world cup qatar cruise ship

A massive new cruise ship is set to function as a floating hotel for the Qatar World Cup, and rooms start at $220 a night. Take a look inside.

• MSC Cruises launched a new luxury liner ahead of the Qatar World Cup.
• The ship is expected to host more than 6,700 fans at the World Cup.
• A single night's stay on the docked ship during the World Cup starts at $220.

MSC Cruises just launched a new cruise liner called the MSC World Europa. The luxury cruise is currently moored in Doha, Qatar, and is expected to host thousands of fans during the World Cup in November.

Chantiers de l'Atlantique, one of the world's biggest shipyards, started construction on MSC World Europa in 2019. The ship was fully constructed and delivered to MSC Cruises in October, and it's scheduled for its maiden voyage around the Middle East in December.

MSC World Europa is slated to be used as a hotel for fans at the Qatar World Cup from November 19 to December 19.

MSC Cruises did not reply to Insider's requests for comment.

MSC Europa is the largest ship in the cruise line's fleet — it has a gross tonnage of 215,863. In comparison, the Titanic had a gross tonnage of 46,328, which is about four times less.

The MSC Poesia and MSC Opera, two other cruises in the fleet, are also currently docked in Doha to accommodate fans. MSC Cruises has a  fleet of 22 ships.

Source: MSC Cruises

The massive ship has 22 decks and 2,626 cabins, which means it can accommodate more than 6,700 guests at a time.

The ship is large enough to accommodate 2,138 crew members.

Sources:   MSC Cruises  

The ship is designed with a yacht club, which is an area exclusive to VIP guests.

The yacht club has 152 cabins and two suites, accounting for a fraction of the 2,626 cabins on board. Its amenities include a private pool and 24-hour butler service.

Booking up a yacht club cabin for the ship's nine-day maiden voyage start from $2,290.

Source: MSC Cruises, Clean Cruising

A nine-day cruise around Qatar and the United Arab Emirates costs around $1,070 for an entry-level interior cabin. The ship is expected to begin cruising after the World Cup in December.

There are four main room categories on board: interior, balcony, suite, and yacht club, cruise booking website Clean Cruising shows. The interior cabin does not have windows, a virtual tour shows.

During the duration of the World Cup, however, the ship will stay docked in Doha, and will be used as a floating hotel.

A night's stay at the docked MSC Europa is slated to start from $220 per person. Prices fluctuate according to which stage of the tournament is being held on the day of the accommodation. 

Sources: Clean Cruising , MSC Cruises, Associated Press

MSC Europa claims it's home to the world's longest dry slide in a ship, which spans 11 decks.

There are six pools and 14 whirlpool baths on board.

There's also a spa with thermal baths, in addition adults-only pools and water facilities made specifically for children.

There are 10 dining venues on board, including four main restaurants, three buffets, and six specialty restaurants.

Restaurants on board include a sushi bar, a tacos and cantina restaurant, and a steakhouse.

Sources: MSC Cruises

The ship also has 21 bars and lounges, as well as a casino.

In addition to the casino, there's a massive panoramic lounge that's slated to host dozens of music-themed experiences. The ship also has luxury boutiques, a water park, a sports complex with a bumper cars, and video arcades.

After MSC Europa's winter tour, it's expected to cruise in the Mediterranean.

The ship's summer tour is expected to begin on April 16. It's slated to cruise for eight days at a time, across six places in Europe: Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Messina, and Malta.

• Main content

Qatar's cruise ships-turned-hotels are a 24/7 booze-fueled party for World Cup tourists

Mark Ogden thinks England look stronger than France, Brazil and Argentina after the 3-0 win against Senegal. (1:50)

DOHA, Qatar -- The glass door to the La Plage pool deck slides open, I walk through, and it's as if I've been transported into another world -- one that is thousands of miles away from Qatar.

It's a little after noon, and alcohol is flowing in all manner of ways. People are sprawled out on lounge chairs, sleeping off hangovers or perhaps just the game from the previous evening. And there's more exposed skin sizzling in the sun than you'd otherwise see in months here in Doha -- enough to keep a dermatologist employed for the rest of their life.

Yes, this is in Qatar -- the small, conservative Muslim country hosting the World Cup -- but this is not in one of its hotels or public spaces. Rather, it's the cruise ship MSC World Europa, which is docked at Doha's newly revamped cruise ship terminal. You don't have to book a room to enjoy the ship's amenities, either. For a cool $50, you can get a day pass, but for those staying overnight, it's one of those places where the party never stops.

"This place is like Vegas on water, man. It's been incredible," said Marc Laszcz, 28, a real estate agent from San Diego. "We've been here about a week now and just living it up. It's like you're walking onto the Strip, you walk into one of the Bellagios. This place never sleeps. It goes 24 hours.

"The Welsh and the British people there are up at the bar, just keeping it going. And then they fall asleep, they wake up, they keep going, fall asleep around 4 or 5 in the morning. We're up by 7 because the sun's up and it's just nonstop. It's a great time. And we're here to cheer on the boys in the red, white and blue."

How a cruise ship becomes a World Cup hotel stand-in

When the Qatar Supreme Committee began wondering how it would accommodate upward of 1 million visitors for the 2022 World Cup, hotel space was a big concern in Qatar, a country that could only accommodate a small fraction of that . So, organizers hit upon a novel way to alleviate some of the strain on the city's hotel industry: turning cruise ships into floating hotels.

