The holidays are now in full swing. I know this because no agent or manager is answering their calls and, when I do reach someone, it is a recording saying, “let’s talk after the holidays.” In the real business world, they would name a hard date as to when they would be back in the office. In the jazz world, it is purposely vague. Doing so lowers the already low expectations for responses and makes it impossible to accuse them of being late!
With our sailings taking place in January and February each year, we encounter the Bermuda Triangle of agent/manager responses on an annual basis. Knowing it does not make it any easier to address or embrace. Thankfully, our Music Director, Eric Marienthal, is beloved by the musicians, so he can break through the wall of silence when we need answers. Our time frames are tight. Rehearsals for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’24 start on January 8!
I fully understand why folks who work hard all year squeeze as much free time during the holidays as possible. There are a lot of events and special shows to see and hear. People that you do not see all year are “in town for the holidays.” Even with the advent of e-commerce, securing that special gift for everyone takes more time than ever. The theme of giving raises spirits and enables gatherings to be joyous and fun.
There are several meanings of “gift.” The one most highly anticipated at this time of year is a present of some kind. Food, clothing, game, equipment. Another meaning is a special ability or talent. What I receive from our team while preparing for the cruises is a bit of both. Clearly, their efforts provide tangible results. The success of a cruise program leads to the following year and further enhances the brand. But, the joy is watching how their “gift of commitment and spirit” translates to the enjoyment of the cruise by our guests.
Perhaps what I receive is more vicarious than direct, but it is a gift, nonetheless. Feeling the excitement as nearly 1000 guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise for ’24 signed up for the 2nd Webinar this week, and hundreds of guests on The Jazz Cruise ’24 are signing up for many of the special events on that cruise. While the Waitlist for our established cruises is over 1500 people, nearly that many have completed the paperwork to join the Botti at Sea ‘24 Waitlist.
A year ago, Jazz Cruises was preparing for its first sailings since 2020. The impact of the Pandemic was lingering, casting a dark shadow on our programs. Yes, there was excitement, but it was coupled with apprehension. Once onboard, most of the reluctance disappeared and the power of the music, the musicians, and the thrill of returning to a wonderful event took hold. That spirit has only grown. I simply cannot wait to see everyone on the ship in a few weeks.
With 2023 almost in the books, what should we expect and hope for in 2024? In terms of the world situation and matters at home, anything is possible. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst is a tried-and-true approach. Despite what may happen outside our control, we can predict, even dictate, certain items and behaviors. When planning our cruises, we try to make the weather the only variant to consider.
Life is more complicated, but, with the proper level of planning, we can minimize bad results. The place to start, of course, is with us. I believe in making New Year’s Resolutions. Self-assessment and planning to be better are great annual pursuits. For me, being open and candid, taking responsibility for my actions, and being brave enough to be whom I want to be are my resolutions. Nothing grand. Nothing momentous. Just being solid in all respects.
Anyone with me on this? What are your resolutions for ’24?
By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea and The McDonald & LaBelle Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at [email protected].
The Weekender on Holiday!
The next edition of The Weekender will be Saturday, January 6, 2024. Those responsible for creating this note will be spending the next 14 days bouncing from family and friends to preparing for the cruises both in terms of programming and packing.
The Weekender will continue to be presented every Saturday thereafter including those Saturdays that we are “at sea”. A special report from The Jazz Cruise ’24 will highlight the January 20th edition. The January 27th edition will bring you up to date with The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’24.1 and those wondering what is going on during The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’24.2 can check out the February 3rd edition. The final “at sea” edition will be February 10 when the highlights on Botti at Sea ’24 will be shared.
The Weekender began in early 2016 and has been a Saturday morning staple ever since. Last week, over 41,000 people opened The Weekender, making it the single most viewed edition. Our commitment to continuing our correspondence with our loyal fans continues and grows. Your input as to what you would like us to address or present is important to the viability and value of this note. Feel free to share a topic, take us to task or simply make a suggestion.
