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Ship time vs. local time

Your ship keeps its own clock, and all-aboard is always in ship time. Here's where the port's clock can differ.

The rule: follow ship time

All-aboard, ship-sold excursions, dinner and shows all run on ship time. Royal Caribbean says shore excursion times are based on ship time, and Norwegian says shipboard time may differ from the port of call and that following ship time is the guest's responsibility. Many ships on Caribbean and Mexico cruises from U.S. ports stay on their home port's time for the whole cruise, but some switch to local time, so check your ship's app or daily planner the night before.

Your phone may change to local time when it finds a local network, or show ship time on the ship's network. Don't trust it: set a watch or alarm to ship time.

Ports where the clock can differ

Assumes your ship stays on its home port's time. “Winter” is U.S. standard time (from Nov. 1, 2026 to Mar. 14, 2027); “summer” is U.S. daylight saving time.

PortsLocal time zoneShip on Eastern time (Florida, Baltimore, New York)Ship on Central time (Galveston, New Orleans, Mobile)
WinterSummerWinterSummer
Cozumel, Costa MayaQuintana Roo, Mexico (EST, no daylight saving)Same1 h behind ship1 h ahead of shipSame
Progreso (Mérida)Yucatán, Mexico (CST, no daylight saving)1 h behind ship2 h behind shipSame1 h behind ship
Roatán, Isla Tropicale (Mahogany Bay), RoatánHonduras (CST, no daylight saving)1 h behind ship2 h behind shipSame1 h behind ship
Belize City, Harvest CayeBelize (CST, no daylight saving)1 h behind ship2 h behind shipSame1 h behind ship
Grand CaymanCayman Islands (EST, no daylight saving)Same1 h behind ship1 h ahead of shipSame
Falmouth (Jamaica), Ocho Rios, Montego BayJamaica (EST, no daylight saving)Same1 h behind ship1 h ahead of shipSame
San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Croix (Frederiksted), St. Maarten, St. Kitts (Basseterre), Antigua (St. John's), St. Lucia (Castries), Barbados (Bridgetown), Grenada (St. George's), Aruba, Curaçao (Willemstad), Bonaire (Kralendijk), Puerto Plata (Amber Cove)Atlantic Standard Time (UTC−4, no daylight saving)1 h ahead of shipSame2 h ahead of ship1 h ahead of ship
Bermuda (King's Wharf)Bermuda (Atlantic time, with daylight saving)1 h ahead of ship1 h ahead of ship2 h ahead of ship2 h ahead of ship
Nassau, Freeport (Grand Bahama), Key West, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon CayThe Bahamas and Key West (Eastern time, with daylight saving)SameSame1 h ahead of ship1 h ahead of ship

Alaska and Hawaii

Alaska ports (Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and others) are on Alaska time, one hour behind Pacific time. Ships from Seattle or Vancouver may stay on Pacific time or switch, so check onboard. Hawaii stays on Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (UTC−10) all year with no daylight saving, two hours behind Pacific standard time and three hours behind Pacific daylight time.

How to never miss the ship

  • Photograph the all-aboard time (in ship time) at the gangway on your way off.
  • Independent tour operators usually quote local time. Convert to ship time and agree on a return time with a buffer.
  • Only ship-sold excursions come with the ship waiting if they run late. Read each port page's “Back to the ship on time” tips.

📚 Sources