Qatar Hires Third Cruise Ship as Floating Hotel for World Cup

The MSC Opera cruise ship. — The MSC Opera cruise ship.
Photographer: Mario Proenca/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Associated Press

October 10, 2022 at 11:56 AM UTC

Updated on

October 10, 2022 at 2:27 PM UTC

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.