The MSC World Europa -- one of three MSC ocean liners brought in -- fits the bill as a hotel and then some. The ship is gargantuan at over 1,000 feet long and 223 feet high with 22 decks. It accommodates 6,700 passengers, though according to one customer service rep on board, the ship is only about half-full at present. The ship is fully staffed, however, and they're practically falling all over each other to help -- one staff member even insisted on carrying my drink for me as I moved from one table to another. And most pleasing to the Supreme Committee, the ship is fueled by liquid natural gas (LNG), Qatar's cash crop.

So how is life on the cruise ship?

"It's been awesome," says Kody, 44, who hails from Vancouver, British Columbia, and is taking in the World Cup with her husband, Dean, and their two sons. "It's Groundhog Day to some extent, buffet-wise, but in terms of the spirit, nothing compares. It's awesome to have everybody from a whole bunch of different countries gathered together."

For Cayhan Movaghari and Alex De Thier, both 25 and from the Washington, D.C., area, that opportunity to mingle with a veritable United Nations of fans at close quarters has been the best part of being on the boat. "We've gotten to have breakfast with folks from Australia," Movaghari says. "We've had drinks with folks from Mexico, from Portugal. There's some amazing Iranian people on the boat, which has been wonderful. So it's just been, overall, fantastic."

You never know who you might run into, either.

Nawaz Hussain is attending the World Cup with his brother Mohammed Ali -- pronounced "like the boxer," Ali says with a smile -- and his nephew Rian Hossein. He proudly displays a picture he took on the boat with Jorge Burruchaga, scorer of the winning goal for Argentina in the 1986 World Cup final against Germany . All three hail from Chennai, India, and are here to soak up every minute of this World Cup.

Ali, 58, marvels at the play of the Arab countries so far in the tournament, while Hussain, 30, praised Canada , despite the Reds' defeat to Croatia earlier in the evening. "They played well above expectations," he said. The idea of using a cruise ship as a hotel left an impression on him as well. "Generally they build infrastructure and then it goes to waste after the tournament," Ali says. "So the whole idea of bringing cruise ships, accommodating thousands of people, and then sending them back when it's not needed, I think that is brilliant."

One place where the party isn't going on at all is the ship's casino, which is lit up but completely empty as I walk through, save for two lonely bartenders with no one to serve. It seems straight out of "The Shining," and I half expect one to ask me, "How are things going, Mr. Torrance?" Instead, one explains that since the ship isn't in international waters, the casino is shut down. The shakedown of that part of the ship will have to wait until the first official trip to sea, which is set for later in December.

As odd as the idea of staying on a cruise ship for the World Cup sounds, it has its merits beyond just a bed to sleep in. To many visitors, Qatar was a huge unknown, including just how strictly the rules on public consumption of alcohol would be enforced. When the Supreme Committee decided only two days before the tournament that there would be no alcohol sold at stadiums , that clinched it for some. Yet the ship has just about everything one could need.

Both Brian Trott and Mike Andrews had been on the boat for only a few hours, having previously stayed at one of Doha's hotels. But already they were feeling at home. "We were happy with our choice once they banned alcohol around the stadiums," Andrews said.

The MSC World Europa even boasts its own brewery on board that will "serve a range of 'Oceanic' beers made with desalinated sea water," according to marketing materials, for those itching to get the full "at sea" experience.

There's also a security aspect that attracted some tourists to stay aboard this floating hotel, though it appears Doha has lived up to its reputation for being an incredibly safe city.

"When we booked this a couple of years ago, we thought it would be worthwhile, especially with [Qatar's] approach to drinking. It's a safer option," said Mark, a 38-year-old designer of security systems from outside London. "If we do a cruise ship, they can have loads of bars, they'll have loads of restaurants. If everything goes horrendously wrong outside of [this ship], we'll have that safe space to go back to.

"You don't have to spend too much time in the sun if you don't want to. But it's still weird to have it be so warm in November, especially when you're talking to friends back home and they're telling you how bad the weather is."

The idea of having so many fans in close quarters might create some tension, especially with the "liquid courage" so readily available. But the experience of guests who spoke to ESPN for this story indicate this has been kept to a minimum.

Victor Suarez, 32, who owns an escape room company in Mexico City, is enjoying lunch at the ship's sushi restaurant, Kaito, with his companion, 32-year-old Mabel Guerra, a fashion designer. "This is breakfast," she said. He remarks how much of the banter has been in good fun, especially at the bar, Master of the Seas, earlier in the trip. "Everybody was wearing their jerseys from their country, and they started singing their chants," he said. "The Brazilians started fighting the Argentinians. Not in a bad way, just with their singing. It was pretty fun."

The price of staying on a cruise ship at a World Cup

The ship works even for people who aren't into the nightlife -- after all, this boat is serving as a hotel first.

Later in the evening, I run into Joao Silva and Roberta Carmo, who hail from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. ("The city of the 7-1," Silva said, in reference to Brazil's defeat to Germany by that score in the 2014 World Cup semifinal.) They call the experience of staying on a cruise ship a "nice surprise" given its close proximity to the city and attractions, though there is one problem.

