This tour is hosted by John Apol, a member of CALL, is an experienced traveler and tour leader. In addition to leading private tours of the Grand Canyon area, John has planned and led several Calvin College student trips to South Africa. He has a special love of the American West… it is one of his favorite travel destinations!

Tour Inclusions:

• Air transportation from Grand Rapids
• Deluxe motorcoach transportation
• Hotel accommodations for ten nights
• Breakfast daily plus four dinners
• Services of professional tour leader
• Gratuities to your driver and local guides
• Sky City Pueblo
• Hubbell Trading Post
• Canyon de Chelly – 4 X 4 Tour
• Monument Valley – Navajo Country
• Antelope Canyon
• Grand Canyon
• Bryce Canyon
• Zion National Park
• And so much more!

Book Early and You May Win a $200 Tour Discount!

Return your application and deposit by March 1 and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a $200 tour discount.

The trip is being offered in conjunction with the Lansing Christian School community and will include high school students, but is open to all ages! We will travel the Land and study the Bible in-depth in its original setting. Our time at each site will include teaching, reflection time, and hiking. We will learn with our minds, our hearts, and our feet.

Mr. Tim Blamer has studied in Israel five times since 2004. He has traveled, lived, and studied in Israel at Jerusalem University College, under Ray VanderLaan of That the World May Know Ministries, and with IDEA Ministries. He has also traveled independently and has led others through the Land. He has taught 9th grade Bible at Lansing Christian for the past five years and has also taught Modern Middle East at LCS for the past two years. He has a passion for teaching the Bible in its original context and for bringing life to the Bible in new and exciting ways that will help others grow in their faith and knowledge of God.

Detailed LCS Itinerary

For more information, contact:

Karen Chircop or Lorna Elve, Witte Travel & Tours

(616) 942-5112

ALASKA COMES ALIVE WITH VIVID IMAGERY AT THE HILTON GRAND RAPIDS AIRPORT AT 11:00AM ON FEBRUARY 4, 2012

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (January 4, 2012) – Witte Travel & Tours will host ON STAGE ALASKA, a free multi-media Alaska travel presentation created to provide a glimpse of the history, scenic grandeur, wildlife and friendliness of the people to those planning an Alaska vacation.

The program, sponsored by Witte Travel & Holland America Line and produced by Holland America Line, features their Alaska CruiseTour destination film and live performance of an entertaining duo who have extensive travel experience in Alaska and the Yukon.  The entertainers also work in the Great Land; one as a river guide on the Nenana River in Denali and one performs at Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre in Denali National Park. They are honored to serve as ambassadors for Alaska and look forward to sharing their passion, experience, and recommendations for a great vacation in the Great Land.

The show is open to the public and will take place at the Hilton Grand Rapids Airport, 4747 28^th Street S.E. (Free parking) on February 4, at 11:00am.

Alaska, with its popular travel season beginning in May and ending in mid-September, is one of the best summer travel destinations to see by both land and sea.  Travelers plan early, and so there’s no better way to get started on planning than to attend this show.

In addition, ON STAGE ALASKA provides information on 2012 Holland America cruise and cruisetour itineraries to Alaska and the Yukon.

Admission is FREE however; seats must be reserved by January 26.  For information or reservations, call Witte Travel at 616-942-5112 or 800 GO WITTE

Witte Travel & Tours, in business for over 36 years, is one of West Michigan’s premier travel companies, providing travel consulting to individuals, families, and honeymoon couples for their vacation packages, cruises and more at destinations throughout the world.  Witte Travel also custom-designs group tours to destinations in Europe, the British Isles, Scandinavia, Africa, Australia, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, South America, Vietnam, and the continental United States.  Specialty group tours include performance tours for vocal and handbell choirs, student study programs, tours focusing on religious, art, architectural, cultural and/or historical themes, and family heritage.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE:  CCL and CUK)] 

Holland America Line’s fleet of 13 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 314 ports of call in 97 countries, territories or dependencies.  Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, including Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal.

In the 2006 Portrait of Affluent Travelers survey by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown and Russell, Holland America Line topped the list of cruise lines sought after by affluent leisure travelers.  Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, totaling more than $225 million,  that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes — Explorations Café powered by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream Beds.  

World’s Leading Cruise Lines

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World’s Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises.  Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets.  The World’s Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations.

