31 May- 2nd June
International Date Line
Since leaving Japan, the ship’s clock has moved forward one hour every day at noon until on 31 May (Day 1), we were 13 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Then at midnight, before crossing the International Date Line, at about 1.30 am, the ship’s clock was moved back 24 hours and the day of 31 May was repeated!
Not exactly Groundhog Day as the daily programme and menus on 31 May, Day 2, were different to 31 May, Day 1 (are you following this?). The clocks were then advanced again by one hour at noon on 31 May, Day 2, so that by the time we reach Seward, in Alaska, in a further three days, the ship’s clock will be in time with Seward at GMT-8 hours.
We’ve had to adjust our phone times manually because of the lack of mid-Pacific reference points in the phone’s software. The result is that our phones are showing wildly inaccurate times for other cities. All a bit confusing and disorientating when trying to interact with the outside world.
Internet Day
Which brings us to our Internet Day…. We had decided to purchase 24 hours of internet on board to catch up with messages, mail, news, our blog, and indeed to plan some of our future itinerary. This exercise was hugely exasperating and dispiriting. The ship’s connection to internet is only through satellites circling this part of the world. Access was slow and intermittent, like a limping, ailing snail.
It took a long time to download news articles. We were left with emails with no content and news headlines with no underlying article. As for uploading photos from Peter’s phone to the cloud, all but a very few failed. We tried uploading them at different times of day, but it made no difference. Furthermore, only one of our four devices (a phone and an iPad each) could access the internet at any one time, so that added to the frustration. Lynne’s daily Spanish lesson and all her on-line daily puzzles have been out of reach.
The only positives were that we enjoyed WhatsApp calls with both Chris and Kirsten. Still even with time lag and words dropping out, it was great to hear they were in good form and they were pleased to hear from us.
Roll on Seward where we will finally get good internet on dry land (we hope). Last year we were much further North and had great internet as we sailed above the Arctic Circle through the North West Passage. Lynne was able to join a number of work calls. That would have been a pipe dream here.
Roaring Twenties Gala Night
We dressed up in line with the theme: Lynne wearing her cloche hat that she bought in Seoul and long black fingerless gloves, with a skirt worn as a dress; Peter added a fake bow-tie (really a hair decoration), a spotted handkerchief and a flat cap to his black linen jacket and light-coloured slacks.
Hardly formal dinner wear, but definitely a Great Gatsby look. We went to have a formal photo taken, and received some nice comments from other passengers, including a Japanese lady who insisted on taking a photo of us for herself. Surely we would pass muster at the restaurant entrance? Sure enough – legal at last! So our purchases in the last few days in Japan did the trick…
Weather
Today is the last of our seven sea days required to cross the North Pacific Ocean. Despite being mostly at a latitude lower than London, our voyage has been accompanied by gales, cold temperatures, winds and the odd spot of rain. The huge ship masks the swell of the seas, but we become very aware of their rolling nature, when we are exercising in the gym, or doing certain yoga poses, and again dancing at the late night disco (aided by a glass of wine).
Great outfits! Glad to hear you’ve had the use of a gym 😁
Love the Great Gatsby look. F Scott Fitzgerald would be proud.
Very stylish. Glad you were able to make the most of the facilities that appealed to you!