"There's no vegan restaurant," he says. "We are eating in the city."

Kids are welcome on the boat too. Steven van Hoof, a 36-year-old native of Antwerp, Belgium, who now lives in Cape Town, South Africa, is staying on the boat with his 12-year-old son.

"My wife doesn't like soccer, and my son's turning 12. I promised him we're going to do one of these boys trips," he said. "It ended up from three days to three weeks now. So we're staying for the whole lot, watching 23 games, which is the only benefit now having the World Cup in Qatar. It's like all the stadiums, you can run from one to another."

The cost of the trip varies widely, but it is still on the pricier side. For the final week of the World Cup, rooms are ranging from $347 a night to more than $2,500. The interior rooms leave barely enough space for luggage.

"It is a box," Mark from London said about his room.

Then there's the cost of food and beverage. Some deep, intense research conducted by this reporter can confirm that a draft beer does indeed run about $15.

"It's expensive," said Garrett Jones, a 28-year-old accountant from Boise, Idaho. "The accommodations itself actually weren't bad, but the food has been way more expensive on the boat compared to if you go to Souq Waqif. The food's a lot cheaper there." (Souq Waqif is Doha's oldest souq street market and a popular attraction in the city.)

Van Hoof added: "The boat hurts, but so would any other holiday. I'm thinking the World Cup is only once every four years and my son only turns 12 once, so there you go. Just took it on the chin."

Mark Ogden shares his experience of watching the opening game of the World Cup from a bar in Doha.

On this night at the Master of the Seas, the Croatia fans are enjoying the cool of the evening that comes with a 4-1 in over Canada, though a German couple are anxiously watching the final moments of Germany's match against Spain . As I sidle up to the bar, I strike up a conversation with a man in a Luka Modric jersey, though it turns out he's not from Zagreb or Split, but Boise, Idaho.

He introduces me to Kyle DePinna, a 34-year-old artist from Portland, Oregon. DePinna has been getting some gentle grief all day -- he had tickets to the Germany-Spain game, but after six consecutive days of going to games, he hit something of a wall and gave up his tickets. A jet skiing excursion removed any sense of him missing out.

"It was the best time of my life," he said. "We thought we were going to be late, and ended up getting there right at sunset. So we rode like 30 minutes as the sun was setting. I got, like, amazing pictures and videos."

When the whistle blows to end the Germany-Spain game, the deck at the La Plage pool, where people had been watching on a massive screen largely empties. A few people stick around to dance to "Oye Como Va," but the others have retreated to the ship's interior to eat or continue drinking. The party goes on.

Doha Set for Three MSC Ships and Other Cruise Ships for World Cup

• September 21, 2022

Three MSC Cruises ships will serve as hotel accommodations for the FIFA World Cup fans in Qatar. The MSC World Europa and MSC Poesia will be berthed next to the new Grand Cruise Terminal, and the third cruise ship, the MSC Opera, will be on the opposite side of the port.

At a maximum capacity, all three vessels can accommodate over 13,000 guests, significantly increasing the much-needed berths during the event.

In addition, two Ponant ships are expected to be berthed at a premium location in the heart of Doha Port, alongside the Golden Horizon which is set to host Croatian fans.

The 22nd edition of the competition which will take place from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18 is the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Arab country. The host nation expects about 1.2 million fans to arrive in Qatar during the competition.

The Grand Cruise Terminal, which is at its final construction stage, is part of an ambitious project set by Qatar Tourism to attract over six million international visitors a year by 2030. The terminal building is set to be inaugurated at the naming ceremony of MSC Cruise’s newest ship the MSC World Europa.

The facility will have two cruise terminals with an aquarium in the middle section and an art gallery. The terminals are designed to simultaneously handle a complete passenger turnaround for two mega-size cruise ships.

With its structural and decorative functions, the building honors traditional Arab architecture and restores the historical link between Doha and the sea. The visually stunning architecture incorporates 1154 elegant arches, representing unity, purity, and glory.

Located in the heart of Doha, the new Grand Terminal is a stone’s throw away from the city’s most popular tourist attractions; the gorgeous promenade Corniche, the Museum of Islamic Art, the National Museum of Qatar, Msheireb Downtown and the traditional market Souq Waqif.

Constructed to expand the intended use as a cruise terminal and transform into a flexible multi-functional space for year-round public events, exhibitions and conferences, Doha’s Grand Cruise Terminal has the potential to become city’s next landmark.

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Qatar hires 3rd cruise ship as floating hotel for World Cup

FILE - In this Feb. 4 2016 photo the MSC Opera cruise ship passes the Malecon sea wall as it leaves the harbor in Havana, Cuba. A third cruise ship has been hired by Qatari World Cup organizers to operate as a fans’ hotel docked in Doha port. It will add much-needed rooms during the month-long tournament. Geneva-based MSC Cruises announced the agreement just six weeks before the World Cup starts for the 1,075-cabin MSC Opera. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan, File)

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GENEVA (AP) — A third cruise ship was hired by World Cup organizers in Qatar on Monday to operate as a soccer fan hotel docked in Doha Port to add much-needed rooms for the tournament.

