So I needed a little time to explain this story properly: A part of tradition on the Aurora is that once passed the 60th parallel new expeditioners pay their respects to King Neptune in a little initiation ceremony. This ceremony consists of the appearance of King Neptune and his entourage (cast by a very enthusiastic crew of the Aurora) where King Neptune gives a speech and then, when called upon, each of us new expeditioners come forth, kneel before the King, Kiss a fish (they literally thaw out a salmon from the freezer) and receive a ‘Gift from the Bottom’. This gift was made up of rotten fruit and I’m pretty sure left over desserts from the previous few days and other unidentifiable ingredients. All of which was scooped up and poured over our heads and smothered down our back. Because there was quite a few of us newbies they called us up in groups of three to move us through a bit quicker. Naturally I was called up in the first group. But it was all good fun and a bit of an experience. The lady next to me was a Navy Hydrographer, she struggled quite a bit but I could not stop laughing. After our turn I shot off to take a shower and then race back so I could watch the others. One of the ships crew was on her first voyage and she was certainly not immune, they saved her for last. After one of the crew calling “we catch and kill our own!” they picked up the whole bucket of what was left and dumped the lot on her head. Following the ceremony they issued each of us with a certificate to prove our initiation into the southern seas.Needless to say after all this the captain lifted the ban on alcohol for the night and we were all allowed three drinks … we pretty sure earned them!!!
Guy's Antarctica Adventure 2020 