Time Changes on the Coral Panama Canal Cruise

[loriva]

I had asked the question of time changes--including differences from local time--of previous cruisers on the 10-day Panama Canal cruise as I wanted to ensure correct meeting times for some private tours we had booked, but did not receive a response. So, if anyone else wants, here's the scoop.

 

At 0200 hours on the first sea day--or the first night--the ship sprung ahead one hour to Atlantic time. This put us equal to local time in Aruba for the first port of call.

 

At 0200 hours on the night between Aruba and Cartagena, the Coral fell back one hour. This put us back to the Eastern time zone and equal to local time in Cartagena and Panama. The ship made no other time adjustments for the rest of the cruise.

 

Costa Rica, however, is in the Central time zone. So, local time is one hour behind ship's time--you dock at 0700 hours ship's time, but local time is 0600 hours.

 

Ocho Rios is in the Eastern time zone. So, local time there is again equal to ship's time.

 

Of course, ship's time always rules when there is a difference between it and local time. Docking and departure times are always listed in the itinerary as ship's time. So, you definitely want to be back on board at 1800 hours ship's time not local time in Costa Rica or you will be out of luck.