Tag Archives: Entertainment Cruise Productions

Country music is perfect inclusion for a fabulous cruise

Posted on by alanwhitt
Alan Whitt

Alan Whitt

Hello country music fans!

Since I moved to Nashville seven years ago, I’ve been waiting for someone to put together the definitive country music cruise. Yes, individuals have performed on cruise ships through the years – including Taylor Swift with a single show onboard Royal Caribbean’s magnificent Allure of the Seas.

But it took Entertainment Cruise Productions to create the 2014 Country Music Cruise with the fantastic lineup that makes this voyage one of country music’s signature events of the year.me to Allure Quest Travel Experience!

Since I moved to Nashville seven years ago, I’ve been waiting for someone to put together the definitive country music cruise. Yes, individuals have performed on cruise ships through the years – including Taylor Swift with a single show onboard Royal Caribbean’s magnificent Allure of the Seas.

But it took Entertainment Cruise Productions to create the 2014 Country Music Cruise with the fantastic lineup that makes this voyage one of country music’s signature events of the year.

So far, 10 performers and groups have signed on the dotted line to perform on premium cruise line Holland America’s ms Westerdam, January 19-26, 2014. You can expect more entertainment and events as we draw closer to the sailing date.

Those committed thus far are Vince Gill, Ronnie Milsap, Patty Loveless, Kenny Rogers, Jo Dee Messina, Restless Heart, Andy Griggs, Ty Herndon, Jamie O’Neal and Lorianne Crook.

If you don’t know much about Entertainment Cruise Productions, they’ve been creating music cruises for 12 years – always to full ships. They are indeed the worldwide leader in full-ship charter cruises … including The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, The Soul Train Cruise, The Malt Shop Memories Cruise and new to the mix … Celtic Thunder Cruise and Ship of Fear Cruise.

However, I gotta believe that the Country Music Cruise is going to be one of their most popular – perhaps even topping the first Soul Train Cruise’s 75-day sellout record. Country music is America’s music, and is loved by young and old alike. Although the artists are as human as the rest of us and make just as many mistakes and bad life choices, country music is relatively wholesome and real.

So I sell this cruise with pride and anticipation, knowing that as we sail the Caribbean Sea, the sounds of all these wonderful performer may also have the fish following the ship to our next destination.

To book this cruise and any other vacation contact Allure Quest Travel Experience by phone at 615-818-8241 – or email at alan@allurequest.com.

2nd Soul Train Cruise soars to new heights with amazing lineup

Posted on by alanwhitt

Wow!

If you thought the first Soul Train Cruise musical lineup was spectacular, the second edition is even more amazing.

Alan Whitt

How about Earth Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight (the greatest female singer ever!), Jeffrey Osbourne, The Ohio Players, The Dazz Band, The Whispers, Freddie Jackson, The Bar-Kays, Jennifer Holliday, Billy Paul, Con Funk Shun,  Jody Watley, Regina Belle, Mary Jane Girls, A Taste of Honey, Lakeside & DW3!

The second Soul Train Cruise is scheduled for October 5-12, 2013 onboard Holland America’s Westerdam out of San Diego, with a stop at Cabo San Lucas and an overnight in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

You can book this September 25, at which time pricing will be announced. That’s the good news. The bad news is that there are 2,000 Soul Train fans ahead of you – people who where shut out of the inaugural cruise scheduled for February 17-24, 2013.

That cruise should out in an unheard of 75 days.

The fully sanctioned Soul Train Cruise is the latest brainstorm of Entertainment Cruise Productions, the world’s largest music cruise company and now in its 10th year.

Although pricing won’t be announced until September 25, pricing for those waitlisted are available. Cheapest rate is $2,250 per person for an inside cabin, based on double occupancy.

And you can’t book this cruise through just any travel agent. But you can book it through Allure Quest Travel Experience at 615-818-8241. Or email your information to alan@allurequest.com, including names, addresses, phone numbers, dat e of birth, tee-shirt sizes.

Visit Allure Quest Travel Experience and We 2 R 1 Honeymoons on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

Smooth transition: Iconic jazz cruise creates West Coast version

Posted on by alanwhitt

The “Greatest Party at Sea” is heading West.

Entertainment Cruise Productions, the largest private music ship charter company in the world, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of it perennially sold-out Smooth Jazz Cruises by adding a West Coast addition for the fall of 2013 out of San Diego.

