Key Aspects:
- Zaandam has developed propulsion issues on her June 3 sailing that have required an extended stop in Juneau for repairs.
- The ship will miss both Skagway and Ketchikan, as well as scenic Glacier Bay cruising, to return to Vancouver on time.
- Guests are being offered compensation for the altered voyage, but it is not yet known if the next cruise is impacted.
An Alaskan cruise can be a once-in-a-lifetime voyage filled with spectacular experiences to make amazing memories, but unfortunately for guests currently aboard Holland America Line’s Zaandam, their sailing will be memorable for all the wrong reasons.
One of the oldest ships in the fleet, the 61,400-gross-ton Zaandam has developed propulsion issues, making it necessary to cancel the remainder of the cruise and head directly to Vancouver for debarkation.
The 7-night voyage began as planned on June 3, 2026 and has already enjoyed scenic glacier cruising and arrived in Juneau on Friday morning. Rather than leaving the capital of Alaska at 10 p.m. that night as scheduled, however, the ship remained in port for emergency repairs.
“We’re dealing with a technical issue affecting one of our propulsion systems, which means we’re unable to sail at our normal speed,” the captain announced onboard, shared in a letter to guests. “Because of that, we’ll remain in Juneau overnight so additional technical specialists can come on board and assist with repairs.”
Guests booked on Cruisetours that were scheduled to join Zaandam in Skagway on Saturday, June 6, were instead brought to Juneau to board. Skagway is approximately 85 miles north-northwest of Juneau.
The ship will depart Juneau Saturday evening, but instead of heading to any of the remaining ports of call, the vessel will sail straight to Vancouver for debarkation.
This means there will be no visits to Skagway or Ketchikan, and likewise no scenic cruising in Glacier Bay. By heading directly back to the homeport, Zaandam will be able to arrive in Vancouver for an on-time disembarkation on Wednesday, June 10.
During the extended time in Juneau on Saturday, guests have been permitted off the ship to further explore the port, though Zaandam did need to move away from the dock from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. due to other vessels’ scheduled visits. There was no water shuttle service available, so any guests who did debark for extra time in Juneau needed to remain ashore until 4:30 p.m.
Eight ships were planned for Saturday, June 6: Two small expedition vessels and a regional river cruise, along with Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Spirit, Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess, Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Explorer, and Silversea’s Silver Whisper.
Guests Onboard Offered Compensation
Because the nature of the cruise has changed dramatically with multiple port cancellations and the loss of iconic scenic cruising, guests currently onboard Zaandam have been offered a 50% refund of their cruise fare as well as a 50% future cruise credit for the cruise fare only.
Naturally, any shore tours booked through Holland America Line for Skagway and Ketchikan will be automatically cancelled and refunded.
While guests onboard are naturally disappointed and frustrated at the change, they are also noting that crew members remain exemplary and are doing all they can to create a positive experience.
“Have no complaints about staff or food as most are really kind and helpful,” one guest posted on Facebook.
The nature of the technical issue impacting the ship’s propulsion has not been disclosed, but there are no reports that any other onboard systems are impacted. This means the ship’s restaurants and dining operations, bar service, casino, entertainment, and activities are all proceeding as planned.
Cruise Hive has previously reported on propulsion issues for different cruise ships from different cruise lines, including Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean. Cruise lines work diligently to correct such technical problems as swiftly as possible.
Will the Next Cruise Be Impacted?
At this time, there has been no confirmed announcement of any changes to Zaandam‘s next weeklong sailing, scheduled to depart Vancouver on Wednesday, June 10.
As many as 1,432 guests may be booked on the ship’s next cruise, as well as further sailings through the Alaska season. Zaandam is homeported in Vancouver through early October, mostly offering identical 7-night sailings.
Read Also: Holland America Alaska Cruise Ships – Which One to Choose?
On September 16, the ship is offering an outstanding 18-night itinerary to many more unique Alaskan ports, including Valdez, Kodiak Island, and Homer, with an overnight visit for Anchorage and Denali National Park.
After that voyage, the ship will reposition to San Diego for a limited number of longer sailings before moving to Fort Lauderdale for her Grand South America and Antarctica voyage departing on January 3, 2027.
Zaandam will return to Vancouver for another season sailing the Last Frontier in April 2027.
