ET

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

SCE Sailings in ’27

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Stay Tuned for the Lineup and Detail

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26 (Foster ’26) was a runaway hit program. From the first note to the last song, the brilliance of David Foster was evident in every show and event.

As outlined above, the lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27 includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.

Foster ’26 Guests have finalized rebooking their staterooms and Pre-Sail Reservations holders are currently selecting staterooms and completing their reservations.

Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom, begins on April 27, 2026.

The Jazz Cruise ’27

1.17.27 – 1.24.27

Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27

Now in Open Booking

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)

The Greatest Party at Sea presents its customary back to back weeklong programs in the Caribbean. Tampa is the port of embarkation and disembarkation for the first time and both sailings will call on Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.

The star studded lineup is led by hosts Marcus Miller and Boney James and features Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Kirk Whalum, Peter White and more.

Both sailings are in Open Booking and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events.

This cruise is currently in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

The post Jazz Notes: 4.22.26 appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Our Take: Excursions…or Experiences?

Kim Kelley — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 02:11:00 +0000

Recently, we added land-based excursions to our programming on several cruises. Sometimes words are used to describe something without regard to their true meaning. I wondered if “excursion” was one of those words. It was not. The Oxford Dictionary defines “excursion” as “a short journey or trip, especially one engaged in as a leisure activity.” Accurate, but, for us, not quite complete.

At Signature Cruise Experiences what we offer goes beyond that definition. Across our upcoming sailings, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3, Botti at Sea ’26 and Journey of Jazz ’27, we are curating moments that reflect the jazz life. Some are jazzy all by themselves and some reflect the types of activities that jazz fans adore.

Many of these offerings were created by us. All were chosen by us and we will escort our guests on every event. This is not new to us, as many years agoin New Orleans, The Jazz Cruise connected guests with the city’s finest dining and unforgettable local tours. But more recently, Journey of Jazz ’25 elevated the idea entirely.

Sailing from Vancouver to Los Angeles, with a full day in Victoria and an overnight in San Francisco, Journey of Jazz ’25 offered more immersive jazz shows, fine dining, visits to Napa and Sonoma, a culinary tour of San Francisco and more. Our guests didn’t just visit these places. They experienced them.

This Fall, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 will follow that same itinerary with Chris Botti at Sea III retracing the journey north back from Los Angeles to Vancouver. In each case, our guests will be able to enjoy the wonderful opportunities in San Francisco and Victoria.

Then comes Journey of Jazz ’27. Having spoiled our Journey of Jazz ’25 guests, we have made sure that the next sailing of that program continues our jazz journey. Mission accomplished. From Tampa to an overnight stay in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, Journey Of Jazz ’27 is writing an entirely new chapter.

Private jazz shows. Iconic dining at Arnaud’s, Commander’s Palace and Antoines. We have rented out the entire premises of Brennan’s for a New Orleans style brunch event. There will be tours galore, a steamboat trip and more.

Having now buried the lead, our guest host for New Orleans is Wynton Marsalis, the undisputed spokesperson for the Crescent City and its population. What more appropriate subject to be discussed during Jazz Appreciation Month than how we are going to bring our guests together with Wynton in New Orleans.

Since 2001, SCE has presented the “jazz life ”at sea. Good food, warm receptions, camaraderie, late night jam sessions, fine wine and lots of laughter. Those elements will always be a part of our cruise programs, but now we are extending that life beyond the ship to the ports of call.

Whether these activities on land can truly be called “excursions” depends upon how you define “leisure activity.” I prefer “experiences,” the “direct observation, participation, or undergoing of events, sensations or emotions.”

When we sat down to rename our company to reflect that we were producing a variety of cruise programs, we knew that “cruise” would be at the center of the name. To convey the high-end nature of our cruises, the term ”signature” made the most sense. The phrase “I will sign my name to that” provided the inspiration.

But, when it came to telling people what our “Signature Cruise” offerings would entail, “experiences” was the only answer! Our goal is to create experiences that are true to the “jazz life” and provide both immediate joy and long time memories.

We have conquered providing those experiences at sea and on a ship. Land events as part of our cruise programs are next.

Livestream Updates

Want to Learn More About Chris Botti at Sea III?
Step Inside the “Perfect” Cruise Livestream

4.23.26 / 7PM ET
Join us for a special livestream on April 23 at 7 PM ET to learn more about the Perfect Cruise Experience on Botti at Sea III. Get an inside look at our exciting lineup of world-class talent, explore the beautiful ports of call and discover the unforgettable shore excursions that make this year’s sailing truly special. Don’t miss this opportunity to see what makes Botti at Sea III so exceptional.

