Globaliser Posted June 15 #351 Share Posted June 15 14 hours ago, wwcruisers said: Not a big fan of Ms Krall, so -- we'll just stick to the SJC, and the Journey of Jazz cruises in '25! But, that's the beauty of Jazz Cruises -- there's something for everyone! 😎 I was reminded overnight that Diana Krall and I have a bit of history in relation to jazz cruises. Back in (I think) 1997, when she still did jazz and she still looked like the publicity photo sent out in today's ECP email (see below), I went to Ronnie Scott's to hear her. It was probably the last time she did a stint in London in a venue of that size, and I was lucky enough to be sitting perhaps a dozen feet away from her. It was rapidly obvious that she is a much better pianist than singer, although it was inevitably "young, pretty, blonde singer" that secured both the public's attention and Diana Krall's fame and fortune. On my table was a copy of Ronnie's house magazine, which had an ad for the ss Norway's Floating Jazz Festival, for which I then signed up. I sort of never looked back, but competing priorities and the ever-increasing cost of jazz cruises have restricted how often I can do them now. But I think that there's a moral to this: those who hear her on Botti 2025 may possibly find that she does play and sing some real jazz again, given the milieu, rather than doing the mass audience-pleasing stuff that she dishes out to the venues and arenas containing x thousand (or x tens of thousands) of adoring fans. I hope she does, and I hope she doesn't disappoint. An interesting bit of trivia that I picked up on the ss Norway way back then: Ingrid Jensen and Diana Krall come from the same town on Vancouver Island (Nanaimo). Wouldn't it be funny if ECP manage to get them together on the same cruise some time? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted June 15 #352 Share Posted June 15 Mr. Lazaroff told an interesting story in his latest newsletter. It involved a 2014 sailing of the Signature Jazz Cruise, where 400 passengers on a Seabourn ship sailed in Europe where the passengers flew to Nice, France, and had a special concert experience in Monte Carlo. I call this to your attention because apparently this is what Michael L. was referring to when he discussed past European luxury cruise experiences during his Q and A. Also, my wallet started screaming when I thought about how much a charter cruise on Seabourn would have cost. 🤑 I also thought of how far I would go, and how much I would pay, to see my favorites. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted June 15 Author #353 Share Posted June 15 Globaliser -- what a great story! And, I did not know that Diana Krall was from Nanaimo (I've been there). HB -- LOL on the 'screaming wallet' -- but what a cruise that must have been! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinS Posted June 15 #354 Share Posted June 15 You can see here what that Sojourn cruise would have cost (five figures!): http://jazzandblues.org/features/2015/05/signature/assets/KJazz-Signature-Jazz-Cruise.pdf but wait -- the taxes and fees also went into double digits! It seems to have run for three years before disappearing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted June 15 #355 Share Posted June 15 52 minutes ago, NinS said: You can see here what that Sojourn cruise would have cost (five figures!): http://jazzandblues.org/features/2015/05/signature/assets/KJazz-Signature-Jazz-Cruise.pdf but wait -- the taxes and fees also went into double digits! It seems to have run for three years before disappearing. Thanks for the brochure link and the thread link. The cost was roughly as I expected (feared 😯) for such an experience. It does look more luxurious than Jazz Cruises (or indeed other music charter cruises) these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted June 16 Author #356 Share Posted June 16 HaHa -- too rich for my blood, as the saying goes! BTW -- HAPPY FATHERS' DAY, all of you jazz cruisin' Dads!😎🎵 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globaliser Posted June 17 #357 Share Posted June 17 On 6/15/2024 at 2:34 PM, Globaliser said: But I think that there's a moral to this: those who hear her on Botti 2025 may possibly find that she does play and sing some real jazz again, given the milieu ... On 6/15/2024 at 2:35 PM, Honolulu Blue said: Mr. Lazaroff told an interesting story in his latest newsletter. Thanks for this, because it made me go back and read all of it in detail. I noticed that it said "Diana Krall ... will be performing with John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton". So this outing could well see her going right back to that late 1990s stuff, which would be a real treat. Having said that, though, that would actually be a better fit on TJC. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted June 26 #358 Share Posted June 26 (edited) In Jazz Cruises' latest newsletter, I noticed a couple of items of interest that may be of interest to some of you. First, Jazz Cruises and their office will be closed July 4-14 this year. Their sites will be up, and they promise to answer their e-mails during this time - if slowly. Second, the Botti at Sea main headliners were announced for each day of that cruise in February. Since I'm not too busy and I could use the brownie points with you guys, here's a listing of them: Night 1 - Chris Botti & his band Night 2 - David Foster & Katharine McPhee Night 3 - Kool & the Gang Night 4 - esperanza spalding Night 5 - Diana Krall Night 6 - Super Bowl Sunday Night 7 - Kamasi Washington I find lists like this incredibly helpful in planning out my days and nights onboard my chosen music cruises. This is the first time I've heard of a performer list by night being announced this far out, though I have heard some hints about the main performer on one of our nights on one of my cruises. Edited June 26 by Honolulu Blue 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted June 26 Author #359 Share Posted June 26 Thanks for posting that helpful information, HB -- and you always have brownie points here!😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted June 26 #360 Share Posted June 26 Just now, wwcruisers said: Thanks for posting that helpful information, HB -- and you always have brownie points here!😉 Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad to be of assistance. Extra brownie points are always good - especially on Judgment Day. 👼😈 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted June 26 Author #361 Share Posted June 26 Oh, and DH spoke to someone at Jazz Cruises last week, and gleaned the following info: -- Jazz Cruises-sponsored shore excursions for the Journey of Jazz (fall '25) will be available to book in late July (after they return from their break). -- Looks like the Smooth Jazz Cruise (Feb '25) is headed for the Dominican Republic, on the day Labadee was originally scheduled. (Note: they have not updated the SJC webpage yet, to reflect this change). 