DAY 28-AT SEA

Our position at noon today.  The Captain at his noon PA said we would actually be crossing the Equator at 7:45 pm today.  It is 82 degrees with 80% humidity and a 25 knot wind from the east.  The waves/swells are about 8 feet today so we have a much better ride now.

       We will cross the Equator today so will soon be in the Southern Hemisphere.  Of course the Equator is 0 degrees latitude and is nearly 25,000 miles in length, 79% of it is across water (Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans).  We have crossed the Equator several times while cruising and when in Quito, Ecuador, we actually straddled it with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern Hemisphere.
       Early European explorers started a seafaring tradition of having a ceremony when crossing the Equator.  It is observed still on cruise ships and will be observed on Navigator this afternoon.  King Neptune and his court will be on board and all "shellbacks" (those who have previously crossed the Equator, like us) and all "pollywogs" (those who have NOT crossed the Equator before) will come up the pool deck to pay their respects to Neptune.  Pollywogs will have to line up and kiss an actual fish.
The ceremony is a lot of fun as you will see.

 Getting ready for the ceremony to begin.  All the "pollywogs" are seated around the pool.

                                     This is the ship's doctor.

                 Janine, one of our bar waitresses, and Michael, head bartender.

                       The prosecutor of the pollywogs and two mermaids.

                                                         The prosecutor

                              Here comes King Neptune and his queen

                       Dana, asst cruise director, with fake doctor and asst

                                 Our Captain with King Neptune

 Here comes the pollywogs who will be prosecuted led by some pirates.

                                        Doctor in white

        Pollywog pleading for his life.  He was found guilty by King Neptune.

 For his crime of not having crossed the Equator previously, he is being slimmed.

                     Likewise she was found guilty and being slimmed.

             Another guilty pollywog, who the doctor is cutting open.

                              Removing his small intestine

  

    The rest of the pollywogs seated around the pool were pardoned.  On all our other crossing ceremonies all pollywogs were made to kiss a real fish.  Not done today however.  The prosecutor was actually our cruise director, Jamie, and King Neptune was played by last night's entertainer, Paul Edison.  The mermaids and pirates were ship's singers and dancers.

       I don't think either of us slept much last night.  Rebecca still can hardly breathe when lying down and I had a lot of drainage in my throat all night long.  Rebecca has been suffering for 3 weeks now. We like the ship's doctor but she is not helping much.  Seems she only dispenses over the counter medicines.  They are not helping.  My neck pain seems to increase as the day goes on, but at least, no pain at night now.  I think Rebecca is going back to doctor this evening.
       This evening at 6:00 pm is another Seven Seas Society cocktail party for everyone who has sailed on Regent previously.  Don't think we will be attending it.  The good thing about it is miso sea bass is always on the menu for SSS night.
       We are not going to the show tonight as don't care for the ship's singers and dancers who will open the show.  Neither did we care for the comedian who is the headliner entertainer.

WHAT WE DID LAST NIGHT:
       Well, our fried chicken was not very good last night.  Not sure what kind of oil they cook it in but was greasy and the oil seemed to be old and used to cook something else.  Will probably not ask for it again.  I will admit, I am picky when it comes to cooking.
        We did enjoy the show after dinner.  Paul Edison has a great voice.