Fans visiting Doha during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will have the novel option of staying in floating hotels at the Doha Port. The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) signed an agreement on Monday with MSC Cruises to charter two cruise liners to accommodate fans during the World Cup.

The move is part of Qatar’s accommodation strategy, with the country keen to offer sustainable solutions for the month-long tournament that kicks off on November 21, 2022. The cruise liners will feature a combined capacity of 4000 cabins.
Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications said the Doha Port, where the ships will be berthed, has been readied for the occasion.

“The Ministry of Transport and Communications has completed the development of Doha Port to accommodate multiple large passenger ships and enable the port’s capacity to receive the largest cruise ships in the world, serving fans and visitors who come to Qatar during the FIFA World Cup,” he said.

SC Secretary General Hassan Al Thawadi said that staying on board cruise liners would offer football fans a unique experience.
“We’re sure fans from all over the world will be excited at the prospect of staying on board a cruise ship, with a fabulous view of West Bay, and fast access to all the stadiums and fan zones”.

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, said, “We are delighted that Qatar has selected our ships to ensure that tourists who visit the country during the upcoming FIFA World Cup have high-end accommodation and services available to further enrich their experience.”

MSC Europa, which is under construction at Saint-Nazaire in France, and MSC Poesia are the two cruises that will be chartered.

Shuttle buses will ferry fans from the cruise ships to various transportation points, including the Doha Metro, from where they will be able to access stadiums and fan zones.