Holland America, a subsidiary of the cruise operator Carnival Corporation, has offered one of its cruise vessels, the VOLENDAM, as a temporary shelter for Ukrainian refugees in Rotterdam. For three months, the vessel will remain at Merwehaven, a port at the river Maas in Rotterdam.
The 781-foot, 61,300 gross ton ship has 716 passenger staterooms and a crew size of 650. The vessel is expected to accommodate around 1,500 refugees. All the refugees will be provided three meals a day, private stateroom accommodations, housekeeping services, public spaces, fitness facilities, internet access, and other necessities. The company has worked out a charter rate with the government to cover the expenses of the food and the crew. The ship’s captain Ryan Whitaker stated that he and the team are eager to welcome the refugees and provide a comfortable and caring environment. The displaced families have already suffered a lot. Being housed on the cruise vessel will also be more convenient for the refugees traveling to the city for services and paperwork.
The chartering of this vessel is a part of the Netherlands’ commitment to accommodating 50,000 people who have fled their homeland in Ukraine.
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