Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy signed an agreement with the MSC Cruises company to charter a couple of cruise ships to accommodate fans during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The liners, which feature a total capacity of 4000 staterooms, will serve as floating hotels during the month-long tournament and will be berthed at Doha Port, providing fans with a great view of the West Bay skyline.
Chartering cruise ships for fans has long been part of the country’s accommodation strategy, with Qatar keen to offer sustainable solutions for the tournament, which kicks off on November 21, 2022.
Under the terms of the new agreement, the State of Qatar is due to charter MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia and MSC Europa. Scheduled for delivery in 2022, the MSC Europa ship is currently under construction in Saint-Nazaire.
In addition to floating hotels, the other accommodation options include fan villages, hotels, and apartments.
In 2022, the ships will be served by shuttle buses taking fans to the transport infrastructure of Qatar, including Doha Metro, from where they'll be able to access the stadiums, fan zones, and attractions.