Alan Whitt

If you’ve never heard of The Smooth Jazz Cruise … WAKE UP! It provides the best in jazz with spectacular artists in an environment perfectly suited for the occasion – smooth sailing on a luxurious cruise ship.

“As we enter the second decade of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, we want to keep things fresh for our loyal family of cruisers that comes back year after year,” says Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of St. Louis-based Entertainment Cruise Productions. “Thanks in part to their suggestions, we decided to spread the love by creating a sensational West Coast cruise.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise West – hosted by Brian Culbertson and Boney James – will set sail on the Holland America’s m/s Westerdam October 12-19, 2013 from San Diego and visit Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Baja Coast.  Joining Culbertson, and James will be David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Rick Braun, Norman Brown, Richard Elliot, Euge Groove, Kenny Lattimore, Earl Klugh, Oleta Adams, Brian Simpson, DW3, comedian Alonzo Bodden and special guest Tower of Power.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2014 will cruise on the m/s Eurodam from Fort Lauderdale January 11-18 with stops in Turks & Caicos, San Juan, St. Maarten and Half Moon Cay.  The parade of performers will consist of Sanborn, Miller, Culbertson, James, Butler, Dulfer, Simpson, Kirk Whalum, Peter White, Sheila E, Keb Mo, Keiko Matsui, Maysa Leak, Mindi Abair, DW3, Bodden and special guest Jeffrey Osborne.

To book either of these cruises or any Entertainment Cruise Productions voyage, contact Allure Quest Travel Experience at 615-818-8241 or email Alan Whitt at alan@allurequest.com.

Visit Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

Good news: Second Soul Train cruise set for October 2013

Posted on by alanwhitt

OK. So you missed out on the first Soul Train Cruise for whatever reason.

You don’t want to make that mistake again.

Alan Whitt

Unfortunately for those who waited it took just 75 days for the Soul Train Cruise scheduled for Feb. 17-24, 2013 to officially sell out – with a waiting list of more than 100 music lovers searching for cabins.

But there is good news.

The first Soul Train Cruise sold out so quickly that Entertainment Cruise Productions has added a second cruise, scheduled for Oct. 5-12, 2013.

When … where …  and names of performers are unknown. But you can bet your last dollar that the second cruise will be just as hot of a ticket as the first.

Those who are on the wait list will be afforded priority pricing and access to cabins so don’t delay … email alan@allurequest.com or call 615-818-8241 to sign up.

Learn from your mistakes and be prepared to book your cabin as soon as they become available. The first information on the second soulful music cruise will be announced by the middle of July.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

No Soul Train, but jazz cruises will have plenty of soulful sounds

Posted on by alanwhitt

Now that you’ve missed your chance to sail on Soul Train Cruise 2013, it may be music to your ears to learn that Entertainment Cruise Productions’ jazz cruises are still available for next year.

Alan Whitt

Cabins on The Jazz Cruise 2013 and both sailings on The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2013 are about 75 percent sold.

Balcony cabins and some suites remain for all cruises. The Jazz Cruise and the first week of he Smooth Jazz cruise have both outside and inside cabins remaining.

All three cruises will sail on Holland America’s Westerdam, the same ship that will host The Soul Train Cruise in February 2013.

The Jazz Cruise features legendary performers such as Kurt Elling, Arturo Sandoval, Ann Hampton Callaway, Phil Woods, Byron Stripling, Freddy Cole, Gary Burton, Eddie Palmieri and Roy Haynes.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise is particularly exciting with George Benson leading the way. He headlines a roster that includes David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Bob James, Angie Stone, along with Smooth Jazz Cruises regulars Jonathan Butler, Brian Culbertson and Candy Dulfer.

For three consecutive weeks ECP will take over Westerdam with an itinerary that begins in Ft. Lauderdale, with stops at Cozumel, Belize and Key West.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise goes back to back the weeks of January 13-20 and January 20-27, before The Jazz Cruise takes over January 27-February 3.

Then the ECP staff catches its collective breath for two weeks before the inaugural Soul Train Cruise sails on February 17 to Turks & Caicos,  St. Thomas, San Juan and Half Moon Cay – Holland America’s private island.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

Waiting list grows to 100 cabins for inaugural Soul Train cruise

Posted on by alanwhitt

The inaugural Soul Train Cruise has a waiting list for 100 cabins even though it isn’t officially a sellout.

Alan Whitt

There remain seven SS category suites available priced at $3,875 per person. However, those wait listed are hoping someone drops out of one of the lower category cabins.

