October 2026 (#45): Included: your cabin, port & ship fees, onboard entertainment, artist showcases, autograph parties, industry panels, most onboard meals (specialty restaurants not included), and basic beverages such as tea, coffee, lemonade, and non-bottled water.
Not included: transportation to/from the ship, specialty restaurants, spa and salon services, shore excursions, medical services, laundry services, internet access, souvenirs, and onboard gratuities. Alcoholic beverages & soft drinks (packages available), canned water, casino games, and fitness classes must be purchased separately. Dining room and cabin steward gratuities will be automatically added to your on-board account. Additional cash gratuities are also accepted. Please be advised: gratuities for this cruise have not been pre-paid.
—- January 2027 (#46): Included: your cabin, ship fees, port taxes, onboard crew appreciation (gratuities), onboard entertainment, artist showcases, autograph parties, industry panels, most onboard meals (specialty restaurants not included), and basic beverages such as tea, coffee, lemonade, and non-bottled water.
Not included: transportation to/from the ship, specialty restaurants, spa and salon services, shore excursions, medical services, laundry services, internet access and souvenirs. Alcoholic beverages & soft drinks (packages available), canned water, casino games, and fitness classes must be purchased separately. Additional cash gratuities are also accepted.
Formal attire is not required in any of the dining venues onboard the Blues Cruise.
Club Orange is not offered on the Blues Cruise. The space is transformed into the Bluesin’ Bazaar — your one-stop shop for exclusive LRBC & artist merch.
Check the Daily Program the most up-to-date hours for each of the restaurants.
The Dining Room Included This elegant dining venue features the flavors guests love plus destination-inspired menus that change nightly. Open nightly for dinner and lunch on sea days. Please allow 90-120 minutes for dinner service.
Lido Market Included From comfort-food favorites to international delights, you’ll find it all at this modern marketplace.
Dive-In Included A casual poolside grill serving up french fries, hot dogs, and the best burgers at sea.
New York Deli & Pizza Included Start your day with their express breakfast and for lunch or dinner, enjoy salads, deli staples and made to order pizza.
24-Hour Room Service Included Indulge in breakfast in bed or have a late-night snack delivered to your door.
Sel De Mer Additional Cost This intimate Mediterranean bistro features the fresh fish and authentic flavors of France, Spain, and Greece.
Morimoto By Sea Additional Cost From an exclusive Pop-Up Dining experience to nightly chef-prepared sushi and Asian spirits located within the Tamarind.
Tamarind Additional Cost The sensuous flavors of the Far East await at this Pan-Asian eatery evoking the rich culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, China, and Japan.
Pinnacle Grill Additional Cost Feast on regional delights, sumptuous seafood, and classic steakhouse dishes paired with award-winning wines.
EMBARKATION:Boarding will take place between 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM. All passengers must be onboard no later than 3:00 PM or risk being denied boarding, even if the online check-in process has been completed.
The ship will depart at 5:00 PM. If you are flying in the day of embarkation, we suggest arriving no later than 2:00 PM to allow enough time to get to the ship and board by 3:00 PM.
Ft. Lauderdale sailings depart from Port Everglades. Specific cruise terminal and parking information will be included in the email containing your booking number, which will arrive approximately 4–5 weeks prior to sailing. Port Everglades parking and directions.
San Diego sailings depart from the B Street Pier & Cruise Ship Terminal, located at 1140 N Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101. Port of San Diego parking information.
DISEMBARKATION: The ship will return to port at 7:00 AM. Guests will be allowed to begin disembarking the ship after the ship has cleared customs.
Fort Lauderdale: If flying home the day of disembarkation, we suggest scheduling your departing flight for 12:00 PM or later.
San Diego: If flying home the day of disembarkation, we suggest scheduling your departing flight for 11:00 AM or later.
The recommended flight times above are for domestic flights only. Please allow additional time for international flights.
Our Blues Cruise Merch Shop (Bluesin’ Bazaar) is located in Club Orange on Deck 2. Shop hours will be listed on the daily schedule, so be sure to check it each day for current hours.A limited selection of artist CDs and vinyl will also be available for purchase. Please note that not all artists bring merchandise. Artist merchandise sales will conclude at 12:00 PM on the day before disembarkation.We recommend visiting the Bluesin’ Bazaar early in the week for the best selection of Blues Cruise and artist merchandise.
