This post is based primarily on Don's notes, occasionally supplemented with MT's notes from our cruise in November-December 2023. When information from other sources is added—for further explanation to readers or to satisfy our own curiosity—that is set off in a text box (as this one).
Most of the photos that accompany this post are from Don’s camera (with a caption indicating the time it was taken); those from MT’s iPhone are indicated by “MT” placed at the beginning of the photo caption. Photos from any other source (such as the public domain Wikimedia Commons), occasionally used for clarification, indicate that source in the caption.
Most of the photos that accompany this post are from Don’s camera (with a caption indicating the time it was taken); those from MT’s iPhone are indicated by “MT” placed at the beginning of the photo caption. Photos from any other source (such as the public domain Wikimedia Commons), occasionally used for clarification, indicate that source in the caption.
The Viking Daily newsletter showed today's weather forecast as "Rain Shower 80° F" and "Sunrise: 6:03 AM." This was Thanksgiving Day.
Don woke at 6:30 am (MT was already up).
At 6:55, Room Service breakfast arrived..
At 8:00, we both went to the track on Deck 2 to run or walk. However, the deck was wet and was closed off on the aft end for maintenance. Then it started to rain.
So we went up to Deck 8, but it was raining hard there too.
Then we went to the Fitness Center (Deck 1), where we both walked on treadmills. After a little more that 20 minutes, Don noticed that a recumbent bike had become available, and he switched to that for another 30 minutes.
At 10:30, we went to the Pool Deck (Deck 7) for the "Equator Crossing Ceremony," scheduled to start at 11:00; we went early to get good seats; even at that time there were very few left. The retractable roof over the Pool Deck was open, and there was a light sprinkle. However, there was no rain for the ceremony.
The Viking Daily newsletter had the following proclamation:
"Be it now proclaimed by Call of Conch and Nautilus throughout the latitudes and longitudes of our ocean's domain that I, Neptune, ruler of the seven seas... do hereby sanction and affirm that our most noble crossing of the equator has fallen upon us... Now that the Viking Star is set to sail across the Equator, celebrate this age old tradition and be inducted into the 'Order of the Shellback'. Pay homage to Neptune, take the plunge and shoot the traditional shot. Music provided by the Viking Band from 10:30 AM. (Swimsuits advised for those who wish to participate. You do not have to complete all trials. All guests will receive a crossing certificate. Weather permitting.)"
The Equator-crossing ceremony
or line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite in some English-speaking
countries that commemorates a person’s first crossing of the Equator. The tradition
may have been created by seasoned sailors as a test to ensure their new
shipmates were capable of handling long, rough voyages. Equator-crossing ceremonies,
typically featuring King Neptune, are common in the Navy and are also sometimes
carried out for passengers on civilian ocean liners and cruise ships.
In the 18th century and earlier, the line-crossing ceremony sometimes involved throwing the victims over the side of the ship. New crew members, called Pollywogs, were expected to endure a standard initiation rite in order to become a Trusty Shellback. Back then, the ceremony was a rather brutal event, often involving beating the Pollywogs with bords and wet ropes.
After crossing the line nowadays, Pollywogs receive subpoenas to appear before King Neptune and his court (all represented by the highest-ranking sailors who are Shellbacks). At the end of the mock trial, the accused were traditionally ducked in the sea. However, since it is not permitted to throw anything overboard on a cruise ship, this activity now takes place in the next best thing, the ship’s main swimming pool. Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate declaring his new status.
In the 18th century and earlier, the line-crossing ceremony sometimes involved throwing the victims over the side of the ship. New crew members, called Pollywogs, were expected to endure a standard initiation rite in order to become a Trusty Shellback. Back then, the ceremony was a rather brutal event, often involving beating the Pollywogs with bords and wet ropes.
After crossing the line nowadays, Pollywogs receive subpoenas to appear before King Neptune and his court (all represented by the highest-ranking sailors who are Shellbacks). At the end of the mock trial, the accused were traditionally ducked in the sea. However, since it is not permitted to throw anything overboard on a cruise ship, this activity now takes place in the next best thing, the ship’s main swimming pool. Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate declaring his new status.
Thursday, November 23, 2023, 10:44 AM - Viking Star: warm-up for Equator Crossing Ceremony on Pool Deck Viking Vocalist Barry Jones, in black suit and hat at far end of pool, doing Frank Sinatra.
10:45 AM - Viking Star: warm-up for Equator Crossing Ceremony on Pool Deck Viking Vocalist Barry Jones, in black suit and hat at near end of pool, doing Frank Sinatra.
10:45 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - Cruise Director Katy, in red jacket, making opening remarks.
