Montreal started the cruise season with a ship that sheltered 1,500 Ukrainian refugees.

Rakesh Prasad, captain of the Volendam cruise ship, recalls the distressed words of the hundreds of Ukrainian refugees who fled their homeland and boarded the ship in April 2022 due to the Russian invasion. The refugees sought safety on the ship for the next six months, arriving with little belongings packed in plastic bags. The atmosphere on board was dark and full of fear, especially among the children. Despite the harsh conditions, the refugees found a sense of community on the ship, with families providing free haircuts and childcare for elderly women.

Now back to catering to leisure travelers, the Volendam was the first cruise ship to arrive in Montreal for the 2024 season. A celebration ceremony was held on the ship with the participation of diplomats of Ukraine and the Netherlands. During the six-month stay of the refugees, the ship was transformed into a Ukrainian village, and a permanent exhibition of drawings by refugee children was held on board. The Dutch authorities have been praised for their support for the friendly reception of refugees.

Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Montreal Yevgeny Tsoly thanked the Dutch authorities for helping to receive refugees in Volendam. The ship's captain, Rens Van Eerten, spoke about the Netherlands' history of helping refugees during crises dating back to World War II. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the Dutch government approached Holland America to charter a ship to take the refugees. Residents of Volendam have built a tight-knit community during their stay, and many have expressed a desire to stay on board when it's time to leave.

While the Netherlands and the US have provided aid to Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia, a sense of “Ukraine fatigue” is growing in some Western countries. Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Montreal, Michael Polak, noted that the desire to support Ukraine has changed as the conflict has dragged on. Despite these challenges, President Joe Biden approved a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, with further support in the form of air defense capabilities, artillery shells and armored vehicles. Yevgeny Tsoly stressed the importance of continued assistance to help protect Ukraine's territorial integrity and prevent a major conflict.

The United States aid package was seen as essential to support Ukraine's efforts in the ongoing war. Tsolii warned that if Ukraine were to lose the conflict, it could escalate into a wider conflict with global implications. Underscoring the urgency of the situation, Tzoly noted that those who have experienced “Ukraine fatigue” fail to recognize the wider meaning of the conflict. The ongoing war in Ukraine remains unresolved, highlighting the need for sustained international support to help the country defend itself against Russian aggression and prevent further escalation.