If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be wrapped in a warm blanket of live music while cruising past volcanic cliffs and Nordic fishing villages—imagine that, then add a saxophone solo that makes you forget what country you’re in. I’m currently aboard the Rotterdam, a Holland America cruise ship transformed into a floating music festival by Dave Koz and a ridiculously talented lineup of musicians. This isn’t a cruise where music is piped in through speakers by the pool. This is wall-to-wall, stage-to-stage, genre-blending musical joy—with barely enough time between sets to grab a cappuccino. Iceland and Norway may be on the itinerary, but make no mistake: the main event is happening on board.
For the past 20 years, saxophonist extraordinaire, Dave Koz, has been hosting hordes of smooth jazz lovers aboard a cruise to various international destinations for an amazing musical experience. We’ve wanted to partake of this extravagance for some time but never managed to swing it – until now. As I write this, I’m relaxing on deck 9 of the seventh ship in Holland America’s fleet to be christened “Rotterdam”. This is medium sized boat that was commissioned in 2021 and carries about 3000 passengers. It feels big – but not overwhelming. The food is decent (although the service needs a little work), the ship is modern and comfortable – perhaps a notch down from our Celebrity Cruises. But what distinguishes this particular cruise is the music.
There is music everywhere and I’m not talking a husband and wife duo in the lounge or a piano bar with fellow cruisers getting drunker and louder singing “Sweet Caroline”. I’m talking about over 50 of the world’s best musicians up close and personal. We have at least 14 sax players alone – guitarists galore, a flautist, a couple of killer trumpet players, rhythm sections to funk things up (bass & drums) as well as incredible keyboard players and vocalists. Oh! I forgot a jazz trombonist! Who knew?
What is striking is that the entire cruise is a family of music lovers – respectful and appreciative of the arts. It is notable that most of us are over 50 and there is a large contingent from the United States – all followers of the man with the saxophone and the vision for cruising with incredible music. Some of these people have been on all 20 cruises that Dave has done since the inception of Dave Koz and Friends in 2005!
Dave Koz may be a Grammy-nominated saxophonist with a long list of albums and accolades, but in person, he’s surprisingly unassuming. Warm, approachable, and genuinely engaged with everyone he meets, he’s the kind of guy who makes a ship full of strangers feel like a big musical family. His tone—on and off the stage—is smooth, but never slick. He’s the heart of this cruise, not just because his name is on every banner, ball cap and poster, but because he shows up for every moment, from mainstage performances to casual hangs with fans. Mr Koz brought a quartet of saxophonists through the main dining room on our first night – meandering around the tables playing “Pick up the Pieces” to the delight of the diners! Just a little taste of what was to come!
The entertainment gets going in the mid-afternoon. It is impossible to catch it all. There are stages at the BB King’s lounge, Billboard Onboard, The Rolling Stone and the Half-Moon Bar. Then there are the big shows at the World Stage and the Lido Pool Deck 9. For those who want live music til the wee hours – make your way up to the Crow’s Nest at midnight. In addition, there were some impromptu on deck performances – I particularly enjoyed the two guitar-playing brothers, Roman Street, that were on the back deck during embarkation – freezing their fingers off, I’m sure as it was a cool, blustery afternoon in Rekjavik!
The Itinerary
Ok, Shannon, lots of music. We get it. But tell us where you sailed to!
If you insist. First stop:
Isafjörður, Iceland
Tucked into a dramatic fjord in Iceland’s remote Westfjords, Isafjörður is the kind of town where you half expect to see elves doing the grocery shopping. We skipped the cruise line’s pricey excursions and joined a small-group Viator tour instead.
Our cheerful Icelandic guide, equal parts historian and comedian, led us on a short, easy hike to a waterfall surrounded by seabirds—arctic terns swooping overhead, white wagtails flitting nearby, and a very determined plover doing its best impersonation of a decoy.
On the return, we visited a family-run farm that’s been in operation for centuries. They raise sheep, chickens, and Icelandic horses—decidedly not ponies, thank you very much. We were treated to a hot cuppa and a slice of happy marriage cake. It was a peaceful, grounding detour from the sonic overload back on board.
Húsavík, Iceland
Húsavík calls itself the whale watching capital of Iceland—and fair enough, since the bay is teeming with life (and the town fully leans in, down to a giant whale skeleton mounted outside the museum). We wandered the small harbor town on our own, poking into shops, chatting with locals, and admiring the colorful wooden houses and turf-roofed buildings. A few brave souls from the ship ventured into the public hot springs, but we stuck to exploring the town on foot and enjoying the slow pace. It’s a quiet, charming place—with sweeping views, salty air, and the low-key thrill of maybe spotting a whale tail in the distance while sipping coffee.
Måløy, Norway
Måløy isn’t exactly a headline stop—but that’s part of its charm. This small coastal town on Norway’s western edge gave us a glimpse of everyday life beyond the tourist circuit. We spent the day on foot, walking the quiet streets, taking in the rugged coastline, and stopping to admire the iconic Måløy Bridge stretching across the sound. The scenery had that classic Norwegian drama: steep cliffs, fishing boats, and slate-grey skies threatening rain but never quite delivering. No big excursions, no rush—just a peaceful port day with plenty of room to breathe (and maybe hum a tune from last night’s show). Oh, and the street murals. . . you have to check them out!
