Volendam will house and feed up to 1,500 people as part
of government's commitment to help families
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, April 1,
2022 /CNW/ -- Holland America
Line's Volendam will be used to accommodate Ukrainian
refugees as part of an agreement announced by Netherlands and City
of Rotterdam government officials. The ship will dock in
Rotterdam for three months to
provide a temporary home for approximately 1,500 Ukrainians, part
of a larger commitment from the
Netherlands to accommodate 50,000 people who fled the war in
their homeland.
Volendam cruise ship will accommodate
Ukrainian refugees in Rotterdam,
Netherlands
"We are in a unique position to accommodate the immediate need
for food and housing, so we felt it was very important to work with
the City of Rotterdam and charter
this ship," said Gus Antorcha,
president, Holland America Line. "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 agreement to charter Volendam, Holland America
Line will provide three hot meals per day, private stateroom
accommodations, housekeeping services, use of public spaces,
fitness facilities, internet access, and other necessities.
Volendam will be staffed with approximately 650 crew
members.
"We are known for our service and hospitality, and our team is
ready to welcome our new guests as we would welcome guests into our
own home," said Captain Ryan
Whitaker. "It will truly be an honor for us to make
Volendam a comfortable and caring environment for these
families who have been through so much."
Volendam was scheduled to return to service May 15, with voyages from Rotterdam to Norway, the British Isles and Iceland. To accommodate the three-month
commitment, Holland America Line will cancel three of those voyages
and resume service on July 3 instead.
Guests on canceled cruises are being notified today and will be
accommodated on similar itineraries.
"We are very sorry for the inconvenience this will cause to
guests booked on the three canceled cruises," Antorcha said. "We
hope they understand the unprecedented nature of this situation and
why we felt it was important to work with the government on this
initiative in support of these families in need."
Volendam will be docked at Merwehaven, a cargo port on
the north side of the River Maas in Rotterdam. Remaining docked will ensure
Ukrainian families can transit easily to and from services in
Rotterdam.
Holland America Group has already been working with its own team
members who are Ukrainian. A $1
million emergency assistance fund provides direct financial
support. Team members from the region also receive counseling
assistance, free internet service to communicate with family, and
scheduling accommodations such as early disembarkation or an
extension to remain on board as needed.
The family foundation of parent company Carnival Corporation's
chairman Micky Arison and his wife
Madeleine also announced a pledge of $3
million to charities helping Ukrainian refugees. In
addition, Holland America Line will look to raise awareness and
funds through its On Deck for a Cause program, in which guests on
every cruise may take part in a non-competitive 5K fundraising walk. The money raised will go to
Direct Relief.
"We stand for peace and our hearts go out to everyone whose
lives have been upended by the invasion of Ukraine," said Arnold
Donald, president and chief executive officer of Carnival
Corporation & plc. "We have crew members from 145 countries and
we sail with guests from nations around the globe, so we feel
deeply the impact of this humanitarian crisis and we join many
others in supporting relief efforts."
Editor's Note: Photos and video of Volendam and its
identical sister ship are at
https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/yt01nihs.
About Holland America Line [a
division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and
CUK)]
Holland America Line has been
exploring the world since 1873 and was the first cruise line to
offer adventures to Alaska and the
Yukon nearly 75 years ago. Its
fleet of premium ships visits nearly 400 ports in 114 countries
around the world, offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience. A
third Pinnacle-class ship, Rotterdam, joined the fleet in
July 2021.
The leader in premium cruising, Holland America Line's ships
feature innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching
experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized
travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music
Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from Holland
America Line's esteemed Culinary Council of world-famous chefs.
CONTACT:
|
Bill Zucker, Erik
Elvejord
|
EMAIL:
|
pr@hollandamerica.com
|
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/holland-america-line-ship-will-become-temporary-home-for-ukrainian-refugees-in-the-netherlands-301515860.html
SOURCE Holland America Line