Holland America Line has announced significant adjustments to the 35-day Zaandam cruise originally scheduled to depart on October 15, 2026, on the Legendary Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas voyage. These changes include alterations to port call dates and times in French Polynesia and the cancellation of a scheduled stop in Kiribati.
Changes to French Polynesia Calls and Port Times
The Zaandam now will visit Raiatea on November 3, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Bora Bora on November 4, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. This reverses the initial schedule, which had Bora Bora on November 3 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Raiatea on
November 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cruise line stated that the new schedule makes Zaandam the only ship in port on those days, enhancing access for passengers to local transport and shore excursions. To compensate for the removal of the Tabuaeran (Fanning Island) call on October 29, the ship will allocate an additional two hours each to Kahului, Maui, on October 24 and Moorea on November 6.
Propulsion System Adjustments Prompt Cancelled Calls
Passengers were informed that adjustments to Zaandam’s planned operating speed are required for parts of the voyage. As a result, the stop in Tabuaeran, Kiribati, planned for October 29, 2026,
has been cancelled. Holland America Line has not disclosed detailed reasons behind the speed adjustments. Past reports from June 2026 confirm the ship encountered propulsion difficulties that forced cancellations and itinerary revisions during an Alaskan cruise. At that time, the captain stated, “We’re dealing with a technical issue affecting one of our propulsion systems, which means we’re unable to sail at our normal speed.”
Passenger Compensation and Impact
Guests booked on the October 15 departure will receive a non-refundable onboard credit of $100 USD per person to use for shipboard purchases such as retail, dining, spa services, and shore excursions. The itinerary changes mean
Zaandam will have exclusive port visits to Raiatea and Bora Bora, reducing the likelihood of crowding from concurrent ship calls by vessels like Silversea’s Silver Whisper, which carries 388 passengers compared to Zaandam’s capacity of 1,432.
Passenger Concerns Over Remote Pacific Sailing
Some passengers have expressed concern over potential mechanical issues during the Pacific crossing, especially due to recent increased hurricane activity associated with the El Niño climate pattern. Given the lengthy voyage covering over 9,400 miles, and limited shipyard facilities in remote Pacific destinations, guests worry about the possibility of propulsion problems worsening. Holland America has emphasized that itinerary ports are subject to last-minute cancellations
due to technical or environmental factors.
