HAL-Holland America’s vessel ms Volendam will be used as a hotel ship to accommodate Ukrainian refugees. The decision is part of an agreement revealed by Netherlands and City of Rotterdam government officials.
The cruise ship will dock in Port Rotterdam for 3 months to provide a temporary home for ~1500 Ukrainians, part of the larger commitment from Holland to accommodate ~50,000 Ukrainians who fled their homeland.
Gus Antorcha (HAL's President) said they were "in a unique position to accommodate the immediate need for food and housing," so they felt it was very important to work with the City of Rotterdam and charter that ship.
“Our company was founded in Rotterdam around the mission of helping immigrants find a better life. So today we’re proud to be a small part of a similar mission for Ukrainians who have tragically been displaced.”
Under the charter agreement for ms Volendam, HAL will provide private staterooms, 3 hot meals daily, free use of public spaces, fitness facilities, housekeeping services, Internet access, and other necessities. The ship will be served by ~650 staff/crew.
As result of the charter deal, a total of 6 voyages (all roundtrips from homeport Rotterdam, The Netherlands) in 2022 were canceled, including:
- (May 15) 14-day "Voyage Of The Midnight Sun"
- (May 15) 28-day "North Cape and British Isles Explorer"
- (May 29) 14-day "British Isles Explorer"
- (May 29) 35-day "British Isles, Spitsbergen and Iceland Fjords Explorer"
- (June 12) 21-day "Spitsbergen and Icelandic Fjords Explorer"
- (June 12) 35-day "Spitsbergen, Icelandic Fjords and North Cape Explorer"