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted June 26 #362 Share Posted June 26 19 minutes ago, wwcruisers said: -- Looks like the Smooth Jazz Cruise (Feb '25) is headed for the Dominican Republic, on the day Labadee was originally scheduled. (Note: they have not updated the SJC webpage yet, to reflect this change). Did they say which stop they were going to in the DR? I know of at least three - two in the north serving the Puerto Plata area and La Romana in the south. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted June 26 Author #363 Share Posted June 26 2 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said: Did they say which stop they were going to in the DR? I know of at least three - two in the north serving the Puerto Plata area and La Romana in the south. HB, IIRC it was Puerto Plata. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted June 26 #364 Share Posted June 26 1 minute ago, wwcruisers said: HB, IIRC it was Puerto Plata. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted June 30 Author #365 Share Posted June 30 OK -- so after being told that Puerto Plata (DR) was replacing Labadee on the '25 SJC itinerary -- we also saw it in writing, in last Wednesday's 'Get Ready' e-mail. But then, I looked at the updated SJC webpage -- and it lists Key West as the new replacement port. And, of course, this is the Jazz Cruises summer break -- so we can't confirm anything, either way! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinS Posted June 30 #366 Share Posted June 30 I think their summer break starts on Wednesday or Thursday, ww, so you might be able to get an answer if you call or email tomorrow. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted June 30 #367 Share Posted June 30 1 hour ago, wwcruisers said: OK -- so after being told that Puerto Plata (DR) was replacing Labadee on the '25 SJC itinerary -- we also saw it in writing, in last Wednesday's 'Get Ready' e-mail. But then, I looked at the updated SJC webpage -- and it lists Key West as the new replacement port. And, of course, this is the Jazz Cruises summer break -- so we can't confirm anything, either way! 1 hour ago, NinS said: I think their summer break starts on Wednesday or Thursday, ww, so you might be able to get an answer if you call or email tomorrow. Right. They're not on vacation until Wednesday afternoon. Until then, AFAIK, it's business as usual down in St. Louis. But I looked at the SJC site and I think I might be able to resolve the confusion. Look carefully: Note that SJC #1 has changed to Key West on day 3. SJC #2 has changed to Puerto Plata on day 4. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted July 1 Author #368 Share Posted July 1 Thank you, HB -- I was looking at the wrong sailing (we're on 25.2)! But, how odd that X substituted KW for the first week, and the DR for the second.🤨 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted July 1 #369 Share Posted July 1 37 minutes ago, wwcruisers said: Thank you, HB -- I was looking at the wrong sailing (we're on 25.2)! But, how odd that X substituted KW for the first week, and the DR for the second.🤨 I don't think it's that odd. Perhaps they couldn't get one or the other of those ports for that week. Or maybe they wanted a variety of ports for those who are on both Smooth Jazz sailings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted July 2 Author #370 Share Posted July 2 6 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said: I don't think it's that odd. Perhaps they couldn't get one or the other of those ports for that week. Or maybe they wanted a variety of ports for those who are on both Smooth Jazz sailings. Yeah -- without more info, I would guess that's what X gave them. I have heard that KW limits the number of ships in their port at one time -- so maybe the SJC 25.2 day there was already booked. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globaliser Posted July 2 #371 Share Posted July 2 6 hours ago, wwcruisers said: I have heard that KW limits the number of ships in their port at one time -- so maybe the SJC 25.2 day there was already booked. A quick look suggests that it's normally only one ship on any one day. There are no ships currently listed on that site as calling on 13 February 2025, but on 20 February 2025 the site lists Explora I. So that may have allowed a slot for Celebrity Summit on 13 February 2025. On the other hand, Puerto Plata seems to be able to take multiple ships each day. On 21 February 2025, it lists MSC Divina (3,502 double) and Norwegian Jewel (2,376 double) already. There are even more ships the day before. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted July 2 Author #372 Share Posted July 2 Thanks Globaliser -- that would explain it. I get the feeling that, with the decision to take Labadeee out of its itinerary for the foreseeable future -- RCCL is madly scrambling to find alternate ports for all of the RC, X (and possibly Silversea) ships that were originally scheduled to dock there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted July 3 #373 Share Posted July 3 A couple of details from today's e-mails from Jazz Cruises: There's a discount code for $350 off per person for interior cabins on the 2025 edition of The Jazz Cruise. It's good until July 15. The discount is not combinable with any other discount and it's only good for new bookings. I guess they want to fill that ship up ASAP. Information on the 2026 Smooth Jazz Cruise(s) will be released on or about August 15. Circle the date! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted July 3 Author #374 Share Posted July 3 (edited) 6 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said: A couple of details from today's e-mails from Jazz Cruises: There's a discount code for $350 off per person for interior cabins on the 2025 edition of The Jazz Cruise. It's good until July 15. The discount is not combinable with any other discount and it's only good for new bookings. I guess they want to fill that ship up ASAP. Information on the 2026 Smooth Jazz Cruise(s) will be released on or about August 15. Circle the date! That's interesting HB -- that interior cabins are still available, on the Jazz cruise. Mostly what I've observed -- with the SJC's, at least -- is that the suites and interior cabins book-up first.🤔 And thanks so much for the info on the release date for SJC '26! Is it my imagination, or did they used to release that info later in the year (Sept-Oct)? Edited July 3 by wwcruisers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted July 17 #375 Share Posted July 17 (edited) A couple of tidbits from Jazz Cruises' latest biweekly newsletter. I some screen shots because I didn't feel like typing. First is about The Jazz Cruise and its 2025 sailing: And the other is about the Smooth Jazz Cruise sailings for 2026: Edited July 17 by Honolulu Blue 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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