A Timely Discussion?

[JUNE 2022 UPDATE:  The European Union did not end changing the clock on and off Daylight Saving Time in 2021. It is unclear when, or if, the clock change ritual will end.]

The difference in time zones between Pacific Standard/Daylight Time (PST/PDT) and European time is not as simple as knowing the time zone. For our cruise, Spain, France, and Italy will be plus nine hours (+9) and Greece will be plus ten hours (+10) from PDT.

However, Europe currently switches from standard time to daylight saving time three weeks later than the United States. In addition, the European Union (EU) has voted to end switching from ‘Summer’ time and ‘Winter’ time. This change was supposed to take place this year but has been postponed until 2021. If the law is not postponed or rescinded, it will require that each country decide whether or not to be on Summer or Winter time for the entire year.

It is likely that most countries will choose to stay on Summer time, or Daylight Saving Time all year because the latitude of most European countries is roughly the same as Canada. To stay on Winter time during the Summer would result in sunrise between 3 and 4 AM for most countries in June and sunset between 7 and 8 PM.