Onsite: Canadian Travel Agent Named Godmother of Liberty of the Seas

FORT LAUDERDALE-Like the popular show American Idol, the votes have been tallied and America has spoken. After six months of voting, Donnalea Madaley, of Ontario-based Marlin Travel, edged two other agents in a tight race to become godmother of Royal Caribbean's newest vessel, Liberty of the Seas, when it's named on May 18. The results were announced at CLIA's cruise3sixty conference last week. Madaley was selected from nearly 2,500 nominations of agents who have demonstrated philanthropic work and community service. "Wow, wow, wow," said an astonished Madaley of the honor. In addition to helping launch RCL's 21st ship, Madaley also received a $25,000 check to use toward her charity Hands Across the Nations. Two $5,000 checks were given to contest runner-ups Marie Brouard of American Express Centurion Travel Services in Miramar, FL, and Carole Weishaar of Carefree Travel in Scottsdale, AZ, toward charities of their choice.