Take a virtual tour of the Freewinds!

A virtual tour and more has been published on Scientology.org.
Take a look!

The Freewinds: Scientology's Religious Retreat At Sea

The Freewinds motor vessel, which serves as the Church of Scientology's advanced religious retreat, was fully refit and redesigned in 2008, emerging a brand-new, cutting-edge vessel.

The Freewinds began service as a Church of Scientology religious retreat in 1988. The 440-foot motor vessel provided a distraction-free environment for parishioners to study and experience the highest level of spiritual counseling available in the Scientology religion.

After the ship's first 20 years of service, she underwent a full refit and restoration.

The refit was the largest in her history. Far more than a cosmetic upgrade, the ship was stripped from stem to stern, below the water line to the top of her stacks—all six decks. She emerged a fully redesigned, technologically advanced vessel—the ideal religious retreat for ministering religious services.

In June 2008, Mr. Miscavige was joined by the current and former Prime Ministers of the Netherlands Antilles in the Freewinds homeport of Curacao to rechristen the Freewinds on her 20th anniversary and commemorate her Maiden Voyage as a wholly refit ship.

The new Scientology.org website features the Freewinds in a video. Watch it here!

Scientology Religious Retreat, M/V Freewinds Featured in Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

A milestone Scientology project is featured in the October 2009 edition of Maritime Reporter and Engineering News—the complete refit and restoration of the Scientology Motor Vessel Freewinds. In writing the feature story, editor Gregory Trauthwein found the project so significant he dedicated his editorial to the ship as well, describing the passion surrounding this project and ship as “immeasurable.” “There literally was not a single detail spared in the complete rejuvenation of M/V Freewinds,” he wrote.

The Freewinds is home of the Church of Scientology Flag Ship Service Organization (FSSO), a religious retreat that delivers the most advanced level of spiritual counseling in the Scientology religion.

In addition to the impact of these renovations on the thousands of Scientologists who visit the ship each year, the sheer scope and attention to detail has set an entirely new standard for the cruise ship industry.

“The level of quality is incredible,” said Jon Rusten, COO and VP Development, Ocean Development Group, which oversaw the project. “Nobody can afford this level of quality anymore.”

Describing the project as “A magnificent ship renovation via elbow grease, heart and soul,” Mr. Trauthwein begins his article by stating: “In today’s ‘I need it yesterday’ world, emphasis on quantity often overpowers quality, while the quick fix can supersede the correct one. Step back, take a deep breath and enjoy the fruits of a tremendous labor, a labor of love.”

For the past 20 years the Freewinds has provided a distraction-free environment for ministration of the highest levels of Scientology religious counseling, far from the crossroads of the workaday world. The completion of these historic renovations extends its continued service in this capacity far into the future.

More information on the magazine's website

Freewinds - the swimming Church of Scientology

	MV Freewinds, operating out of her home port in the Caribbean, far from the turbulent crossroads of the world, offers Scientologists the highest levels of spiritual advancement.

David Miscavige Briefing to Scientologists Aboard the Freewinds

The Freewinds serves as the Church of Scientology's advanced religious retreat. The 440-foot motor vessel provides a distraction-free environment for parishioners to study and experience the highest level of spiritual counseling available in the Scientology religion.

In 2008, to celebrate her 20th anniversary, the Freewinds underwent the largest refit in her history. Far more than a cosmetic upgrade, the ship was stripped from stem to stern, below the water line to the top of her stacks, covering all six decks. She is a brand-new, fully redesigned, technologically advanced, cutting-edge vessel serving as a religious retreat for ministering religious services at the highest levels of Scientology.

For more information on the Freewinds and the Summer of Events held there and emcee'ed by David Miscavige, visit Freedom magazine

David Miscavige Tells of Scientology Expansion Aboard the Freeswinds

Each year in June, top Scientologists from around the world assemble aboard the Sea Org Motor Vessel Freewinds religious retreat for the “OT Summit.” It comprises a week of briefings, seminars and strategic planning sessions presided over by Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center, Mr. David Miscavige.

