King Neptune Ceremony

Even though we’ve crossed the equator on this journey several times, today’s crossing at 10am was the time allotted to the King Neptune Ceremony.  The ship’s horn blew as we traveled down the Amazon River, and King Neptune and his royal court made their appearance. The “pollywog” crew members (those new to crossing the equator) were judged for their “sins” by the Master of the Deep.  It was a fun ceremony enjoyed by a rather wet audience (it rained about 10 minutes before the ceremony).

I came up early to get in a good position to view the ceremony.  It was sunny and hot.

The fish is rolled out on ice for the "kiss the fish" requirement.

The downpour happens 10 minutes before the ceremony.  We are in a rainforest, and it's short lived, but I'm soaked.

The horn blows, and King Neptune and his queen appear.  (He's the Irish assistant cruise director.  She's the future cruise specialist (and girlfriend of the captain).-

Linda is in the black robe (she's the cruise director) begins the ceremony.

The officers and other officiates have taken their positions.

Representatives of the housekeeping staff are among the first to be initiated.

The officers vote on their fate (in this case dunking in the pool after sliming).

The representatives from the entertainment division are next.

Kelly, one of the ship's photographer, kisses the fish.  She's filming it with her camera mounted to her head.

Amy, the keyboard player with the bad, and the computer instructor kiss the fish.

For his crimes, the computer instructor had to kiss the fish again ("like he meant it") for the cruise director.

The youngest member of the crew is brought out.  Her dad is an crew members.  King Neptune pardons her being of "no sins."

The ceremony is over.

... and all of the slimed folks enter the pool.  It was a fun ceremony.