Odd things about our Canada cruise

[warmwinds]

No big deal, we just thought these were strange:

 

When docked in Canada, before sailaway, only ONE bar could be open on each deck (signs said due to Canadian regulations) - we thought one per deck was odd. Wouldn't you think it would be all or nothing?

 

And there was an hour and a HALF (yes, 90 minutes) time change from Quebec to Newfoundland. All my life I thought time zones went in one-hour increments.

[cruisestitch]

There are all sorts of odd/unusual/inexplicable laws regarding bars.

 

I have been in ports where no bar could be open, but the restaurants could serve wine and beer as long as food was being served.

 

I have been in ports where we were told that we could not stand in front of a bar or congregate near one, even when no beverages were being served. I was having a hard time reading some fine print one afternoon, so I walked over toward the bar where there was a brighter light to read by, and was told I could not sit there, even though the bar was closed.

[sheffield]

I also thought the same about time zones but my son is deployed in Afghanistan and they are 8 1/2 hours ahead of us.

[travlr21]

Given some our weird and archaic liquor laws in Canada, I am surprised that any bar was open.

 

As to the time zone, there are a couple more in the world that are off by 30 minutes from a neighboring zone. Having grown up watching the national TV network, a TV show would be promoted as being on at 9PM, 9:30 in Newfoundland.

[ischeer]

No big deal, we just thought these were strange:

 

When docked in Canada, before sailaway, only ONE bar could be open on each deck (signs said due to Canadian regulations) - we thought one per deck was odd. Wouldn't you think it would be all or nothing?

 

And there was an hour and a HALF (yes, 90 minutes) time change from Quebec to Newfoundland. All my life I thought time zones went in one-hour increments.

 

Newfoundland, and a portion of Labrador, have always been 30 min ahead of the Atlantic Time Zone. When the time zones were established, Newfoundland was an independent country, and was given its own time zone

[CherishBritta]

Newfoundland is the only Canadian province with a half hour time difference. As for the alcohol laws, I never realized Canadian ones were different!

 

 

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[julie3fan]

I noticed the same time difference oddity, and when I researched it, I saw somewhere else (don't ask me to remember where!) was 15 min/45 min difference (depending on which neighboring time zone you were looking at). That I found VERY odd!!

[jayoldschool]

When you look at Ontario, and realize that Thunder Bay is still in the same time zone as Quebec... we are a little crazy up here.

 

Tonight, on CBC, at 9:00pm, 9:30 in Newfoundland!

[DirtyDawg]

No big deal, we just thought these were strange:

 

When docked in Canada, before sailaway, only ONE bar could be open on each deck (signs said due to Canadian regulations) - we thought one per deck was odd. Wouldn't you think it would be all or nothing?

 

And there was an hour and a HALF (yes, 90 minutes) time change from Quebec to Newfoundland. All my life I thought time zones went in one-hour increments.

 

That's what great about cruising. It's relaxing and Educational!:D

 

Newfoundland is way out there. Way out EAST and just plain "way out there" (in the best sort of way!;))

[Sloop-JohnB]

When Bars, Shops & Casinos aboard a cruise ship are open are in part dictated by local laws & agreements.

 

As a good deal of Canada has antiquated Liquor Laws, I too am not all that surprised by the fact that there were limited bar openings... Especially so while the ship was docked... Lol, we were all hoping you would come ashore and spend your money here (not that uncommon in the cruise industry with Ports of Call)

 

Newfoundland, and a portion of Labrador, have always been 30 min ahead of the Atlantic Time Zone. When the time zones were established, Newfoundland was an independent country, and was given its own time zone

 

100% Agree.

 

When Sir Sanford Fleming (a Canadian) railway engineer proposed a worldwide system of time zones in 1879, his revolutionary (scientific system) was based on a 24 hour global clock corresponding to the lines of longitude.

 

... Newfoundland is way out there. Way out EAST and just plain "way out there" (in the best sort of way!;))

 

If you look at a map, you will clearly see that Newfoundland & Labrador who at the time were Colonies of the UK (they were the last Province to join Canada's Confederation in 1949) are truly "out there" beyond the boundaries of what was then considered North America (even farther east than the Islands of the Caribbean... Windward or Leeward). But not so far as to merit a whole hour, were given a half-hour designation.