MT 10:52 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - program with the proclamation "Be it now proclaimed by Call of Conch and Nautilus throughout the latitudes and longitudes of our ocean's domain that I, Neptune, ruler of the seven seas... do hereby sanction and affirm that our most noble crossing of the equator has fallen upon us..." followed in fine print by "Pool deck 7, Judgement day has arrived .... 23rd November 2023 Viking Star Equator Crossing Ceremony 11:30 am."
10:59 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - people who were going to participate in the plunge lined up around the pool; some spectators watching from up on Deck 8 (we had arrived early enough to get seats down below).
11:01 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - Captain (left) and Chief Engineer (right) in uniform, now seated at far end of pool (telephoto 93 mm).
11:03 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - Assistant Cruise Director Jonny, acting as emcee, with people lined up for plunge behind him.
11:03 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - Katy and Captain, on far side of pool, shouting back at Jonny, in response to something he had just said (telephoto 93 mm).
11:07 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - MT, leaving her seat for a better position on near side of pool, with Jonny, continuing to follow his script.
11:07 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - crewmembers starting around the pool, carrying a heavy white rope.
MT 11:08 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - Jonny continuing to read from his script (mild telephoto 31 mm).
11:08 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - last of crewmembers going around the pool, with Shore Excursion Manager Robert Riddell (red shirt) and Hotel Manager David Lecumberri (white shirt) at end of heavy white rope (others in red shirts were Viking Vocalists, who were members of the entertainment team).
MT 11:09 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - Katy leading song "A Viking Life for Me" on our programs as the first of the other crewmembers sing along (VIDEO).
11:09 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - Katy reading from her script (the made-up charges against them) as she and other crewmembers knelt down.
11:15 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - first of crewmembers diving into pool, as Katy read charges and MT took photo.
11:19 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - some more senior crewmembers in uniform diving into pool, as Katy read charges and MT took photo.
11:20 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - some more senior crewmembers in uniform diving into pool, as Katy read charges (VIDEO).
MT 11:22 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - Viking Vocalists diving into pool.
11:24 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - Last of the ship's officers, Shore Excursion Manager Robert Riddell (red shirt) and Hotel Manager David Lecumberri (white shirt), with end of white rope; Katy and Robert (with whom she always joked at Port Talks) both laughing, as she read the charges against him, and then Robert dove in, with MT in foreground (this took so long that the 137 MB VIDEO exceeded the 100 MB limit for Blogger).
11:43 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - Katy at first seemed reluctant but, after goading by Jonny, dived with summersault into pool; MT taking photo in foreground (VIDEO).
MT 11:44 AM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - Katy diving with summersault into pool (mild telephoto 57 mm).
As the rest of the participating passengers dived into the pool, we were invited to sing from from the program for the ceremony.
12:24 PM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - program (now somewhat crumpled) with the proclamation "Be it now proclaimed by Call of Conch and Nautilus throughout the latitudes and longitudes of our ocean's domain that I, Neptune, ruler of the seven seas... do hereby sanction and affirm that our most noble crossing of the equator has fallen upon us..." followed in fine print by "Pool deck 7, Judgement day has arrived .... 23rd November 2023 Viking Star Equator Crossing Ceremony 11:30 am."
12:24 PM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - program with words for "A Viking Life for me..."
12:24 PM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - program with last chorus of "A Viking Life for me..." and words for "We all Live in A Yellow Submarine."
12:24 PM - Viking Star: Equator Crossing Ceremony - program with words for "Drunken Sailor."
We were told we would receive our "Crossed the Equator" certificates in our room at "turn-down time." That was when housekeeping made up our room and delivered the Viking Daily newsletter for the following day, usually when we were out for dinner.
At 11:45, we went to the Pool Grill (also on Deck 7) for the "Fruit Buffet," prepared by Executing Chef Joseph and his culinary team.
MT 12:08 PM - Viking Star: Fruit Buffet serving line in Pool Grill.
At 1:00, we went to Torshavn (Deck 2) for "Viking Star Choir," a singalong led by Cruise Director Katy and accompanied by Resident Pianist Simina.
At 6:00, we went to the World Café (Deck 7) for the "Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner," which featured roasted turkey and traditional pumpkin pie prepared by the Restaurant team. (We were told that the pumpkin pie had no ginger, although that was a common ingredient in pumpkin pie filling.)
7:07 PM - Viking Star: World Café - Don's main course plate at Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, with turkey, dressing potatoes, and green beans.
MT 7:09 PM - Viking Star: World Café - MT's main course plate at Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, with turkey, dressing potatoes, and green beans.
When we returned to our stateroom after dinner, our "Crossed the Equator" certificates were there.
MT 7:46 PM - Viking Star: MT's "Crossed the Equator" certificates, signed by the Captain.
7:47 PM - Viking Star: Don's "Crossed the Equator" certificates, signed by the Captain.
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