Rick Braun’s New Year’s Eve
Rick Braun again will host his special New Year’s Eve event, this time at the Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando Resort in Florida on December 30-31, 2023.
Appearing with Rick are Boney James, Peter White, Vincent Ingala, Brian Simpson & Rebecca Jade and Adam Hawley & Jazmin Ghent.
New Album from Sullivan Fortner
Sullivan Fortner, who has performed on many of our programs and will be sailing on Chris Botti at Sea ’24, recently released Solo Game, his very first solo recording.
The album features a mix of classic standards (I Didn’t Know What Time It Was,” “Come Sunday,” and “This Is Now”) and lesser-known jazz compositions like Randy Weston’s “Congolese Children,” as well as works by Stevie Wonder (“Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing”) and Antonio Carlos Jobim (“Once I Loved”).
“Songs in Sullivan’s hands become flexible,” said fellow pianist Jason Moran in a commentary track. “He’s well known to fathom new possibilities with grace and elegance that nearly every pianist I know champions and is jealous of. His game play is multilingual. His hands simply morph sounds. The piano is often the starting place for these pieces but by the end the piano becomes a ghost.”
Update on Jazz Cruises ’25 Programs
Holiday Week is a good time to review our ’25 Cruise Programs. All sailings will be on Celebrity Summit and will embark and disembark from Ft. Lauderdale.
01.25.25 – 02.04.25 The Jazz Cruise ’25 (25th Anniversary Sailing)
02.04.25 – 02.11.25 Botti at Sea ’25 (*)
02.11.25 – 02.18.25 The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1
02.18.25 – 02.25.25 The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.2
(*) By request of those wishing to combine The Jazz Cruise or The Smooth Jazz Cruise with Botti at Sea, Botti at Sea ’25 is scheduled in between those sailings.
As you will see below, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 & ’25.2 will be at “Open Booking” on January 8, 2024. The rebooking by current ’24 Guests will be winding down on The Jazz Cruise ’25 and we will be nearing the time to announce the details of Botti at Sea ’25. 2025 seems like a long time from now. We have not even moved to 2024! But, if you wish to sail with us in ’25, you should consider acting soon, and, here is why:
The Jazz Cruise ’25:
Celebrating Its 25th Anniversary
The cruise that started it all, The Jazz Cruise, will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2025 and doing so in grand style. With another super lineup already announced, we are pleased to be adding one of jazz’s most decorated and beloved performers, Charles McPherson, to the program. Charles does not travel lightly. Accompanying him for the cruise will be Terell Stafford, Jeb Patton, David Wong, and Lewis Nash. Terell and Lewis are already part of the lineup, but extra sessions for those guys will not upset anyone!
From now through the first three days of The Jazz Cruise ’24 (through January 21), guests sailing on that cruise have the exclusive right to rebook their current staterooms for the ’25 Sailing. The sailing ends on January 25, 2024, and Open Booking, meaning anyone may reserve any available stateroom, will begin in mid-February. So, what happens between the end of The Jazz Cruise ’24 and Open Booking for The Jazz Cruise ’25? Quite a lot!
During that time qualified guests who are not sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’24 will be able to select a stateroom before Open Booking. To qualify, a guest not sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’24 must complete a Pre-Sale Reservation. That process is open now and is easy to complete. Those holding a Pre-Sale Reservation will be contacted soon after the conclusion of The Jazz Cruise ’24 and will be instructed on the procedure for selecting a stateroom and completing a reservation for The Jazz Cruise ’25.
More than two hundred Pre-Sale Reservations have been completed, so we urge you to claim your place in line for The Jazz Cruise ’25 by completing a Pre-Sale Reservation today.
Visit www.thejazzcruise.com for more details.
Botti at Sea ’25
For Jazz Cruises, LLC, the big story in 2023 was the immediate and amazing success of Botti at Sea ’24. To announce that Chris Botti was the host of a new cruise was a big deal, for sure, but to add David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Gregory Porter, Keb’ Mo’, Take 6, Melody Gardot, Samara Joy, Lisa Fischer, Jose James and the Master Mentalist Lior Suchard made the cruise irresistible to our guests.