Journey of Jazz ’27 Livestream

4.23.26 / 4PM ET
Join us for a special livestream on April 23 at 4 PM ET to explore the Journey of Jazz. We’ll showcase our incredible lineup of world-class jazz artists, explore exciting ports of call, and uncover unforgettable shore excursions to experience the best of the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans! Don’t miss this chance to learn more about the Journey of Jazz.

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream

5.14.26 / 4PM ET
Join us for the David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Livestream to meet the lineup, including exciting new additions, learn about the ports, get the details about events performances and learn why one sailing is never enough!

Jazz Appreciation Month

SCE Artists on Jazz

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s We The People

We The People, the newest recording from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, is the first in a series of albums released by Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Blue Engine Records that articulate jazz’s ethical relationship to democracy, freedom and collective life. We The People emerged from a collaboration with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra reflected on the unfolding story of our nation by writing twelve original compositions inspired by works from the Crystal Bridges collection. Recorded in 2018 at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater in NYC, We The People pays tribute to the diversity and complexity of the American experience on display in the museum.

LEARN MORE

Tierney Sutton’s Spring

Tierney Sutton, who has sailed on The Jazz Cruise numerous times, has just released her 17th album as leader or co-leader and her first voice-and-piano duo project. For the recording Spring she collaborated with pianist Tamir Hendelman who also has sailed with us on The Jazz Cruise over the years. “There are only a couple of pianists I really love to work with in a duo setting,” Tierney said. “Tamir is one of my favorites. He’s an encyclopedia of songs, and nobody swings harder.”

LEARN MORE

Oscar Peterson Trio Live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge

The estate of Oscar Peterson has released another archival recording by the legendary pianist. Live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge features Peterson performing with his famous trio of Ray Brown on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums at the noted Detroit jazz club. The live recording features previously unissued performances, all taped on a single Friday night in August 1960.

LEARN MORE

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

Sailing in the Next 12 Months

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent and Fabulous Excursions & Events

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)
3 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. Guests wishing to sail on the cruise should Join the Wait List now. Any cancellations by current guests will be filled by the Wait List.

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. Please note that the itineraries for both sailings have been updated.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1
Tampa – Cozumel – Grand Cayman – Tampa

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2
Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

One Sailing is Never Enough!

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26 (Foster ’26) was a runaway hit program. From the first note to the last song, the brilliance of David Foster was evident in every show and event.

The lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27 has been announced and includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.

Foster ’26 Guests have finalized rebooking their staterooms and Pre-Sail Reservations holders are currently selecting staterooms and completing their reservations.

Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom, begins on April 27, 2026.

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.

The cruise is in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

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 and 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.

Details for the overnight stay in New Orleans are nearly complete. There will be special jazz shows in the city, dining at iconic New Orleans restaurants (Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, Arnaud’s and more), tours of the city on land and by ship and much more. Each event in New Orleans will be curated, produced and presented by Signature Cruise Experiences.

Journey of Jazz ’27 is in Open Booking. You may select and reserve any available stateroom at this time. This may be the jazz experience of the year.

Sailing in 18 Months

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!

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Now in Open Booking!

The post Our Take: Excursions…or Experiences? appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Jazz Notes 4.15.26

Kim Kelley — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:48:48 +0000

Jazz Appreciation Month: A Tale of Two Stories

When I think about Jazz Appreciation Month, I wonder if that means that we should be proselytizing and advocating to others to appreciate jazz or if this is a call to consider what we appreciate about jazz?

Both are legitimate and worthwhile pursuits.

Trying to share the love of jazz with others has long been a passion of mine. As I have said many times, the trick to creating a jazz fan is to have them attend a live concert of a reasonably accessible small group without a lot of vocals. I want folks to know that vocals can be a component of jazz and that jazz is not simply another set of songs to sing.

Once in the venue, the object is to demystify the music by showing how to take it in rather than trying to dissect it. Walk them through call and response. Point out how each member of the trio or quartet contributes to the tune. Identify the connection and communication that is happening on the bandstand.

When I explain the differences between a pop song and a jazz song, I say that you “listen” to a pop song, but you “embrace” a jazz song. Songs in other genres tend to be constructed along the lines of Intro, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus, Outro. A jazz tune has a different structure: Head (main melody), multiple solo choruses, Head.

Most of all, emphasize the musicianship, both in the ability to share the bandstand and the ability to take a turn at a solo.

