Holland America Line has amended the itinerary of its Zaandam ship’s 35-day Legendary Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas cruise, scheduled to depart San Diego on October 15, 2026. The revision includes cancellation of the scheduled port call at Tabuaeran (Fanning Island) in Kiribati on October 29, 2026, and modified arrival and departure times at various ports.
Specific Schedule and Port Call Modifications
The round-trip cruise starts and ends in San Diego, originally encompassing 14 ports in Hawaii, Kiribati, and French Polynesia. The port call at Tabuaeran (Fanning Island) on October 29, 2026, has been removed. In French Polynesia, the port sequence is adjusted so that Zaandam will
visit Raiatea on November 3, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., followed by Bora Bora on November 4, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This reverses the originally planned dates, aiming to avoid overlapping visits with Silversea Cruises’ Silver Whisper.
The revised Bora Bora schedule shortens the time in port by five hours compared to the initial itinerary, which had a late 11:00 p.m. departure. The ship’s earlier departure from Bora Bora offers an opportunity for a sunset sailaway. Additionally, the calls at Kahului, Hawaii on October 24, 2026, and Moorea, French Polynesia on November 6, 2026, have
each been extended by two hours.
Adjustment Due to Operating Speed Changes, Not Linked to Prior Propulsion Issues
Holland America Line attributed the itinerary changes to the need to adjust Zaandam’s planned operating speed during parts of the voyage. The line has not confirmed any direct connection between these adjustments and the propulsion problem the vessel experienced earlier in the year. In June 2026, Zaandam encountered a propulsion issue during an Alaska cruise that caused schedule delays and cancellations of ports including Skagway and Ketchikan.
HAL’s recent announcement did not specify a technical cause for the updated operating speeds or itinerary, nor did it confirm any link to the June propulsion incidents.
Passenger Impact and Compensation
Passengers booked on the October 15, 2026 sailing are advised to review the updated itinerary given the cancellation of the Tabuaeran port and adjusted port timings. Holland America Line is providing a $100 non-refundable onboard credit to all travelers on this sailing. The credit can be used toward specialty dining, spa treatments, retail purchases, and shore excursions.
Industry Scheduling and Port Visit Coordination
The revised sequence of port calls in French Polynesia also serves to avoid overlap with Silversea’s Silver Whisper cruise ship at Raiatea and Bora Bora on overlapping dates. Zaandam will be the sole cruise ship visiting these destinations on November 3 and 4,
2026, strengthening scheduling coordination in the region.