Geneva-based MSC Cruises announced the agreement only six weeks before the World Cup is scheduled to start on Nov. 20. The 1,075-cabin MSC Opera will be available from Nov. 19 to Dec. 19.

Prices for the Opera were listed Monday on MSC’s website starting from 470 Swiss francs ($470) per person per night during the group stage, with a minimum two-night stay.

Qatar does not have the hotel capacity for all teams, workers, volunteers and fans at the World Cup and is creating camping and cabin sites, hiring cruise ships, and encouraging fans to stay in neighboring countries and fly in for games.

MSC previously signed a deal with the Qatari government in 2019 to provide two ships with about 4,000 cabins as floating hotels to help house the expected 1.2 million international visitors.

The high-end flagship MSC World Europa is starting work at the World Cup after being built in France.

Prices on the cruise ships fall during the tournament when half the teams go home. During the round of 16 and quarterfinals, the cheapest rooms on MSC Opera cost 320 Swiss francs ($320), then 220 Swiss francs ($220) during the final week.

Basic rates include breakfast on board with an option to pay a 90 euro ($87) daily supplement for all meals.

Alcohol is expected to be available on board with MSC offering wine and draft beer.

Qatar is a Muslim-majority country that typically limits the consumption of alcohol to luxury hotels but has eased its rules for FIFA’s commercial partners, including the corporate hospitality provider at stadiums and World Cup sponsor AB InBev, the brewer of Budweiser.

The MSC Opera had its maiden voyage in 2004 and had an eventful sailing season three years ago.

In March 2019, passengers suspected of smuggling 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of cocaine hidden in bowls and packets of snacks were arrested when the ship docked at the Portuguese island of Madeira after sailing from the Caribbean.

Three months later, the Opera collided with a tourist boat and its dock in Venice, Italy.

Cruise ships were discussed ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as a potential solution to a shortage of hotel rooms in Rio de Janeiro. They were ultimately not hired by organizers, with only seven of the 64 games held in the city.

However, the United States basketball teams did stay on a cruise ship docked in Rio at the 2016 Olympics. A second ship was used as a hotel for Olympic stakeholders.

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Qatar World Cup 2022 organisers add third cruise ship to accommodate fans

Room prices aboard the msc opera start with a two-night minimum stay of qr 1710 ($469) per person.

The 'MSC World Europa' cruise ship. Photo: MSC Cruises

A third cruise ship is being hired to accommodate the huge number of fans expected to descend on Qatar during the World Cup 2022 .

Two cruise ships, which are set to reach Doha Port on November 10 and 14, were originally scheduled to provide beds for some of the 1.5 million visitors expected to head to Doha for the tournament.

With the addition of the MSC Opera to the line-up it, more than a thousand extra cabins will open up, The Associated Press reported.

Earlier this week, World Cup organisers in Qatar announced that the rule dictating that only fans with a ticket to see a match would be allowed to enter the country was being modified.

Each ticket holder can now bring up to three people with them for the general experience.

The announcement of the third cruise ship was made by Geneva-based MSC Cruises on Monday, six weeks before the biggest football tournament in the world kicks off, with hosts taking on Ecuador on November 20 at Al Bayt Stadium.

The 1,075-cabin MSC Opera will be available from November 19 to December 19.

Prices for the Opera were posted on the MSC website on Monday, with a two-night minimum stay starting at QR 1710 ($469) per person per night during the group stage.

As half of the teams depart later in the tournament, the cost of staying on board the cruise ships decreases. The cheapest rooms on MSC Opera cost QR 1310 during the Round of 16 and quarter-finals, and QR 800 during the final week, AP reported.

Both cruise ships, with a combined capacity of 4,000 rooms, can accommodate up to 9,400 people. The cruise ship hotels will offer a variety of cabin options, from traditional and ocean-view cabins to balcony cabins and luxurious suites.

The flagship MSC World Europa will have its naming ceremony right before the World Cup begins in November.

Where are the World Cup teams staying during the tournament?

Qatar, Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel. Photo: The Torch Hospitality

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Cruise Ships

Staying in a cruise ship during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will be a truly unique accommodation experience for football fans. It’s like having two vacations in one, with all the activities and benefits a luxury cruise liner brings, combined with prime location accommodation just minutes away from all the action. 

There will be two cruise ships available: the MSC Poesia and MSC World Europa.

Note: To book accommodation you will need a valid Ticket Application Number or a Hayya Voucher Code or a Hospitality Order Number.

Why choose this accommodation option?

Both ships will be permanently moored at Doha’s Grand Terminal, just 10 minutes by shuttle to the heart of Doha and the famous Souq Waqif and Museum of Islamic Art.

Both MSC Poesia and MSC World Europa offer a variety of cabin options, from traditional and ocean-view cabins to balcony cabins and luxurious suites.

Each cruise ship hotel offers multiple dining possibilities and an entertainment programme for all ages.

How much does this accommodation cost?

• Lowest: QAR640 (USD180) per unit per night (2 guests)
• Highest: QAR9,240 (USD2,589) per unit per night (2 guests)

How many guests can stay per unit?

• Smallest option: 1 Guest (1 Room)
• Largest option: 4 Guests (1 Room)

What star rating options are available?

• 4 star (MSC Poesia)
• 5 star (MSC World Europa)

What may be included with this accommodation?

