‘Get Ready Series’ – The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.2

Get Ready #1 for The Smooth Jazz Cruise '25.2! 

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.2 embarks in 8 months. We run a full ship charter and our manifest is indeed full. This gives us extra time to assist you in getting ready, as there are generally tasks our guests need to complete prior to boarding.

This is the first in a series of messages that you will be receiving over the next few months, each prompting you to take “Get Ready” steps to help avoid last-minute anxiety and stress.

This first note addresses tasks that may require some time to complete. 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 our theme night plans, 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 Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.2! As always, our team at Jazz Cruises will be here to guide you every step of the way.

Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director, Jazz Cruises, LLC

Your Cruise Details

Sailing Dates: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 - Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Ship: Celebrity Summit

Itinerary:

Change to your Cruise Itinerary:

Due to the unrest in Haiti, Celebrity Cruises has removed Labadee from its list of ports-of-call for the near future. Though it is likely that Labadee will be available for future cruises, it will not be part of the itinerary for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.2.
 
Jazz Cruises has met with the Itinerary Team at Celebrity Cruises to select an alternative port-of-call for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.2. We are excited to add Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, to your cruise itinerary, all other ports-of-call remain as scheduled.  

Your Reservation Information

Please review each component of your reservation carefully to ensure its accuracy and completeness.  
 

• GUEST NAME(S): See Reservation Confirmation    
• T-SHIRT SIZE(S): See Reservation Confirmation    
• STATEROOM CATEGORY and STATEROOM NUMBER: See Reservation Confirmation  
  • Click here to view the list of amenities in your Stateroom Category.
• MAIN SHOW SEATING: See Reservation Confirmation  
• JAZZ CRUISES’ RESERVATION NUMBER: See Reservation Confirmation  
  • Jazz Cruises’ Reservation Number will be required when communicating with Jazz Cruises regarding any aspect of your reservation.
• CELEBRITY CRUISES RESERVATION NUMBER: You will receive this information in the July edition of this “Get Ready” series (when Celebrity Cruises’ Pre-Cruise Planner opens).

Tasks Requiring Immediate Response

Below are tasks that may require either prompt attention or some lead time in completing. The sooner you address these issues, the easier it will be to complete them.

PASSPORTS 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. As a note, Jazz Cruises does not collect middle name information.This information will be collected by the cruise line at a later date. It is your responsibility to identify and obtain all required travel documents and have them available when necessary. JAZZ CRUISES 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 T-SHIRT SIZE: Your complimentary cruise T-shirt will be available on the ship. Please verify the size(s) we have included in your reservation (listed above). If you desire to modify any of the sizes listed, please email us at [email protected]. Any changes or modifications must be submitted to us no later than Thursday, August 1, 2024. 

Planning Your Trip

If you have not already planned your arrival into the Ft. Lauderdale area, now is the time to start preparing. We highly recommend that guests arrive the day prior to embarkation in order to alleviate stress from any potential travel delays or issues.

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 is Embarkation Day. Historically, boarding begins at 11:30 AM and all aboard time is 3:00 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 during their selected window.

The ship returns to port by 7:00 AM on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Due to the time it takes to clear Customs and Immigration at the cruise terminal, it is difficult to estimate what time you will be able to depart for the airport.

However, 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 Ft. Lauderdale airport or 1:00 PM from the Miami airport.

To further assist you with planning, we have secured a block of hotel rooms that will serve as the takeoff point for our day of cruise ground transportation to the cruise terminal. If you missed the opportunity to reserve a room within our block of hotel rooms at the Le Méridien Dania Beach at Fort Lauderdale Airport, you may still reserve a room at the prevailing rate at this location. 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, Jazz Cruises 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.

CHECK OUT THE PRE-CRUISE HOTEL OPTIONS

Coach transportation from the Le Méridien Dania Beach to the pier costs $30/person, with advanced reservation required by Friday, December 20, 2024. Guests may register for this service now by completing the transportation form. Once your form is submitted and reviewed by the Jazz Cruises team, the Hotel to Pier Ground Transportation service will be added to your reservation and $30 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. 

More information/recommendations for Planning Your Trip can be found here.

Coming Soon - Celebrity Cruises Pre-Cruise Planner

It is popular among The Smooth Jazz Cruise guests to purchase an Internet Plan, Beverage  Packages, Shore Excursions, Specialty Dining, Spa Treatments, Photo Packages and other packages before boarding the ship. There is no central location on the ship for completing these purchases so doing so requires standing in several lines.
Most guests complete their purchases by using Celebrity Cruises’ Pre-Cruise Planner, an online program that allows you to complete all your purchases from home usually at prices lower than what is offered on the ship. In late July, 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.  

Special Notice: The Smooth Jazz Cruise '26.1 & '26.2 Will Be Announced in Mid-August

The dates, lineup, ports-of-call and other important information for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2 will be announced in mid-August, just a few weeks from now. As a guest on one of the ’25 Sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, you will have the opportunity to rebook your current stateroom for a ’26 Sailing. 

Concurrent with the mid-August launch, you will receive information as to how you may exercise your right to rebook. The window for doing so will not be long, so be sure to look for that email and respond as soon as possible. Those not sailing on a ’25 Sailing will be entitled during that same period of time to secure a Pre-Sale Reservation for a ’26 Sailing. 

Based upon past experiences, between the number of ’25 Guests rebooking for a ’26 Sailing and those securing a Pre-Sale Reservation, most, if not all, of the staterooms will be reserved