Tag Archives: The Smooth Jazz Cruise

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.

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.