We've floated the idea before on the Diner of using Cruise Ships for refugee housing, but of course it's totally unrealistic.  There's a reason they charge $1500-$10K/week for those closet size cabins besides paying the debt on it and making a profit for the stockholders, they cost a fortune to run.  I doubt a month would go by before all the toilets were backed up and the refugees were shitting off the decks.  The ventilation systems would spread every air borne disease known to man, just like during the COVID epidemic.

Where exactly they would dock these boats where there was any public transportation to get the refugees from the boat to some kind of job is a toughy.  Ports big enough are either tourist traps or commercial for container ships. So, except for very temporary accommodation in some emergency evacuation situation, I can't imagine this alternative use would ever be pursued.  Repurposing abandoned malls would be cheaper, and that is considered too expensive.

I suspect they will be lucky if they can sell them for scrap value in a few years. Otherwise, they'll just be rotting hulks mothballed with old tankers andfreighters.

RE.