King Neptune Pays the Maasdam a Visit


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South America » Brazil » Espírito Santo » Vitória
February 27th 2014
Published: February 27th 2014
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Day 23 – King Neptune pays the Maasdam a visit



The day started out with the ship passing through rain showers. The continued threat of rain was real, so much so that the Captain maneuvered the ship to actually skirt some other downpours so that we could celebrate the King Neptune Ceremony later in the morning.



The celebration took place at 10:30 am beside the Navigation Pool, aft deck 10. The pool was a very essential part of the exercise.



At the appropriate hour the “Prosecutor” introduced the Captain and his senior officers, followed by King Neptune and his Mermaid Queen .



After the introductions the Prosecutor read the following:



Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Landlubbers of high and low degree

Today we pay homage to Neptune

The Father of the sea.

Fishes, turtles, mermaids

All creatures of the deep

Have told him of our coming

Which woke him from His sleep.

The Maasdam they cried

Has entered your domain,

With vile polywogs onboard

Who do not acknowledge your reign.

King Neptune rose from his seaweed bed

And said, I shall proclaim that all onboard

To the sharks be fed

Who do not me acclaim.

Then taking up his trident and boarding

The flowing stream he

Hurried here to meet us

Assisted by his mermaid Queen.



In his role as “Prosecutor” Carlos then presented each of the polywogs, members of the crew who had never before crossed the Equator, and read out their “crimes” to King Neptune for his judgment.



The standard punishment was that each inductee had to first “Kiss the Fish” then be sent off to be slopped with multi-colored goop. The final phase of the exercise was left up to the senior officers and the audience to determine if they were to be left at the side of the pool to bake in the sun or be immediately dunked in the pool.



The pictures give you some idea of what the 20 “polywogs” were put through before being converted into shellbacks today.


Additional photos below
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28th February 2014

Ceremony
Hi Mike and Brooke, What you describe is very similar to some political ceremonies I've attended. Sounds like a great trip. Too bad about all that sun and warmth though. You're missing a record low temperature that was last reached when Sir John A. was in office. You've also missed the shared intimacy of a norovirus with us. You poor wretches you! Take care and enjoy, - Mark

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