AmaWaterways Offers Temporary Housing for Ukrainian Refugees
by Daniel McCarthy
The river cruise dock in Amsterdam prior to 2019. Photo: NAN728 / Shutterstock.com
River cruise line AmaWaterways is doing what it can to help the people of Ukraine who fled their homes because of the ongoing war with Russia.
The line has lent one of its river ships to provide temporary accommodations for refugees fleeing Ukraine into the Netherlands, a spokesperson for AmaWaterways told TMR this week.
The ship, which is currently docked alongside another vessel that will be providing food services to the refugees, welcomed its first families, mostly women and children, on Monday.
“We are deeply saddened by what is taking place in Ukraine. We want to do everything we can to provide support to those affected through our partnership with the Port of Amsterdam, we’re able to offer some emergency accommodations for Ukrainian refugees arriving into the Netherlands,” president and co-founder Rudi Schreiner said.
The line is one of many travel companies that have targeted their resources to provide aid to Ukraine and its people.
Carnival Corp.’s Costa Cruises is doing the same with its Costa Magica ship, which has been offered to the Italian Government to be used as part of its plan to host refugees over the coming weeks. Costa is also providing medical supplies to support those that need it in Ukraine.
That move from Costa followed a $3 million donation from the Mickey and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, the organization built and named after Carnival Corp. Chairman Micky Arison and his wife Madeleine, to provide aid to Ukrainian refugees, as well.
Major hotel chains, including Hyatt, Hilton, IHG, and Marriott, have also been dedicating rooms to housing refugees in Europe. Most, if not all, have paused their investment in Russian hotels at least during the conflict. Marriott has also been allowing its guests to donate points to UNICEF or World Central Kitchen through the Marriott website.
Profits from the most recent New York Travel and Adventure Show, hosted by TMR and Unicomm, were also dedicated to organizations providing relief to Ukraine.
