How Does Time Work on a Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

Cruise ships are like small cities on the sea, with restaurants, shops, casinos, and other attractions. But they also have their own unique systems of timekeeping. Cruise ships use a combination of local timeand ship time to ensure that everyone onboard is on the same clock.

Ship time is based on the local time of the ship’s port of origin.

This is important for ensuring that all activities onboard are on the same clock, regardless of what time zone passengers are from. For example, if a cruise ship departs from Miami and travels to Cozumel, Mexico, the ship’s clocks will stay set to Miami’s local time throughout the entire voyage. This helps passengers keep track of when activities like meals and shows will occur throughout the trip.

The only times when local time comes into play is when a cruise ship crosses into a different time zone while at sea or when it arrives at a port of call. When this happens, a crew member will announce over the intercom that “ship’s time has changed” and inform passengers what the new local time is in comparison to ship’s time. This ensures that everyone knows what their new clock should be set to.

Cruise ships also use Daylight Savings Time (DST) in order to keep their clocks adjusted during certain times of year. When DST begins or ends, a crew member will make an announcement over the intercom informing passengers that “ship’s clocks have been adjusted for Daylight Savings Time” and detail what the new local times are.

Conclusion:

Time works differently on a cruise ship than it does in most other places. Ship’s time is based on its port of origin and remains consistent throughout the voyage unless it crosses into another time zone or adjusts for Daylight Savings Time. This helps ensure that everyone onboard is aware of what times activities will occur in order for them to make plans accordingly.