Rare WriterOnDeck Posted May 10, 2022 #1 Share Posted May 10, 2022 Here's a Google translation of a section of a newspaper article that refugees will stay on the Volendam for months more, quoting a government official. No word from HAL. Of course it is good for the refugees, but it would be nice to hear from HAL, as we've already made final payments (booked July through early October on Volendam), sold the house and will need to find a new place to live.... "The reception of refugees from Ukraine on cruise ship Volendam of the HAL in Rotterdam will be extended by months, alderman responsible Vincent Karremans announced that there was already an option to extend the charter of the ship, but the order had to depend on sequential growth ..." 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAVIP Posted May 10, 2022 #2 Share Posted May 10, 2022 (edited) 10 minutes ago, WriterOnDeck said: Here's a Google translation of a section of a newspaper article that refugees will stay on the Volendam for months more, quoting a government official. No word from HAL. Of course it is good for the refugees, but it would be nice to hear from HAL, as we've already made final payments (booked July through early October on Volendam), sold the house and will need to find a new place to live.... "The reception of refugees from Ukraine on cruise ship Volendam of the HAL in Rotterdam will be extended by months, alderman responsible Vincent Karremans announced that there was already an option to extend the charter of the ship, but the order had to depend on sequential growth ..." No word of this in our two newspapers this morning or yesterday. Will you please be so kind to inform us in which newspaper you read this message? Edited May 10, 2022 by MAVIP 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WriterOnDeck Posted May 10, 2022 Author #3 Share Posted May 10, 2022 35 minutes ago, MAVIP said: No word of this in our two newspapers this morning or yesterday. Will you please be so kind to inform us in which newspaper you read this message? I've asked the original poster for the name of the paper. But here is the photo of the article, which is in Dutch. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted May 10, 2022 #4 Share Posted May 10, 2022 Although we canceled our July 3 Volendam cruise for other reasons, as time goes by I'm even more glad we made that decision. When HAL wasn't posting shore excursions (and from what I see they still haven't?) I was concerned. Maybe there's another reason, but that alone is very unusual at only 2 months out. I'm very happy for the Ukrainian refugees, just glad we canceled the cruise long ago. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare albingirl Posted May 10, 2022 #5 Share Posted May 10, 2022 18 minutes ago, Cruising-along said: Although we canceled our July 3 Volendam cruise for other reasons, as time goes by I'm even more glad we made that decision. When HAL wasn't posting shore excursions (and from what I see they still haven't?) I was concerned. Maybe there's another reason, but that alone is very unusual at only 2 months out. I'm very happy for the Ukrainian refugees, just glad we canceled the cruise long ago. I'm very happy, too, for the refugees, understanding there is some difficulty for travelers who need to make other arrangements. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAVIP Posted May 10, 2022 #6 Share Posted May 10, 2022 20 minutes ago, WriterOnDeck said: I've asked the original poster for the name of the paper. But here is the photo of the article, which is in Dutch. Yes, I saw the same cutting on Facebook Friends in NL. It is a newspaper I do not touch. The town of Rotterdam asked HAL for prolongation as already possible in the original contract. We will wait and see. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tradintraci Posted May 10, 2022 #7 Share Posted May 10, 2022 Appears from today's newspaper, the Voldendam will extend their housing. That is what responsible alderman Vincent Karrenmans says. There was already an option to extend the lease. There were two other options but "because these quotes were well above the amount of HAL's extension option in terms of price per day, we decided to opt for HAL". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseMGM Posted May 10, 2022 #8 Share Posted May 10, 2022 Oh dear. Do you have a link for that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highland cruiser Posted May 10, 2022 #9 Share Posted May 10, 2022 We almost transferred our Volendam booking to another Voldenam cruise in August. Instead chose the NS. Glad we did. I thought all along that HAL might be letting the Volendam go longer for the Ukrainian refugees. I was happy with HAL doing that in the first place and am not surprised they are extending the time. Believe me, I know how stressful it can be to transfer a cruise and cancel shore excursions, etc. But nothing compared to what is happening to those refugees. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusin-Suzan Posted May 10, 2022 #10 Share Posted May 10, 2022 When was it suppose to end? We are booked for Nov! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted May 10, 2022 #11 Share Posted May 10, 2022 HAL still appears to be accepting bookings for July 3. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir PMP Posted May 10, 2022 #12 Share Posted May 10, 2022 Expect another year.