Day 7 (3 days on sea): Of Longitudes, Latitudes, and Time Zones

The interplay between longitudes, latitudes, and time zones forms the backbone of how we navigate the globe and organize time.  

  • Longitudes are the vertical lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole, dividing the Earth into east and west. They determine local time based on the position of the sun. For every 15 degrees of longitude, there is a one-hour difference in time.  
  • Latitudes, on the other hand, are horizontal lines circling the globe, measuring the distance north or south of the equator. They influence climate and day length but have no direct impact on time zones.  
  • Time Zones are artificial divisions aligning with longitudes but adjusted to political and practical needs, ensuring that regions with close economic or cultural ties share the same clock time.  
Together, they create the framework that allows us to measure our position and organize life across the planet.
We will cross 9 timezones

Adventure of the day: Today at 12:30 we crossed the equator

The Äquatortaufe (Equator Baptism) is a playful maritime tradition celebrated when a ship crosses the equator for the first time during a voyage. This centuries-old ritual is a lighthearted initiation for passengers and crew who have never crossed the equator before, turning them into honorary "Shellbacks" or "Sons/Daughters of Neptune."  

Typically, the ceremony involves King Neptune (or his court) "boarding" the ship, accompanied by costumed crew members playing roles like mermaids or judges. The "Pollywogs" (those crossing the equator for the first time) often undergo humorous "trials" or challenges, such as being doused with water, painted with harmless dyes, or subjected to playful pranks. 

While entirely optional, this tradition is a highlight for many travelers, combining fun, camaraderie, drinking champagne, and a sense of nautical history. At the end of the ceremony, participants receive a certificate commemorating their crossing and newfound status.

Time Zone Changes and Daylight Saving Time

On this cruise, time zones are changing nearly every second day. The time difference between the westernmost and easternmost points of our journey is 9 hours. The clocks change each time we cross a timezone, either in the middle of the night or sometimes at 1 p.m.  

In 1980, Germany introduced Daylight Saving Time (DST), or Sommerzeit. However, in recent years, the EU has debated abolishing DST, a conversation largely supported by Germans. The main concern? The biannual clock changes might disrupt the body’s circadian rhythms, potentially causing health issues like sleep disturbances, fatigue, and irritability. Many Germans report such problems during the switch.  

It makes me wonder, though—has anyone studied the health effects of staying awake until 5 a.m. on New Year’s Eve? After all, that’s an even more drastic shift for the body clock, yet it’s a global tradition!  

Despite these constant adjustments, I’ve yet to hear anyone on board report health issues due to timezone changes. Could it be that gradual shifts, even when they happen every other day, are easier for the body to adapt to than the abrupt, twice-a-year clock changes of DST? Perhaps the excitement and novelty of travel smooth over any discomfort. Or maybe DST has become an easy scapegoat for personal struggles—blamed for sleepless nights that might have other causes.

Either way, while DST remains controversial, the body seems to be remarkably adaptable when the changes come with the thrill of new horizons. 🌍

Impressions

Eager cruisers line up for the exclusive equator drink, complete with a unique twist—floating fish eggs.

Unforgettable Moments: A Selfie with Neptune and His Court

Sipping—or bravely gulping—the fish egg-infused drink.

Bon appetit!

Logbook

Position: 1°18.49' N, 10°12,62' W
South of Cabo Verde, North of Namibia
East of Cabo Verde, West of Namibia
Timezone: GMT

Speed: 32km/h. Wind: 66km/h. Heading: 136°
Time to next port: 5 days

Risk of sea sickness: NONE
Risk of hallucinations: HIGH



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 0: Embarking

Image
Check-in Our check-in time is set for 3:00 PM. After checking out of the hotel, a taxi takes us to the cruise terminal, where we catch our first glimpse of our 'home' for the next 33 days. It's enormous! If you find the check-in process at MUC airport challenging, a cruise check-in is even more complex and feels less streamlined. After about 40 minutes though, we are able to enter our cabin, and it immediately feels like home. The cabin reminds us of Ronda, our trusty camper van from our 2014 journey through Scandinavia—the same compact bathroom but with a much better view from the balcony! Happy couple in their new home The adventure begins: Where is my luggage? Shortly after settling into our cabin, two of our three suitcases arrive, and we start unpacking our belongings into the many small drawers and closets. But where is suitcase number three? After three hours, I start to get anxious and head to the reception to check. There, I find a long line of people with various ...
Read more

Day -2: Above the clouds, everyday worries and troubles seem smaller and far away

Image
Flying ... ... has fascinated me since childhood. When I was six, my cousin moved to California, and every time I saw a plane in the sky, I imagined myself on it, flying there. For a while, I even had to go to the airport almost every week, and what once felt magical began to feel like a burden. Since 9/11, with heightened security and long queues, the experience of flying has become even more challenging, turning the dream of air travel into something of a nightmare. Condor: our preferred carrier to sunny destinations It’s been almost a year since my last flight, and I feel a deep longing to see the clouds from above once more. Today, we spent the night at the airport. Check-in and security were surprisingly easy, so we got to enjoy a relaxed breakfast before our flight. I love window seats, and luckily, my wife prefers the aisle—so we both get exactly what we want. As the engines roar to life, that old dream of flying comes alive once again, making all the hassle worthwhile. Las ...
Read more

9 more nights left

Image
My mother used to say "Internet is dangerous" I can confirm this. Recently I was lured into dangerous activities and wasting money. But let's start at the beginning. In June my wife and I were in Passau and walked on the pier next to the river cruise ships. As we have no experience in any kind of cruises I googled "river cruise Danube" and explored the unknown world of  cruises. Suddenly an advertisement popped up:  "36 nights - world explorer route: Las Palmas - Singapore" I was about to dismiss it when I remembered that we wanted to go to Malaysia in January. This would be a crazy but also interesting alternative. This was in June.  Now we have 9 more nights before the adventure begins. Our first cruise. We have concerns: Will we be sea sick? Any tsunami predicted? Elephants or lions attacking us in Africa? Too much disco fever in the long nights? Will the credit card hold? If you're curious to see what happens next, subscribe to the blog by leav...
Read more