This leads nicely into the “why I appreciate jazz” interpretation of Jazz Appreciation Month. Before turning philosophical, part of my love of jazz is simply the quality of the musicianship. There are great musicians in all genres, but to be a successful jazz musician, you must master your instrument. There is no other road that works. I admire their dedication, authenticity and commitment to and for their music.

Forced to name one reason why I “appreciate” jazz, I would say that I love the experience. I admire the musicians, feel at home with the patrons, and cannot get enough of the atmosphere of a jazz club. All my senses are alive and operating when I am at a jazz show.

My eyes are on the musicians watching for their signals to the other players. My ears are embracing the music in huge chunks. My foot is tapping and my hands are playing the drums on my leg. As corny as it may sound, I am totally into the music and to the environment.

Jazz makes me feel alive. Like life, it has simple moments and complex moments. There are highs and lows, peaks and valleys. The music can reflect the most joyous times in your life or provide the soundtrack to misery and despair.

Pop songs can be fun. They can be memorable, moving and motivational. People recall events in their lives by the songs that were popular that that time. And, though a live presentation of a pop song is better than a recording, the gap is much less pronounced than with jazz. A jazz tune has layers, depth and context. As I shared above, it is a fully body experience.

I thank my parents for introducing me to jazz and I am grateful every day that I can spend as much time as I do enjoying the music.

Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences

Watercolors is Cruisin’ Through Jazz Appreciation Month

Signature Cruise Experiences is proud to announce that, once again, Watercolors will be celebrating the heritage of jazz with two full weeks of select live performances from some of the top contemporary artists of our time (including Marcus Miller, Boney James, Brian Culbertson and more), recorded aboard The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26. We thank Trinity, Vice President, Music Programming and everyone at Watercolors and SiriusXM for their support and dedication to this amazing music.

Tune in: April 17–30 at 6pm ET daily.

Apr 17: Peter White & Vincent Ingala
Apr 18: Double play: Candy Dulfer followed by Jonathan Butler
Apr 19: Lin Rountree
Apr 20: Boney James
Apr 21: Marcus Miller with special set from Keiko Matsui
Apr 22: Mindi Abair
Apr 23: Peter White
Apr 24: Brian Culbertson
Apr 25: Double play: Nicholas Cole followed by Vincent Ingala
Apr 26: Boney James & Peter White
Apr 27: Marqueal Jordan
Apr 28: Eric Marienthal
Apr 29: Keiko Matsui
Apr 30: International Jazz Day feature: All-Star show “Songs That Inspired Me”

Jazz Keeps Me Young

Michael asked me to write about what I appreciate about jazz. Of course, as a lifelong jazz fan, I love so many aspects of the music and the community that it would be hard to fit them all into this edition of Jazz Notes. But I can certainly say what I appreciate most about jazz. Simply, its diversity.

You’ll struggle to find another music genre that crosses so many lines of race, ethnicity, gender and age. As someone now approaching the tender age of 72, that last aspect particularly resonates with me. Because when I was in my 20s, I was befriended by elder jazz artists such as Dr. Billy Taylor, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Horace Silver, Marian McPartland, Sonny Rollins and so many others. And I was accepted and mentored by people on the business and media side like Orrin Keepnews, Amiri Baraka, Ira Sabin, Leonard Feather, Stanley Dance and Bruce Lundvall. Now, I’m an elder jazz cat and I get to hang and be inspired by younger artists and professionals who appreciate my friendship and support. They keep me young (or at least feeling young). They keep me alive. I appreciate that.

Lee Mergner
Jazz Consultant

SCE Artists on Jazz

In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, we asked 30 artists who sail on our programs what jazz means to them. We’ll be posting a new one every day in April. You can read each artist’s entire essay in the link below.

– Lee Mergner

“Jazz is a music that invites communication and storytelling into the present moment, and gives the people playing it and the listeners a new experience every time, where anything is possible.”
– Taylor Eigsti

“Jazz is improvisation with your soul attached to it.”
– John Clayton

“Jazz means freedom of expression and interpretation. It’s my balance and my grounding secret.”
– Ada Rovatti

“Jazz is a living expression of freedom, connection, and truth.”
– Emmet Cohen

“For me it’s the creativity of the music and the musicians. Jazz to me is peace, fascination and creativity.”
– Alonzo Bodden

“Jazz is a way of life for me. It’s something that brings me a lot of joy and I’m grateful and fortunate to have met and spent time with some incredible people through this music.”
– Nicki Parrott

“Jazz is special because it is a direct link from human emotion to sound.”
– Shelly Berg

Journey of Jazz ’27 Livestream
4.23.26 / 4 PM ET

Chris Botti at Sea III Livestream
4.23.26 / 7PM ET

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Livestream
5.14.26 / 4 PM ET

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

SCE Sailings in ’27

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Stay Tuned for the Lineup and Detail

The Jazz Cruise ’27

1.17.27 – 1.24.27

Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27

Now in Open Booking

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)

The Greatest Party at Sea presents its customary back to back weeklong programs in the Caribbean. Tampa is the port of embarkation and disembarkation for the first time and both sailings will call on Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.

