Neptune Day

Neptune Day

The celebration of Neptune Day has been a Semester at Sea tradition for the last 50 years. The ritual marks the crossing of the equator and the transformation of voyagers who have never crossed south of the line from “Polywogs” to “Shellbacks.” The morning starts with the current shellbacks (Semester at Sea alumni) parading through the halls in costume and making lots of noise. All voyagers are then invited to join King Neptune (AKA Captain Kostas decked out in green body paint) on the pool deck for Shellback initiation. Anyone who wants to participate gets green “fish guts” (sea water with green food coloring) dumped on their head, leaps into the pool, kisses a fish, kisses Neptune’s ring, and has the option to shave their head. All of the Johnson-Lecks are now officially shellbacks, and we have the certificate to prove it. It was another fun and memorable day at sea for all of us.