Polywogs no more!...

December 11, 2024, approximately 10am Hawaii time, crossing from Winter to Summer.

Sadly remiss in writing this blog lately! Sorry, we've been busy. Well, other than Trivia, we really haven't been busy, it just seems that way when the days just get away from us. With Stitch 'n Bitch and the Conversationalists and meals and Liars Club, all of a sudden it's 5 days later!

I am not actually writing this on the 11th of December, it's the 14th and we just got back from our tour of Bora Bora but crossing the Equator on a cruise ship is really a different experience. I have no idea how many times we've crossed the Equator in an airplane but there's no ceremony at all when you do it that way.

On a cruise ship, it is entirely different! If you've never crossed before, you are a Polywog. Once you cross the first time on a ship and pay homage to King Neptune (and his Queen!), you are forevermore a Shellback. Randy and I have crossed, we think, nine time on several different cruise ships but the ceremony on Seabourn is SO MUCH FUN! Mostly because, on the other cruises, passengers are passive spectators to the hazing of Polywog crew members. But on Seabourn, passengers can choose to participate in the "trial" before King Neptune and before the judges who are always the Captain and three other high ranking officers, including on Quest this time, a female Staff Captain. All are accused of various "crimes" such as, for passengers, asking Where is the bus for the walking tour? Crew get accused of all kinds of "crimes" such as short-sheeting the passengers' beds. They are always guilty and always have to Kiss the Fish (in this case a very large and very ripe mackerel), get covered with some kind of (biodegradeable) goop, and then thrown in the pool!

[Aside: I did not know what a Staff Captain does, so I looked it up: The position of staff captain on a cruise ship is a senior role responsible for the overall operation of the vessel. The staff captain works closely with the cruise ship captain to ensure that all safety and security procedures are followed, and that the vessel is operated in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. In addition, the staff captain is responsible for supervising the ship’s officers and crew, and coordinating all of the ship’s activities. The staff captain is typically a highly experienced mariner with extensive knowledge of navigation, seamanship, and ship operations.]

all the judges (aka: Officers) are also thrown in the water after all the once-Polywogs revolt; unfortunately, I did not get pictures of that.

Randy and Willy getting ready to watch the Line Crossing Ceremony

Willie loves the sun!

Sean, the Bar Manager, and one of the bartenders giving Willie a Marguerita before the Line Crossing Ceremony.

One of the entertainers, masquerading as a "torturer of Polywogs"

The "Medical Staff" who smear the Polywogs with goop.

King Neptune and his Queen

The "Torturer" leading one of the deck officers to the "Trial"

She is a deck officer, in charge of the very large mackerel for the Polywogs to kiss.

Getting ready to throw the officer in the pool

A different officer being thrown in the pool

Randy and Willy enjoying the Line Crossing Ceremony

The officers are the judges

The passengers preparing to accept their fate of Kissing the Fish

The Officers giving a thumbs down to some passengers

One of my (passenger) friends preparing to be dunked in the pool

The man in the turquoise shirt is one of the very helpful Seabourn Square staff.

And he had to kiss the fish!

Some people made a very dramatic entrance into the pool

Our cabin steward, Donnard...

...preparing to Kiss the Fish...

...and get covered with goop...

...and go in the pool.

Some are thrown in the pool just for the hell of it!