Zaandam Starts Holland America’s Grand Australia and New Zealand Cruise in 2026, Boosting Tourism

Holland America Line’s ninety-three‑night Grand Australia and New Zealand cruise on Zaandam is now underway from San Diego, visiting forty-four ports in ten countries across the South Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, and French Polynesia, with a positive impact expected on regional tourism.

Zaandam begins grand voyage from San Diego

The 2000‑built Zaandam departed from San Diego, California on 4 January 2026 to begin Holland America Line’s 2026 Grand Australia and New Zealand Voyage, a ninety-three‑night roundtrip cruise that showcases the South Pacific and southwestern Pacific Ocean. This extended Grand Voyage is designed as an immersive, destination‑rich experience, allowing guests to explore Australia, New Zealand, and a series of island nations in depth.

The cruise is scheduled to call at forty-four ports across ten countries, including early stops in Hawaii (Honolulu), followed by American Samoa and Fiji as it heads into the South Pacific. Zaandam’s itinerary includes multiple overnight calls (a two‑day stay) in five major ports: Honolulu (Hawaii, USA), Fremantle (Perth, Australia), Sydney (Australia), Hobart (Tasmania, Australia), and Auckland (New Zealand), which maximizes time ashore and local tourism spending in each destination.

South Pacific and Oceania luxury cruise

As Zaandam sails westward, it is visiting a series of smaller island nations and territories, including New Caledonia, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea, which are less frequently covered by mainstream cruise lines and benefit significantly from cruise tourism. Government and tourism authorities in these nations have highlighted the economic value of cruise visitors, whose spending on excursions, food, and local crafts supports small businesses and island communities.

In the South Pacific, the Grand Australia and New Zealand itinerary includes a rare visit to Bora Bora in French Polynesia, one of the region’s most iconic luxury destinations, giving passengers a chance to experience its turquoise lagoons and overwater bungalows. The inclusion of Bora Bora and other South Pacific islands is expected to boost Pacific tourism figures in 2026, especially in destinations that rely heavily on cruise客流 and charter flights.

Australia and New Zealand destination focus

In early February 2026, Zaandam arrives in Australia for a twelve‑port showcase of the continent and its islands, including Darwin, Hobart, Adelaide, Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island, Fremantle (Perth), and Sydney. These Australian ports are major hubs for Australia tourism, with guests spending on local tours, national parks, wildlife experiences, and city attractions, which in turn supports local guides, hotels, and transport operators.

Zaandam’s plan to cruise the Great Barrier Reef and Ribbon Reef regions, as well as the Far North and Torres Strait, also highlights the importance of marine tourism and reef‑based activities in Queensland. Australian tourism authorities have noted that extended cruise voyages like this Grand Australia and New Zealand itinerary bring longer stays and higher per‑passenger spending compared to shorter regional cruises, positively impacting coastal economies.

New Zealand, already a key New Zealand tourism destination, benefits from Zaandam’s stops in Auckland, Tauranga (Bay of Islands), Wellington, Dunedin (Port Chalmers), and a scenic cruise in Milford Sound and Fjordland National Park. Government and industry leaders in New Zealand have emphasized that cruise tourism generates many millions of dollars annually for local businesses and supports thousands of jobs, especially in coastal towns and regional centers.

Onboard experience and Grand World Cruise link

Zaandam, a mid‑sized R‑class ship with a capacity of around fourteen hundred to seventeen hundred passengers, offers a more intimate cruise experience with a focus on destination immersion and enrichment. The 2026 Grand Australia and New Zealand cruise features special onboard programming such as themed nights (Great Gatsby Night, Masquerade Ball, Casino Royale party) and a Glamp Out on the Lido Deck, designed to enhance the guest experience without detracting from the focus on destination tourism.

This voyage is part of Holland America Line’s 2026 Grand Voyage collection, which also includes a separate Grand World Voyage on Volendam, a one hundred thirty-three‑day roundtrip cruise from Fort Lauderdale. The two Grand Voyages are scheduled to meet in Sydney, Australia, where the cruise line will host a special Chocolate Teatime event with a noted chocolatier, reinforcing the cruise’s connection to high‑end, experiential tourism in Australia and across the network of Grand Voyage destinations.

Impact on Australia and New Zealand tourism

The presence of a large, long‑stay cruise ship like Zaandam in Australia and New Zealand ports is expected to bring a noticeable boost to Australasia tourism during the peak Southern Hemisphere summer season. Each port call involves multiple days of shore excursions, dining, shopping, and cultural activities, which directly support local businesses and regional economies.

Tourism ministers and industry groups in Australia and New Zealand have identified large extended voyages as particularly valuable, as they attract more affluent travelers and generate higher per‑passenger revenue compared to short domestic or regional sailings. The 2026 Grand Australia and New Zealand itinerary is therefore seen as a positive contributor to the region’s broader cruise tourism strategy and recovery in international visitor numbers.

Image Credit: Holland America Line

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