Day 99 – Crossing the Equator

Day 99 – Crossing the Equator – April 13th

The Crossing the Line ceremony was scheduled for 10 AM by the LIDO pool. I arrived at 9 AM to get a good seat to shoot video. I was in the second row.

Here is a video highlight reel

Michael, Connor and Grahame, from the HAL Orchestra, were setting up under the small Gazebo near the pool. The HAL Orchestra guitar players, Emilio and Mati, were Pollywogs and we would see them later when they went thru the ceremony. A large frozen fish was in place between the Gazebo and the stern end of the pool. This fish was brought aboard in Fort Lauderdale and kept frozen until today specifically for this ceremony.

Off to one side, a metal cage, that is used to load luggage on and off ship, was set up for use as a holding cell for the Pollywog prisoners while waiting for their turn before King Neptune.

Set up along the stern end of the Lido pool were 5 folding chairs for King Neptune’s Court. They would pass judgement on the various Pollywogs who would be brought before them for justice.

Most of the seats were filled by 9:45 AM and by then the available railing space above, on Deck 9, was filled, too.

The ceremony started at 10 AM sharp with the Pollywog Parade. With the HAL Orchestra’s trio playing an appropriate pirate themed dirge the slimy Pollywogs were led around the pool by the Trusty Shellbacks. Afterward the second lap around the pool, the Trusty Shellbacks herded the Slimy Wogs into the holding pens.

King Neptune’s Court, which consisted of the Captain and 4 of his senior Officers, marched across the Lido deck, took the seats by the pool and the ceremony was underway.

Every ship’s department had Pollywogs in the holding pen. They were brought up to face their justice in groups of about 5 Pollywogs at a time. Trusty Shellbacks led them to the edge of the pool facing the Captain and his court. After they knelt, Hamish, the cruise director who served as the Magistrate, would read a list of humorous charges. Following the reading the of Charge Sheet, each Pollywog was required to “Kiss the Fish” and they proceeded to give the formerly frozen fish a smack on the fish’s lips.

Their next stop was the ‘surgeon’s tables’ where they were coated with a semi-liquid meringue looking goop by King Neptune’s “medical staff”. Once they were completely covered, the Captain would pass judgment with a thumbs up or thumbs down. A thumbs down meaning they had to get dunked into the pool and remain there for the rest of the ceremony. Those with a thumbs up were forced to sit in the hot sun. It was really a better deal to get a thumbs down as they could stay in the cool water and wash off the goop rather than have the goop dry on their skin under the hot sun.

After careful consideration, the Captain and his court would give a thumb up or thumbs down and the Pollywog would either leap into the pool or slink off to the other end of the pool to await the end of the ceremony.

As the ceremony was wrapping up, Clare Gill, one of the HAL dancers, who was serving as King Neptune’s mermaid assistant, thought she was off the hook due to her proximity to power. The tide turned quickly as she was called to account for her pollywog crimes. Showing no mercy, the court found her guilty and into the drink she went.

Following the ceremony many of the ship’s staff posed for the following photo by the gazebo here:

The internet remained out of service all day.

Queen’s Lounge

Jo Little was back in the Queen’s Lounge for an encore performance. She was very funny and has a great voice. Her performance which blends comedy and singing is unique and well worth your while.