Ahoy Pollywogs and Shellbacks

Not often when I watch the Cruise or Jayne McDonald programme do I learn anything new- but this week on the Cruise I learnt all about when a ship crosses the equator during the itinerary is a big deal and that cruise ships will host a party in its honour and also the Kissing of the Fish. At first I was a bit sceptical if this was just a show for the film crew but I did ask on my facebook page and did a google search and it does actually happen (although depending on the cruise line depends if they go to the extremes the Majestic Princess went to with its food fight of spaghetti, chocolate sauce and jelly)

So when a ship crosses the equator its a naval tradition to initiate the sailors who have not crossed the equator before (the name for these people are pollywogs) into the Kingdom of Neptune upon the first time of them crossing the equator, once crossed you transform from a pollywog to a Shellback (which is also known as a son or daughter of Neptune). It’s a ritual which dates back at least 400 years and is carried out not only by cruise ships but also by the Royal Navy. And as seen on the Cruise it’s not just the passengers who are made to join in but also the cruise members who haven’t sailed across the equator before.

Once the ceremony has taken place, and you are covered in whatever food has been thrown at you, it is then time to kiss the fish – this tends to be one of the largest fish onboard and is to signify that you have crossed over the equator and no longer a pollywog.

Watching the Cruise has put me off a little letting the crew know if it was my first time of crossing the equator after seeing what everyone got covered in – wonder if you get to put the clothes in the laundry free of charge?

Some cruise lines also give you a certificate for crossing the equator.

Have you been crossed the equator before and what happened at your ceremony?

Have a great couple of weeks

Kerry

xx