Freewinds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Freewinds berthed at Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
The M/V Freewinds is a cruise ship operated by the Church of Scientology. Its home port is Curaçao, and it frequents the Netherlands Antilles and the Caribbean.
Scientology use
The Freewinds is the exclusive training center for OT VIII (Operating Thetan Level 8), the highest level of Scientology and the last of the published OT levels. The next levels OT IX and OT X have not been released yet; the Church claims that L. Ron Hubbard (Scientology's founder) has written levels up to OT XV. Hubbard wrote that the higher OT levels will be released when existing "orgs" reach "Saint Hill Manor" size. Initiates who have reached the highest levels must receive their training on the Freewinds, as the Church does not allow it to take place in any other location.
Besides the OT VIII training, the Freewinds is used for delivering lower-level classes and auditing services. It is also used as a recreational vessel for Scientologists, including celebrities such as Tom Cruise.
The ship hosts a "Freewinds Maiden Voyage" each July as an "OT Summit" for high-ranking Scientologists at which Scientology accomplishments and plans for the future are publicly celebrated.
A significant portion of the ship is given over to its use as a religious retreat for Scientologists.
As well as various course rooms and a library of L. Ron Hubbard books, the Freewinds has areas given over to the Religious Technology Center, Sea Org and International Association of Scientologists. As is common practice in other Scientology organizations, the ship also has an "LRH Office" symbolically set aside for L. Ron Hubbard's use.
The Church of Scientology promotes courses on the Freewinds through the eponymous Freewinds magazine. As of 2002, the packages offered by the Freewinds-based Flag Ship Service Organization, available only to International Association of Scientologists lifetime members, were as follows:
OT Debug Service Intro Package * $4,951.28
Additional accommodation for OT Debug Service Intro Package $925.00/week
OT Hatting Info Package * $1,810.78
OT Millennium Convention Package * $2,675.00
Command of Theta
OT Hatting Course $500.00
Doctorate Course for OTs $2,160.00
New OT VIII - Truth Revealed course $10,000.00
* Includes one week's accommodation; not included in other courses
The Freewinds often hosts local functions in the ports it frequents, such as jazz concerts in Curaçao. It also caters to different international conferences and events. The ship's leisure facilities include a restaurant, lounge, cabaret, swimming pool and beauty salon.
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