The day after we left Madang, we crossed the Equator again, this time in the middle of the day instead of the middle of the night, so a crossing ceremony was held, and King Neptune was requested to grant our ship safe passage in these new waters. Of course, some pollywogs had to be sacrificed to influence King Neptune to grant this boon, so the Lido Deck was set up for the fun. It was announced that the pool would be closed after the ceremony for cleaning; some people wondered why the pool would need to be closed before the ceremony, but not after they saw what hhappened.

My friend Jeannie, who went through the ceremony in the Navy, said the cruise ship version was pretty wimpy in comparison, but she allowed that even the Navy has had to tone down the more boisterous hazing aspects (no more keelhauling for instance). There is a huge grouper (real) set up in one corner, which all the pollywogs are going to have to kiss.   The pollywogs are brought in, in chains, and locked in a cage in another corner. Next the Captain and his senior crew come in. Last to enter is King Neptune and his court. A proclamation is read and the request for safe passage is made, and King Neptune is told about these pollywogs that don't accept his dominion, so they must be tried.

To begin the trial, the pollywogs are brought out to face King Neptune and their crimes read out. They are always found guilty and made to Kiss The Fish.    Then they are taken to the tables set up by the sides of the pool where a slimy combination of broth, egg whites, whipped cream and other smelly, sticky materials is poured over them. (The pollywogs are brought out in groups; it is apparently not good to be in the last group because the people pouring the stuff no longer have to worry about making it last and they just dump whatever is left on you.) After each group of pollywogs has been thoroughly covered, the Captain and his staff pass judgment: thumbs down, they get dumped in the pool; thumbs up, they must sit by the side baking in the sun (thumbs down is the preferred verdict; only one group received it). At the end, all the pollywogs are thrown in the pool and King Neptune grants safe passage and everyone goes off to find a cool drink (except the people who have to drain and clean the pool). You get another certificate for your collection and a good time is had by all.