The star studded lineup is led by hosts Marcus Miller and Boney James and features Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Kirk Whalum, Peter White and more.

Both sailings are in “Open Booking” and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27

The post Jazz Notes 4.15.26 appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Our Take: Livestreams…Our Newest Connection

Kim Kelley — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 05:43:00 +0000

It was the Summer of 2000 when we began to advertise our first cruise program, The Jazz Cruise 2001. We went to some office supply store and used their mimeograph machine to churn out 1,000 copies of a flyer. Sometimes I can still smell the ink. I would share whether I liked that fragrance or not, but it might disclose too much information!

The front of the flyer listed the cruise dates. the name of the ship, the ports-of-call and, of course, the names of the musicians. The back listed the staterooms, the prices, and the reservation procedure for completing a reservation. No art. No logo. Just the facts!

We folded each flyer in thirds, placed it in an envelope, sealed, it and labeled it with our return address and the address of the guest. Or, in this case, the “hoped for” guest. The mailing list was a compilation of names and addresses gathered during many years of participating in NCL’s Jazz at Sea program. Never a full ship charter, the cruise did attract more than 1100 patrons each year.

For those in the know, you must be scratching your head as to my use of the word “we,” a reference that would seemingly include myself and others. Yes, I was there for the start of that program. I’m not sure what I was doing and I am certainly sure that I did not know much. My mother ran the show then and she was in her element.

In 2000, a standard first-class U.S. postage stamp cost 33 cents. If we mailed out 1,000 flyers, that would have been a cost of $330. If we mailed out 1,000 flyers, that would have been a cost of $330. Our labor force were the folks in Mom’s travel agency, Traveline, Ltd. A nice dinner and some cocktails made that happen. I certainly was not being paid The mailer worked. The cruise sold out in weeks. Pretty simple and certainly cost effective.

Times changed. As the number and size of the cruises grew, so did the marketing efforts. Radio spots and print ads were the next level. Our relationship with the Sabin family, owners of Jazz Times, became a significant factor in our advertising. On a cost of sale analysis, this method of marketing was the most expensive in our history. Even today, the cost of print ads and radio spots are very high, despite their reduced effectiveness and popularity.

We became firmly entrenched in the digital world of marketing, using emails, social media, and other forms of communication as ~~are~~ the vehicles for “getting the word out.” The actual transmission of the information is fairly priced;, ~~but~~ the real costs lie in is what you need to do to create a good plan and the people you need to hire to implement it. Even so, the effectiveness of digital marketing can be difficult to discern.

One thing for sure, the very best advertising is to make sure that our cruises are top notch and that our guests are treated well and believe that our cruises are good values. We try to maintain a personal connection with our guests whenever possible. When asked why we do not issue “surveys” or “questionnaires,” our response is that we do not have to, we know what they are thinking because we talk to them.

In recent years, we have added that level of connection to our pre-cruise activities. Livestreamed conversations have proven to be a great addition to our panoply of touchpoints, ranging from introductory and informational forums aimed at guests considering a sailing to addressing booked guests with key tips and updates on particular cruises.

Not only are we able to present information in an organized and consistent manner, but we can field questions in real time. Even when there are hundreds of folks on the call, the livestreams have the feel and impact of talking to each other on a one-on-one basis.

We have three Livestream presentations coming up. One each for Chris Botti at Sea III, Journey of Jazz ‘27 and David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27. The first two are on the same day, April 23, featuring Journey of Jazz in the late afternoon (4 pm ET) and Chris Botti at Sea III in the early evening (7 pm ET). A cruise program version of a day/night double header. (One baseball reference per edition of The Weekender: Our Take is mandatory!)

For more information about the Livestreams, check out “Livestream Update” below.

As for keeping in touch with us, we include my email address in each edition for a reason. Anytime you have a comment, criticism, suggestion or question, feel free to contact me. Regardless of the subject matter of the note, I love hearing from you, learning from you, and simply connecting with the music fans of the world.

Talk soon?