The Sea Org Motor Vessel Freewinds: Scientology’s Advanced Religious Retreat

It is aboard the Freewinds Scientologists from six continents avail themselves of Scientology's most advanced religious services.

The Freewinds serves as the Church of Scientology's advanced religious retreat. The 440-foot motor vessel provides a distraction-free environment for parishioners to study and experience the highest level of spiritual counseling available in the Scientology religion.

In 2008, to celebrate her 20th anniversary, the Freewinds underwent the largest refit in her history. Far more than a cosmetic upgrade, the ship was stripped from stem to stern, below the water line to the top of her stacks, covering all six decks. She is a brand-new, fully redesigned, technologically advanced, cutting-edge vessel serving as a religious retreat for ministering religious services at the highest levels of Scientology.

More about Scientology in Freedom Magazine

Do not forget: Maiden Voyage on the Freewinds for all Scientologists!

Each year the Maiden Voyage of the MV Freewinds is celebrated by a very special cruise where Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center brief's Scientologists on news of the expansion of Scientology. This year these events take place from 20-24 June 2009.

So Beautiful

The Freewinds was totally refurbished in time for this year's Maiden Voyage Anniversary Event. David Miscavige gave speeches on 4 evenings of events that were shown in every Scientology church on the planet. My friends who were there for the cruise came back with stories of what an incredible experience it was.

Spreading the Word

For a long time I've wanted a way to let people know why I am so passionate about Scientology.
So I'm really glad the new Scientology videos are online.

The thing is, there is so much to Scientology, I find it hard, trying to describe it. But with the video channel people can just look through what interests them and see how Scientology applies to it.

By the time you're though browsing through the video clips you start to realize - oh I see...it applies to every aspect of life.

And that's the truth.

Scientology Site -- What a Change!

There's an awesome change to the Scientology web site. It's got tons of cool videos that tell what Scientology is all about.

I saw a bunch of these the last time I was aboard the Freewinds. I can't believe they are all online now. I've been hoping the Church would do this ever since I first saw some of the videos three years ago, and here it finally is!

Antigua

Here's another magical port that the Freewinds visits -- Antigua.

Wouldn't you rather be THERE on this cold January day?

And not only there, but there and learning things aboard the Freewinds that will change your life for the better from now on?!!

These Scientology courses that are offered on the Freewinds are the most amazing things. They are based on tape recorded lectures by L. Ron Hubbard that are just chocked full of tips that make life so much more of a pleasure to live!

The Islands of the Caribbean

Another beautiful image from Aruba.

Curacao: fascinating cobble of contrasts

An interesting story on Curacao, the home port of the Freewinds:

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao — The fruit of the laraha orange tastes so bad even the island's wild goats don't bother it. I really don't blame them. But the peel — ah, that's a different matter.

Kathryn Clayton, Deseret Morning News

An example of highly detailed architecture of the building in Willemstad, Curacao. Structures must undergo frequent upkeep.

First, you use a wooden knife to cut the peel away and slice it into sections. It has to be wood; a metal knife would ruin things. You dry the peels in jute bags. Then, in a small copper still, you cook them until a clear liquid condenses. Color it, bottle it, seal it — everything's done by hand — and you've got the real thing, a liqueur that can only be made on Curacao, the original "Curacao of Curacao," so named to shame all pretenders.

Its old-fashioned bottles look better suited to sailors' grog: a long neck tapering up from a canteen-shaped bowl. They've gone around the world, these bottles have, each one an ambassador of this small Caribbean island, every sip an invitation: "Come and see us. Come and see us."

>> Continued

Rain in LA

"Sunny" California is about to enter its grey stage.

My sister says that if we didn't have some winter (in other words some rain) we wouldn't appreciate the summer as much. I don't think that's true, though. I'd love it to be hot all year round.

IAS Event and London Grand Opening

What a weekend in the UK! Not only was the IAS event held at Saint Hill, but the next day there were incredible seminars, Sunday was the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology of London and today is the Charity Concert.

Anyone who went sure got their money's worth!

