Qatar 2022 to offer cruise ships for fan accommodation
The vessels, hired from Swiss company MSC, will be anchored in the Persian Gulf, offering a unique experience for fans from all over the world.
With preparations for Qatar 2022 in full flow, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), which is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization for the tournament, has made accommodation for the estimated 1.5 million fans attending the World Cup one of its top priorities.
Fatima Fakhro, Vice Chairman for Host Country Operation Affairs at the SC, has confirmed that cruise ships form part of the plan to host visitors to the country during the tournament and are in line with Qatar’s stated mission to make the 2022 World Cup fully sustainable by not constructing anything that will not be used after the competition.
The SC is planning to offer accommodation to fans in berths on cruise ships anchored on the west coast of the Persian Gulf. An agreement was signed with Swiss-based MSC cruises last November to rent two vessels from the start of the World Cup on 21 November, 2022.
The cruise ships have capacity for 4,000 passengers who will be afforded the opportunity to enjoy stunning views over the horizon of the Gulf from the floating restaurants located in the port of Doha.
Qatar fan villages to mix tradition and modernity
One of the two vessels runs on LNG and as well as being the most favourable option in terms of the environment among MSC’s fleet due to being designed to produce the absolute minimum in terms of gas emissions, it is also equipped with the latest technology to treat waste and water.
In a statement issued through Qatari news agency Qna, Fakhro said that the SC is committed to offering the widest variety of accommodation options possible for supporters at the 2022 World Cup: “We can assure football fans that an extraordinary stay awaits them for example at the fan villages, which consist of camps in the desert combining past with the present and the future, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the culture and traditions of Qatari hospitality. There are plans to set up two or three fan villages for a unique experience that will also showcase the cultural aspects of Qatar and the region.”