We love to cruise! There are a lot of reasons:

	The taste of elegant living for a reasonable cost is always very appealing. The food and service helps one to let go of the cares of ordinary life. We meet a lot of interesting people in a relaxed atmosphere.
	You get to eat in a luxury restaurant every evening.
	It's so convenient to be able to unpack once and have the hotel move from one interesting place to another.
	You can have a safe, clean, familiar place to return to after visiting an exotic third-world site.
	The food is excellent and it's all prepaid.
	There are various lounges with live music all over the ship. You can dance late into the night, gather 'round the piano bar, or just sit, sip and chat while listening.
	The ship is a floating resort with swimming pools, games, a gym, a spa, a library, movies, and live entertainment every evening.
	Did I mention the food?
	And it really does let you get away from it all.

Crossing the Line

This cruise was one that crossed the equator. There are age-old rituals that have to be observed in such a case.

	King Neptune came on board to render judgment on the "polliwogs" (those crossing the line for the first time.)
	For such "crimes" as over feeding the guests, steering an unsmooth course, or asking tough trivia questions they were made to kiss the fish ...
	... and were then slimed and dumped in the pool.

The Midnight Dessert Buffet

		On the next to the last night out, they staged a dessert extravaganza just in case you hadn't gotten enough calories during the rest of the cruise.