San Diego - October 16, 2026

Part Two of Our Adventure: The 35-Day Legendary Voyage Begins!

Well, here we are, continuing our cruise journey with Part Two of our adventure — the 35-Day Legendary Hawaii, French Polynesia and Marquesas Voyage aboard Holland America Line’s Zaandam!

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s rewind a little and tell you about yesterday’s activities in San Diego.

Turnover Day in San Diego

Yesterday was what the cruise lines call a turnover day. Approximately 1,300 guests left the ship, with roughly the same number embarking for their next adventure. About 100 of us were fortunate enough to remain aboard, having joined the Zaandam for either the 11-day or 7-day segment cruise.

We waited patiently as the departing guests made their way off the ship. In fact, we stayed aboard until pretty much everyone had left, waiting for that final call. Every guest needs to scan off the ship so that the crew can establish a zero count before the next group of passengers can officially begin their cruise.

And there we were, still aboard, watching the changeover unfold!

San Diego was putting on quite a show for us, with temperatures around 30°C and just a light breeze. It was an absolutely lovely day to get out and stretch our legs, so we decided to head off for a stroll through the famous Balboa Park.

What a wonderful place to spend a few hours! There was so much to see, from the beautiful architecture to the gardens, fountains and inviting little spots where you could sit for a while and simply enjoy your surroundings. It was the perfect opportunity to slow down, take it all in and enjoy a little more of San Diego before setting sail.

After a few hours exploring, we called an Uber and headed back to our floating home, the Zaandam.

All Aboard for a Legendary Sail Away!

At 5:00 pm, right on schedule, we were underway!

There’s always something special about sail-away day, but this one had all the fanfare befitting a Legendary Voyage. After all, we weren’t just heading off on another short cruise. We were beginning a 35-day adventure across the Pacific, with Hawaii, French Polynesia and the Marquesas Islands waiting for us along the way.

Following our departure, we enjoyed a complimentary drinks gathering by the pool for the ship’s 3-, 4- and 5-Star Mariner Society members. The ship’s officers, right up to the captain, were there to welcome these loyal guests.

It was a lovely way to kick off the voyage, catch up with fellow cruisers and enjoy that familiar feeling of being back at sea.

And now, of course, comes one of my favourite parts of a turnover day — watching all the new guests discover the ship!

You hear the familiar questions: “Where is the dining room?” “Oh, look, they have a library!” And, perhaps most importantly, “Don’t these chairs look comfy?”

We’ve all been there at some point, haven’t we? Everything is new, there are places to explore, and you’re already imagining where you’ll spend the next few weeks relaxing.

Of course, for those of us staying aboard, it’s rather nice to be able to point people in the right direction — or simply sit back and watch the excitement unfold.

Why We Love These Longer Voyages

Although this is considered a Legendary Voyage, at 35 days it’s actually on the shorter side of the longer cruises Holland America offers.

Personally, I think voyages like this are a terrific idea for HAL. They give people the opportunity to try something longer than the usual week or two without committing to one of those really lengthy journeys right away.

And here’s something I’ve noticed over the years: once you get to around 30 days, the whole atmosphere changes.

Think of it as the difference between staying in a hotel for a week and spending a month at your favourite holiday home or cottage.

There’s a different rhythm to life. People settle in, become familiar faces, establish their favourite routines and get to know one another. There’s less of that frantic feeling of trying to fit everything into a few precious days. Instead, it becomes about enjoying life, taking things as they come and appreciating the experience.

The pace is more relaxed, the atmosphere is easygoing, and people seem quite content simply enjoying the journey.

And that, for us, is a big part of the appeal.

We’re looking forward to getting properly settled into this next chapter, catching up with familiar faces and seeing what adventures await us over the coming weeks.

Day 1 of 5: Crossing the Pacific

Today marks Day 1 of our five-day Pacific Ocean crossing as we make our way towards Hawaii.

The captain is anticipating relatively calm seas for the crossing, which will certainly be welcome. As we head farther into the Pacific, the temperatures will gradually rise, and we’re looking forward to enjoying those wonderful Hawaiian breezes.

For now, it’s time to settle into shipboard life, enjoy the ocean views and make the most of having nowhere in particular to be.

Not a bad way to spend a few days, is it?

So, here are a few photos from our time in San Diego, including our stroll through Balboa Park and the beginning of our latest adventure aboard the Zaandam.

We’re officially underway, and Hawaii is calling!

Until next time… 

Part Two of Our Adventure: The 35-Day Legendary Voyage Begins!

Well, here we are, continuing our cruise journey with Part Two of our adventure — the 35-Day Legendary Hawaii, French Polynesia and Marquesas Voyage aboard Holland America Line’s Zaandam!

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s rewind a little and tell you about yesterday’s activities in San Diego.

Turnover Day in San Diego

Yesterday was what the cruise lines call a turnover day. Approximately 1,300 guests left the ship, with roughly the same number embarking for their next adventure. About 100 of us were fortunate enough to remain aboard, having joined the Zaandam for either the 11-day or 7-day segment cruise.

