10.8.26 - Get Ready #2
Get Ready #2 for The Jazz Cruise '27!
The wait is over! Your Pre-Cruise Planner is now ready!
The Jazz Cruise ’27 is just a couple of months away and Embarkation Day will be here before you know it! Everything you need to plan your onboard experience is now available.
This message includes your Celebrity Cruises’ Reservation Number which gives you access to Celebrity
Celebrity Cruises' Reservation Number
Celebrity Cruises’ Reservation Number: Please See Your Email
Guest Name(s): Please See Your Email
Special Show Seating: Please See Your Email
With your Celebrity Cruises’ Reservation Number now issued for The Jazz Cruise ’27, you can begin planning your onboard experience before you even set foot on the ship. Through Celebrity Cruises’ Pre-Cruise Planner, guests may purchase Drink and Wi-Fi Packages, Specialty Dining Reservations, Spa Treatments, Photo Packages and more.
Get Started with Your Celebrity Cruises' Pre-Cruise Planner
- CLICK HERE to log in with your Celebrity Cruises username and password.
- Select Sign In if you have previously utilized Celebrity Cruises’ Pre-Cruise Planner to check-in online for a previous sailing.
- Forgot your password? Click “Forgot password?” to reset.
- New to Celebrity Cruises? Click “Create an account” and follow the prompts.
- Enter your Celebrity Cruises’ Reservation Number (listed above).
- Under The Jazz Cruise 27 in your upcoming cruises, click ‘Plan My Cruise’ to view and begin your Pre-Cruise planning.
Your Celebrity Cruises’ Reservation Number is also needed to complete your online check-in procedure which will be available 45 days prior to sailing. We will notify you when the Celebrity Cruises’ Online Check-In process opens.
Celebrity Cruises' Pre-Cruise Planner
Special Discounts for Signature Cruise Experiences' Guests
Signature Cruise Experiences and Celebrity Cruises have worked together to offer special discounts on Drink and Wi-Fi Packages for those guests who complete their purchases BEFORE sailing. These discounts (noted below) will expire on January 15, 2027, and require no special procedure as they are loaded into Celebrity Cruises’ Pre-Cruise Planner.
These packages will also be available to purchase onboard the cruise; however, prices will be higher and completing the process may take some time away from your vacation. SCE highly recommends completing this process now so that you can relax and enjoy the music without missing a beat.
Specialty Dining
As many of you know, we transform Celebrity Summit’s restaurants, Blu and Qsine, into unique dining experiences created exclusively for our guests. We are thrilled to bring Signature Steakhouse at Blu (formerly known as Chops House). We are finalizing the concept for Qsine and will make the announcement at that time.
We are pleased to share that we have worked with Celebrity Cruises to offer a special First Night Dining Discount at select restaurants on Night 1. On embarkation evening, guests dining at Signature Steakhouse at Blu or Tuscan Grille will receive 33% off their meal – the perfect way to relax and unwind after a long travel day. Reservations are limited and may now be made through Celebrity Cruises’ Pre-Cruise Planner.
Questions About Your Celebrity Cruises' Pre-Cruise Planner?
Celebrity Cruises has a dedicated charter team for charter cruises. They can assist with any questions that you might have while using the Pre-Cruise Planner. You can reach them by phone at 844.278.9746.
Showtime Information
Since its first sailing in 2001, The Jazz Cruise has proudly presented the very best Jazz musicians in the world and provided guests with around-the-clock music at sea. Below are the components that make this experience so special.
Music is Presented Festival Style
Music on The Jazz Cruise '27 is presented festival style - meaning that up to four performances or events may be taking place at any given time. The schedule includes performances by Performing Groups, All Stars (ensembles of five or six top players who select and perform their own material), and Unique Pairings & Configurations created exclusively for the cruise.
Each performer appears at least four times during the week, with some performing as many as eight. Whether you choose to sample all of the music or focus on your favorites, every hour offers something remarkable.
Dinner: The Cosmopolitan Restaurant (Decks 4 & 5) is the Main Dining Room for Included Dining. On the evenings with Festival Style Performances the Cosmopolitan Restaurant is open from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM and operates as both an open seating venue and by reservation.
