Key Aspects:
- Thick fog halted Noordam‘s tender operations in Nome, Alaska on Thursday, June 18 before the visit was effectively cancelled.
- The ship is currently sailing a 28-day itinerary from Seattle, visiting a number of ports and crossing the Arctic Circle.
- While in Nome, one tender boat struck an underwater object and was pulled from service and assessed for damage.
A visit to Nome, Alaska, got a little trickier than anticipated for guests aboard Holland America Line’s Noordam on Thursday, June 18, 2026. While the tender port is charming to visit, heavy fog in the area temporarily halted water shuttle service while guests were still ashore, and ultimately, the tenders were recalled and the visit was effectively cancelled.
Noordam had departed from Seattle, Washington on Sunday, June 7, for a 28-day “Legendary Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice” cruise with visits not only to the most popular ports such as Ketchikan, Sitka, and Juneau, but also less-visited destinations like Valdez, Nome, and Kodiak Island.
Upon reaching Nome, a port where smaller water shuttles are necessary to bring guests to shore, the 82,318-gross-ton ship began tender operations as normal, but fog quickly rolled in.
Guests onboard described the situation on Facebook as “absolute whiteout conditions” with worsening weather expected throughout the day.
According to ship’s security as reported to KNOM Radio Mission, only 229 guests and 14 crew members were able to reach shore before tender service was halted.
Cruise Hive reached out to Holland America Line for clarification on the situation. The cruise line confirmed that tender service had to be temporarily halted to ensure safety.
“While anchored in Nome, Alaska, operations for Noordam were impacted by reduced visibility due to fog, prompting the suspension of tender service as a precautionary measure,” the cruise line explained.
“A number of guests from earlier tenders remained ashore in Nome during this pause. They were accompanied by shipboard team members who helped keep guests informed and comfortable. Noordam resumed tender operations as soon as weather conditions allowed.”
A guest who was one of those unable to return to the ship shared their personal insights of the situation.
“Being one of the people in Nome and stuck in town because of fog, we are all fine. My sincere thanks for the wonderful care, entertainment, [and] crew with us,” they said. “Under the circumstances, we could not ask for better treatment. Thank you Nome, Alaska.”
The temporarily stranded guests were accommodated in an old church to wait for tender service to resume, and snacks were provided. A local Native tribe even performed some songs and dances for impromptu entertainment, ensuring everyone was at ease and comfortable.
Unfortunately, Noordam is the only ship scheduled to visit Nome in June and the largest ship scheduled for the port during the 2026 season. The visit was hoped to be profitable for local businesses and artisans. With so few guests able to make it to shore, the situation will definitely have an economic impact on the community.
Several smaller expedition ships will visit in August and September. Noordam will not return to the isolated port until June 2027.
Safety is the First Consideration
The decision to halt tender service was made to ensure the safety of the guests, crew members, and the Nome community. Before the pause in tender service as the fog was thickening, an incident did occur that could have been scary for those onboard that particular water shuttle.
“Prior to the pause in operations, one tender made contact with an underwater object but safely continued to shore. There were no injuries reported, no signs of water entering the tender, and it remained fully operational. The tender returned to the ship and is undergoing assessment for damage,” the cruise line noted.
The tender was stuck for nearly an hour before another tender was able to tow it loose.
There were no reports of injuries and at no time did any water enter the small boat, which remained fully operational. The boat was taken from service as a precautionary measure and assessed for any sign of damage.
What type of “underwater object” was struck has not been confirmed, but it may have been some sort of pipe or other fitting.
The technical extent of any damage is unknown, though photos shared by guests show some cosmetic damage to the underside of the tender boat. The small craft will be thoroughly assessed to ensure it is sound and can continue to operate, and the location of the incident will be noted to ensure there is no risk to other boats in the harbor.
Onboard Schedule Adjusted
Meanwhile, onboard the 1,916-passenger ship, entertainment and activity schedules were adjusted due to the end of tender service. Extra options were made available to guests and a new daily schedule was provided so those who were unable to get off the ship still had plenty to enjoy.
Many guests onboard were also able to reach out via text to friends and loved ones stuck on shore to remain in contact during the uncertain situation.
Essentially, the visit to Nome was effectively cancelled due to fog, even though some guests had already made it to shore. Noordam was to have remained at the port from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