We waited patiently as the departing guests made their way off the ship. In fact, we stayed aboard until pretty much everyone had left, waiting for that final call. Every guest needs to scan off the ship so that the crew can establish a zero count before the next group of passengers can officially begin their cruise.

And there we were, still aboard, watching the changeover unfold!

San Diego was putting on quite a show for us, with temperatures around 30°C and just a light breeze. It was an absolutely lovely day to get out and stretch our legs, so we decided to head off for a stroll through the famous Balboa Park.

What a wonderful place to spend a few hours! There was so much to see, from the beautiful architecture to the gardens, fountains and inviting little spots where you could sit for a while and simply enjoy your surroundings. It was the perfect opportunity to slow down, take it all in and enjoy a little more of San Diego before setting sail.

After a few hours exploring, we called an Uber and headed back to our floating home, the Zaandam.

All Aboard for a Legendary Sail Away!

At 5:00 pm, right on schedule, we were underway!

There’s always something special about sail-away day, but this one had all the fanfare befitting a Legendary Voyage. After all, we weren’t just heading off on another short cruise. We were beginning a 35-day adventure across the Pacific, with Hawaii, French Polynesia and the Marquesas Islands waiting for us along the way.

Following our departure, we enjoyed a complimentary drinks gathering by the pool for the ship’s 3-, 4- and 5-Star Mariner Society members. The ship’s officers, right up to the captain, were there to welcome these loyal guests.

It was a lovely way to kick off the voyage, catch up with fellow cruisers and enjoy that familiar feeling of being back at sea.

And now, of course, comes one of my favourite parts of a turnover day — watching all the new guests discover the ship!

You hear the familiar questions: “Where is the dining room?” “Oh, look, they have a library!” And, perhaps most importantly, “Don’t these chairs look comfy?”

We’ve all been there at some point, haven’t we? Everything is new, there are places to explore, and you’re already imagining where you’ll spend the next few weeks relaxing.

Of course, for those of us staying aboard, it’s rather nice to be able to point people in the right direction — or simply sit back and watch the excitement unfold.

Why We Love These Longer Voyages

Although this is considered a Legendary Voyage, at 35 days it’s actually on the shorter side of the longer cruises Holland America offers.

Personally, I think voyages like this are a terrific idea for HAL. They give people the opportunity to try something longer than the usual week or two without committing to one of those really lengthy journeys right away.

And here’s something I’ve noticed over the years: once you get to around 30 days, the whole atmosphere changes.

Think of it as the difference between staying in a hotel for a week and spending a month at your favourite holiday home or cottage.

There’s a different rhythm to life. People settle in, become familiar faces, establish their favourite routines and get to know one another. There’s less of that frantic feeling of trying to fit everything into a few precious days. Instead, it becomes about enjoying life, taking things as they come and appreciating the experience.

The pace is more relaxed, the atmosphere is easygoing, and people seem quite content simply enjoying the journey.

And that, for us, is a big part of the appeal.

We’re looking forward to getting properly settled into this next chapter, catching up with familiar faces and seeing what adventures await us over the coming weeks.

Day 1 of 5: Crossing the Pacific

Today marks Day 1 of our five-day Pacific Ocean crossing as we make our way towards Hawaii.

The captain is anticipating relatively calm seas for the crossing, which will certainly be welcome. As we head farther into the Pacific, the temperatures will gradually rise, and we’re looking forward to enjoying those wonderful Hawaiian breezes.

For now, it’s time to settle into shipboard life, enjoy the ocean views and make the most of having nowhere in particular to be.

Not a bad way to spend a few days, is it?

So, here are a few photos from our time in San Diego, including our stroll through Balboa Park and the beginning of our latest adventure aboard the Zaandam.

We’re officially underway, and Hawaii is calling!

Until next time… 

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Back to the South Pacific 2026

Back to Sea — Here We Go Again

Well, here we are again!

Apparently we enjoyed last year’s adventure a little too much because we have once again packed our bags, hauled everything down to the ship and climbed aboard the Zaandam for another rather long trip across the Pacific.

And yes, this is very similar to the Legendary Voyage we did in 2025.

Obviously, we liked it!

This time we are starting in Vancouver on October 4 and heading south. The first part of the trip is an 11-day cruise down the Pacific Coast to Mexico and then back to San Diego.

Then, on October 15, we don’t get off the ship. We continue, in the same stateroom for part two on the beautiful Zaandam.

The second cruise is the Legendary, 35-day Legendary Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas voyage, also aboard Zaandam. Holland America has put together quite a trip for this one, taking us from San Diego to Hawaii and then on across the Pacific to French Polynesia and the Marquesas before eventually bringing us back to San Diego. Holland America lists this as one of its 2026–27 Legendary Voyages.

So when we put the two cruises together, we are looking at 46 nights aboard Zaandam.

Yep.

That’s a lot of nights.

And a lot of meals.

And a LOT of laundry.