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Tour cost inclusions

• Air transportation round trip from Grand Rapids
• All transfers, game drives and sightseeing via private minibus or 4-WD vehicles
• Accommodations at first-class lodges and hotels
• All meals except three lunches and one dinner
• The services of English-speaking driver/guides
• All park entrance fees
• Sightseeing in Stone Town
• Zanzibar spice tour
• Tipping to porters and waiters

Accommodations are planned at several Serena properties (www.serenahotels.com) including Serena Mountain Lodge in Arusha, Mbuzi Mawe Camp in Serengeti Park, and Ngorongoro Serena Lodge at Ngorongoro Crater. We will also be staying at Tarangire Safari Lodge (www.tarangiresafarilodge.com) in Tarangire Park and at Mtoni Marine (www.mtoni.com) in Zanzibar.

Against the glittering backdrop of New York City, we’ll see – and sometimes hear and play – several of the most famous organs in the U.S. Among the instruments we anticipate experiencing are those at St. John the Divine, Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, St. Mary the Virgin, St. Thomas Church, St. Bart’s, Trinity Wall Street, and the Frick Museum.

Our confirmed visits will be reflected in the final itinerary for our tour, which will be made available two to three weeks prior to departure. In addition to a full program of organ visits, there will be free time to explore independently, take in a concert or current musical or dramatic production, seek out quintessential New York eateries, and shop.

Our New York City Organ Study Tour includes …

• 8 to 10 organ visits
• Nonstop flights round trip from Cleveland to LaGuardia
• Get-acquainted sightseeing tour with a native New Yorker
• All transfers via private motorcoach or minibus
• Four nights of accommodations at a Midtown Manhattan hotel
• Full breakfast at the hotel each morning
• Two restaurant dinners
• Porterage of luggage in and out at the hotel

This wonderful 10-day tour is highlighted by attendance at the Bloemencorso – Flower Parade – and visits to surprising Amsterdam, the Aalsmeer Flower Auction, the Keukenhof National Flower Exhibition, a replica of Noah’s Ark, Palace Het Loo, the windmills of Kinderdijk and Floriade, the fantastic floral showcase that happens only once every ten years!

Our itinerary includes Johannesburg and Cape Town, game viewing in Kruger National Park and visits to a number of townships and remote villages. As we travel, we’ll drink in the marvelous constantly-changing landscape of the Highveld and the Lowveld, the seacoast, the mountains and plateaus, and the unusual flora such as the fynbos of the cape region. While we’re in Cape Town, we’ll take a boat trip to Robben Island, Nelson Mandela’s prison home; and we’ll enjoy a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, known for its magnificent views. We’ll also drive down to the Cape of Good Hope where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean.

Your host will be John Apol, a CALL member, a Calvin alumnus, and a frequent traveler to South Africa, including four Calvin student interim tours.

November 19-21, 2010

My husband and I had the opportunity to cruise on the new Allure of the Seas with Royal Caribbean. This was a two night cruise from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, out to sea and back to port. It was the inaugural sailing and offered to select agencies, Royal Caribbean staff and press. Filming of the motion picture “Jack and Jill” starring Adam Sandler, Katie Holmes and Al Pacino was taking place while we were onboard. It was a very exciting cruise!

The Allure of the Seas is the largest ship at sea. It is 225,282 tons, will carry up to 5400 passengers and 2384 staff. It is one huge ship! Looking at these facts prior to the trip we were a little overwhelmed by the size and number of people. Once onboard we realized how well Royal Caribbean has this figured out. They built a city at sea with a neighborhood concept which breaks the ship up into seven distinct neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are Central Park, Boardwalk, Pool & Sports Zone, Royal Promenade, Entertainment Place and Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center. The Allure also has information centers (similar to an Ipad with a touch screen) at each elevator giving you directions to different dining, entertainment and activity areas on the ship. The information centers also tell you how full each restaurant is. We found this very helpful and I am sure guests will as well.

There are 25 different dining choices onboard the Allure, 14 of which are complimentary. We really enjoyed the selection that the Allure offered. Some of the unique complimentary options are specialty hog dogs and brats at Boardwalk Dog House, My Family Time Dining allowing parents to stay behind and have dinner after their kids do – the kids are picked up by staff of Adventure Ocean about 1 hour into dinner and Boardwalk Donuts offering donuts, pastries and specialty coffees. Clients can easily cruise on this ship with out additional dining costs however if they are looking to try something new and different they can opt to pay a small surcharge for some of the other options. A few that we enjoyed were Starbucks, Mexican cuisine at Rita’s Catinas, cupcakes at the Cupcake Cupboard and tapas at Vintages Wine Bar. I think the Allure will surprise guests with the number of dining options, wide variety of options and how good the food is!