We will soon be announcing the details of Botti at Sea ’25. The dates are set, February 4 – 11, 2025. The Ship is selected, Celebrity Summit. The Port of Embarkation has been named, Ft. Lauderdale. All the rest, including another amazing lineup of stars will be announced no later than January 8, 2024! At that time, guests on Botti at Sea ’24 will have the exclusive right to rebook their ’24 stateroom for the ’25 sailing. Those not sailing on Botti at Sea ’24 will have the opportunity to establish their priority before Open Booking starts (March ’24) by completing Pre-Sale Reservations just as we have offered for The Jazz Cruise and The Smooth Jazz Cruise.
Stay tuned for more information coming your way.
Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
The reservation process for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 & ’25.2 is in the latter stages of accommodating those guests not sailing on a ’24 sailing, but who completed Pre-Sale Reservations. From September 23, 2023 to November 17, 2023, ’24 Guests were able to rebook their current staterooms for the ’25 Sailings. During that same time, guests not sailing on a ’24 Sailing were able to complete Pre-Sale Reservations. Over 1,100 Pre-Sale Reservations were entered.
Starting on November 28, 2023, the first of eight waves of Pre-Sale Reservations were activated, allowing those guests to select a stateroom and complete a reservation. That process will be completed by January 2, 2024, with Open Booking beginning on January 8, 2024. At that time, we estimate that both of the ’25 Sailings will be over 80% reserved!
With this level of interest in the ’25 Sailings, we are offering two ideas for you to consider, one for those not sailing on a ’24 Cruise and one for those who are doing so.
- SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL GUESTS NOT SAILING IN ’24. If you are not a guest on one of the ’24 Sailings and do not have a pre-sale reservation, please be ready to complete your reservation as early as possible on January 8, 2024. You may complete a reservation either online or by calling the office. No token or special procedure is required, and all remaining staterooms will be available to reserve.
- SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL GUESTS SAILING IN ’24 WHO HAVE NOT REBOOKED FOR A ’25 SAILING. If you are a guest on one of the ’24 Sailings but have not completed a reservation for a ’25 Sailing, you may complete a reservation now by calling the office or and online starting January 8, 2024. No token or special procedure is required. Further, if you complete your reservation before the start of Open Booking (January 8, 2024), your Cruise Price will be based upon your Jazz Cruises cruise history. After that time, there will be only the Standard Cruise Price and the Standard Past Guest Cruise Price. A price based upon your Jazz Cruises cruise history, in all likelihood, will be less than the Standard Past Guest Cruise Price.
During the holidays, December 25 – January 5, Jazz Cruises office hours will be Wednesday – Thursday, 10:00AM – 6:00PM ET and Friday 10:00AM – 5:00PM ET.
Jazz Cruises regular office hours will resume on Monday January 8, Monday – Thursday, 10:00AM – 6:00PM ET and Friday 10:00AM – 5:00PM ET.
Update on Your ’24 Sailings
Guests on a ’24 Sailing will continue to receive “Get Ready” letters outlining tips, undertakings and information relevant to their cruises. We would like to highlight a few items at this time.
All ’24 Cruises
Artist Hosted Events Onboard
Each sailing features special events that feature wine, food, etc. and are hosted by one of our Artists. These events are usually $30 – $40/person. Sign-ups may only be made at the Jazz Cruises’ Guest Services Desk on Deck 3 once you board the cruise. Some of these events are in the early stages of the cruise, so be sure to check them out now and be prepared to sign up on your first day.
Passports
Now is the best time to make sure that you know where your passport is and to verify that it is valid.
Jazz Cruise ’24
Performance Schedule Reveal
The Performance Schedule for The Jazz Cruise ’24 will be revealed on January 8, 2024. You will receive the information by email and the schedule will be posted on the cruise website.
