Crossing the Equator

 Viking like probably every other cruise ship holds a crossing the equator NEPTUNE party after crossing the equator.  While this one was not as crazy as the one I experienced on Oceana cruise line I thought I would share a few photos.  For those of you who are not familiar with this old age tradition I will try to describe what happens.  Kind Neptune and his court watch the accused Pollywogs be inducted into the Order of the Shellbacks.  The accused are various crew members, usually officers.  The court consists of the passengers.   As the accused are called to the court their crime is revealed and the court decides guilty or not guilty.  If guilty the person is smeared with whipping cream and tossed into the pool.  They are accused of such crimes as allowing the bedbugs to go ramped on deck 6, or the chef holding back the good food for himself, or the hotel manager spying on the room attendants,  and so on.  All very silly accusations.  Rarely is anyone found not guilty, but should they be found not guilty they are spared the smearing of goop on them.  After all the accused have been paraded around they must kiss the fish.  The funny part of this was that the fish wore masks.  Most kissed the fish with the mask on, but a few brave souls pulled off the face mask and kissed the fish on the mouth.    Well this is the best I can describe this silly tradition.  I am sure if you google it you will find a better explanation.  Here are some pictures of this event.