“Crossing the Line and Earning Our Sea Legs—Again!”
Today marked a major maritime milestone—we crossed the equator and officially entered the southern hemisphere aboard the beautiful Zaandam. As tradition dictates, this crossing wasn’t just a point on the map—it was cause for celebration, ritual, and a bit of seaworthy fun, thanks to the time-honored King Neptune Ceremony.
For those unfamiliar with this salty tradition, the King Neptune Ceremony is a naval rite of passage that dates back centuries. Sailors who are crossing the equator for the very first time are playfully labeled “polywogs”—uninitiated souls who must earn their sea legs. To do so, they face a humorous and often messy “trial” overseen by King Neptune, the ruler of the seas, and his court of tritons, mermaids, and other nautical characters. Only after passing the test are they deemed worthy to become “shellbacks”, true sons and daughters of the ocean.
For us, this wasn’t our first time—and far from it! Jan and I are proud not only to be Golden Shellbacks (having crossed the equator at the International Date Line) but also Diamond Shellbacks, a rarer distinction for those who have crossed the equator and the prime meridian. It’s a badge of honor that few earn, and we wear it with a mix of pride and saltwater in our veins.
The Zaandam crew pulled off a fantastic ceremony, complete with full regalia, fun antics, and high spirits, despite the blistering heat out on deck. Guests and crew gathered to watch the festivities—there was laughter, cheering, and plenty of good-natured revelry. The energy was contagious, and the smiles wide.
Even as the sun blazed overhead, the spirit of tradition and camaraderie was stronger than ever. There’s something magical about participating in a ceremony that links today’s travelers with generations of mariners before us. It’s part of what makes life at sea so uniquely rich.
So here’s to Neptune, to old traditions, and to new adventures in the southern seas. Onward we sail—salty, sun-kissed, and proud!
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