• Unique, stylish vessel
• 3 swimming pools
• Spa and wellness centre
• Poolside cinema
• Tennis and basketball court
• 4 gourmet dining options
• 15 bars and event spaces
• 24/7 front desk
• 24/7 room service
• 24/7 security
• Conference centre
• Designated smoking area
• Dry cleaning
• Licence to serve alcohol
• Lift / elevator
• Salon / hairdresser
• Shops / boutiques
• Fitness centre/ gym
• Free WiFi available in public areas
• Children’s playroom
• Luggage storage
• Outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers or beach chairs
• Spa / sauna

MSC World Europa 

• Brand new, state-of-the-art vessel
• 6 swimming pools
• 14 whirlpool baths
• Balinese-style wellness centre and spa which features thermal baths
• Beauty salon
• Barber shop
• Fully equipped gym
• Shopping and retail outlets
• Longest dry-slide at sea (11 deck dry-slide)
• 13 eateries, including 6 fine dining options
• American steakhouse Butcher’s Cut
• Kaito Teppanyaki grill and sushi bar
• Latin American street food-inspired Hola! Tacos & Cantina
• Chef’s Garden Kitchen and traditional seafood grill La Pescaderia
• Masters of the Sea Pub
• The Elixir – Mixology Bar
• South Asian-style tea room
• Emporium coffee bar
• A widely stocked gin bar.
• A nightclub or theatre event space
• The kids club for younger guests

*Typical features vary and will be defined per property.

How to book this accommodation?

Use the Official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Accommodation Platform to book your accommodation.

If you need a Guide on how to book accommodation click here.

The above information was taken from the Official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Accommodation Platform on 09 August 2022. Some of the mentioned prices and accommodation options may no longer be available. Please use the Accommodation Platform to get the most up to date information available. 

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Qatar World Cup: ‘Hotel’ cruise ships get ready to on-board football fans from opening day

Travel & tourism.

Three designated cruise ships will accommodate football fans - take a look at likely rates

Dubai: Finding it difficult to book a room in Dubai from November 20? Try the cruise ship.

It’s now less than a month before the all-eyes-on FIFA World Cup, and cruise ship ‘hotels’ are attracting football fans’ as an alt-accommodation. The lowest room rate on a cruise ship hotel in Doha during the tournament is ‘still’ around Dh640 per night, on board the MSC Poesia , according to listings by the World Cup accommodation agency. An estimated 1.2 million will descend on Doha for the matches, and their needs will outstrip the 31,000-room hotel capacity in the Qatar capital.

Organisers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have chartered at least three cruise ships to provide several thousand hotel rooms during the month-long event. The MSC Poesia  and MSC World Europa  will be permanently moored at Doha’s Grand Terminal, just 10 minutes by shuttle to the heart of Doha, Souq Waqif. (The naming ceremony for the flagship MSC World Europa  will take place on November 13 in Doha, officially inaugurating the city’s brand-new Grand Cruise Terminal.) Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman - Cruise division at MSC Group, said, “It is only fitting that this event marks the coming into service of the highly anticipated MSC World Europa , the first in our trailblazing ‘World Class’ ships. She introduces a new cruising platform that boasts future-proof marine and onboard hospitality technologies.” “The ship will become the biggest and most environmentally high-performing passenger ship to sail out of Doha and across the Middle East and welcome guests from around the world for the winter 2022-23 season.”

The MSC Opera , a 2004-built cruise ship with a capacity for 2,700 passengers, will also be moored at the Qatari capital’s Grand Terminal for 30 nights, from November 19 to December 19.

How much does a cabin cost?

Accommodation options onboard the MSC Poesia  are relatively affordable, priced Dh646 per night. However, there is a minimum stay of two days onboard this vessel, and most cabins are nearly sold out for November. The ship has a capacity of 2,500 passengers. Rates for stay during the games are running at about QR1,240 per night onboard MSC World Europa . The vessel has six swimming pools and 14 whirlpools, a gym, and multiple dining bar and entertainment options. It can hold 6,774 passengers. A junior suite, including single and two bunk beds, is priced QR5,080 a night. Guests can avail of a balcony suite on board the ship at QR2,280 for check-in on November 24 and check-out on November 25.

Close to the tournament phase from early- to mid-December, there is a minimum stay of two to four days for all suites onboard the MSC World Europa . Prices would then rise to QR4,320 for two nights on MSC Poesia and QR2,960 on MSC World Europa , depending on the dates. While booking options for the MSC Opera  are yet to go live on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 official hospitality website, the likely tariffs should be QR1,710 for a two-night minimum stay during the group stage. The ship will provide 1,750 passenger cabins for visitors to Doha from November 19 to December 19.

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Qatar Hires Third Cruise Ship as Floating Hotel for World Cup

A third cruise ship has been hired by world cup organizers in qatar to operate as a soccer fan hotel docked in doha port., by graham dunbar • published october 10, 2022 • updated on october 10, 2022 at 11:13 am.

A third cruise ship was hired by World Cup organizers in Qatar on Monday to operate as a soccer fan hotel docked in Doha Port to add much-needed rooms for the tournament.

Geneva-based MSC Cruises announced the agreement only six weeks before the World Cup is scheduled to start on Nov. 20. The 1,075-cabin MSC Opera will be available from Nov. 19 to Dec. 19.

