Guests and crew aboard the Carnival Legend – in the midst of an 11-day repositioning cruise from Sydney to Vancouver – participated in a centuries-old maritime tradition held to commemorate a ship’s crossing of the equator.

Once Carnival Legend crossed the equator, the ship’s horn bellowed, summoning everyone to the Lido Deck for the time-honored ceremony.

Accompanied by a band of friendly pirates, Captain Francesco La Fauci and Chief Engineer Vito Antonelli presided over the festivities which were 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 is scheduled to arrive in Vancouver on May 18 and will sail on an eight-day Alaska cruise ending in Seattle May 26.  The ship will then operate a summer schedule of seven-day Alaska cruises from Seattle through September 8.