Today, you are in store for a treat! We are crossing the Arctic Circle and following an age old tradition we are getting our blue noses at the Blue Nose Ceremony, aboard the Seven Seas, Explorer! What does that mean exactly? The Order of the Blue Nose (Domain of the Polar Bear)  is a certificate awarded to first time sailers to mark their first crossing of the Arctic Circle. It recognized the cold bodied sailors that had proven themselves worthy of the cold arctic winds and ice, and capable of handling themselves in this sailing environment, as they crossed the Arctic Circle. In the 19th century the line crossing ceremony was often quite brutal, often involving beatings with boards and wet ropes and sometimes throwing the men overboard and dragging them! Well we are having none of THAT today! We are just getting our photos taken with our blue noses with our friends, King Neptune (the King of the Sea) and our Italian captain! And then on to the special brunch!

As you can see I literally had my hair down for this advent!

On board the Seven Seas ships if there is a sea day on a Sunday, we are treated to a huge, and I mean huge, Sunday buffet! The tables are a work of art with ice sculptures………

Tastefully decorated serving tables offer foods and liquors and more from our featured countries……..it’s always a good thing to try something new!

I guess I’ll start with a shot!

In addition to the ice sculptures (if you can get your eyes off the food for a second) there are always fresh floral arrangements scattered here and there as well. They think of everything and it is elegant! Here we have the seafood and sushi……..

Next up, the fruit table……….

and the cheeses, pickles and olives……….

and salads to build……..

and add more meat please……..

Who can pass up dessert?

Ok, maybe just one small dessert……….ha ha! Who wants to tear into the wishing well make of chocolates? Not me…..that cheesecake is now on my dessert plate!

hmmm………maybe I should have another, to fortify me for the coming days! You know all that arctic wind and such in August!

All of this could go on my plate!

and if we haven’t had enough there is always a pastry!

or maybe a marshmallow dunked in chocolate!

You can see why we love this line to cruise on…….Only 500 passengers and 1500 crew members to just make your day! I better go exercise now!  We’ve had a great time at the Blue Nose Party! Tomorrow we’ll be in Harstad! What will we find there? Will the temperature turn cold?  We’ll see.