Holland America sailings: There are no ATM’s on-board. However, cash advances are available at Guest Services. All cash advances are subject to restrictions. A 3% service fee will be added to your onboard account for all cash advances. U.S. Traveler’s checks may be cashed at the front office. Personal checks are not accepted. Accounts may be settled in US or Canadian currencies only.
Expect over 100 scheduled performances, with each band playing 3-4 scheduled shows throughout the week. The full music schedule will be released via email 2-3 weeks before sailing. Once onboard, it will be available on the Holland America Navigator App and the Daily Program, and you will receive a printed pocket schedule in your stateroom upon embarkation.
The in-room TV will have a blues movies-and-videos channel, blues radio, and a photo slideshow. It will also have live broadcast from two of the music venues.
Absolutely! Passenger jams will be hosted daily. The location, time, and host will be listed in the music schedule. Backline is provided, you just need to bring your personal instrument and sign up with the Jam Host once you arrive.
We respectfully ask that personal instruments only be played during the scheduled passenger jams and not during scheduled artist performances.
In addition to the 100+ scheduled performances, there will be onboard workshops & artist panels, autograph sessions, amateur jams, an artist-led charity bingo & culinary demo, dress-up theme nights, a parade, and much more!
For your enjoyment, the spa & salon, casino, shopping, art auction and pickleball/basketball courts are open, as well as the midship Lido pool and hot tubs. Check the Daily Program for hours.
You should expect to receive an email containing your booking/reservation number approximately four to five weeks prior to sailing. This email will include detailed instructions on how to complete your online check-in, print your boarding pass and bag tags, and much more general information regarding your Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise.
Holland America sailings: At some point in your travels you may experience an emergency. With this in mind, the following emergency phone numbers are available for your use: 1-800-628-4771 or 1-206-286-3294. Holland America Line representatives are available to assist you in any way they can, including assistance with travel delays and contacting loved ones. The numbers are for emergency use only; please do not call unless you are experiencing an emergency of a critical nature.
Shore excursions can be booked once you receive your Holland America booking number and complete your online check-in. You can expect to receive your booking number by email approximately 4–5 weeks before your sailing date. Shore excursions may be booked up to 72 hours prior to departure or onboard at the Shore Excursions Desk. However, we strongly recommend booking in advance, as excursions often sell out.
Formal wear is not required for your Blues Cruise experience. Bring your shorts for the day and a light jacket for the evening. You can even wear your shorts in the dining room on our cruise! We will host on-board theme nights which will be announced approximately 60 days prior to sailing, via e-mail. Dressing for themes is voluntary, but we will have a costume parade and prizes will be awarded for the best costumes.
• Guests 21 years and older may bring Wine and Champagne onboard, however a corkage fee of USD $20.00 (which is subject to change without notice) will be applied to each bottle (max 750 ml in volume or less). Limitations apply. Wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused.
• Guests are also prohibited from bringing water, sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages on board that are packaged in any form including, but not limited to, paper, plastic, glass, or aluminum bottles, cans, and/or cartons. However, an allowance of six (6) liters of water [twelve (12) cans or cartons (500 mL in volume or less) or six (6) cans or cartons (1 liter in volume or less)] are allowed per stateroom. Any amount in excess of this allowance will be not be allowed on board.
• Guests will be asked to discard open beverages in plastic containers prior to boarding. Beverages contained in plastic bottles will not be allowed on board in any quantity, including beverages obtained while in ports of call.
Each ship does have a medical facility on-board with licensed physicians and nursing staff. Please keep in mind that many health care policies will not cover medical expenses while on-board. Medical services and dispensed medications will become the monetary responsibility of each individual guest and will be charged to your onboard account.
Internet Access Guests can purchase and connect to satellite internet 24 hours a day on each ship in the Holland America Line fleet, either by accessing our wireless network or utilizing the onboard workstations. Internet Plans vary in price to accommodate individual needs and are interchangeable between the workstations and your wireless device. Note that satellite connections may be adversely impacted by physical obstacles and inclement weather and the speed is notably slower than shoreside connections.
Children 2 or under at the time of sailing will be charged a rate of $175 + applicable port/ship fees. Children 3-12 at time of booking will be charged $375 + applicable port/ship fees. Gratuities will be dependent on class of stateroom booked and will be charged onboard directly from the cruise line.
Still have questions? For additional information please call 816-753-7979 or E-mail the cruise office at bluesin@bluescruise.com.