Leirvik, Norway
In Leirvik, we took a leisurely walk past the yacht-filled marina and found ourselves in a waterfront park where a grade six class was celebrating their second-last day of school. Their teacher was gracious, the kids were delightful, and before long we were deep in conversation about school, soccer, and summer plans. Their English was flawless, their manners impeccable, and their knowledge of European football way ahead of ours. It was a sweet reminder that some of the best travel moments don’t come with a ticket or tour—they happen when you just show up and say hello.
Back on Board: A Floating Festival
If you think two ports in Iceland and two in Norway sound impressive, try navigating seven music venues without missing a beat. From morning to midnight, the Rotterdam transformed into a nonstop sonic buffet—jazz, funk, soul, and sax in every direction. There was literally music everywhere.
On sea days, things kicked off at 10 a.m.—coffee in hand, ears wide open—and didn’t wind down until well past bedtime. You could catch an intimate set around a grand piano with vocalists who chatted like you were in their living room, then head down the hall to the World Stage for a full-throttle show with a rhythm section that could light a match, a brass section stacked with saxes, and a powerhouse vocalist bringing it all home.
We were treated to performances by Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Eric Darius, and many more artists who somehow managed to make a cruise ship feel like a world-class music festival. Some shows were polished and spectacular, others felt like musical eavesdropping—loose, playful, collaborative. You might catch a surprise duet in a lounge, or see an artist show up mid-set for a spontaneous jam. If you blinked, you missed something—and there was no catching up. But that was part of the magic.
2Saxy: Grace Kelly & Leo P Bring the Heat
One of the absolute standouts of the week was the explosive duo 2Saxy, featuring alto saxophonist Grace Kelly and baritone sax master Leo P. If you’ve never seen a bari sax player sprint across a stage in full high-top sneakers while holding down a groove, you haven’t lived.
These two were pure fire—trading licks with razor-sharp precision, bouncing around the stage like kids on a sugar rush, and somehow keeping their chops dialed in the whole time. Grace’s tone is gorgeous and expressive, soaring over Leo’s gritty, growling bari lines like the world’s funkiest bird of prey. Together, they didn’t just play—they performed. They entertained. They owned the room.
The energy was so electric it felt like the ship might start sailing sideways.
Dylan Chambers: Retro Cool with a Modern Groove
Dylan Chambers, a vibrant singer-songwriter and guitarist in his 30s, lit up the Dave Koz Cruise with his upbeat originals and soulful stage presence. Originally from Arlington, Texas and now based in Los Angeles, Chambers blends pop, funk, R&B, and soul into tightly crafted, crowd-pleasing tracks that feel both nostalgic and fresh. He’s become a regular on the cruise lineup over the past few years, and this time around he had the audience in the palm of his hand. With his vintage glasses and slicked-back style, there’s more than a hint of Buddy Holly in his look, but his sound is entirely his own.
Mindi Abair: The Queen of the Silver Sax
Mindi Abair was nothing short of electric on the Dave Koz Cruise—whether she was commanding the main World Stage, bringing her silver sax into every corner of the ship, or joining the roaming “Picking up the Pieces” ensemble that serenaded diners in the Crow’s Nest. A two-time Grammy nominee and long‑time Billboard chart‑topping artist, her performance was a showcase of both ferocious energy and melodic finesse.
With a lineage steeped in music – and a Berklee education under her belt, Mindi built her solo career through relentless touring and bold collaborations, from American Idol to Aerosmith and beyond . She’s known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary jazz, infusing her sound with rock, blues, and soul. Just take her 2014 album Wild Heart—it broke from smooth‑jazz conventions with gritty horn lines and raw, raucous energy, the kind of power you could feel in every sax note on board.
What makes Mindi truly unforgettable is her stage presence. She blends a mix of polished musician and full‑on rock‑and‑roller. Armed with her signature silver horn, she took formal stages like the B.B. King and World Stage by storm, then floated into dining rooms for intimate jams that left guests cheering. I was familiar with her prior to the cruise but now I am an avid fan.
To Koz or not to Koz?
Obviously, this was an expensive and intensive experience – with so many performance each day that you were bound to miss a few of them. I can honestly say that after a solid week of incredible shows, I was a little overwhelmed by it all. That said, if you love music and have an opportunity to go – you won’t regret it.
Dave Koz and Friends already has a sold out South America Cruise set to sail in March of ’26 and is working on an itinerary for Japan the following year. It is difficult to secure a place so plan early! Wherever Dave Koz is performing, it’s going to be great!
Dylan Chambers Official website.
Mindi Abair’s Official website.
Other articles on Iceland, Norway and Cruising that you may enjoy:
Refresh yourself in Reykjavik, Iceland
Iceland – Top 10 Reasons to Visit the Land of Fire & Ice
Explore Norway’s Stunning Fjord Destinations
Cruising Antarctica with Quark
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