A place to stay, and three meals a day, all in the safety of the harbor

People and organizations across the world continue to offer free help to the people of Ukraine, from vacation home owners to rail companies. Now, a huge cruise ship docked in the Dutch city of Rotterdam is also contributing to the effort.

Owned by the Holland America Line, The Volendam is a 10-deck, 237-meter long cruise ship that just opened its doors as temporary shelter for Ukrainian refugees. “Our crew sees it as a true honor to make Volendam a comfortable and caring environment for families who have been through so much,” said the ship’s captain, Ryan Whitaker.

The cruise ship has enough room to provide shelter for up to 1,500 refugees. In true cruise style, there’s more than a bed available to those fleeing the violence: the liner is also offering three meals a day, housekeeping services, and access to the ship’s Wi-Fi and gyms. There will also be on-board medical and social care organized by the Salvation Army.

The Dutch government contacted Holland America in late March to charter a ship as temporary accommodation. On April 5, 100 Ukrainians boarded Volendam, with more refugees boarding in the following days. Remaining docked at Merwehaven, a cargo port on Rotterdam’s River Maas for three months, refugees can disembark whenever they want to, including to attend school. City officials have also been working hard to provide education for all Ukrainian children who arrive in Rotterdam.

The Dutch government has pledged to house up to 50,000 displaced Ukranians. Up until now, 1,700 Dutch households have volunteered their homes for refugees, and more than 12,000 people have arrived—with the number growing by the hour.

Cruises have been docked since the pandemic, and Holland America Line initially had plans to continue services in May. However, upcoming cruises for the Volendam have been canceled to provide a three-month sanctuary for those in need.