Straight-Ahead Jazz Heaven!
Since 2001, The Jazz Cruise has presented the very best in “straight-ahead” jazz. The secret to its success is simple: great musicians, great production, great guest experience and the greatest guests in the world of jazz.
These benchmarks of excellence were cultivated by Anita E. Berry, founder of The Jazz Cruise, during her participation in cruise line-sponsored jazz cruise programs during the 1980’s and 1990’s. When learning that the cruise lines were abandoning these programs, Anita took up the challenge of producing the very first full ship charter dedicated to “straight-ahead” jazz.
More than 25 years later, The Jazz Cruise remains the only full ship charter of that theme and is the standard by which all music charters are measured.
Programming The Jazz Cruise starts with nearly 100 world-class musicians, scheduling them in exciting configurations for over 200 hours of music, and presenting the music festival-style over seven jam-packed days. The Jazz Cruise ’27 will feature more headliner performers than ever before and many of them will be participating in the legendary jam and all-star sessions. This amazing combination of factors creates our very own Straight-Ahead Jazz Heaven.
DAYTIME ENTERTAINMENT
When in port, lectures and other events are planned for the early part of the day and the music typically starts no later than 3:30 PM. When “at sea,” there are events and music all day. Daytime music shows may be presented in any of the music venues (The Theatre, Rendezvous Lounge or Sky Lounge). Special shows may also be seen and heard in The Cosmopolitan Restaurant, the main dining room of the ship, which converts brilliantly into a cabaret-style music venue. Some of the most revered shows on the cruise (The Jazz Cruise T-Shirt Party, Gospel Show and Keyboard Capers) are performed during the daytime hours.
NIGHTTIME SHOWS
On two nights of the Cruise, special shows (The Jazz Cruise Welcome Show and The Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame Show) are presented in The Theatre. Each show will be performed twice, with half of the guests attending the 1st Show and the other half of the guests attending the 2nd Show. Your showtime is determined at reservation.
On all other nights, The Theatre hosts large group presentations and special shows that require greater seating capacity. For these shows, the “Festival-Style” open entry and seating procedures are in effect with the same regulations as those in any other venue.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE
FOR JAZZ
The Jazz Cruise is renowned for providing guests with special late-night entertainment called “It’s Never Too Late for Jazz.” Starting around 10:30 PM throughout the entire ship, there will be music, parties, autograph sessions, comedy, dancing and much more. Besides concerts in The Theatre and Sky Lounge, The Cosmopolitan Restaurant becomes a lovely late-night, cabaret-style venue which we call “Birdland on The Jazz Cruise.” Most nights, the first show there features one of the vocalists on the Cruise. The Rendezvous Lounge is the locale for intimate trios, solo pianos, interviews and our self-curated dancing and entertainment events.
Bond The Music
“LEARN” Events
Another specialty of The Jazz Cruise is our series of “Learn” events, which include one-on-one musician interviews, panel discussions, instrument seminars and tutorials and presentations of special topics for our music lovers.
MASTERCLASS
Our guests have the unique opportunity to learn from the best in the industry! Whether it’s a rockin’ guitar lesson or working out the basics on the keyboard, there’s plenty of fun to be had while learning from the incredible musicians we have onboard.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Don’t miss once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to hear firsthand about the lives and careers of our top artists, interviewed by musicians or industry experts. Our frequent and well-coordinated artist spotlights are always popular among our guests.
COFFEE TALK
Calling all The Weekender fans! Get some coffee and join an engaging discussion of all things jazz with Michael Lazaroff, Signature Cruise Experiences’ Executive Director and author of the weekly newsletter, The Weekender. and guest.
“Enjoy” Events
Sometimes, The Jazz Cruise presents events just to have fun. No deeper meaning, no lofty goals – just fun for fun’s sake. While we like to keep many of these surprises under wraps, here are three types of lighthearted experiences we create simply because they make people smile. There’s a little something for everyone.
GAMES
Ever dreamed of watching your favorite artists face off in a Family Feud-style gameshow? Or cheering as Boney James and Brian Culbertson battle it out in their legendary poolside Ping-Pong tournament?
These are just a few of the unforgettable moments that unfold aboard The Jazz Cruise. And if you’re feeling competitive yourself, don’t forget to pack your athletic shoes – the Summit features a fully equipped, interactive sports court ready for action.
COCKTAIL, WINE & FOOD EVENTS
No jazz experience is complete without great cocktails, fine wine and delicious food – and The Jazz Cruise takes it a step further by pairing these moments with the artists themselves.
Whether it’s a laid-back Happy Hour Hang, lessons in making the perfect cocktail or an elegant wine tasting, you’ll share the experience alongside your favorite performers, turning a simple toast into a truly unforgettable memory.
THE COMEDY OF
ALONZO BODDEN
Alonzo Bodden, winner of Last Comic Standing and Signature Cruise Experiences’ Comic Host, will perform his hilarious show in The Theatre for both Blue and Red shows and for an additional night of “Cruising After Dark.”
Famous for delivering funny and pointed comments about current events and taking performers to task, some of the best people-watching is found during an Alonzo Bodden show.
OUR LEGACY
Signature Cruise Experiences has been setting the Gold Standard for Entertainment at Sea since 2001, having produced over 100 full-ship charters with diverse musical and experiential themes. We built our foundation by establishing ourselves as, and remaining, the undisputed world leader in jazz programming, earning a reputation for unparalleled excellence and professionalism that defines our brand today.
Our mission is to build on this rich legacy. We are committed to continuing to produce and expand our critically acclaimed jazz programs while simultaneously using our unmatched expertise to launch exciting new voyages across various genres. These new programs are all developed with the same high standards that defined our past success.
Every single sailing we offer is driven by an unwavering dedication to excellence and a commitment to doing what is best for our guests. By placing our “Signature” on every cruise, we promise to deliver the very best cruise programs in the world, creating and maintaining the Gold Standard for Entertainment at Sea. We invite you to experience this promise firsthand on your next voyage.
