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We actually crossed over the equator at around 2AM this morning after leaving Manta Ecuador at sunset yesterday, heading for Panama City, Panama. The ship’s traditional King Neptune Ceremony was scheduled at a more convenient time of 11AM today. This ceremony celebrates the equator crossing with King Neptune and his Queen, support by a band of pirates and mermaids, punishing any polywags determined to have committed crimes on the ship. On HAL cruises, the polywags are 1st contract crew members as part of an initiation. Polywag punishments are: be covered in colorful “swill” (think slime); then kiss the fish; and then either baked in the sun or be dunked into the pool, whatever King Neptune or the crowd decrees.

Here’s some video highlights of the polywags.

It was great entertainment for the passengers, crew not so much.

Squeezed in the Panama City port talk later in the afternoon, where we learned about tomorrow’s port and inside tips on where to go. We have an excursion already booked.

Today is Good Friday, so I behaved and refrained from any meat. So for dinner I had fish. What a meal! It was Peruvian Swordfish, cooked to perfection with a sauce just a little sweet and so favorable. It was one of my favorite meals so far.