Holland America Line announced revisions to the Zaandam’s 35-day Legendary Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas itinerary departing San Diego on October 15, 2026. The changes include a cancelled port call and modified arrival and departure schedules across Hawaii, Kiribati, and French Polynesia.
Cancelled and Rescheduled Port Calls in Kiribati and French Polynesia
The planned stop at Tabuaeran (Fanning Island) in Kiribati on October 29, 2026, has been removed from the itinerary. In French Polynesia, the ship’s schedule was altered to visit Raiatea on November 3 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., followed by Bora Bora on November 4 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. These adjustments reverse the original sequence, which
had Bora Bora on November 3 and Raiatea on November 4. The change seeks to avoid overlapping port calls with Silversea’s Silver Whisper. The revised departure from Bora Bora shortens time in port by five hours compared to the original 11:00 p.m. departure, allowing for an earlier sunset sailaway.
Additional changes include extending Zaandam’s calls at Kahului, Hawaii on October 24, 2026, and Moorea, French Polynesia on November 6, 2026, by two hours each.
Operating Speed Adjustments Prompt Itinerary Changes
Holland America Line attributed the itinerary modifications to adjustments required in the ship’s planned operating speed for parts of the voyage. The company did not specify
further operational reasons for these adjustments. This follows a propulsion issue the Zaandam experienced during a June 3, 2026, Alaska deployment, which caused itinerary disruptions including canceling ports such as Skagway and Ketchikan and delaying voyages. However, Holland America has not officially linked the October 2026 itinerary revisions to that incident.
Passenger Compensation and Advisory
Passengers booked on the October 15, 2026 departure will receive a US$100 non-refundable onboard credit. This credit can be used onboard for specialty dining, spa services, retail purchases, and shore excursions. Travelers are encouraged to review the revised itinerary carefully to accommodate the cancelled Tabuaeran call and rescheduled port
timings.
Operational Context to Avoid Port Overlaps
The revised French Polynesia schedule aims to prevent simultaneous port calls with another cruise ship, Silversea’s Silver Whisper, making Zaandam the sole ship at Raiatea and Bora Bora on November 3 and 4, respectively. This ensures exclusive port access for Zaandam passengers during those visits.