Here's a little news on the Grand Opening, that I got from religion4life blog.

David Miscavige Drives the Message Home about Scientology

"We are about to drive home the message 'This is Scientology ' like you have never seen," said David Miscavige , chairman of the Church of Scientology (sic.) [David Miscavige is actually the Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center.]

So reports Robert Booth on Saturday in the Sunday Times - a story that got picked up internationally.

And Sunday's grand opening was everything Mr. Miscavige promised.

The Scientology Press Office announces the news as follows:

With thousands of Scientologists, local residents and officials in attendance, the new Church of Scientology of London opened its doors.

Mr. David Miscavige , Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center and leader of the Scientology religion , stressed the historical importance of London. "This is the city L. Ron Hubbard himself [founder of the Scientology religion] selected as home to the first Scientology organization. This is also the city wherein he first defined the human spirit as an immortal being possessed of capabilities beyond anything predicted, and so arrived at the axiomatic truths on which the whole of Scientology is founded. Your early London organizations were also the original proving ground for the bulk of Mr. Hubbard’ s social betterment programs which are used to uplift neighborhoods just like this one."

Thorsten Overgaard

I ran across this page of Thorsten Overgaard's web site yesterday and found his entire site on the Scientologists who went to South Asia After the Tsunami

It's a beautiful site -- a recommend a visit.

"Freewinds" Adds a Special and For Free

I found this story on the web site of the St. Lucia Mirror:

People paused while looking over the line up of performers for the 2006 St. Lucia Jazz Festival.

Of course, there were the superstars like Al Green and Seal, with the younger ones such as Ciara and Rihanna making their mark on the music scene. Then there was one unusual act, the Freewinds Band.

There were whispers and questions. “Is that the band from the ship, The Freewinds?” many asked. Some wondered what the producers of the festival were thinking. A cruise ship band on the main stage for the Jazz Festival? Would they entertain the crowd with Karaoke-like songs and come dressed in the usual tropical getup of Hawaiian shirts and Bermuda shorts while singing ‘Feeling hot, hot, hot’?

Instead, the band came on stage after Rihanna did her thing and instantly ended all speculation and questions about their position in the Festival. With multi platinum recording artist John Novello leading the group, the Freewinds band had the crowd moving from the start. Two female vocalists including Dominican Michele Henderson added to the great performance of the ensemble. So, no, these guys were not at all a karaoke sounding cruise ship band. Not only did the Freewinds band add something special to Saturday mainstage, but also they did it all for free. Yes, unlike other performers, the band was not paid for participating in the show.

Ludwig Alpers, the Port Captain of the Freewinds, spoke to the MIRROR earlier this week to explain why. The Freewinds, which is described as not the smallest cruise ship but the biggest yacht, has been sailing to St. Lucia since 1988. Alpers explained that the crew was committed from the beginning to not only be involved economically with St. Lucia , but to also contribute something to the community, charities and culture.

“Last year, we were here for the festival and the Chamber of Commerce took a gamble on us and allowed us to perform during Jazz on the Square. We had a great performance last year and this year the festival was part of the ship’s itinerary so we contacted the Tourist board so we could put something together for the mainstage. We really wanted to contribute to the festival,” explained Alpers.

The band performs over 200 concerts a year and invites artists from all over the world to join for months at a time. Most performances are done on board but many times the band takes part in shows in countries where the ship docks. Novello, who played on the ship during the Christmas season, headlined the band for Jazz.

“We wanted to contribute to the 15th anniversary of the St. Lucia Jazz festival and we really wanted to say thank you to the St. Lucian people. So we said let’s do it complimentary and we put a lot of time and work into it. We also brought in Michele ( Henderson ) who performs with the band about three months out of the year. We really felt honoured to be part of the festival,” said Alpers.

The band has performed in many festivals around the region but feels that St. Lucia Jazz is the best one, especially because of its longevity and diverse locations.

Barbados

Jamaica

The Freewinds occasionally visits Jamaica too.

Just another island paradise.

Okay everyone in Buffalo. Don't you wish you were here this weekend?