Crossing the Equator - King Neptune Arrives

It's always great fun onboard when crossing the equator as ships present a King Neptune ceremony on the premise that it has upset the great king that permission has not been sought for the ship to pass and it is necessary for the uninitiated - i.e. those whose this sailing is their first passage across the equator at sea - suffer some unusual punishment for annoying the great King.

It is quite a jolly affair with the crew getting an opportunity to dress up, the band to play some music by the pool deck and for some unfortunate passengers (but mostly new crew - on the Silver Shadow, two cadets were targeted, although one of them escaped and the other hunted down when they missed their cue!) to get thoroughly gunged by the respective players.

Overseen by the Judge, his trusty companions of mermaids, pirates, hairdresser and doctor, each do King Neptune's bidding over each victim as they are accused of various crimes.

Various food stuffs are poured over the person and at least one person on the guise of having been blindfolded then allowed to feel a good looking chap then gets to kiss a wet fish.  I've heard stories that on some vessels the food is rotten and people are covered in paint and all sorts of dreadful rubbish.  Thankfully not on a cruise line!

When all is said and done, King Neptune permits the vessel to pass and each passenger and member of crew is installed as a trusty shellbacks and recognised by Neptune himself as true mariners.  I'm gathering quite a collection of certificates...