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted May 11, 2022 #13 Share Posted May 11, 2022 2 hours ago, Sir PMP said: Expect another year.. Would not be surprised, And supportive of such a use of Volendam. Though, I wonder, how long her propulsion machinery can go without being used? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveapug Posted May 11, 2022 #14 Share Posted May 11, 2022 I am one those who was so looking forward to the Northern Capitals cruise with the Volendam beginning on July 17. Those of you with more experience- what do you recommend as next steps? Ask our TA to contact Holland America? Should we call HAL? Anyone up the chain of command to contact? Just yesterday my husband called the shore excursion group and was told they were finalizing contracts. When he asked, "Is there a possibility there will not be shore excursions?" he was told, "Anything is possible". I too am glad there are options for the refugees, but am disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarefreeKaren Posted May 11, 2022 #15 Share Posted May 11, 2022 3 hours ago, Sir PMP said: Expect another year.. Have you heard this from other sources or is it a guesstimate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir PMP Posted May 11, 2022 #16 Share Posted May 11, 2022 17 minutes ago, KarefreeKaren said: Have you heard this from other sources or is it a guesstimate? Just a feeling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shank63 Posted May 11, 2022 #17 Share Posted May 11, 2022 We cancelled our July 3 booking weeks ago thinking that the chance of HAL extending the lease was a given. Not likely that we will be sailing on HAL again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted May 11, 2022 #18 Share Posted May 11, 2022 2 hours ago, loveapug said: I am one those who was so looking forward to the Northern Capitals cruise with the Volendam beginning on July 17. Those of you with more experience- what do you recommend as next steps? Ask our TA to contact Holland America? Should we call HAL? Anyone up the chain of command to contact? Just yesterday my husband called the shore excursion group and was told they were finalizing contracts. When he asked, "Is there a possibility there will not be shore excursions?" he was told, "Anything is possible". I too am glad there are options for the refugees, but am disappointed. Pretty much all you can do is sit and wait until HAL actually cancels the cruise. Before that, you'll only get answers like you did from the shore excursion department. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayfairers Posted May 11, 2022 #19 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Any experience on what HAL does with the use by date on FCC when it is reissued after they cancel a cruise? Do they extend the date or keep the original one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseMGM Posted May 11, 2022 #20 Share Posted May 11, 2022 For what it's worth, I just got off the phone with my Travel Agent. She said she just got off the phone with HAL (again) and has word that the refugee housing has been extended but only "through July". For the two of us, that means our September plans (Med cruise) are still good on the Volendam. But as far as how far into July that means (July 1st? July 30th?), and whether the housing will be extended further than that, I don't have any further information. I'm sorry for the minimal info, but hopefully anyone else who might be impacted can get a little more information from their Travel Agent or PCC. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseMGM Posted May 12, 2022 #21 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Just got word from my TA, housing extended thru mid September. There goes our cruise. Happy for the refugees, of course, but another disappointment here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseMGM Posted May 12, 2022 #22 Share Posted May 12, 2022 From my TA, more info to come, I suppose. Dear Travel Partner, I am writing to share with you we have extended our charter agreement with Netherlands and City of Rotterdam officials through September 14, 2022 for Volendam to continue to be berthed in Rotterdam where she has been providing a temporary home for 1,200 Ukrainian refugees. The extended charter will now run through September 14 and will house up to 1,500 refugees, part of a larger commitment from the Netherlands to accommodate 50,000 refugees from Ukraine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida_gal_50 Posted May 12, 2022 #23 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Thanks for the information. There is no way I'd book a cruise on the volendam unless payment was far away. Too risky because I bet this will go on for a while. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ontheweb Posted May 12, 2022 #24 Share Posted May 12, 2022 9 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said: Thanks for the information. There is no way I'd book a cruise on the volendam unless payment was far away. Too risky because I bet this will go on for a while. I think that is a very safe bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare puppycanducruise Posted May 12, 2022 #25 Share Posted May 12, 2022 Thanks for the info, I guess we'll hear from our TA soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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