Prices for the Opera  were listed Monday on MSC’s website starting from 470 Swiss francs ($470) per person per night during the group stage, with a minimum two-night stay.

Qatar does not have the hotel capacity for all teams, workers, volunteers and fans at the World Cup and is creating camping and cabin sites, hiring cruise ships, and encouraging fans to stay in neighboring countries and fly in for games.

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MSC previously signed a deal with the Qatari government in 2019 to provide two ships with about 4,000 cabins as floating hotels to help house the expected 1.2 million international visitors.

The high-end flagship MSC World Europa is starting work at the World Cup after being built in France.

Prices on the cruise ships fall during the tournament when half the teams go home. During the round of 16 and quarterfinals, the cheapest rooms on MSC Opera cost 320 Swiss francs ($320), then 220 Swiss francs ($220) during the final week.

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Basic rates include breakfast on board with an option to pay a 90 euro ($87) daily supplement for all meals.

Alcohol is expected to be available on board with MSC offering wine and draft beer.

Qatar is a Muslim-majority country that typically limits the consumption of alcohol to luxury hotels but has  eased its rules  for FIFA’s commercial partners, including the corporate hospitality provider at stadiums and World Cup sponsor AB InBev, the brewer of Budweiser.

The MSC Opera had its maiden voyage in 2004 and had an eventful sailing season three years ago.

In March 2019, passengers suspected of smuggling 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of cocaine hidden in bowls and packets of snacks were arrested when the ship docked at the Portuguese island of Madeira after sailing from the Caribbean.

Three months later the  Opera collided with a tourist boat  and its dock in Venice, Italy.

This article tagged under:

Cruise ships in Qatar – a unique accommodation during World Cup

Two gigantic cruise ships, the MSC World Europa and MSC Poesia will be anchored at Doha’s Grand Terminal port, during the FIFA World Cup in November – December 2022.

These cruise ships in Qatar will act as the floating hotels and will offer a variety of cabin options:

• traditional cabins
• ocean-view cabins
• balcony cabins and
• luxurious suites. 

The cruise ship hotels will offer multiple dining possibilities and an entertainment programme for all ages. 

Why these floating hotels?

In 2019, Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) signed an agreement with MSC Cruises to charter two cruise liners to accommodate fans during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 .

The cruise liners, which feature a combined capacity of 4,000 cabins, will act as floating hotels during the tournament. They will be berthed at Doha Port, giving fans a spectacular view of the West Bay skyline.   Chartering cruise liners for fans has long been part of Qatar’s accommodation strategy, with the country keen to offer sustainable solutions for the month-long tournament, which will kick-off on 20 November 2022.

MSC World Europa

MSC World Europa , is the most innovative and environmentally advanced flagship of MSC Cruises. It is set to feature new and exciting next-level entertainment options that complement the ship’s innovative design and cutting-edge technology and will bring the onboard guest experience to a whole new level.

  Guests of all ages will be able to enjoy awe-inspiring entertainment from morning to night, including  three new concert-style shows  in the multipurpose Luna Park Arena;  five new full-scale theatre productions  in the World Theatre;  four themed experiences  in the Panorama Lounge; and surprise,  pop-up live exhibits  throughout the ship.

MSC World Europa ship tour

MSC Poesia is another name for refined world of comfort, from the spectacular  foyer waterfall  to the Zen Garden, authentic Japanese Sushi bar and opulent  MSC Aurea Spa wellness centre with steam room, sauna and divine massages to pamper body and mind, it’s the perfect place to unwind. There are many sports and fitness activities available on board, including a basketball court, tennis court, shuffleboard , state-of-the-art gym and minigolf . Kids and teens are equally well served, with their own clubs and parties, a dedicated  Stone Age and Dinosaur Play Area , stunning video games and even a  DJ disco . Plus there are naturally all the resort amenities you could wish for, including  3 swimming pools, 4 whirlpools  and a giant  poolside cinema screen .   

The gourmet cuisine on board   brings you specialities from around the world, but retains its Mediterranean heart, rooted in the values of the Italian slow food movement. With MSC, every succulent dish is freshly prepared with care by our skilled chef’s from prime quality ingredients.

MSC Poesia ship tour

MSC Poesia and MSC World Europa comparison

The msc poesia, the msc world europa.

*Note: Please validate your Ticket Application Number or Hayya Voucher Code or Hospitality Order Number on the booking website, in order to book a room. Your Ticket Application Number or Hayya Voucher Code or Hospitality Order Number will determine the number of rooms you can book. 

images and cruise info source: https://www.msccruises.com/

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Qatar hires 3rd cruise ship as floating hotel for World Cup

GENEVA (AP) — A third cruise ship was hired by World Cup organizers in Qatar on Monday to operate as a soccer fan hotel docked in Doha Port to add much-needed rooms for the tournament.

Geneva-based MSC Cruises announced the agreement only six weeks before the World Cup is scheduled to start on Nov. 20. The 1,075-cabin MSC Opera will be available from Nov. 19 to Dec. 19.

Prices for the Opera were listed Monday on MSC’s website starting from 470 Swiss francs ($470) per person per night during the group stage, with a minimum two-night stay.

