How many hours in a transatlantic sea day.

Hi everyone

We are about to embark on our first transatlantic cruise ex Southampton (super excited) and we have heard anecdotally that the ships clocks are set back one hour each day while at sea to ensure we arrive without sea lag? Can anyone confirm for us.

Many thanks.

Presumably P&O do the same as Cunard: put clocks back 1 hour at 02.00 each night when travelling westwards, and forward 1 hour at 12 noon when travelling eastwards.

When I have cruised back to Southampton they have lost the hour at midday.

Certainly on Transatlantic crossings to and from the Caribbean we have experienced the clocks going forward an hour at mid-day rather than at night. I'm not sure sure that when the clocks have gone back an hour they haven't done it at night rather than at mid-day, someone else may be clearer on that. I know that at lunch time we've had to beware that when it's noon it becomes 1pm so have to keep an eye on when we're going to lunch.

Aurora, arriving in Southampton tomorrow, I believe, has had an hour knocked off overnight for several nights in a row. I don't think my body clock would adjust very well to that

We've sailed the Atlantic a few times and have been told that the midday change is so that the crew don't lose an hours sleep. Suppose that makes sense, they work hard enough as it is.

On Transatlantic sailings most days are effectively 23 or 25 hours long. This depends on whether you are sailing eastwards or westwards. Some people favour world cruises on the basis of which way the ship sails and what the deal is on time as a result. The Transatlantic New York to Southampton or Barbados to Southampton or vice versa has an overall time difference of five hours so irrespective of how many days the ship takes to sail from a to b, only five days will involve an hour's clock adjustment. Some ships take six or seven days to do the voyage and one or two days the clock wont need adjusting because of this.

Regards John

We did the transatlantic from Barbados to Southampton back in March this year. The clocks were put forward at 2pm for 5 days. We missed lunch the first time they did it, as we went for lunch at 1.45 only to find they were setting up for afternoon tea for 3pm. Didn't make that mistake again! The first three clock changes were made before the Azores and the other two during the three days before Southampton. Hope this helps:)

What time of day are the clocks put back going westwards to the caribbean ?

What time of day are the clocks put back going westwards to the caribbean ?

Overnight.

Overnight.

Great, Thanks

Seems ships do it differently. We did a Caribbean and back, round trip, on Aurora last Christmas and New Year, and the clocks were changed overnight.

Thanks everyone, most helpful. Any other top tips for transatlantic cruises (first one in October) most gratefully received. I'm a tiny bit concerned about the weather mid Atlantic and the possibility of slight boredom creeping in.

Thanks in advance

Thanks everyone, most helpful. Any other top tips for transatlantic cruises (first one in October) most gratefully received. I'm a tiny bit concerned about the weather mid Atlantic and the possibility of slight boredom creeping in.

Thanks in advance ��

To minimise the possibility of boredom creeping in all persons travelling with you need to have a personal copy of the Horizon Newsletter published daily and delivered to your cabin. Extra copies are available from reception. Go through the daily programme and use highlighters to mark "must not miss" and "that looks interesting" items on the schedule. If you both or all have the same items your on a winner. If not then you decide whether to split for an hour or so while one goes to the spa etc. It's quite expensive however it is exciting to see the result they create on your partner's on board account. Or just do trivia quiz and follow on with the bingo!

Regards John

Sometimes you will find some craft or bridge going on. There will be speakers too, some better than others!! I'm sure you'll thoroughly enjoy it.