Crossing the Equator Ceremony (1/30/2025)

One of the highlights of our voyage came on the day we crossed the equator. The ship hosted the traditional “Crossing the Equator Ceremony,” a centuries-old maritime rite of passage. Up until then, Janice and I had only heard stories about it, but being part of it was truly unforgettable.

The festivities began on deck, where the crew had transformed the poolside into King Neptune’s royal court. With much fanfare, King Neptune himself (played by one of the officers in full costume) made his grand entrance, accompanied by his queen and a merry band of sea creatures. The atmosphere was part history, part theater, and pure fun.

When the time came for the Pollywogs to face Neptune’s judgment, Janice bravely volunteered to be one of those accused of committing “crimes” against the sea. Her crime was being drunk and wandering around the ship in the middle of the night, ending up in somebody else’s stateroom. Her punishment, of course, was all in good fun. With laughter from the crowd, she was playfully sentenced and endured her “penalty” (being smothered with some gooey chocolate and spaghetti) with good humor—ending up as messy as the rest of the “criminals”, but grinning from ear to ear.

The ceremony carried on with music, cheers, and plenty of “unedible” and undesirable food materials flying across the deck. When all the “criminals” had been punished, Neptune declared them cleansed and welcomed into the honorable ranks of Shellbacks.

It was one of those moments where time-honored tradition met cruise-ship festivity, and we felt lucky to have been part of it. For us, crossing the equator wasn’t just another point on the map—it was a milestone in our journey, sealed with laughter, applause, and Janice’s memorable splash into Shellback status.