After two and a half years Holland America Line's cruise ship Volendam returned to cruising in Trieste (Venice), Italy. The ship embarked guests on a 14-day itinerary of the Holy Land and Ancient Kingdoms.

To commemorate the occasion, Holland America Line held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the terminal for the opening of boarding, attended by the ship's captain and senior officers, with a fanfare of team members lining up to greet guests as they boarded.

"This is a milestone day as the Volendam embarks on its first full cruise since an industry-wide hiatus," said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. "We are grateful for the incredible work of the ship's team over the past six months, caring for Ukrainian families." As we return to cruising, we are excited to welcome guests to Volendam for a series of longer voyages that include explorations of the Mediterranean, the Amazon and South America.

Volendam has spent the past six months in Rotterdam, Netherlands, under a charter by the city of Rotterdam to house Ukrainian families. The ship was a temporary home for up to 1,500 refugees through a charter, part of a larger commitment by the Netherlands to house 50,000 people who fled war in their homeland.

After cruising the Holy Land and the Ancient Kingdoms, the ship will sail 14-day itineraries to Greece, Turkey, Italy, Croatia and Montenegro. In late October, the ship will transfer to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to offer a 28-day Amazon Explorer voyage, followed by a series of Caribbean cruises. In January 2023, the ship embarks on a 74-day voyage around Greater South America and Antarctica that circumnavigates the continent.