Livestream Updates

Want to Learn More About Chris Botti at Sea III?
Step Inside the “Perfect” Cruise Livestream

Journey of Jazz ’27 Livestream

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream

Jazz Appreciation Month

SCE Artists on Jazz

Jazz Memorial for Ken Peplowski

Ken Peplowski’s friend Pamela Stark (with help from Loren Schoenberg and Mark Lopeman) has organized a memorial service and concert to be held on Tuesday, May 19 at 5:30 PM at Saint Peter’s Church in NYC.

This celebration of Ken’s life will feature many artists who performed with Ken on The Jazz Cruise, including John Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey, Catherine Russell, Terell Stafford, Shelly Berg, Tierney Sutton and others. Admission is free, but to attend you must get a ticket from the EventBrite site by clicking below. The event will be streamed and also made available for viewing on YouTube. In lieu of flowers, Ken’s family encourages people to donate in Ken’s memory to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation here.

To honor Ken’s 25+ year contribution to its programs and guests, Signature Cruise Experiences and The Jazz Cruise are responsible for the burial expenses for him to rest in the famed “Jazz Corner” in Woodlawn Cemetery, along with Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Fats Waller, among many other jazz greats.

LEARN MORE

Jeff Hamilton’s A New Chapter

Jeff Hamilton, a longtime favorite of The Jazz Cruise audience, has released A New Chapter, a new album from his trio featuring pianist Tadataka Unno and bassist Jon Hamar. The album, Jeff’s 24th as a leader, was recorded live in Memphis, TN and mixes original compositions by the trio with classic songs that the group has reimagined.

“This recording captures the swinging energy of the trio and a new level of freedom in the ensemble,” Jeff says.

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Peter Cincotti’s In Color: Part One

Singer-songwriter and pianist Peter Cincotti, who sailed with us on the David Foster Hitman Cruise earlier this year, has just released In Color: Part One, which features numerous guest artists performing music composed by Peter and lyricist John Bettis. Joining Peter on the album are Marcus Miller, Angélique Kidjo, hip-hop artist IAMSU! and French vocalist Anne Sila.

“This project is about melody and storytelling, above all,” says Peter. “By collaborating with artists from different cultures and genres, we’ve been able to color these songs in ways I never imagined when John and I first sat down to write them.”

LEARN MORE

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

Sailing in the Next 12 Months

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent and Fabulous Excursions & Events

Botti at Sea III incorporates two experiences. First, is another edition of our famous cruise programs with nightly special shows, hours of additional music and intimate and insightful opportunities to learn more about our performers.

The second aspect of the programs is a robust offering of excursions and events when we dock in San Francisco (overnight) and in Victoria, BC (full day). You can visit wineries in Napa or Sonoma, tour Napa Valley on the Napa Valley Wine Train, dine at the finest restaurants, see special shows at SFJazz, and more. Each of these events are curated, produced and presented by us.

To learn more about the cruise and the amazing excursions, check out the Botti Cruise Livestream Video on-demand on our website and on YouTube.

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)
3 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. Guests wishing to sail on the cruise should Join the Wait List now. Any cancellations by current guests will be filled by the Wait List.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1 and ‘27.2 are both in Open Booking and both are more than 90% reserved at this time. Please note that the itineraries for both sailings have been updated.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1
Tampa – Ochos Rios – Grand Cayman – Tampa

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2
Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Stay Tuned for the Lineup and Detail

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26 (Foster ’26) was a runaway hit program. From the first note to the last song, the brilliance of David Foster was evident in every show and event. As you recall, David wanted to learn more about how the cruise programs unfold before he casted the lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27.

The lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27 has been announced and includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.

Foster ’26 Guests have finalized rebooking their staterooms and Pre-Sail Reservations holders are soon becoming be eligible to select a stateroom and complete their reservation.

Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom, begins on April 27, 2026

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.

The cruise is in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

The Jazz Cruise reaches Fully Reserved every year and staterooms for The Jazz Cruise ’27 are being reserved faster and sooner than ever.

RESERVE A STATEROOM ON THE JAZZ CRUISE ’27

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 and 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.

Details for the overnight stay in New Orleans are nearly complete. There will be special jazz shows in the city, dining at iconic New Orleans restaurants (Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, Arnaud’s and more), tours of the city on land and by ship and much more. Each event in New Orleans will be curated, produced and presented by Signature Cruise Experiences.

Journey of Jazz ’27 is in Open Booking. You may select and reserve any available stateroom at this time. This may be the jazz experience of the year.

RESERVE A STATEROOM ON JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’27

Sailing in 18 Months

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27

This program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events.

