The City of Rotterdam (Netherlands) is extending its charter agreement for HAL-Holland America’s ship ms Volendam through September 14, 2022, to house Ukrainian refugees.
The vessel has been home to ~1200 Ukrainians since docking at Port Rotterdam in early April and is due to house up to 1500 refugees via the extended charter, part of a commitment from the Netherlands to accommodate ~50000 people who fled the crisis in their homeland.
The government originally chartered the ship through the end of June but has asked to extend it for an additional 10 weeks. Under the agreement, Holland America Line is providing hot meals, private stateroom accommodations, housekeeping services, laundry, use of public spaces, fitness facilities, internet access, and other necessities. Volendam is staffed with ~650 crew.
To allow for the continued charter, Holland America is canceling an additional 6 departures on ms Volendam, including voyages to Norway, the British Isles, and the Mediterranean. Passengers on canceled sailings will automatically be rebooked on similar itineraries.
The first scheduled voyage aboard ms Volendam is a 14-day Holy Land & Ancient Kingdoms Explorer departing the port of Venice (Marghera, Italy) on September 24, 2022.