Qatar does not have the hotel capacity for all teams, workers, volunteers and fans at the World Cup and is creating camping and cabin sites, hiring cruise ships, and encouraging fans to stay in neighboring countries and fly in for games.

MSC previously signed a deal with the Qatari government in 2019 to provide two ships with about 4,000 cabins as floating hotels to help house the expected 1.2 million international visitors.

The high-end flagship MSC World Europa is starting work at the World Cup after being built in France.

Prices on the cruise ships fall during the tournament when half the teams go home. During the round of 16 and quarterfinals, the cheapest rooms on MSC Opera cost 320 Swiss francs ($320), then 220 Swiss francs ($220) during the final week.

Basic rates include breakfast on board with an option to pay a 90 euro ($87) daily supplement for all meals.

Alcohol is expected to be available on board with MSC offering wine and draft beer.

Qatar is a Muslim-majority country that typically limits the consumption of alcohol to luxury hotels but has eased its rules for FIFA’s commercial partners, including the corporate hospitality provider at stadiums and World Cup sponsor AB InBev, the brewer of Budweiser.

The MSC Opera had its maiden voyage in 2004 and had an eventful sailing season three years ago.

In March 2019, passengers suspected of smuggling 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of cocaine hidden in bowls and packets of snacks were arrested when the ship docked at the Portuguese island of Madeira after sailing from the Caribbean.

Three months later, the Opera collided with a tourist boat and its dock in Venice, Italy.

Cruise ships were discussed ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as a potential solution to a shortage of hotel rooms in Rio de Janeiro. They were ultimately not hired by organizers, with only seven of the 64 games held in the city.

However, the United States basketball teams did stay on a cruise ship docked in Rio at the 2016 Olympics. A second ship was used as a hotel for Olympic stakeholders.

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Cruise ship cabins and sheep curd: what can World Cup fans expect?

The experience will be very different for fans in Qatar with a shortage of hotel rooms and alcohol much harder to find

T here will be a different make-up to the crowds in Qatar. European fans are not travelling in great numbers. Denmark, Switzerland and Spain are among those not sending an official supporters’ block, and demand for England’s matches is under par. For those that go, there will be a greater reliance than usual on official World Cup facilities, transportation and rules. Fans had to purchase not only tickets but accommodation from official channels, will travel to matches via official routes and are being encouraged to socialise in official venues. How it will all work remains a matter of some uncertainty.

Where will people stay?

The first World Cup to have enticed fans to sleep in cruise ship cabins, Qatar claims to have made 2.3m room nights available to visitors. Some of these have already come in for viral ridicule, with a video of the wind whipping through a tented fan village this week revealing a set-up of basic amenities. Comments compared the footage to Fyre Festival, the contemporary byword for a money-sucking disaster.

Whoever stays in the tents at Qetaifan Island Fan Camp, which contain two single beds and a nightstand and offer “complimentary access to the adjacent Qetai-Fan Beach Festival”, will be paying $200 (£170) per night, per person. This was the cheapest option for fans booking this summer, when hotel rooms remained unavailable as Fifa decided how to allocate its share to guests. Since November hotels have been available through an online portal and can be booked for $100 a night, but availability is patchy.

Qatar: beyond the football

It was a World Cup like no other. For the last 12 years the Guardian has been reporting on the issues surrounding Qatar 2022, from corruption and human rights abuses to the treatment of migrant workers and discriminatory laws. The best of our journalism is gathered on our dedicated  Qatar: Beyond the Football  home page for those who want to go deeper into the issues beyond the pitch.

Guardian reporting goes far beyond what happens on the pitch. Support our investigative journalism today .

The portal has plenty of options for those travelling in luxury. There are a plethora of five-star hotels and the Fan Village Heenat Salma, “a farm, an education centre, and a rural escape”, which lays on “craftsmanship” classes and offers a “wellness treatment session”. Heenat Salma is available for $1,000 per night, per person.

Cruise ships fall somewhere in between the tent and the farm and also priced at mid-range are a substantial inventory of apartments. There is capacity but a lot of it is new and relatively untested.

What will they do there?

Well, there’s football to watch. With four games a day for most of the opening fortnight, and staggered kick-offs, there will pretty much always be a game on. The only visitors allowed into the country are those with match tickets, so some of their time will definitely be spent in a stadium.

For the rest of what will count as entertainment at the World Cup, Qatari authorities were still building much of it last week. The 40,000-capacity Al-Bidda fan park will be the main hub, part of a Fifa plan to “reimagine” the “fan destination”. With a big screen the size of Torquay and various fun-park-style games to play, Al-Bidda will also hold a music festival, with Fifa announcing that Diplo and Calvin Harris had recently joined the bill. Bar prices have caught the eye – beer will be about £12 a pint – and shade seems to be at a premium; an early tour of Al-Bidda suggested the only people who got any were VIPs in their own grandstand.

Further attractions are limited, mainly in terms of the scale they can offer. You can go buggy racing in sand dunes or visit the oasis of the inner sea, but it’s not something you can do in a crowd. Same goes for the throwback charms of souk waqif and its spice market or the contemporary art spaces that have sprung up around town. Only the central bay of the Corniche offers the opportunity to truly spread out, which is probably good news for sunbathers.

