World Cup organizers in Qatar have hired a third cruise ship on Monday to operate as a soccer fan hotel docked in Doha Port to add much-needed rooms for the tournament.
With six weeks to go before the World Cup starts on November 20, Geneva-based MSC Cruises confirmed the partnership. 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 and beginning at $470 per person per night during the group stage.
Because Qatar does not have enough hotels to accommodate all of the teams, employees, volunteers, and World Cup visitors, the country has set up camping and cabin sites, hired cruise ships, and encouraged visitors to stay in other nations and fly in to games.
In order to assist in housing the anticipated 1.2 million foreign guests, MSC previously agreed to an agreement with the Qatari government in 2019 to supply two ships with around 4,000 cabins each as floating hotels.
After being constructed in France, the luxurious flagship MSC World Europa will begin operations during the World Cup.
As half the teams depart during the competition, the cost of the cruise ships decreases. The least expensive accommodations on MSC Opera were $320 during the round of 16 and quarterfinals and $220 during the final week.
The included breakfast in the base price can be upgraded to include all meals for a daily supplement of $87.
It is anticipated that alcohol will be served on board, with MSC providing wine and draft beer.
Since corporate hospitality at stadiums and World Cup sponsor AB InBev, the manufacturer of Budweiser, are FIFA’s economic partners, Qatar, a country with a majority of Muslims, has loosened its restrictions on alcohol consumption.
In 2004, the MSC Opera made its inaugural journey, and the previous sailing season was full of excitement. The included breakfast in the base price can be upgraded to include all meals for a daily fee of $87.
In March 2019, when the ship stopped at the Portuguese island of Madeira after sailing from the Caribbean, passengers were accused of smuggling 18 kilos (40 pounds) of cocaine concealed in bowls and snack packages.
Three months later, in Venice, Italy, the Opera crashed with a tourist boat and its pier.
Prior to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, cruise ships were mentioned as a potential remedy for a lack of hotel rooms in Rio de Janeiro. With only seven of the 64 games taking place in the city, the organizers finally decided not to hire them.
The United States basketball teams did, however, remain aboard a cruise ship that was anchored in Rio for the 2016 Olympics. A second ship served as an accommodation for Olympic participants.