One cruise ship remained stuck in port while undergoing urgent propulsion repairs, finally setting sail more than 24 hours later than planned.
Holland America Line's Zaandam was supposed to depart on an epic seven-night Alaska cruise on June 10, visiting bucket list destinations like Endicott Arm, Juneau, Skagway, and Glacier Bay.
However, passengers on the voyage were informed that their departure had to be delayed due to a propulsion issue that slowed the 26-year-old vessel.
Rather than departing on June 10, Zaandam remained docked in Vancouver until June 12, finally setting sail around 5:30 a.m. local time. As of 9:30 a.m. EST, CruiseMapper shows that the R Class vessel had cleared the Lions Gate Bridge and was passing Bowen Island.
The late departure means that the ship's seven-night cruise had to be changed. To make up for lost time, the cruise line cancelled most of its original ports, only keeping its stop in Skagway on the last day.
Passengers were notified of the revised schedule on embarkation day when they boarded.
"Your revised Alaska sailing includes a visit to Wrangell, Alaska, on Sunday, June 14, known for its quiet charm and rich history," the letter reads.
Continuing on, "Our call to Ketchikan remains on Monday, June 15, where you can enjoy the colorful waterfront and surrounding rainforest. We will also conduct scenic cruising when available, and will return to Vancouver as scheduled on Wednesday, June 17."
The issue also affected the previous sailing, forcing the ship to adjust its itinerary. A scheduled late-night stop in Juneau was converted into an overnight stay, and the ship completely skipped its visits to Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan.
Instead, the 61,396-gross-ton ship headed directly back to Vancouver, Canada. According to the cruise line, these changes were necessary to ensure on-time disembarkation, with the vessel sailing more slowly than usual.
Travelers expressed frustration over the itinerary change
Many cruisers flocked to social media to express their disappointment with the changes to their Alaska cruise aboard Zaandam. Not only are they upset with the updated itinerary, but many claim that Holland America Line's compensation isn't enough.
According to the letter shared with cruisers, all passengers will receive a 50% refund of their cruise fare to their original form of payment, along with a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equal to 65% of the fare paid for the voyage. Part of the FCC includes Holland America Line's Glacier Guarantee, which states that passengers who don't visit an Alaska glacier will receive a credit equal to 15% of their cruise fare.
Still, cruisers argue that the compensation isn't enough to make up for missing many of the itinerary's most anticipated highlights.
"Fellow passenger. We are shocked and devastated. The trip is absolutely ruined. We are missing Tracy [Arm] inlet, sailing through glaciers, Skagway and Ketchikan. We traveled thousands of miles to get to Vancouver and see Alaska, not to hang [out] on a ship for 5 days, a ship not known for its entertainment amenities," commented No_Structure208 on a Reddit post.
"I’m not a person who normally cruises so the 50% compensation in credit is meaningless to me. I will try to fight for more of a refund. This is not a trip I would have taken."
Full_Explanation_153 added, "Also a passenger. Furious and in disbelief. They have not handled this well AT ALL. Frankly I'm shocked. 50% refund? Are you kidding? We missed the glaciers, Skagway, Ketchikan, and so much more. I accept that disappointing things happen, [of course]. But this trip has been more than a year in planning and a tremendous amount of $$ including hotel in Vancouver ($$$) and $900 in airfare."
"This week’s cruise should have been canceled so full repairs can be made, not slapping a [band-aid] on it and hoping for the best. This week’s passengers will only get to go to Ketchikan and some new port called wrangell. What will happen the following week? More missed ports and unhappy passengers? Do better holland," someone else remarked.
About Holland America Line Zaandam
Zaandam is one of the oldest and smallest ships in Holland America Line's fleet, having embarked on her maiden voyage in May 2000.
In terms of her size, she comes in at under 62,000 gross tons and has a passenger capacity of just 1,432. Comparatively, Rotterdam, which launched in 2021, measures over 99,000 gross tons and can accommodate over 2,600 guests at double occupancy.
Because Zaandam is so small, she's one of the cruise line's top picks for longer, more immersive itineraries. For instance, after she finishes her 2026 Alaska season, she will relocate to San Diego, California, where she will offer voyages to destinations like French Polynesia, Hawaii, and the Mexican Riviera.
One of the most notable sailings on her schedule is a 35-night voyage to Hawaii and French Polynesia. Rather than focusing on onboard thrills and attractions, the cruise emphasizes destination immersion, calling at bucket list ports like Maui, Hawaii; Honolulu, Hawaii; Moorea Island, French Polynesia; and Rangiroa Atoll, Tuamotus, French Polynesia.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
