LAKELAND, FL – (February 23, 2024) – Leading Faith-based tour operator, ETS Tours, today announced the launch of its 2025 faith-based cruise line-up, featuring an array of exclusive new cruise tour opportunities. The award-winning faith-based travel brand is introducing these new offerings in an expert-led training webinar scheduled for Thursday, February 29, 2024. Complimentary for travel advisors and group planners, the live webinar that can be accessed at www.etstours.com/live will include specialized insight on how to effectively sell these diverse faith-focused cruise tour experiences to destinations across the globe.
“The immense potential of faith-based travel, valued at 50–100 billion dollars annually and attracting an estimated 330 million visitors to religious sites worldwide, remains largely untapped by travel advisors and group planners,” said David Welch, Vice President of Business Development at ETS. “Travel advisors who sell faith-based group travel are ultimately paid twice — not only in the generous commission they receive, but also in the profound fulfillment of enriching their clients’ relationships with God. ETS is uniquely positioned to facilitate these inspiring and even life-changing moments, ensuring that every journey is not just a trip, but a transformative spiritual experience.”
“Our aim is to equip travel advisors and group planners with the knowledge and tools needed to capitalize on this burgeoning niche, providing them with expert support from our team evert step of the way. With our guidance, advisors can not only boost their earnings but also foster unparalleled traveler loyalty from their groups, ensuring repeat business and long-term success,” continued Welch.
Here is a preview of some the new ETS cruise tours being showcased for travel in 2025:
- Special Itineraries on the new Norwegian Viva:
- Featuring special experiences, excursions, and incredible faith-focused guest speakers, these special ETS cruise tours promote Christian Fellowship, taking pilgrimage travelers to explore amazing destinations while deepen faith.
- July 11-20, 2025 – Summer Getaway Voyage of Paul cruise tour ideal for families on summer vacation that takes travelers to walk in the paths of Jesus’ disciple Paul, sailing from Rome’s port of Civitavecchia to Santorini, Bodrum, Rhodes, Heraklion, and Athens. This program offers an optional Rome Pre Tour.
- September 29-October 9 – Passages of the Bible cruise tour with scheduled departure from Haifa that sails to Alexandria, Santorini, Limmasol, Mykonos, Athens, Kusadasi, and ends in Istanbul. Optional Pre Tour to Jordan & Petra; Optional Post Tour to Cappadocia.
- October 8-19, 2025 – Lands of the Bible cruise tour that sets sail from Türkiye’s Istanbul to Ephesus, and takes travelers to experience Rhodes, Alanya, Haifa, Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem, Heraklion, Santorini, Mykonos, and Athens. This in-depth exploration features an optional Cappadocia Pre Tour and Rome Post Tour.
- Featuring special experiences, excursions, and incredible faith-focused guest speakers, these special ETS cruise tours promote Christian Fellowship, taking pilgrimage travelers to explore amazing destinations while deepen faith.
- New Easter Cruise:
- Christian pilgrimage travelers will embark on an enriching “Passages of the Bible” journey aboard Celebrity Infinity that sails April 18-28, 2025. Revelers will enjoy the splendors of Easter on this cruise to experience Athens, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, Alexandria, and Cairo. Optional pre tours are available to Greece or Turkey and optional post cruise tour is offered to Rome.
- Making Waves Woman’s Retreat Cruise:
- This illuminating 5-night cruise retreat for women, presenting leading Christian women’s speaker Drexel Gilbert, departs on January 20, 2025, from Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida. Cruising aboard Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, retreat travelers will sail to Mexico’s Cozumel and Chankanaab National Park, where they can snorkel among the colorful reefs and travel back in time on an adventure through the Mayan ruins of Tulum before heading to Cococay in the Bahamas, and then returning to Central Florida. Throughout the cruise, Drexel’s spirited and interactive presentations will inspire, excite, and challenge participants to live a bold, purposeful, and joyful life in Christ, following the examples of women of the Bible who “made waves” and left a lasting legacy to follow. Participants will enjoy her sessions as they learn, share, sing, dance, be encouraged, and leave with a plan to be the best version of themselves for God, for others, and for themselves.
Additionally, ETS Travel Advisor Partners can leverage the company’s other renown cruise offerings, including marriage retreats, women’s retreats, and fellowship retreats aboard award-winning cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara, and AmaWaterways. These curated experiences feature exclusive guest speakers, keynote sessions, and even full worship services with guest musicians.
Webinar Details
- Date: Thursday, February 29, 2024
- Time: 3:00 PM (EST)
- Location: Access the webinar live at http://www.etstours.com/live
- This upcoming installment of the company’s webinar series will be led by Amy Kroslak, Director of Cruise Services at ETS, and will offer travel advisors the unique opportunity to learn all about its inspired 2025 Faith-Based Cruise Tour Programs. Participants will also learn how to: sell faith-based travel, earn 15% commission – an average of 15,000 dollars per group trip (minimum 30 pax), receive 1 for 10 travel credits, and be a part of a life-changing experience for their church leaders and church members.
About ETS Tours
Established in 1974, ETS has led over 350,000 people on Faith Based trips over nearly 50 years of business. In addition to the Holy Land, ETS offers Faith Based cruises following the Journeys of Paul, Marriage and Women’s retreats at sea, Fellowship cruises, European Tours, River Cruises and more. ETS has served thousands of pastors and churches throughout the U.S. and abroad. Many denominational leaders have seen the difference a tour to the Holy Land can make in their clergy members and have organized annual tours with ETS. To learn more about how to tap into the $50 billion faith-based travel segment, visit www.ETStours.com, call 1-800-929-4387, or email [email protected].