Special Shows
There are two Special Shows during the week where admission/entry is based upon your Cruise Identification Card: The Jazz Cruise Welcome Show (on Night 1) and The Jazz Cruise Hall of Hame Show (on Night 6). Both of these shows will be presented in The Theatre and performed twice to accommodate all guests. That venue comfortably holds 50% of our guests, so Guests are divided into two groups for attending the Special Shows.
Guests with BLUE Cruise Identification Cards (BLUE Guests) will attend the 1st Special Show, which usually starts around 6:00 PM. Guests with RED Cruise Identification Cards (RED Guests) will attend the 2nd Special Show, which usually starts around 8:00 PM. Your show selection (BLUE or RED) was made during the reservation process and will be reflected in the color of your Cruise Identification Card.
Dinner: The Special Show Schedule is meant to be coordinated with the evening dining schedule. BLUE Guests usually dine after their Special Show (starting around 7:15 PM) and RED Guests typically dine before their Special Show (starting around 5:00 PM).
SPECIAL SHOW SCHEDULE
Night One: The Jazz Cruise Welcome Show
Night Six: The Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame Show
| BLUE Guests | 6:00-7:00 PM | |
| RED Guests | 8:00-9:00 PM |
For your convenience, your Special Show Seating selection is noted at the top of this email.
First Class Sound & Production
Since our first sailing in 2001, Signature Cruise Experiences has invested in top-tier equipment and an expert technical team, led by Production Manager, Brian Rachko, to ensure every performance sounds its very best.
Seating Procedure & Rules
Although seating for all music events is generally first come, first served, we have established rules and procedures to ensure fair, safe, and equal access for everyone. These guidelines address topics such as saving seats, remaining in the same seat for subsequent shows, and other related matters. As we get closer to the sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’27, we will share the full details of these seating policies with all guests.
Recording of Shows
Flash photography and audio/video recording are strictly prohibited. Non-flash photos are permitted only if they do not obstruct views for other guests or disrupt the performance.
Listening Room Environment
As in most jazz venues, guests are kindly asked to refrain from conversation during performances and to keep discussions outside the venue. Of course, we encourage everyone to express their appreciation through applause and other positive responses—so long as it does not disrupt the performance or the enjoyment of fellow guests.
Engaging the Performers
A highlight of The Jazz Cruise is the chance to meet and interact with our performers. They welcome conversation—just not immediately before or after a show, when they and our team need full access to the bandstand and venue to prepare for the next performance.
Reminder to Review Your Shirt Size
Your gift of The Jazz Cruise gear will be available on the ship. Please verify the size(s) we have included in your reservation for your cruise t-shirt (listed in Get Ready #1).
If you’d like to adjust your t-shirt size, please complete the short form linked below by Friday, October 9, 2026
Stay Tuned for More Cruise Information
We will continue to provide you with more information to help you prepare for The Jazz Cruise ’27 in the coming weeks and months. This will include everything from how to board the ship, theme nights, showtimes and much more. In the meantime, we highly suggest reviewing our Booked Guest portal on the website.
7.23.26 - Get Ready #1
Get Ready #1 for The Jazz Cruise '27
The Jazz Cruise ’27 embarks in just over 6 months. This is the first in a series of messages that you will receive over the next few months, each prompting you to take “Get Ready” steps for your upcoming sailing to help avoid last-minute anxiety and stress.
This first note addresses tasks that may require some time to complete, such as locating (and possibly updating) your Passport and Identification. These items are essential to your ability to board the ship and participate in our activities. Later notes will address items of entertainment, excursions, dining and more. We will also share programming highlights, artist-hosted events and more.
Ready to Get Ready? Follow our schedule and we promise that you will be set to sail on The Jazz Cruise ’27! As always, our team at Signature Cruise Experiences will be here to guide you every step of the way.
Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences
Your Cruise Details
Sailing Dates: Sunday, January 17 – Sunday, January 24, 2027
Ship: Celebrity Summit
Itinerary:
| DATE | DAY | PORT | ARRIVE | DEPART |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.17.27 | Sunday | Tampa, FL | 4:00 PM | |
| 1.18.27 | Monday | At Sea | ||
| 1.19.27 | Tuesday | Cozumel | 7:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| 1.20.27 | Wednesday | Belize City | 9:30 AM | 6:00 PM |
| 1.21.27 | Thursday | Costa Maya | 8:00 AM | 5:00 PM |
| 1.22.27 | Friday | At Sea | ||
| 1.23.27 | Saturday | At Sea | ||
| 1.24.27 | Sunday | Tampa, FL | 7:00 AM |
Tasks Requiring Immediate Response
Below are tasks that may require either prompt attention or some lead time in completing. The sooner you address these tasks, the easier it will be to complete them.
Passport or Government-Issued ID
Please confirm that the first and last names on your passport or government-issued ID match the first and last names on your cruise reservation to ensure that you will be permitted to board the ship. It is your responsibility to identify and obtain all required travel documents and have them available when necessary. SCE highly recommends U.S. Citizens travel with a valid Passport. Click here to view the complete list of required travel documents for U.S. and Non-U.S. citizens.
Review Your Shirt Size
Your gift of The Jazz Cruise gear will be available on the ship. Please verify the size(s) we have included in your reservation for your cruise t-shirt (listed above).
If you’d like to adjust your t-shirt size, please complete the short form linked below by Friday, October 9, 2026.
Planning Your Trip
If you have not already planned your arrival into the Tampa area, now is the time to start preparing. We highly recommend that guests arrive the day BEFORE embarkation in order to alleviate stress from any potential travel delays or issues.
Signature Cruise Experiences is happy to recommend hotels and ground transportation for guests arriving in the Tampa area for The Jazz Cruise ’27. With the prices for hotels varying so much from property to property, we are reluctant to select one hotel to be the headquarters for our guests. Invariably, we will have some guests wanting a more luxurious hotel and others who are content paying less for a simple room. We have adopted the policy of listing our recommendations which cover an array of price points.
At this time SCE's block at The Westshore Grand, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel is fully reserved. Guests may proceed directly to their website to enquire about availability outside of SCE's section. The Westshore Grand will still serve as the takeoff point for our day of cruise ground transportation to the cruise terminal for The Jazz Cruise '27.
To pursue other hotel options at various locations and price points, SCE has compiled a list of potential hotels along with a direct link to each reservation procedure for your review. Going to the reservation link is the only way to determine both price and availability for each hotel. Please contact the hotel regarding airport / cruise port shuttle service.
EXPLORE PRE-CRUISE HOTEL OPTIONS
Sunday, January 17, 2027 is Embarkation Day. Historically, boarding begins at 11:30 AM and all aboard time is 4:00 PM. During the Online Check-In process (starting at 45 days prior to Embarkation Day), you will be asked by Celebrity Cruises to select a Terminal Arrival Time, available in half-hour increments. For the most efficient embarkation, guests are required to arrive at the terminal (Port Tampa Bay) during their selected window.
The ship will dock at Port Tampa Bay by 7:00 AM on Sunday, January 24, 2027. If you are willing to carry your own luggage off the ship, you may be able to leave the port as early as 7:30 AM, if disembarkation proceeds without issue. To be safe, we do not recommend any flight scheduled prior to 12:00 PM from the Tampa area airports, as traffic and other variables may impact your ability to arrive at the airport earlier.
More information/recommendations for Planning Your Trip can be found here.
Ground Transportation to the Pier on Embarkation Day
Regardless of where you stay the night before embarkation, you may elect to purchase Signature Cruise Experiences exclusive coach transportation to the pier on Embarkation Day. The coaches will leave from The Westshore Grand beginning at 10:30am with the goal of having guests arrive at the pier no later than 1:00pm. Your luggage will be loaded onto the motorcoach by our team, and you will be assisted at the pier by the cruise line porters. No tips or lifting necessary!
Coach transportation from The Westshore Grand to the pier costs $35/person, with advanced reservation required by Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Guests may register for this service now by completing the transportation form. Once your form is submitted and reviewed by the SCE team, the Hotel to Pier Ground Transportation service will be added to your reservation and $35 per person will be charged to the card on file unless otherwise specified. Once complete, a reservation confirmation will be sent to you by email. Further instructions regarding this transfer will be emailed to each guest approximately 15 days prior to the cruise.
