As we head south from Nuuk, Greenland to St John's, Newfoundland the icebergs become fewer and fewer. The weather doesn't change much with lots of fog, some rain, very little sun and temperatures mostly in the 40's. The seas remain under 2 meters. Even if we passed another ship, it is doubtful we would be able to see it. At times the bow is not visible from the Crown Lounge due to the fog.
We have had 2 extra pilots on board since Halifax. Specifically experts in icebergs. One of them is on the bridge at all times whenever we are within 200 miles of Greenland, a Danish requirement of cruise ships calling on Greenland. Trained by the Danish government, but hired and paid by Royal.
One of them did a presentation about his job and how he fits in on the team. Very similar to harbor pilots, except his expertise is ice and icebergs. This is strictly a summer job for him, coinciding with the cruise ship tourist season. His next job is captain of a cruise ship expedition to Antartica. He did not share what ship. Ironically it is in the news that the Carnival Spirit cruise ship had an unplanned encounter with an iceberg in Alaska this week. There was no reported damage to the ship.
We are fairly used to having to change time as we cross time zones. I did it twice a day for 35 years as I lived in one time zone, and owned my business in another.
When we fly across time zones we just set our clocks when we get to our destination, and our cell phones change automatically.
On cruise ships it is a little different, usually the process being dictated by the captain. On the trip from Boston to Greenland we set our clocks ahead 3 hours. The first hour change was done at 2 AM. A very common procedure. The next two were done at 11:15 AM.
I can rationalize why, but it sure is non conventional. Of course there is no cell service at sea, and internet time can depend on where the connection is made back on land.
Heading south, we moved our clocks back one half hour last night at 2:00 AM, and we will move them back another hour tonight to get ourselves on St John's time, one of a handfull of time zones that are a half hour different from the adjoining time zone.
Yes, the time on the Royal App is all messed up. At least we were warned that it would be.
As we retire for the night it is still foggy. The forecast for tomorrow in St John's is 70% chance of rain. The seas remain under 6 feet.
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