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   PZM Polish Steamship Company

 Polska Zegluga Morska, Szczecin

Amsterdam (IJmuiden) - Great Lakes passenger service

Telephone +44 (0)20 7723 2450

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

The m.v. ISA and 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 opens every year in late March and the season continues through to just before Christmas. There are five such ships in regular Great Lakes service, with a sailing about every two weeks. They feature an Owners Cabin, a double cabin and two single cabins, all outside, with a capacity for up to six passengers each. 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 $5,700 for 60 days, with a refund of $95 per day for a voyage of less than 60 days, or surcharge of $95 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 forced other pure tramp operators to withdraw from carrying passengers.

The five 656-foot "I" Class ships in the PZM fleet are supplemented by a number of "Ziemia" Class ships built in Argentina in the 1980s and Turkey in the 1990s, and which can also accommodate three or four passengers each at the same fares.

This service marks the first time that Trans-Atlantic passenger service has been available on Polish-flag ships in several years, and many years since the last voyage Polish Ocean Lines' passenger liner STEFAN BATORY in 1988. Bookings are accepted for (a) either Cleveland or (b) Burns Harbor near Chicago.  

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.   

Fares for 2008

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 $95 per day, fare refunded at $95 per person per day pro rata for days below 60 and charged $95 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 $895 ($995 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 $795 ($895 Owners) passengers may stay on to IJmuiden.

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

         PZM Great Lakes Fleet          

Five 35,600-tonners built in Japan (Mitsui) 1999-2000

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

From time to time slightly smaller "Ziemia" class vessels may be substituted with less passenger accommodation.

Four 37,600-ton ships have also been ordered for future delivery.

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 10th April 2008