Guests and crew aboard the Carnival Legend – in the midst of a 23-day trans-Pacific repositioning cruise to Australia – participated in a centuries-old maritime tradition held to commemorate a ship’s crossing of the equator.
On September 7 at 3 p.m., the Carnival Legend’s horn bellowed, summoning everyone to the Lido Deck for the time-honored ceremony.
Accompanied by a band of friendly pirates, Carnival Legend Cruise Director Eli Sharplin - dressed as King Neptune as per nautical tradition - volunteered to have his head shaved by none other than Captain Giuseppe Gazzano. The spectacle was witnessed by hundreds of mariners who gathered on deck.
Following the ceremony, the former Carnival Legend “pollywogs” – or novice sailors – were bestowed the new title of “trusty shellback” in recognition of their distinction of crossing the equator.
Carnival Legend arrives in Sydney September 22 and will begin a seasonal program of eight- to 12-day cruises from Down Under on September 24, 2014.