That’s a sweet deal for Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in live music full ship charters. Deposits and payments are non-refundable, so if someone drops out ECP can charge full fare to those on the wait list.

Soul Train Cruise 2013 sets sail on Holland America’s Westerdam out of Ft. Lauderdale, February 24, 2013 on a seven-night voyage to Turks & Caicos,  St. Thomas, San Juan and Half Moon Cay – a private island.

Performers include Patti Labelle, Jeffrey Osborne, George Duke, The O’Jays, Kool & The Gang, War, The Spinners, Jody Watley, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Russell Thompkins Jr. & The New Stylistics, Cuba Gooding Sr. & The Main Ingredient, Gerald Alston of The Manhattans and The Intruders.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.


High rollers willing to shell out big bucks for Soul Train Cruise

Posted on by alanwhitt

I guess people who have money know a bargain when they see one and don’t like to procrastinate for fear of losing out.

That may explain why the $7,825 per person Penthouse Suites on next year’s Soul Train Cruise have sold out.

Alan Whitt

Don’t worry … if you want a suite you can fork over over as little as $3,625 each for a smaller suite, or $3,825 for a larger suite.

Seriously, each day more categories evaporate as people line up to save as much as $200 per person during the early booking period that ends on April 30.

There it is again … people who have money know how to save it.

Currently 10 of the 27 cabin categories have sold out.

In the last day alone three more oceanview categories have sold out, bringing to four the number that are gone.

At the moment – I said at the moment – the cheapest oceanview cabin is an obstructed view that sells for $2,325 per person. You can have an unobstructed oceanview for $2,475.

Four balcony categories remain available priced from $2,875 to $3,025.

All single person inside cabins are also gone, but all double inside cabin categories remain available – ranging from $2,125 to $2,175.

Unless you’ve resided in a cave in Afghanistan for the last several months, you probably know that the Soul Train cruise is scheduled for Feb. 17-24, 2013 on Holland America’s Westerdam out of Ft. Lauderdale, with stops at St. Thomas, San Juan, Turks & Caicos and the private island Half Moon Cay.

To regular cruisers these prices may seem a bit much. But for those in the know, the obvious selling point of this cruise is the musical lineup and a chance to celebrate an iconic television show with nearly 2,00o people with the same mindset.

The Hall of Fame-caliber lineup includes Patti Labell, Jeffrey Osborne, George Duke, The O’Jays, Kool & The Gang, War, The Spinners, Jody Watley, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Russell Thompkins Jr. & The New Stylistics, Cuba Gooding Sr. & The Main Ingredient, Gerald Alston of The Manhattans and The Intruders.

You can’t book this cruise just anywhere, but you can through Allure Quest Travel Experience at 615-818-8241, or email alan@allurequest.com for more information.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, videos and the latest travel news.

Soul Train Cruise isn’t cheap but worth the price

Posted on by alanwhitt

I haven’t spoken much about Soul Train Cruise 2013 of late, mostly due to bridal shows, a group cruise I was on and focus on Valentine’s Week.

Alan Whitt

But I’m not going to stop talking about this cruise because I can’t stop thinking about it. I even talked about it on that group cruise I sailed on.

I loved Soul Train … even though I was never able to duplicate those smooth moves down the Soul Train line. Anyone who loved the music of that era will have a ball on this cruise.

But keep in mind that this is more of a week-long concert as opposed to a regular cruise … and the costs reflect that.

Let’s get pricing out of the way because this cruise isn’t for everybody, just those folks who want to sail along with 1,900 other Soul Train fans and rub shoulder with some of the heavy duty musical acts of the 70s and 80s.

If you’re not in that group you may want to move on to the next story.

There is an early signing period through April 30, saving as much as $200 per person off cabins and suites.

During that time, per person rates for Inside cabins are priced $1,800-$1,850, oceanview cabins $1,900-$2,300, balcony cabins $2,350-$2,700, suites $3,250-$3,600 and penthouse suites for $7,500. Prices include entertainment, accommodations, food, gratuities and taxes & fees.

In case you haven’t heard, Soul Train Cruise 2013 is an official music cruise that will take the iconic elements of Soul Train and bring them to life onboard Holland America’s Westerdam, February 17-24, 2013.

The cruise sails from Ft. Lauderdale, with stops at Turks & Caicos, San Juan, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay (private island).

So far 12 music acts have been signed, sealed … and will be delivered, as well as comedian Alonzo Bodden.

