I got into the hot tub on Tuesday and got out on Thursday. Here's what happened
Time travel is actually possible - just follow my lead.
Crossing the International Date Line (IDL) is time travel for cruise passengers. Depending on the direction of sailing, you either lose or gain a day. On my Seabourn voyage from Alaska to Japan, somewhere across the Pacific Ocean, a whole date disappeared from our itinerary. After going to bed on September 29, we woke up on October 1.
However, the moment that we actually sailed over the line was not at 3am, when clocks are routinely turned back - it was during the day. So, technically, I got into the hot tub on Tuesday and got out on Thursday.
The IDL is an imaginary line that roughly follows the globe's 180th meridian (180 degrees longitude). Travelling across it westbound, as we did, the date jumps forward. Travelling east, the calendar goes backwards, giving passengers the chance to live the same date twice.
On transpacific cruises, "ship time" also shifts to match the different time zones between the two continents. To gently ease the transition, the clocks are usually changed by an hour on successive nights, requiring passengers to adjust their phones and watches at bedtime, much as they do for daylight saving.
As we sailed across the Pacific for a week, we manually set our devices each evening to Adak, Honolulu, Auckland, Suva, Honiara, Brisbane and Tokyo time. Getting an extra hour to sleep in was a good excuse to stay up later, making this direction the best choice for night owls.
The reverse journey, from Japan to Alaska, means clocks go forward as the ship heads east. Every morning starts earlier, which is less conducive to sleeping in. But at least you score an extra sea day after crossing the IDL, experiencing a 48-hour version of that date.
South Pacific itineraries offer another variation. A cruise from Australia to Hawaii is eastbound, turning clocks forward and repeating a date at the IDL crossing. A westbound sailing from Hawaii to Australia crosses in the opposite direction, delivering the sleep-in bonus but skipping a calendar day.
Cruises don't officially celebrate these time warps. The party is in your hands, especially if you spend an extra hour in the bar. I may have lost a day, but I gained more night-time to enjoy Seabourn's all-inclusive cocktails. In cruise mathematics, that's a win.
Pro Tip: Merino magic
Transpacific repositioning voyages involve major climate contrasts, so you need to pack smart and wear layers. Late September in Alaska is cold and wet, while October in Japan is warm, with a windy week at sea in between. New Zealand merino wool is my preference, comprising half of my travelling wardrobe. Odour-resistant so it requires less laundry, merino is cosy in winter, yet cooling and sweat-wicking in the heat. My favourite brand is Icebreaker because the fabric is noticeably softer and never itchy. I needed only two layers at Alaska's Hubbard Glacier. icebreaker.com
My all-time favourite destination is … Antarctica, but three times is greedy.
Next on my bucket list is … Africa, Maldives, Philippines, Cuba, NZ subantarctic islands, Iceland, Greenland, and three months on a round-the-world cruise.
My top travel tip is … If you're turned off by the stereotype of big ships, start with your dream destination and book the smallest ship you can afford - preferably all-inclusive, so you can fully relax and enjoy.
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