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   PZM Polish Steamship Company

 Polska Zegluga Morska, Szczecin

Amsterdam (IJmuiden) - Great Lakes passenger service

Isn't it High Time you were on the High Seas? ©

The m.v. ISA and  her four sister ships carry six passengers each.

PZM Polish Steamship Company's 35,600-ton m.v. ISA opened this St Lawrence Seaway passenger service in March 2000. The Seaway season opens in late March every year and continues through to just before Christmas. There are thirteen such ships in Great Lakes service, with a sailing about every two weeks. Five of them feature an Owners Cabin, a double cabin and two single cabins, all outside, with a capacity for up to six passengers each. And eight new ships of the "Juno" class have entered service over 2010 and 2011, with a double cabin, that also has third and fourth berths, and a single cabin. Fares are given in the table below.

Great Lakes round voyages are offered, with embarkation in IJmuiden, Cleveland or  Burns Harbor at a fare of $5,995 for 60 days, with a refund of $100 per day for a voyage of less than 60 days, or surcharge of $100 per day for days over, and a supplement for the Owners Cabin. The eastbound destination ports are not known until the outbound grain cargo is stemmed. Ships then normally return to IJmuiden to load back to the Great Lakes again.  The eastbound trade being grain (wheat, corn, soybeans, peas, etc) , about half the ships load at  Duluth, Minnesota, or Thunder Bay, Ontario, with the rest loading at Milwaukee, Toledo, Montreal, Sorel or Quebec. Destinations are not known until the last minute and can be any of Morocco, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Norway, Poland or Russia before returning to IJmuiden.  Don't miss the last opportunity to sail a real "tramp ship" since the implementation of the International Shipping & Port Security regime has forced pure tramp operators to stop carrying passengers.

The new m.v. MIDWIE and seven sister ships carry three passengers but have berths for two more.

The five 656-foot "I" Class ships in the PZM fleet are now supplemented by the eight 623-foot "Juno" Class ships built in China in 2010, which can also accommodate passengers at the same fares.  This particular service marked the first time that Trans-Atlantic passenger service had been available on Polish-owned ships in several years, and many years since the last voyage of Polish Ocean Lines' passenger liner STEFAN BATORY in 1988. Bookings are accepted for (a) either Cleveland or (b) Burns Harbor near Chicago and from the Great Lakes to either first port Europe or  back to IJmuiden.  

The video below, courtesy of Great Lakes Ships, shows the m.v. ISOLDA loaded with grain for Europe, leaving Lake Huron and passing under the Blue Water Bridge into the St Clair River. The bridge joins the cities of Sarnia, Ontario, in Canada (to the right) and Port Huron, Michigan, in the United States (to the left).

A detailed account of a voyage in the m.v. ISA can be found here: IJmuiden to Cleveland

Photos taken during a voyage in the m.v. ISA can be found here: IJmuiden to Burns Harbor

Passage Fares

Fares include accommodation, all meals, deviation insurance and port taxes. Fares are per person in U.S. dollars. Voyage duration varies according to cargo.

Round Voyage Fare: Based on $100 per day, fare refunded at $100 per person per day pro rata for days below 60 and charged $100 per person per day for days over 60. Owners Cabin refund/charge is $100 per person per day.

Europe to Great Lakes: From IJmuiden to Cleveland or Burns Harbor.  (*) For an additional $625 ($730 Owners) passengers may stay on to Lake Superior port (usually Duluth or Thunder Bay).

Great Lakes port to Europe: Burns Harbor or Lake Superior or other lakes port to first port in Europe or North Africa (tramp voyage ports are variable). Port of disembarkation will not be known until very close to actual sailing date.  (+) For an additional $915 ($1,035 Owners) passengers may stay on to IJmuiden.

Port Taxes: Are payable per person in addition to the basic fare.

General Service Outline

The PZM Great Lakes service features five 35,600-ton bulk carriers engaged in carrying Dutch steel to US Great Lakes ports, usually Cleveland and Burns Harbor, but with occasional calls at Milwaukee. Each ship features a double Owners Cabin with a single bed and pullman sofa-bed, standard double cabin with upper and lower berths and two single cabins, each en suite and equipped with radio, plus a large airy mess available to the passengers. Although passengers are allowed the run of the ship, and are allowed on the bridge, it is worth remembering that these are working ships.

Sailings take place approximately twice monthly, March to November.  Please apply for either the first or second half of any particular month. Transit times from IJmuiden are about 10 /11 days to Montreal via the St Lawrence River, thence the St Lawrence Seaway to Cleveland, which is reached in about 14 days. After discharging at Cleveland, the ship proceeds to Burns Harbor to finish. There is no call at Montreal, so passengers cannot disembark there.  Valid US visas are required for all non-US citizens entering the United States by cargo ship.  It may also be necessary to obtain visas for certain countries for the full round voyage.   

         PZM Great Lakes Fleet          

Five 35,600-tonners built in Japan (Mitsui) 1999-2000
(one Owners Double, one Double cabin and two Single Cabins)

Irma 2000 35.600 dwt 200 x 24 m
Iryda 1999 35.600 dwt 200 x 24 m
Isa 1999 35.600 dwt 200 x 24 m
Isadora 1999 35.600 dwt 200 x 24 m
Isolda 1999 35.600 dwt 200 x 24 m

Eight 30,000-tonners built in China (Nanting Mingde) 2010-12
(one Double Cabin that has four berths and one Single Cabin)

Drawsko 2010 30.000 dwt 190 x 23 m
Juno 2010 30.000 dwt 190 x 23 m
Lubie 2011 30.000 dwt 190 x 23 m
Mamry 2012 30.000 dwt 190 x 23 m
Miedwe 2010 30.000 dwt 190 x 23 m
Resko 2010 30.000 dwt 190 x 23 m
Solina 2011 30.000 dwt 190 x 23 m
Wicko 2010 30.000 dwt 190 x 23 m

The older "Ziemia" class vessels have now been withdrawn from the Great Lakes trade.

Click here to E-mail The Cruise People  about a PZM Great Lakes Voyage

(please include preferred month, voyage, name, address and phone number for quickest reply)

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Last Revised 26th October 2012