Faith at Sea: When a Conference becomes a Voyage

By: Vanessa Denha Garmo, Epiphany Communications 

What happens when a faith conference, a pilgrimage, and a world‑class concert all meet on the open sea? You get the Good News Cruise—an unforgettable week hosted by Corporate Travel that felt part retreat, part reunion, and part once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience.

This year’s sailing brought together an extraordinary lineup: Andrea Bocelli’s breathtaking performances, Jonathan Roumie’s warmth and humility, the powerful worship of Matt Maher and Sarah Kroger, and the dynamic preaching of Fr. Mike Schmitz, Fr. Joe Krupp, Fr. Patrick Setto and Fr. Frankie Cicero, and the MC talents of Chuck Gaidica. Add in the joy of traveling with my best friend Teresa Tomeo and her husband Deacon Dominick, plus fellow speakers Jeff and Ahlam Kassam, and it became a week overflowing with grace, laughter, and deep conversation. I was also blessed to spend time with my hubby, Ron—another gift of this journey.

One of the great privileges of the week was broadcasting my daily program, Epiphany, live from the Holland America ship—salt air, ocean views, and all. And beyond hosting, I had the honor of presenting my talk On the Job with Jesus, drawn from my new book being published this year by Marian Press. Sharing that message while literally “on the job” at sea made the experience even more meaningful.

There’s something powerful about learning, worshiping, and reconnecting with friends while surrounded by an endless horizon. The Good News Cruise wasn’t just an event—it was a reminder that faith, fellowship, and formation can happen anywhere… even between ports.