Maho - I have never been on the Smooth cruise (nor will I ever go ) as you are correct, I prefer straight-ahead. A couple of years ago, I did go on the Blue Note cruise the week after the Jazz cruise, just to see what it was like. There was some straight-ahead jazz, but it developed into contemporary "music" which just didn't connect with me. I ended out spending quite a bit of time by the pool during some of the concerts, which I NEVER do on the Jazz cruise! I did go on the Jazz cruise in 2019, with the pandemic hitting a couple of months after. That's the last vacation I have had since the virus. I've been going on the Jazz cruise for decades, back even before Anita (Michael's mother) took it all over, when it was shared by four travel agencies on the Norwegian line. I really like the feel of "family" on the cruise - you instantly have something in common with everyone on the ship!