SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISING ON BOTH COASTS

The Smooth Jazz Cruise unveils a new West Coast sailing for 2013 along with the lineup and ports for the 2014 East Coast excursion

As the perennially sold-out sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise: The Greatest Party at Sea prepares to launch its 10th anniversary excursions in January 2013, parent company Entertainment Cruise Productions is determined to keep the party going strong by creating a West Coast outing from San Diego to exotic Mexican ports in the fall of 2013 with music hosts Brian Culbertson and Boney James. Grammy winners David Sanborn and Marcus Miller will perform on the new program and continue to serve as the music hosts of the traditional January sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2014 that will embark from Fort Lauderdale to Caribbean paradise as it has done for a decade. Both 7-day cruises will be held aboard Holland America’s luxurious M/S Westerdam and feature performances by legends, hitmakers and fan favorites.

“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. Thanks in part to their suggestions, we decided to spread the love by creating a sensational West Coast cruise. With a cruise on both coasts, we feel that the hosts should reflect the different personalities of each coast. I cannot imagine a more exciting cruise menu than Brian Culbertson and Boney James hosting a West Coast cruise and David Sanborn and Marcus Miller topping an East Coast cruise. Brian, Boney, David and Marcus will perform on both cruises as will Jonathan Butler and Candy Dulfer. We’re going to showcase 22 incredible headliners between the two cruises,” said Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of St. Louis-based Entertainment Cruise Productions.

The first-ever left coast departure for The Smooth Jazz Cruise, the West Coast expedition will make its maiden voyage October 12-19, 2013 from San Diego and visit Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Baja Coast. Joining Culbertson, James, Sanborn, Miller, Butler and Dulfer as performers will be Rick Braun, Norman Brown, Richard Elliot, Euge Groove, Kenny Lattimore, Earl Klugh, Oleta Adams, DW3, comedian Alonzo Bodden and special guest Al Green.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2014 will cruise 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, Kirk Whalum, Peter White, Sheila E, Keb Mo, Keiko Matsui, Maysa Leak, Mindi Abair, DW3, Bodden and special guest Jeffrey Osborne.

Affectionately known amongst passengers as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise spotlights music icons, Grammy winners and chart-topping contemporary jazz, R&B and adult contemporary artists aboard a first-class, full ship charter. It is an extraordinary week devoted to live music with the luminous lineups presented in theatre, club and intimate piano bar settings. The velvet rope is removed allowing cruisers to mix and mingle freely with the musicians at cocktail parties, informative seminars, autograph and Q&A sessions, theme nights, sporting contests and special land excursions while in port. The magic of The Smooth Jazz Cruise is best understood by first-hand experience. Nearly 60% of the passengers are repeat guests. To reserve a cabin, call toll-free in the U.S. and Canada 888.852.9987 and 800.852.99872 from abroad. For further information, please visit www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com.