 

Just another quirky thing we have here in Canada... Lol

 

Actually many Americans assume that the USA and Canada span the same distance east to west. This is one example which clearly shows Canada as the bigger country (we are # 2 in the world behind Russia, the USA is # 4 behind China)... Clearly east to where the continent begins there are big differences in that we have a total of 6 Time Zones (Newfoundland - Atlantic - Eastern - Central - Mountain - Pacific). While the USA has 5 (Eastern - Central - Mountain - Pacific - Alaska).

 

Many Americans are not aware of the Atlantic or Newfoundland time zones until they actually visit us.

 

Cheers!

Edited September 27, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[Aussieflyer]

Time zones are always interesting. We only have three times zones in Australia during winter:

10 am in the Eastern states - Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Canberra and Brisbane

9.30 am in Adelaide and Darwin

8 am in Perth

 

When daylight saving comes in (October - April), we have 5.

10 am in Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Canberra

9 am in Brisbane

9.30 am in Adelaide

8.30 am in Darwin

7 am in Perth

 

That's because Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia do not have daylight saving.

Changes to ship time is so much easier to cope with.:D

[Sloop-JohnB]

Time zones are always interesting. We only have three times zones in Australia during winter:

10 am in the Eastern states - Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Canberra and Brisbane

9.30 am in Adelaide and Darwin

8 am in Perth

 

When daylight saving comes in (October - April), we have 5.

10 am in Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Canberra

9 am in Brisbane

9.30 am in Adelaide

8.30 am in Darwin

7 am in Perth

 

That's because Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia do not have daylight saving.

Changes to ship time is so much easier to cope with.:D

 

We do that in Canada as well.

 

The majority of the Provine of Saskatchewan (Central Time Zone) doesn't recognize Daylight Savings Time... So they are on Standard Time year round.

 

A little strange, especially for this Provinces neighbours of Manitoba to the East (Central Time) and Alberta to the West (Mountain Time) in that Saskatchewan without changing ends up at least part the year in the same zone as one neighbour and not the other

 

For us Canucks we find it particularly quirky in that Daylight Savings time was implemented so that our farmers (and others) could benefit from sunlight into the later hours of the day. Saskatchewan is Canada's prime farmland... "the breadbasket of North America" when it comes to growing grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye) and yet here she is stuck back on Standard Time.

 

Seeing as the daylight hours are a constant... Seems crazy to me. I would much rather get up an hour later if it meant the same amount of time out in the fields.

 

Cheers!

[broberts]

One bar per deck may be the result of the cost / difficulty of complying with local laws regarding licensing, or the selling of alcoholic beverages. As opposed to some law that only allows a particular number of bars.

[judyfssw]

When we were in Bermuda, we had to turn our clocks ahead one hour. When we're in Aruba, we also have to turn our clocks ahead one hours but when we go on Eastern Daylight savings time, we are the same time as Aruba which is on Atlantic time. Both Aruba and Bermuda are in the Atlantic time zone. So, my question to the officers was why are we going ahead one hour? The reply was that Bermuda, in the Atlantic time zone was on Bermuda time??????? I just don't get it. And, I know, I should get a life if this bothers me.

[gold1953]

Just happened to find the law regarding the bars so yes it is true.. one bar per deck or 1000 passengers

http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-3-7-eng.html

 

I remember being off the coast of Spain where they have a law that states if we purchase anything onboard when we are within 3 miles of shore we must pay tax to Spain. We waited of course

[Sloop-JohnB]

When we were in Bermuda, we had to turn our clocks ahead one hour. When we're in Aruba, we also have to turn our clocks ahead one hours but when we go on Eastern Daylight savings time, we are the same time as Aruba which is on Atlantic time. Both Aruba and Bermuda are in the Atlantic time zone. So, my question to the officers was why are we going ahead one hour? The reply was that Bermuda, in the Atlantic time zone was on Bermuda time??????? I just don't get it. And, I know, I should get a life if this bothers me.