Please Note: SCE’s ground transportation is offered on Embarkation Day ONLY and is subject to availability. If you would like to purchase ground transportation on Disembarkation Day from the port to the airport, or round-trip transportation, Celebrity Cruises offers shuttle services that you may purchase once reservation numbers are distributed in the coming months.
The secured block of rooms at The Westshore Grand offered limited availability and is currently fully reserved. You are welcome to reserve a room outside of SCE's block and take advantage of our Pre-Cruise Hotel to Pier transportation service.
Coming Soon - Celebrity Cruises' Pre-Cruise Planner
It is popular among The Jazz Cruise guests to purchase Wi-Fi Packages, Drink Packages, Specialty Dining, Spa Treatments, Photo Packages and other amenities before boarding the ship. There is no central location on the ship for completing these purchases, and doing so requires standing in several lines.
Most guests complete their purchases by using Celebrity Cruises’ Pre-Cruise Planner, an online platform that allows you to complete purchases from home usually at prices lower than what is offered on the ship. In the coming weeks, we will provide you with your Celebrity Cruises' Reservation Number for the cruise, which is all you need to initiate your Celebrity Cruises’ Pre-Cruise Planner and begin to make these purchases.
There's Still Time to Add a Week (or Two) to The Jazz Cruise '27
There is still time to join David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore sailing aboard Celebrity Summit the week before The Jazz Cruise ’27, or extend your vacation by joining us the following week for Journey of Jazz '27. If you have never sailed back-to-back weeks, it's a lot of fun, easy to do and gives you two (or three!) consecutive weeks of amazing music.
If you act now, you may be able to have the same stateroom for all of the cruises. If not, the staff of Celebrity Cruises does all the work. The last day of David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore is the first day of The Jazz Cruise ’27 and the last day of The Jazz Cruise ’27 is the first day of Journey of Jazz ‘27. Once the guests disembark, your stateroom steward will simply move your items to your new stateroom for that cruise. You are free to disembark, spend some time in port (Tampa) or just stay on the ship and relax.
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise was a runaway hit program. From the first note to the last song, the brilliance of David Foster was evident in every show and event. The lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more. The Jazz Cruise host Emmet Cohen will also be onboard, making this the perfect prelude to an unforgettable jazz vacation.
The music continues on Journey of Jazz '27, hosted by Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter. Highlights include two extraordinary days in New Orleans featuring Wynton Marsalis and a group of his hand-picked musicians, plus performances from an outstanding lineup of artists, including Ledisi, who will present her acclaimed Tribute to Dinah (Washington) program.
Contact us for the details and special pricing for adding David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore or Journey of Jazz ’27 to your reservation for The Jazz Cruise ’27.
Cruise Prices are based upon Stateroom Category and your Cruise History with Signature Cruise Experiences. The only way to learn what is available to you is by calling the office during business hours. Our team is ready to take your call and assist you in creating the ultimate two-(or three-) week music vacation.
Stay Tuned
As mentioned, we will continue to provide you with more information to help you prepare for The Jazz Cruise ‘27 in the coming months. This will include everything from how you board the ship, pre-cruise purchases, dining options onboard, Theme Nights, showtimes and much more. In the meantime, we highly suggest reviewing our Booked Guest portal on the website.
5.28.26 - It's Never Too Early to Start Planning
The Jazz Cruise '27 sails on January 17, 2027
(only 234 days from now!)
Signature Cruise Experiences is busy planning the sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’27. While we are working on programming, events and parties, we urge you to begin considering various aspects of your cruise experience as well.
Over the next few months, we will be sharing some ideas and undertakings for you to consider in the course of your personal planning. SCE’s first recommendation is arriving in Tampa the day BEFORE embarkation to alleviate stress from any potential travel delays or issues. The next items to consider are whether you will need hotel accommodations on the night before embarkation and whether you wish to use SCE’s coach transportation from the Pre-Cruise Hotel to the pier.
Pre-Cruise and Hotel Recommendations
Signature Cruise Experiences is happy to recommend hotels and ground transportation for guests arriving in the Tampa area for The Jazz Cruise ’27. With the prices for hotels varying so much from property to property, we are reluctant to select one hotel to be the headquarters for our guests. Invariably, we will have some guests wanting a more luxurious hotel and others who are content paying less for a simple room. We have adopted the policy of listing our recommendations which cover an array of price points.