The exclusive Rebooking window for guests of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 closed on March 31, 2026. Guests who completed a Pre-Sail Reservation have been invited to select their stateroom and complete their reservation starting on April 6, 2026.

Open Booking begins April 16, 2026.

The post Our Take: Livestreams…Our Newest Connection appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Jazz Notes: 4.8.26

Kim Kelley — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The Anatomy of a Cruise Lineup

Ever wonder how a lineup is created for a particular cruise? Lord knows, we wonder how it happens all the time. What could (and perhaps should) be a methodical, calculated process of selecting talent that works for the program and forms an identifiable karma all its own is often a random series of good luck and bad luck with a bit of ingenuity thrown in for good measure.

Take David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore ’27. This is a five day program built to reflect the image, music and taste of David Foster, a 16X GRAMMY® winner and one of the most successful and respected music producers, arrangers, musicians and composers now or ever. Having worked with David on Foster ’26, we know that he can fine-tune his concept at any time and the talent that’s ultimately needed may be different from the talent originally signed.

Of course, guests have the right to know who is performing on the cruise. The core lineup must be shared now and sufficient to draw interest, while leaving room for maneuvering as the final program is set in stone.

The first Foster cruise was simply amazing. I cannot recall a larger and more diverse array of talent on any cruise that we have ever presented. Of course, Foster’s application of the artists was brilliant. He was like a great chef taking the ingredients before him and cross-purposing them into something altogether different and wonderful. The components were very good to begin with and David’s deft touch elevated them to be more than the sum of their parts.

This presents an age-old dilemma. When a cruise is as successful as the first Foster Cruise, there is the tendency to utter those famous words “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Please know that I loathe that phrase and do not adhere to its message at all. Taken literally, the phrase says there is no way to do better, so do not try to do so.

I prefer to retain some portion of the grand success and then move it forward with new ideas and new horizons. In the case of the Foster lineup for ’27, the grand success being retained is Michael McDonald (pictured). As is true with the cowbell on SNL, you can never get enough Michael McDonald.

For the new, one name was easy, Katharine McPhee. Unable to join us on the first sailing, Katharine becomes a new addition to Foster ’27. The fans are so excited that she will be sailing. Her talents are so diverse that choosing her program will be the most difficult decision she has to make.

In looking for a “new” headliner voice for the cruise, we wanted to move from the Pop and Broadway world and closer to the accessible section of the jazz world. For us, that could only mean Dianne Reeves. As one of only a handful of living female vocalists who have earned the title of NEA Jazz Master, she is better than a legend. She is now.

Dianne is a favorite of Signature Cruise Experiences and we know her show will be amazing. She will also be participating in one of the surprise events on the cruise. As the kids say, it will be “epic.”

The final “headliner” took some time and some thought. A show-stealing facet of the first cruise was David’s musical tour of Broadway. We considered many incredible options for our third headliner, and we felt incredibly smart (and fortunate) when we thought of and booked the one and only – Leslie Odom, Jr. His turn as Aaron Burr in Hamilton is one of the legendary roles in Broadway history. We know that he will command the Celebrity Summit stage as well. (Be sure to check out Lee Mergner’s take below.)

Just as the great chefs in the world rely on certain spices or cooking methods, David’s go-to group of vocalists and performers includes Pia Toscano, Sheléa, Daniel Emmett and Erich Bergen (pictured). Each of them contributed mightily to the success of the first cruise. Watch for Erich to host several special shows and events. We only scratched the surface of his talents on the first sailing.

For the most part, the lineup for the Foster cruise is now set, but, trust me, David’s wheels are still in motion. No doubt there will be some additions or modifications before we sail! The creation of a lineup is art, not science, and we have the ultimate artist in charge of this cruise.

(Foster ’26 Guests are currently able to finalize rebooking of their staterooms through April 10, after which Pre-Sail Reservation holders will be eligible to select a stateroom and complete their Reservation. Guests who did not sail on the ’26 sailing may still complete a PRE-SAIL RESERVATION – no deposit or obligation required – through April 10.)

Leslie Odom, Jr.: A Singer’s Singer

Thanks to his Tony Award-winning role as Aaron Burr in the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. became an overnight success. Except that all that acclaim came after nearly two decades of scuffling. As reported in a 2016 profile in the New York Times, Odom was actually considering taking a job as a hotel clerk just before getting that big gig with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash show. Such is life in show business.

