When I took a transatlantic crossing on the world’s last Ocean Liner, Queen Mary 2, we changed time zones most days at 12 p.m.
This crossing was unusual because there were no port stops. We left New York and sailed straight across the Atlantic Ocean to Southampton.
Normally on a cruise, the clocks going back or forward at midnight deal with any change of time zone. At midnight, most passengers are asleep, so it has the least impact.
During the day, passengers are often off the ship in port, on excursions, etc. Changing the clocks at midday could cause havoc!
I have never come across this midday time change before, and it was the last thing I had expected!
Our Route Crossed Five Different Time Zones
Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean took us across five different time zones
This meant that at five times over the course of the crossing the clocks moved forward an hour between 12 pm and 1 pm.
This actually worked really well. It just meant that for me, lunchtime came an hour earlier!
There were no events on the daily schedule for that hour. At noon every day, the Captain would make his announcement, telling us how the journey was going.
Unfortunately for us, the weather was bad, and the Captain made a slight detour to avoid the worst of the storm.
Other cruise ships sailing the Atlantic at the same time had to make far more of a detour. Queen Mary’s sister ship, Queen Anne, was crossing the Atlantic at the same time and arrived a day later in New York than scheduled.
As the last Ocean liner at sea, Queen Mary 2 was designed for rough winter crossings. Find out more about the difference between cruise ships and Ocean Liners here:
Cruise Ships vs Ocean Liners – Measurable Differences You Need to Know
Find out more about our very rough crossing here:
How the Time Changes Worked
Every day, when a time change was needed, the ship moved the clocks forward at noon.
This meant that one minute it was 11:59 am, and the next it was 1:00 pm.
Announcements were made, and it was mentioned in the paper daily schedules to avoid any confusion.
This coincided each day with the Captain’s announcement, so it was easy to remember. The Captain also mentioned the ships’ times, so we were always sure whether the clocks had gone forward or not.
Impact on Daily Life Onboard
These time changes had very little impact on my day-to-day life onboard.
Nothing was scheduled for that “missing” hour – we just went from the Captain’s daily announcements straight to lunch on most days.
We were on the ship for eight days in total – plenty of time to see everything and do everything you wanted to do. We didn’t miss those five hours at all!
If I had decided to book the reverse voyage instead – from Southampton to New York – we would have gained an extra five hours.
Many would see that as an advantage – more cruising time for your money.
The reason I took the cruise from New York to Southampton was that all jet lag could be avoided.
Why Didn’t We Gain the Hours Back?
Had we sailed to Southampton and back to New York again, we would have gained those hours back.
Because we were just making the crossing one way, we technically lost five hours! (We took an Eastbound crossing).
Had we crossed from Southampton to New York, (Westbound) we would have gained five hours instead.
Adjusting to Land Again
The strangest part for me was stepping back on land again after days and days at sea.
The change of time zones had no impact on us – we just got straight back to our normal UK time schedule with none of the ill effects you often get when you cross multiple time zones.
I was very grateful to get off the ship because I suffer from seasickness. The bad weather had made me feel unwell on many days.
Have a look at those rough seas here:
Luckily, I had chosen a cabin that was low down and in the centre of the ship, where the movement could be felt less.
My parents weren’t so lucky. They were “upgraded” to a balcony cabin close to the front of the ship, and the movement was very bad up there.
Find out more about that “upgrade” – and what it meant for them here:
Why This Cruise Cabin “Upgrade” Was Worse (Don’t Let This Happen to You)!
Find out more about my unusual room with an atruim view here:
My Mum and my brother never get seasick, and being at sea for multiple days on end did not affect them what-so-ever. My Mum loved the whole “Ocean Liner” experience.
A transatlantic crossing isn’t for everyone. I had suspected that it wouldn’t be for me – but the chance to take this historic journey on an Ocean Liner was too much for me to resist.
That said, I am unlikely to ever take another transatlantic crossing in winter again!
Before You Go
If you do get seasick, you are best to choose your cabin carefully. Find out more about that here:
What is The Best Cabin Location on a Cruise For Avoiding Seasickness? (I’ve Tried Them All!)
Find out my top tips for seasickness here:
13 Actionable Tips to Prevent and Treat Seasickness on a Cruise
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