We will continue to secure rooms at one hotel which will serve as the takeoff point for our day of cruise ground transportation to the cruise terminal. For The Jazz Cruise ’27, The Westshore Grand, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel will be that hotel. To learn more about the property, pricing and to reserve your room, CLICK HERE.
If you wish to pursue other hotel options at various locations and price points, SCE has compiled a list of potential hotels along with a direct link to each reservation procedure for your review. Going to the reservation link is the only way to determine both price and availability for each hotel. Please contact the hotel regarding airport / cruise port shuttle service.
GROUND TRANSPORTATION TO PIER ON EMBARKATION DAY
Regardless of where you stay the night before embarkation, you may elect to purchase Signature Cruise Experiences exclusive coach transportation to the pier on Embarkation Day. The coaches will leave from The Westshore Grand beginning at 10:30 AM with the goal of having guests arrive at the pier no later than 1:00 PM. Your luggage will be loaded onto the motorcoach by our team, and you will be assisted at the pier by the cruise line porters. No tips or lifting necessary!
Coach transportation from The Westshore Grand to the pier costs $35/person, with advanced reservation required by Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Guests may register for this service now by completing the transportation form. Once your form is submitted and reviewed by the SCE team, the Hotel to Pier Ground Transportation service will be added to your reservation and $35 per person will be charged to the card on file unless otherwise specified. Once complete, a reservation confirmation will be sent to you by email. Further instructions regarding this transfer will be emailed to each guest approximately 15 days prior to the cruise.
Please Note: SCE’s ground transportation is offered on Embarkation Day ONLY and is subject to availability. If you would like to purchase ground transportation on Disembarkation Day from the port to the airport or round-trip transportation, Celebrity Cruises offers shuttle services that you may purchase once reservation numbers are distributed in the coming months.
The secured block of rooms at The Westshore Grand offers limited availability. If our block of rooms is fully reserved at the time of your booking, you are welcome to reserve a room outside of SCE’s block and still take advantage of our Pre-Cruise Hotel to Pier transportation service.
REGISTER FOR COACH TRANSPORTATION
There's Still Time to Add a Week (or Two) to The Jazz Cruise '27
There is still time to join David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore which sails on Celebrity Summit the week prior to The Jazz Cruise ’27 or sailing the week after join us for Journey of Jazz '27. If you have never sailed back-to-back weeks, it's a lot of fun, easy to do and gives you two (or three) weeks of amazing music. If you act now, you may be able to have the same stateroom for all of the cruises. If not, the staff of Celebrity Cruises does all the work. The last day of David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore is the first day of The Jazz Cruise ’27 and the last day of The Jazz Cruise ’27 is the first day of Journey of Jazz ‘27. Once the guests disembark, your stateroom steward will simply move your items to your new stateroom for that cruise. You are free to disembark, spend some time in port (Tampa) or just stay on the ship and chill.
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore was a runaway hit program. From the first note to the last song, the brilliance of David Foster was evident in every show and event. The lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more. The Jazz Cruise host Emmet Cohen will also be onboard.
Journey of Jazz ’27 will be an amazing cruise program featuring hosts Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter, a full lineup of great musicians and vocalists, a special two days in New Orleans which features Wynton Marsalis and a group of his hand-picked musicians.
In its second season, Journey of Jazz proudly combines the very best music with opportunities to live the jazz life and learn more about the history of jazz. As an example, Journey of Jazz ’27 will present Ledisi as a main show performer on the ship. In keeping with the theme of the cruise, Ledisi will perform her universally beloved Tribute to Dinah (Washington) program.
Contact us for the details and special pricing for adding David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore or Journey of Jazz ’27 to your reservation for The Jazz Cruise ’27.
STAY TUNED
As mentioned, we will continue to provide you with more information to help you prepare for The Jazz Cruise ‘27 in the coming months. This will include everything from how you board the ship, pre-cruise purchases, dining options onboard, Theme Nights, showtimes and much more. In the meantime, we highly suggest reviewing our Booked Guest portal on the website.