T-Shirt Party
For those interested in performing at The Jazz Cruise ’24 T-Shirt Party, sign ups will take place on the ship, again at the Jazz Cruises’ Guest Services Desk on Deck 3. The T-Shirt Party will take place on January 22, 2024, the 5th day of the cruise.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘24.1 & ‘24.2
Performance Schedule Reveal
The Performance Schedule for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’24.1 will be revealed on January 15, 2024 and will be revealed on January 22, 2024 for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’24.2. You will receive the information by email and the schedule will be posted on the cruise website.
Ping Pong Wars
The competitive spirit is already in full display as we prepare for another ping pong tournament. In keeping with our theme of Boney v BC, we are altering the format of the tournament this year to formalize the Team Boney v Team BC concept. For each sailing, 30 or so guests will be chosen to be part of Team Boney and another 30 or so will be on the Team BC side.
Team members will be drawn randomly from a list of entrants immediately 15 minutes before the 1st round on Day 2 at noon. To be eligible to become a member of Team Boney or Team BC, you must pre-register and you must be present at the time of the drawing.
You can pre-register now or once you are on the ship at the Jazz Cruises’ Guest Services Desk on Deck 3. The deadline for registering is 6:00pm on Embarkation Day.
Chris Botti at Sea ’24
Performance Schedule Reveal
The Performance Schedule for Botti at Sea ‘24 will be revealed on January 29, 2024. You will receive the information by email and the schedule will be posted on the cruise website.
Super Bowl Sunday
On Sunday, February 11, Botti at Sea ’24 will be in port in Aruba from 9 am – 11 pm. As always, the programming for the day will include a mix of events and music consistent with being “in port”. Typically, that means music events beginning in the late afternoon and continuing through the late evening.
That Sunday is also Super Bowl Sunday. Celebrity Cruises informs us that they will be presenting the broadcast starting around 7 pm local time. Besides the television in your stateroom, the game will be broadcasted from the Rooftop Terrace, Sky Lounge and in the Casino. Super Bowl food favorites will be available at those sites as well as in the Ocean View Café. Special football analysis and wagering events will be included.
A full schedule of main shows, lounge shows, and other events will be presented during the customary show times and in the main venues.
Commander’s Palace Mardi Gras Dinner Tuesday, February 13 is Fat Tuesday and our cruise programming that day will feature a Mardi Gras theme. Part of the celebration will be a special dinner, one at 5:15 pm for those guests with RED Cruise Identification Cards and one at 7:45pm for those guests with BLUE Cruise Identification Cards.
The menu will include many of the most famous dishes served at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. Wycliffe Gordon will be the host for both seatings. Stay tuned for more details on pricing and how to reserve a spot.
MUG SHOTS OF THE WEEK
Each guest on the cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition.
Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.
Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to [email protected].
Pre-Cruise Webinars
PAST WEBINARS
As part of the Get Ready series, we hosted Live Webinars just for guests on each of Jazz Cruises ‘24 sailings. We enjoyed hearing your questions and I hope that our answers were helpful. If you missed the webinars or wish to have a second look, you can access them through the Booked Guests page on each cruise website. Click the cruise below to access the past webinars:
The Jazz Cruise ’24
Webinar #1 recorded on November 16, 2023.
Webinar #2 (focused on Celebrity’s Online Check-In and Pre-Cruise Planner) recorded on December 7, 2023.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’24.1 & ‘24.2
Webinar #1 recorded on November 2, 2023.
Webinar #2 (focused on Celebrity’s Online Check-In and Pre-Cruise Planner) recorded on December 19, 2023.
Botti at Sea ’24
Recorded on October 19, 2023.
NEW FINAL WEBINAR
With the holidays in full swing, we know it can be difficult to carve out time (as opposed to the turkey!) to concentrate on the tasks needed to be fully prepared for your cruise. With the opening of Celebrity’s Online Check-In and the requests for assistance in using the Pre-Cruise Planner, we are scheduling New (FINAL) Pre-Cruise Webinars:
Botti at Sea ‘24
DATE: Tuesday, January 9, 2024
TIME: 3:00 PM ET