After a six month search, Royal Caribbean International today named travel agent Donnalea Madaley godmother of the cruise line’s newest ship, Liberty of the Seas, at Cruise Lines International Association’s Cruise3Sixty conference. Donnalea, of Ontario-based Marlin Travel, was selected from among nearly 2,500 nominations of exemplary women travel agents who have demonstrated dedication to philanthropy and service in their communities. In the spirit of maritime tradition, Donnalea will participate in the naming ceremony of Liberty on May 18, 2007, and help launch the cruise ship, a prestigious role often performed by dignitaries and celebrities.
In addition to being chosen as Liberty’s godmother, Donnalea also will receive a $25,000 check from Royal Caribbean for Hands Across the Nations (HATN), a service organization created and led by Donnalea and her husband. In addition to maintaining full-time jobs and raising a family of three children, the Madaleys have helped raise funds, provided training, and constructed essential facilities in remote communities in such places as Mali, Bolivia and countries in Western Africa since the mid-1980s. Current Hands Across the Nations (www.hatncanada.org) projects include erecting, furnishing and staffing homes for children of incarcerated parents; school dorms for women; and medical and community centers.
At 160,000 GRT and holding 3,634 guests, double-occupancy, Liberty will share the title of the world’s largest cruise ship with sister ship, Freedom of the Seas. She will feature the same popular innovations already found on Freedom, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the H20 Zone aqua park, cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean, an ice-skating rink, a boxing ring and the 1,215-square-foot Presidential Family Suite, which sleeps up to 14. In addition, the arrival of Liberty will
introduce new innovative onboard programs to the cruise line’s fleet such as the Vitality wellness program, Explorer Weddings, the Crown & Anchor Society Youth loyalty program, as well as enhancements to the cruise line’s award-winning Adventure Ocean youth programming.