International Date Line Cruise Port Guide

Cross “time travel” off your bucket list when you embark on a transpacific cruise which takes you across the famous International Date Line (IDL). This imaginary marker runs between the North and South Poles and is located in the center of the Bering Sea. When you travel east across it, you’ll “travel” backward in time by 24 hours. When you’re traveling west, crossing the International Date Line means you’ll set your clock exactly 24 hours ahead. 

A cruise across the International Date Line is a once-in-a-lifetime event, particularly when you celebrate the time change from a luxurious cruise ship. Itineraries on Celebrity Solstice® or Celebrity Eclipse® to the South Pacific, Japan and the Bering Sea, or Hawaii, Tahiti and Bora Bora all spend a day at sea cruising past the International Date Line.  

Cruises Across the International Date Line

View All Cruises Across the International Date Line

Top Things to Do on an International Date Line Cruise

Lounge on the Top Deck

What better way to experience the International Date Line than from the spacious top deck of your Celebrity cruise ship? On Celebrity Solstice or Celebrity Eclipse, the highest point of your ship is a destination in and of itself. Sprawl out on a comfortable canopied lounge bed on the Solstice Deck and watch day transform to starry night.

Watch the World Go By

Sit at Cafe al Bacio on Deck 5 and enjoy the views from the ceiling-to-floor windows, which provide the perfect vantage point as you cruise the International Date Line. Sip a cappuccino, share a pastry, and relax at your very own cafe at sea. Relax on the spacious veranda of your stateroom and admire the deep blues of the Pacific.

Look for Marine Life

When you’re in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for magnificent sea life. Depending on the time of year, you might spot orcas or humpback whales. In fact, the waters near the Aleutian Islands are home to the biggest population of orcas in all of the Pacific. 

History of the International Date Line

This 180-degree meridian was established in the 19th century by astronomers and attendees of the International Meridian Conference in Washington. Small changes were made to the course of the International Date Line in 1910 and 1921. Establishing the International Date Line was designed to reduce confusion about keeping time when traveling across this part of the ocean, accomplishing a similar purpose as the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England. This imaginary line runs roughly parallel to the 180 degree longitudinal line. As you travel east you'll subtract 24 hours from your current time, and add 24 hours as you travel west across it.