 

Yes, Time Zones and how they are applied can be confusing... Because although the zones are set geographically by the Lines of Longitude, Goverments can decide how they wish to apply them (even ignore them entirely... Or set their own... Part of the reason that Newfoundland who was once part of the UK has its own zone... NST = Newfoundland Standard Time / NDT = Newfoundland Daylight Savings Time )

 

As for Bermuda & Aruba you are correct... They are both part of the Atlantic Time Zone per se (as it relates to the rest of North America / USA & Canada)

 

Bermuda adjusts for Daylight Savings the same way that US or Canada do... Spring an hour ahead Spring thru Fall. If you visited Bermuda then any time of year from the Eastern Time Zone (ie flew or cruised out of NY, Boston, etc) you would have to put your clock ahead to be on correct time.

 

Example... It is currently Noon EDT now, and in Bermuda it is now 1:00 PM ABDT (Atlantic Bermuda Daylight Time)

 

Aruba doesn't adjust for Daylight Savings. So, Spring thru Fall time on that island would be identical to time in the Eastern Time Zone... No need to advance an hour. Fall thru Spring, which is when most cruises would be going to Aruba, you would have to advance your clock to be on correct time.

 

Example... It is currently Noon EDT now, and in Aruba it is now also also Noon AAST (Atlantic Aruba Standard Time). A sunny day in January it would be 1:00 PM AAST

 

Where it truly gets complicated is when one takes into account "Ship Time" which is where the Captain can make the decision about the time zone for his cruise. This happens a lot in the Caribbean.

 

Even though the Caribbean Islands are all in the Atlantic Time Zone, the Ship will often remain on Eastern Time having sailed out of Fort Lauderdale or Miami.

 

Personally, I find this a bit odd.

 

But then again, I figure it is the Captain's choice to make (I am not going to argue with the Captain, lol). And just perhaps it s based on years of knowledge that some cruise Pax notoriously show up late, especially so on a relaxing Eastern Caribbean Cruise ... Lol, so when the Island is on Atlantic Time (1 Hour Ahead) and the Ship on Eastern... It means that there is a greater chance that a Pax's vacation confusion means he shows up an Hour Early for Sailaway... Even though he may think he is "running late" / going to miss the ship.

 

Haven't sailed to Aruba yet, but if the Captain made the adjustment there (and only there) for Atlantic Time, I am guessing he had a good reason. I would think It might relate to where you cruised from, and where else you had been / were going too.

 

Cheers!

Edited September 27, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[A Sixth?]

 

 

And there was an hour and a HALF (yes, 90 minutes) time change from Quebec to Newfoundland. All my life I thought time zones went in one-hour increments.

 

 

 

Almost 1/4 of the population of the planet is on a 1/2 hour time dif! No worries....

 

India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal, Central Australia, Venezuela and a few areas that are in the news every day, Afghanistan and Iran!

 

Edited September 27, 2014 by A Sixth?

[warmwinds]

I guess I don't get out much! :)

[Sloop-JohnB]

And there was an hour and a HALF (yes, 90 minutes) time change from Quebec to Newfoundland. All my life I thought time zones went in one-hour increments.

 

This statement isolated as done by A SIXTH? In Reply # 17

 

Now has me curious

 

Did you find it just odd that there was a "half hour" time zone (as I previously assumed)

 

Or was it odd cause the ship jumped ahead in time in one go 1-1/2 Hours ???

 

Missing out on the Atlantic Time Zone altogether ?

 

Which is what all your stops in Canada's Maritime Provinces (Nova Scotia - Prince Edward Island - New Brunswick) should have been.

 

Seems to be that a lot of cruises out of the US Eastern Seaboard intentionally skip the time change for the Atlantic Zone (more than a little peculiar as I said back in Reply # 16).

 

Cheers!

Edited September 27, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[warmwinds]

It's right there in what you quoted I said...I did not know that time zones jumped by anything other than one-hour increments. I had never been to Newfoundland, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan or any of the other places mentioned in this thread.

Edited September 27, 2014 by warmwinds

[Sloop-JohnB]

It's right there in what you quoted I said...I did not know that time zones jumped by anything other than one-hour increments. I had never been to Newfoundland, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan or any of the other places mentioned in this thread.