Just like with dining the Allure doesn’t disappoint when it comes to entertainment and activities. At the stern of this ship is the amazing AquaTheatre offering entertainment during the day and at night. Studio B offers ice shows at Sea! When we were onboard it was themed after the movie, How to Train your Dragon. We loved it and families will

too! At the Boardwalk you will find a full-sized Carousel and the Zip Line which is suspended 9 decks above you! At the Pool and Sports Zone the Allure offers Flow Rider which is a surf simulator, Allure Dunes Mini Golf, and H2O Zone for family fun, which also has an area for toddlers and infants. There are endless activities onboard; some others include a Sports Court, Table Tennis, Rock Climbing Walls, the Beach Pool, Card Room and Library. During the evening hours you will stay busy at the Casino Royale, Comedy Live, On Air Club, themed Street Parties on the Royal Promenade and the many different dining venues and bars. Another option for the evening is to head over to the Amber Theatre which offers three shows. Guests can choose from Chicago: The Musical, Blue Planet and Headliner Show. We went to Chicago: The Musical and I loved it! It was more amazing then the movie in my opinion and a great way to start the evening!

The Allure offers a lot of shopping options for those of us that love to shop. Some of the unique options are the Candy Shop offering more then 72 varieties of bulk candy. Pets at Sea which allows you to make your own stuffed animal pet and Pinwheels which offers childrens clothing and toys.

The Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center is on Deck 6. The Spa has 29 treatment rooms with a full list of options to choose from. The Fitness Center offers new classes to choose from, I think clients will enjoy the variety.

Royal Caribbean specializes in the family cruise experience. Onboard the Allure is the Adventure Ocean & Youth Zone. The youth program is for kids ages 3-11 and there is a separate teen program for kids ages 12-17. With in these two programs the kids are broken down into 5 different groups based on age. With in the area is an Ocean Theatre, Science Lab, Arcade and a nightclub called Fuel. The Allure also offers a Royal Babies and Royal Tots Nursery for children 6 to 36 months. Parents have day and night drop-off options and there is an extra charge for this. There are specific times during the day that are complimentary and offer free-time play for the kids.

There are 37 different categories of cabins on the Allure. They are broken down into Interior, Outside, Balcony, Balcony Suite and Loft Suite. This offers a wide variety of options depending on the type of cabin the clients are interested in, the number in their party and their budget. There are 17 decks on the Allure and we were on Deck 14. We had a Balcony Stateroom which was called a Central Park View Stateroom with Balcony. This actually faced the interior of the ship vs. out to Sea. It looked out over Central Park which is really beautiful; a street full of foliage, dining and shops. I wouldn’t suggest being on Deck 14 as we would hear the noise of the pool chairs one deck above us each morning. I would imagine this is pretty typical as they set up the pool area each morning.

We did tour a lot of the cabins and I liked how Royal Caribbean offers so many different family options with multiple baths, layout options and beds offering larger families to get just one cabin.

We had such a great time on the new Allure. I would highly suggest this to families as well as couples looking for a high energy experience with a lot of options. This is one ship we will go on again! I wouldn’t hesitate to say it is the best of its type at Sea!

September 20 – 30, 2012

Turkey’s Aegean Coast experienced the evangelization of Paul, John, and Barnabas, as they ministered in Ephesus, Miletus, Myra and Perge. Off the coast lies Patmos, where we will visit the cave of St. John where he received the visions for the Book of Revelation, and where today monks of the Monastery of John the Theologican continue to worship and pray.  Further inland, two of our intrepid biblical travelers, Paul and Barnabas, also preached in Iconium (Konya).

As such they brought the gospel to ancient cultures devoted to previous gods and goddesses (e.g., Diana of the Ephesians) and more contemporary deified Roman Emperors.  In their place came Christian bishops, one of the most famous being St. Nicholas of Myra.  This same coast witnessed some of the great Ecumenical Councils that hammered out orthodox Christian belief, one in 451 in Ephesus. Centuries later the religious scene became more diversified as mosques and minarets were added to churches and synagogues. On all eight previous tours, we have always encountered a warm welcome from wonderful people.

The tour is for everyone whose interests include learning more about the sites in which these faiths developed, together with their art and architecture.  TansuUygun is a very personable, highly educated, professional guide.  Prof. Bruggink taught the history of the church and development of doctrine for over three decades.   Members of the tour are invited, but not compelled, to share their interests or expertise with the group in any way that might relate to the tour.  The Aegean coast will entrance you with its beauty, and varied sea and landscapes.

Creature comforts and value: Hotels are four- and five-star and deluxe.  All breakfasts and dinners are included.  Breakfasts are usually wonderfully diverse buffets.  Dinners are sometimes served as four-course meals, but are often incredibly bountiful buffets, which challenge one’s capacity. Google our hotels at the printed links for a foretaste of luxury.

Note that we offer a full guided tour with an ample daily program.

Optional Extension to Cappadocia and Istanbul

September 30 – October 5, 2012

A must for those who have not been there, and a temptation for those who have.