The Equator Ceremony is Here !
- Paul Hallman
- Feb 3
- 2 min read
Today was a celebratory day aboard the Coral Princess as we crossed the equator at exactly 1 pm and officially left the realm of mere “Slimy Pollywogs” behind as they became trusted Shellbacks. Polliwogs are sailors or passengers who have never crossed the equator. Slimy Pollywogs are uninitiated lowly status marine travelers. Once they complete the ceremony they become Trusted Shellbacks. And so the ceremony began.
Most of the ship's passengers gathered around the pool and upper deck to witness the equator crossing as well as the "entertainment." Jan and I were on the upper deck while our friends from Toronto were by the pool to watch the shenanigans and to witness the pledges the "Slimy Pollywogs" would have to take.
The Captain and his crew had prepared a full “Indoctrination of the Slimy Pollywogs” ceremony on deck, and the atmosphere was part carnival, part ancient maritime ritual. At the center of it all presided the mighty King Neptune and Queen Nefertiti, rulers of the seas for this voyage and guardian of the equatorial line.
The Pollywogs were summoned to kneel before the Court of Neptune. Under the watchful eye of King Neptune and his court, each had to testify and swear that, from this moment on, they would be good, seaworthy subjects fit to remain on board. The ship's nurse deemed them to be ill and they needed medical attention to remain on board.
Of course, no promise at sea is complete without a proper anointing. After their oath, the Pollywogs were doused with “holy” water and anointed with sacred oils—better known on land as whipped cream. Laughter echoed around the ship's deck as faces and hair disappeared under swirls of foam, transforming nervous Pollywogs into sticky, giggling initiates. But the path to becoming a true Shellback didn’t end there. Still dripping with water and whipped cream, they had to be cleansed in the most dramatic way possible: by jumping—or being gently “encouraged”—into the pool.
On the way in, each new initiate had one final task: to “Kiss the Fish.” With noses wrinkled and eyes squeezed shut, they leaned in to press a quick kiss to the ceremonial fish before splashing or being pushed into the pool to the cheers of the crowd. The water washed away the whipped cream, but not the smiles.
Following the Pollywogs initiation the uninitiated passengers that so desired to become a part of the cleansing, joined the ceremony, and finally the deck was full of newly baptized Trusted Shellbacks, proud to have crossed the equator in such unforgettable fashion. It was messy, hilarious, and completely wonderful—one of those perfect sea days that we’ll be talking about long after we’re back on land.
The Moon over the Equator taken by Jan Hallman
After an entertaining day crossing the Equator, we had a beautiful moon shining over the Pacific Ocean and it gave us a moment to reflect on the day that just passed.
One more day at sea and then we put our feet on the ground.
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