Make no mistake. Leslie Odom Jr. is a singer. A singer who can dance. A singer who can act. But a singer first and foremost. He was born in Queens, but when he was 7 his family moved to Philadelphia. He went to the local Fame-type school for creative types, the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), the same one that produced Boyz II Men, Christian McBride, Joey DeFrancesco and the Roots. With a keen interest in musical theatre, Odom continued that performing-arts training at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, and managed to score some jobs in the NYC theatre scene, including a stint in the company of Rent when he was only 17.

In 2003, he moved to Los Angeles where he did the usual potpourri of acting jobs, including walk-on parts in shows like Gilmore Girls, Grey’s Anatomy and The Good Wife and, more notably, regular roles on CSI: Miami, Smash and Person of Interest. After coming back to NYC for a Broadway show as well as for Smash, Odom returned to live in the city in 2012.

Although he wasn’t part of Miranda’s usual crew of actors, Odom auditioned and campaigned for the part of Aaron Burr in Miranda’s Hamilton in 2013, when the show was being readied for its initial run off-Broadway at the Public Theater. The show’s director, Thomas Kail, told the Times that Odom “was coming to play.” The show went on to an historic run on Broadway, winning awards and selling tickets at rates heretofore unseen – all with Odom in the so-called villain role as Burr, the dramatic nemesis of Miranda’s title character.

“Coming up in Philly, it’s not a musical-theatre town,” Leslie explained. “When I was a singer, I was training with singers. I was far from the best. When I was learning dancing, I was with dancers, and those people are now with Alvin Ailey or who are Beyoncé’s choreographers. Acting was the same way. When I came into the musical theatre, I found I was a little more prepared than some people because I had been shedding with people in those individual disciplines. They were masters. To come back and remove all that and get back to singing … I wasn’t trying to be a singer on Broadway. I was just trying to be a singer.”

Since July 2016, when Miranda, Odom and Phillipa Soo – three of the principal actors from the original cast – left the show, Odom concentrated on his solo singing career in between acting stints in major movies. First, Odom re-released an eponymous album that had been quietly released in 2014 but with three newly recorded songs. In addition, he recorded a holiday EP/album, Simply Christmas, that included a sensational version of “Winter Song” by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. He also performed at jazz festivals like Newport and Monterey.

“I do reconnaissance on all these gigs,” he told me. “My parents didn’t have a whole lot of money, so we weren’t traveling the country going to jazz festivals. So I hadn’t been to many of them before. When we do these festivals, I’m always nervous. Is this the moment when we’re going to get booed off the stage? Now I can watch Herbie Hancock do his set at Newport or wherever. And what I see is people onstage being themselves.”

Odom will be certainly be himself when he performs on the David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore ’27 in January. And he’ll be among other notable singers like Katharine McPhee, Michael McDonald, Erich Bergen, Morgan James, Pia Toscano and Sheléa.

Lee Mergner
Jazz Consultant

SCE Artists on Jazz

In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, we contacted 30 artists who sail on our jazz programs to ask them about their affinity and love for jazz – from the first jazz album they bought to their first jazz concert to what jazz means to them. We hope you enjoy their reflections. Below are excerpts from the first seven we received. You can read each artist’s entire essay in the link below.

– Lee Mergner

“Jazz reflects the human spirit in all its beauty, simplicity and complexity.”
– Bria Skonberg

“Jazz is the most wonderful portrait of true democracy and equality, I believe, that exists in the world to date.”
– Kirk Whalum

“Jazz gives me purpose in life. It means community and mentorship.”
– Catherine Russell

“Jazz to me is about communication. Being aware of what each member of the band has to say and responding to it.”
– Eric Marienthal

“Jazz is a universal language people from all backgrounds and cultures of the world can speak to one another with.”
– Benny Benack III

“Jazz is really all I know. Benny Goodman, Zoot Sims, Slam Stewart and Bucky Pizzarelli, amongst many others, were my teachers. Jazz never stops teaching me.”
– John Pizzarelli

“Jazz to me has always meant freedom to explore.”
– Boney James

Step Inside the “Perfect” Cruise:
Botti at Sea III Livestream on 4.23

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

SCE Sailings in ’26

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

’26.3 (9.11.26 – 9.18.26)

34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Encore! Encore!

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26 (Foster ’26) was a runaway hit program. From the first note to the last song, the brilliance of David Foster was evident in every show and event.

As outlined above, the lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27 includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.

Foster ’26 Guests are currently able to finalize rebooking of their staterooms through April 10, after which Pre-Sail Reservations holders will be eligible to select a stateroom and complete their reservation. There is still time to complete a Pre-Sail Reservation (no deposit or obligation required) on the website here.