First Stop — Mexico

We left Vancouver October 4, and the first few days were all about getting into cruise mode.

There were several sea days as we head south before reaching San Diego. From there we continued toward Mexico, with scheduled stops at Cabo San Lucas, Pichilingue (La Paz) and Mazatlán, before eventually returning to San Diego on October 15.

So the first part looked something like:

Vancouver → sea days → San Diego → sea day → Cabo San Lucas → Pichilingue/La Paz → Mazatlán → sea days → San Diego.

This is where we had a bit of cruise interruption, on two fronts, front one was Hurricane Simon, the second, well, let’s just say did cause a pause in our anticipated journey. Hurricane Simon and its track prevented us from being able to visit the port in Mazatlan but for us this was okay as we needed to give ourselves a bit of a breather. As this blog main focus remains on our travel journey, we will simply say that after the four day crossing we had a week aboard the ship taking it easy and getting us ready for the Legendary portion of our trip.

So I believe with last year’s incredible weather that there maybe some adjustments need to be made to accommodate.

The weather on our 2025 Legendary trip was almost ridiculously good for much of the voyage. We kept looking at the forecasts and wondering when our luck was going to run out. The weather gods remained on our side so our luck never did run out.

This year I’m sure Mother Nature will be happy to correct us.

October can be a bit of a mixed bag as we head south from Vancouver. We could get beautiful sunshine and calm seas.

Or we could get rain.

Or wind.

Or big waves.

Or all three at once.

And then, as we get farther south, hopefully we will start seeing more of the sunshine and warmth we remember from last year.

But we aren’t making any predictions.

We learned our lesson.

We’re just going to take whatever the Pacific decides to give us.

Although we did bring our sense of adventure for whatever the Pacific will throw at us.

On October 15, we arrive back in San Diego.

Here rather than going home, like many on the ship, we stay aboard Zaandam and start 35 more nights of cruising.

This is the part we have really been looking forward to.

The Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas cruise takes us from San Diego across the Pacific to Hawaii, then south toward French Polynesia and eventually into the Marquesas.

The scheduled itinerary includes:

San Diego → Nawiliwili, Kauai → Honolulu → Kahului, Maui → Kona → sea days → French Polynesia → Rangiroa → Huahine → Bora Bora → Raiatea → Papeete → Moorea → Fakarava → Nuku Hiva → sea days → San Diego.

The itinerary has also changed since we originally booked it, so Fanning Island is no longer part of the cruise.

That’s cruising.

You make plans.

The cruise line makes plans.

The weather makes plans.

And eventually somebody decides what we’re actually doing.

We’ll just go with it.

One of the highlights of this trip will be the amount of time we have in some of these places. There is an overnight in Honolulu and an extended stay in Papeete, along with a later departure from Bora Bora. Those longer calls are one of the things that make these Legendary Voyages so interesting. (Holland America)

And, of course, there are a couple of things that make the trip even more fun.

We cross the International Date Line but only to transit through it, our clocks or in our case our date will not need to change. This is because of the funky line surrounding this arbitrary date line, lol. So we gain time, lose time, we cross the equator twice and then there is the weather. 

The Pacific is a very large ocean and October and November can produce just about anything. We could have calm seas and blue skies for days on end, or we could get a reminder that we are sitting on a relatively small piece of metal in the middle of a very large body of water.

Personally, I am voting for calm seas.

And sunshine.

Lots of sunshine.

But after last year, I’m not getting too confident.

We have packed rain gear.

We have packed warmer clothes.

We have packed summer clothes.

Basically, we’ve packed everything.

So whatever happens, we should be prepared.

Probably.

Why Are We Doing This Again?

That’s actually pretty easy to answer.

We loved the 2025 Legendary Voyage.

We enjoyed the longer stretches at sea, the smaller Zaandam, the relaxed pace and, of course, getting to places that aren’t exactly on the average vacation itinerary.

There is something very nice about unpacking once and then letting the ship do the work.

We don’t have to drive anywhere.

We don’t have to find hotels.

We don’t have to pack every few days.

Given the time changes, we just have to figure out what time dinner is.

And where we’re going tomorrow.

And what day it is.

So here we go again.

Vancouver to San Diego.

Mexico.

Back to San Diego.

Hawaii.

Across the Pacific.

French Polynesia.

The Marquesas.

And eventually, San Diego again.

Forty-six nights.

One ship.

A whole lot of ocean.

And hopefully a whole lot of sunshine.

We’re looking forward to sharing the trip with everyone who follows along with us.

We’ll see what happens.

There will undoubtedly be some great ports, some interesting people, some good meals, some not-so-good meals, plenty of sea days and, knowing us, a few adventures that weren’t actually on the itinerary.

And if the weather cooperates, we’ll be very happy.

If it doesn’t…

Well, that’s what coffee, books, trivia and a covered deck are for.

So, once again…

Welcome aboard!

Not our ship but a bow in made for a better picture. lol.

Thank you Aaron and Karen for hosting us and the Galapagos group while in San Diego.