 

Ya I got that part, and for the record neither have I, as I am yet to visit Newfoundland.

 

Just curious as I said, did the ship skip Atlantic Time for the stops in The Maritimes.

 

Normal chain of events for your Itinerary should have been going... Eastern to Atlantic (NS & PEI) - Atlantic to Eastern (QC). And then returning Eastern to Atlantic - Atlantic to Newfoundland (NF) - Newfoundland to Atlantic - Atlantic to Eastern (ME)

 

Just trying to figure out how many times you guys actually changed your clocks...

 

Cheers!

Edited September 27, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[warmwinds]

I believe the sequence you put out was what we did.

[hvsteve1]

There are a lot of weird saloon rules around the world. I think some areas of Canada which have strict Sunday blue laws have rules where only a place serving food can serve drinks. I have made a number of trips to Nova Scotia over the years and recall, on my early trips, supermarkets seemed to all be closed on Sunday. In a more recent trip, I noticed they were now open having figured ways around the law. They got around the blue laws by setting up each department in the store as a separate corporation. As a result, produce and dairy could remain open while some of the other departments were closed in some physical manner.

 

My favorite liquor law was years ago while I was living in Boston to attend school. The law seemed to be that, while a tavern could remain open on Sunday, customers could not sit at the bar. As a result, the neighborhood bar I frequented would remove the seats from the barstools on Sunday and replace them with tiny cocktail table tops and pull up a chair. You could still sit at the bar, but the counter was now at eye level and you had to stand up to take your drink.

 

Thank goodness most of these stupid laws are gone. When I was a kid, my father managed a discount department store in Connecticut which had strict blue laws. He and his assistant manager used to take turns going to the store on alternate Sundays to be "arrested" for violating the blue laws. My father was a career criminal. Oh, the shame. ;)

[RBull]

There are a lot of weird saloon rules around the world. I think some areas of Canada which have strict Sunday blue laws have rules where only a place serving food can serve drinks. I have made a number of trips to Nova Scotia over the years and recall, on my early trips, supermarkets seemed to all be closed on Sunday. In a more recent trip, I noticed they were now open having figured ways around the law. They got around the blue laws by setting up each department in the store as a separate corporation. As a result, produce and dairy could remain open while some of the other departments were closed in some physical manner.

 

My favorite liquor law was years ago while I was living in Boston to attend school. The law seemed to be that, while a tavern could remain open on Sunday, customers could not sit at the bar. As a result, the neighborhood bar I frequented would remove the seats from the barstools on Sunday and replace them with tiny cocktail table tops and pull up a chair. You could still sit at the bar, but the counter was now at eye level and you had to stand up to take your drink.

 

Thank goodness most of these stupid laws are gone. When I was a kid, my father managed a discount department store in Connecticut which had strict blue laws. He and his assistant manager used to take turns going to the store on alternate Sundays to be "arrested" for violating the blue laws. My father was a career criminal. Oh, the shame. ;)

 

I've never heard the term "blue law", but looked it up saw it concerns Sunday laws. You're mostly correct on the grocery Sunday situation in NS.

 

What actually happened is before we had Sunday store openings 1 particular small grocer (Pete's Fruitique) registered his store as individual departments so he could skirt the law as you described. This opened the grocery floodgates. After a referendum in 2004 failed finally in 2006 Nova Scotia as the last Canadian province to do so; opened its retailer doors to the public on Sundays.

 

Yes, drinks in some establishments can serve liquor only with meals. And some can only serve beer and wine. There are a lot of arcane laws concerning liquor here and I don't have a grasp of what they are. Liquor can only be purchased for home consumption at Nova Scotia Liquor commissions (no private stores) and a select few private stores (for wine only).

[upwarduk]

Wierd; when I first came to live in Huddersfield (from Cardiff) you couldn't buy Fish and Chips on a Sunday.

However, you could buy a 'Take Away ' meal, say from a local Chinese restaurant, so the Fish and Chip shops started providing gravy as this constituted a 'meal' as opposed to a 'snack.' As Fish and Chips were wrapped in Newspaper ( before the days of 'Health and Safety') the gravy was provided in a pot.

Edited September 28, 2014 by upwarduk