Thursday 10th January – Crossing the Equator

By our fifth sea day, the clouds had finally lifted, the sea got smoother, and the sun came out – we must have left the wintry northern hemisphere, and entered the summery southern hemisphere.

To mark our crossing the equator, there was the usual crossing the line ceremony hosted by King Neptune (looking suspiciously like Cruise Director Fernando with a crown on his head and a cushion up his robe). People who hadn't crossed the line before were given the standard nautical humiliations of having to kiss raw fishes and being covered in whipped cream, spaghetti and flour.

Pleased by the ridiculousness of these punishments, King Neptune graciously gave his permission for us to cross to the south, and has promised us plain sailing from now on. We trust he will be true to his word.