Holland America Alters Zaandam Alaska Sailings Over Tidal Limits
On the September 16 cruise, Zaandam will transit the Inside Passage instead of Seymour Narrows, where safe passage depends on slack-water timing.
Holland America Line has adjusted several 2026 Alaska itineraries for Zaandam in notices sent to booked guests. The affected departures identified so far include the July 15, August 19 and September 16 sailings from Vancouver, with changes to scenic cruising, port timing and, on one voyage, embarkation-day departure.
The three sailings represent capacity for more than 5,000 guests on the 1,837-passenger ship. “Due to operating speeds and tidal constraints, your itinerary has been adjusted,” Holland America wrote in guest notices.
The 61,396-gt, 2000-built Zaandam is spending most of the season on seven-night Alaska cruises round-trip from Vancouver via the Inside Passage. The original program included Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan, while the September 16 cruise is an 18-night season-ending voyage with additional Alaska ports and Prince Rupert, British Columbia.
Departure-specific changes
For the July 15 departure, the revised schedule includes a delayed Vancouver departure, removal of the fjord service call and a later arrival in Juneau. Exact revised times for that sailing were not included in the guest account shared online.
The August 19 sailing carries similar revisions and also loses time in Ketchikan. “We will no longer conduct a service call to Tracy Arm Inlet,” Holland America wrote to guests on that voyage. The ship is now scheduled to reach Juneau at 2 p.m., 30 minutes later than planned, and to leave Ketchikan at 6 p.m. on August 24, one hour earlier than the prior schedule.
Holland America had previously removed Tracy Arm from Zaandam’s 2026 Alaska program after unstable geological conditions were cited for the fjord. Endicott Arm had been listed as the substitute, but the new notices do not make clear whether Endicott Arm is also being dropped from the affected sailings or whether Holland America is restating the earlier Tracy Arm change.
On the September 16 cruise, Zaandam will depart Vancouver one hour earlier than planned. Guests flying into Vancouver on embarkation day have been told to arrive no later than 10 a.m. local time.
The September 16 itinerary also changes the scenic cruising sequence. Zaandam is now scheduled to transit the Inside Passage instead of Seymour Narrows, and scenic cruising around Princess Royal Island, Grenville Channel and the Great Bear Rainforest has been moved earlier in the voyage, with port times amended around those changes.
For affected sailings, shore excursions booked through the cruise line will be automatically rescheduled where possible. Excursions that cannot be moved will be canceled and refunded.
Tidal windows and prior propulsion issues
Holland America has not provided a more specific explanation beyond operating speeds and tidal constraints. The notices do not identify a mechanical cause.
Zaandam encountered propulsion problems earlier in the Alaska season, disrupting the June 3 and June 10 cruises. Holland America has not directly tied the newly announced changes to those earlier issues.
Seymour Narrows, a five-kilometer section of Discovery Passage, can see currents of up to 15 knots through a narrow channel, and safe transits depend on slack-water timing.
Holland America has not publicly identified every Zaandam departure that may be affected by the speed-and-tide adjustments.
See current Zaandam fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.