Questions of scale could also apply to getting food. There will be official stands for Fifa-sanctioned products but how many and where remains to be seen. Those in self-catering can access local supermarkets, but much of the dining in Qatar is done in hotels and malls, another option that comes with a price tag and a limit on numbers.

What about alcohol?

It is a criminal offence to drink alcohol or be drunk in public. There are exceptions, of which the World Cup is one, but reports of sponsor Budweiser having its beer concessions moved to less prominent places around stadiums show how contentious the issue of drinking remains among Qatari authorities.

Anyone keen will have to try pretty hard to get drunk. You can’t buy alcohol in a supermarket and there aren’t any off licences. You also aren’t allowed to bring booze into the country. Intriguingly there are a small number of government liquor dispensaries where residents can pick up their own bottles, but only with a permit. This leaves the places where you can get a drink as stadiums and fan parks, where it will be twice as expensive as in London (London!), or in a hotel where – this should hardly need spelling out – it won’t come cheap. Even stadiums may be blocked at the last minute from selling alcohol.

Who needs booze anyway? There are lots of local alternatives, including the minted Limonana or Laban, an energy drink made from sheep curd. In heat comparable to a European summer, staying hydrated will not be a bad idea. In hosting a largely dry tournament, Qatar is recording another World Cup first. What effect that will have on fan behaviour and the atmosphere will be something to watch.

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How will the event be policed?

Qatar has strengthened domestic resources and recruited thousands of officers from abroad, with Turkish and Pakistani police taking key public order roles.

British police, who have worked closely with Qatar in recent years and provided training for officers, see potential for cultural differences between imported police and supporters. They are to take 15 “fan engagement officers” to monitor interactions between England fans and police and “deconflict” situations.

The possibility of hundreds of men being drunk in public at the same time is something the Muslim officers may not have encountered before. Recent leaked documents appear to show that Qatari safety authorities have agreed that there should be “no action, no prosecution” against drunk people and that police should also stand back in more provocative situations, such as the mounting of statues or the use of insulting language.

Guarantees that media would be safe to film (with the right permit) appeared to be broken on Tuesday when police seized the camera of a Danish correspondent while on air, though they subsequently apologised.

At many tournaments any fan found to have broken the law is usually sent home on the next plane, but there is as yet no clarity on what will happen in Qatar and whether people will end up in prison.

Last but not least, transport

All visitors are to receive free public transportation around Doha and access to stadium shuttle buses. But while accessing the transport network appears simple, getting to the grounds looks less so. Every stadium requires fans to take a shuttle bus from the nearest metro station, a journey which then requires a walk of sometimes more than half an hour. Other grounds require bus travel the entire way (plus a walk) and, according to some World Cup stalwarts, 1,000 bus journeys could be required to get fans on site for kick-off. Local residents are being encouraged to drive.

Questions include whether there will be access to water on longer walking routes, and options for fans wanting to get back to Doha after one of the 12 matches set to finish at about midnight.

Free public transport is available via Hayya, a visa-cum-ID card, which fans are expected to carry on an app. According to the German Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI), however, it is not safe to use. It advises uploading the app only to a phone that contains no sensitive personal information. “After using the apps,” the BfDI says, “the operating system and all content on the phone used should be completely deleted.”

The traditional travelling fan may be less visible than usual. Instead, fans from elsewhere – many from the Gulf, including a substantial expat community – will be filling the stands. If there is a change in atmosphere it will be interesting to note of what kind.

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Cruise Ships Are Lodging Options For Fans In Qatar

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/nov/19/qatar-world-cup-cruise-ships-floating-hotels

With Qatar’s creative approach on securing lodging for over 1M fans without building hotels that will certainly become white elephants, the idea of cruise ships is no longer a funny joke. Qatar has signed off on a partnership with MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) to utilize two of their vessels.

Qatar 2022 told us:

Will This Be Like a Regular Cruise?

“…cruise ships will operate as usual, including entertainment and alcoholic drinks. For the full board option please find below:

MSC World Europa & MSC Poesia:

Both are available to book on the Qatar 2022 portal.

MSC World Europa Details

The cruise ship offers six stunning pools and 14 whirlpool baths with views of the ocean. A Balinese-style wellness center and spa, which features thermal baths, a beauty salon and barber shop, as well as a fully equipped gym. 24/7 front desk, 24/7 room service, 24/7 security, club or executive level, concierge service, conference center, designated smoking area, dry cleaning, license to serve alcohol, lift, non-smoking policy throughout, salon/ hairdresser, shops/ boutiques

Full Board option includes:

• Breakfast , Lunch, Tea time and Dinner
• White, red, rose & sparling wines / Draught beer / Mineral Water / Fountain soda / Fruit Juices”

MSC Opera – Breakfast Only or Full Board

In October, it was announced that the MSC Opera will join Europa and Poesia and can only be booked directly with MSC. We published a separate article on MSC Opera to help and explain booking.

How to Book Accommodation:

Click here for our article on Qatar 2022 lodging site.

Click here for direct booking on MSC Opera as it is NOT on the Qatar 2022 site.

Click here for Terms & Conditions summary for cruises.

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• This is expected to help house 4,000 fans
• Price is unknown – though noted that a standard cabin is $590 (not sure on number of nights)
• The vessels are expected to remain at berth the entire time

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