Day breaks as National Geographic Orion cuts a shimmering path east toward the Cook Islands. Vibrant turquoise waves cradle us while onboard experts regale us with stories of lustrous pearls, ancient Polynesian tattoo traditions, and the delicate symbiosis threading life together. The day ends with golden light dancing on the horizon, promising new discoveries and wonder just beyond tomorrow’s dawn.
1/22/2025
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National Geographic Orion
At Sea
Today, National Geographic Orion continued cruising across the Pacific on the long leg from Samoa to the Cook Islands. Crossing the International Date Line, time stood still as we experienced two February 22nds. The date line exists primarily to keep our calendar and time systems in sync and helps prevent confusion by establishing a clear point where the calendar day changes. The 180° meridian was selected because it mostly runs through the sparsely populated Central Pacific Ocean. While the date line generally runs north to south from pole to pole, it zigzags around political borders to avoid cutting some countries in half. The day started off with a leisurely brunch followed by a tour of the galley and presentations from the staff. In the afternoon, we had a special “fruehshoppen” on the back deck, complete with brats, beer, and Bloody Mary’s. While we certainly love our time on land exploring the amazing cultures of Oceania, we welcome a few days at sea to rest and reflect on all that we have seen.