New to the lineup of performers are George Duke, War, the Spinners and Gerald Alston of the Manhattans. They join previously announced Patti Labelle, The O’Jays, Jeffrey Osborne, Kool & The Gang, The Intruders, Russell Thompkins Jr. & The New Stylistics, Cuba Gooding Sr. & The Main Ingredient and Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes.

Some folks have asked me to request of Entertainment Cruise Productions – the mastermind behind this cruise and the Jazz Cruise, Smooth Jazz Cruise and a Malt Shop Memories Cruise – that they add specific entertainers.

Well, not happening. Enjoy this current dynamic lineup and bring your dancing shoes.

For more about Soul Train Cruise 2013 call 615-818-8241 or 615-336-8580. If you’re interested in putting together a group for this cruise, call us about the benefits.
And visit Allure Quest Travel Experience for all your travel needs.

Deal of the day! Soul Train Cruise early booking extended

Posted on by alanwhitt

If you’re saving those pennies to book the inaugural Soul Train Cruise in February 2013, you’re got a little more time to get it done.

The original early booking date – good for up to a $200 per person discount – was set at February 16, but Entertainment Cruise Productions (EPC) has extended that date to April 30 while the music cruise specialists negotiate with Black Entertainment Network (BET) on a few added extras.

Just as the iconic television show respected its own special culture and identity, so too will this amazing concert at sea. EPC’s mission is to stay true to the heart, soul, funk and spirit that made Soul Train so important to so many people.

The cruise sails on Holland America’s elegant Westerdam from form Ft. Lauderdale, February 17-24, 2013, with stops at Turks & Caicos, San Juan, St. Thomas and the cruise lines private island – Half Moon Cay.

In case you’ve missed it, entertainment already announced includes George Duke, Patti Labelle, the O’Jays, Kool & the Gang, Jeffrey Osborne, War, the Spinners, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Russell Thompkins Jr. & the New Stylistics, Cuba Gooding Sr. & the Main Ingredient Gerald Alston of the Manhattans, the Intruders … and more performers to come.

Rates are as low as $1,800 per person, and includes your fare, accommodations, food, taxes, and guaranteed seating at each of the nightly shows in the main theater.

Here’s the ticket: Soul Train Cruise ready for booking

Posted on by alanwhitt

It’s time to get onboard the Soul Train Cruise.

Alan Whitt

Bookings opened today for one of the hippest cruises coming your way in 2013, and Allure Quest Travel Experience is here to punch your ticket.

The Soul Train Cruise, scheduled for February 17-24, 2013 onboard Holland America’s lovely Westerdam, is the latest music cruise offered by Entertainment Cruise Productions (ECP) – creator of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise and the Malt Shop Memories Cruise.

Prices for this musical spectacular, with an All-Star lineup of legendary performers, ranges in price from an early bird rate of $1,800-$1,850 per person for an inside cabin, $1,900-$2,300 for an oceanview cabin, $2,350-$2,700 for a balcony cabin, $3,250-$3,600 for suites to $7,500 for a penthouse.

There are special packages available for those who desire the ultimate Soul Train and cruise experience and have cash to burn in the $9,000-$18,000 range. That kinda money will get you reserved seating up close and personal for shows, two nights dining at the Pinnacle Grill, a one-night hotel stay before the cruise and a special Meet & Greet Party.

The early saver rate is valid through February 15, 2012. Three separate payment plans are available, including a 10-month payment plan with the first payment due in March.

New to the lineup of performers are George Duke, War, the Spinners and Gerald Alston of the Manhattans. They join previously announced Patti Labelle, The O’Jays, Jeffrey Osborne, Kool & The Gang, The Intruders, Russell Thompkins & The New Stylistics, Cuba Gooding Sr. & The Main Ingredient and Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes.

It really doesn’t matter where this cruise is going because it’s all about the music, the experience and all things Soul Train. But for those who feel need to know, the ship leaves from Ft. Lauderdale with stops at Turks & Caicos, San Juan, St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay – Holland America’s private island.

Allure Quest Travel Experience is booking this cruise as a group, meaning you’ll get perks you won’t get anywhere else.

Seating for shows are on a first-come, first-serve basis based on when you book. Making your deposit now virtually guarantees you great seating for one of the two nightly shows.

For more information contact Alan Whitt at 615-818-8241 (alan@allurequest.com) or Gloria Conley at 615-336-8580 (gloria@allurequest.com).