The Jazz Cruise ’27

1.17.27 – 1.24.27

Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27

Now in Open Booking

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)

The Greatest Party at Sea presents its customary back to back weeklong programs in the Caribbean. Tampa is the port of embarkation and disembarkation for the first time and both sailings will call on Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.

The star studded lineup is led by hosts Marcus Miller and Boney James and features Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Kirk Whalum, Peter White and more.

Both sailings are in “Open Booking” and both are 90% reserved at this time.

Sailing in 18 Months

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27

This program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events.

The exclusive rebooking window for guests of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 closed on March 31, 2026. Guests who completed a Pre-Sail Reservation are now beginning to select their stateroom and complete their reservation.

Pre-Sail Reservations remain open through April 10, 2026 and are the best way to reserve a stateroom prior to Open Booking, which begins April 16, 2026.

The post Jazz Notes: 4.8.26 appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Kim Kelley, Author at Signature Cruise Experiences

Our Take: Mothers of Achievement

This Week! David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27 Livestream

Wea Culpa

Wynton Marsalis & Vince Giordano’sThe Wonderful Word of Louis Armstrong

Steve Wilson’s Enduring Sonance

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

SCE Sailings in ’27

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles9.11.26 – 9.18.2634th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

Botti at Sea III (’26)

Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver9.18.26 – 9.25.26West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music ExperienceThe Weekender Cruise Prices: Good through May 31, 2026

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa1.12.27 – 1.17.27Open BookingNow Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

The Jazz Cruise ’27

Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa1.17.27 – 1.24.27The Greatest Jazz Festival at SeaNow Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

Journey of Jazz ’27

Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa1.24.27 – 1.31.27Where Jazz Fans Go to Live The Jazz LifeNow Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

SJC ‘27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27) Tampa – Ocho Rios – Grand Cayman – Tampa (90% Reserved)SJC ’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27) Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa (95% Reserved)The Greatest Party at Sea

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

Boston – Portland – Saint John (NB) – Sydney (NS) – Charlottetown (PEI) – Quebec City10.6.27 – 10.13.27Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Canada

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

Quebec City – Charlottetown (PEI) – Sydney (NS) – Saint John (NB) – Portland – Boston10.13.27 – 10.20.27Smooth Jazz in the Fall!

Jazz Notes: 5.6.26

September ’26 –Signature Cruise Experiences’ Month to Remember

Donald Harrison – Master Saxophonist and Big Chief

Upcoming Livestreams

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream

5.14.26 / 4PM ET

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Cruises

SCE Sailings in ’27

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

9.11.26 – 9.18.2634th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Stay Tuned for the Lineup and Detail

The Jazz Cruise ’27

1.17.27 – 1.24.27

Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27

Now in Open Booking

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27) ’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27

Our Take: The Name is Jazz

Elvis is on the (Chris Botti) Cruise!

Upcoming Livestreams

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream

5.14.26 / 4PM ET

Livestreams On-Demand

Journey of Jazz ’27 Livestream Now Available On-Demand

Chris Botti at Sea III Perfect Cruise Livestream Now Available On-Demand

Steve Kovalcheck’s Buckshot Blues

Ted Rosenthal’s The Good Old Days

Ben Paterson’s Solo Piano, Vol. 1

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

Sailing in the Next 12 Months

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent and Fabulous Excursions & Events

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)3 Sailings of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

One Sailing is Never Enough!

The Jazz Cruise ’27

1.17.27 – 1.24.27

Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27

This Week!
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27 Livestream

Wynton Marsalis & Vince Giordano’s
The Wonderful Word of Louis Armstrong

Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles
9.11.26 – 9.18.26
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience
The Weekender Cruise Prices: Good through May 31, 2026

Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa
1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Open Booking
Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa
1.17.27 – 1.24.27
The Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea
Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa
1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Where Jazz Fans Go to Live The Jazz Life
Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

SJC ‘27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27) Tampa – Ocho Rios – Grand Cayman – Tampa (90% Reserved)
SJC ’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27) Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa (95% Reserved)
The Greatest Party at Sea

Boston – Portland – Saint John (NB) – Sydney (NS) – Charlottetown (PEI) – Quebec City
10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Canada

Quebec City – Charlottetown (PEI) – Sydney (NS) – Saint John (NB) – Portland – Boston
10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Smooth Jazz in the Fall!

September ’26 –
Signature Cruise Experiences’ Month to Remember

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent and Fabulous Excursions & Events

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)
3 Sailings of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Now in Open Booking!

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream:
5.14.26 / 4PM ET

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts a West Coast Cruise with Amazing Talent and Fabulous Excursions & Events

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)
3 Sailings of “The Greatest Party at Sea”