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Wales Online
Sport
John Jones

The stunning £1bn cruise ship players' wives and girlfriends are staying on during the World Cup

This is the stunning luxury cruise ship that will play host to thousands of football fans and players' wives and girlfriends during the World Cup in Qatar.

The brand-new £1 billion liner MSC World Europa will be docked just off the coast of Doha throughout the tournament, offering guests a luxurious experience with a dizzying choice of activities on offer.

Around 7,000 passengers will board the ship for the tournament, with hotels on land coming under strain as the world descends on Qatar, which is around 20 times smaller than the UK.

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While hundreds of Wales fans are set to stay on the MSC World Europa, however, it is thought they will be joined by wives and girlfriends of squad members, with the partners of many of the England team reportedly planning on living it up on the liner.

They will be staying in some of the 2,633 cabins on the ship, which is described as an "ultramodern urban metropolis" by its owners. Most of the basic rooms, which are spread over 21 decks, have a bed, wardrobe, bathroom and TV - but there is much more in store for those wanting further luxury.

The MSC World Europa cost over £1billion with guests paying up to £6,000 to stay there (Hassan Ammar/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

The must luxurious room on board, the MSC Yacht Club Owner's Suite, boasts all the usual amenities, as well as a large balcony, panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, a separate dining and living room area and even a private whirlpool bath.

If that wasn't enough, there is a staggering 33 on-board restaurants and bars for guests to dine in, with options including a Mediterranean fish restaurant, an Asian grill and sushi bar, an American-style steakhouse and a Latin American street food joint. Food is served around the clock, with one of the three buffets on board open 24 hours a day to cater for those feeling peckish even into the early hours.

Fans can look out at the city's skyline while enjoying the jacuzzis (Hassan Ammar/AP/REX/Shutterstock)
One of the cabins which fans will call home during the tournament (Hassan Ammar/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

In more good news for guests, while alcohol has been banned from stadiums after FIFA was pressured by the Qatari royal family into making a U-turn, there will be no such problem on board the MSC World Europa. In fact, fans can enjoy a cold beer at the on-board pub, Masters of the Seas, which also has its own microbrewery, while those wanting something more glamorous can stop by the gin bar, cocktail bar or even the champagne lounge.

Even if you don't drink alcohol - or have maybe drank too much of it - the ship also has an onboard tea house, coffee emporium and a juice bar to help those nursing a World Cup hangover.

There are 33 bars and restaurants on board (Hassan Ammar/AP/REX/Shutterstock)
Passengers will have plenty of time to enjoy the Doha heat (Hassan Ammar/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Those with a bigger budget will likely spend time in the exclusive Yacht Club area - known as the 'ship within a ship' - which is made up of 152 suites, a two-deck private sun terrace, pool and restaurant, as well as a sparkling glass staircase encrusted with thousands of Swaorvski crystals. And if you're not feeling like leaving your room one day, there is also a 24-hour butler and concierge on hand to attend to your every need.

A spa, complete with saunas, steam baths and a 'water cave', will be full of those wanting to pamper themselves, while massages, manicures and haircuts are all available on board.

It's not all eating. drinking and pampering, however. There is an array of activities to keep fans and the players' families entertained between games, including six swimming pools, 14 ocean-view whirlpools and a roller disco, as well as regular musical performances and DJ pool parties in the evenings.

The 75m Venom Drop slide is one of the most eye-catching features on board (Getty Images for MSC Cruises)
The mall has a huge LED ceiling with images of dolphins swimming (Getty Images for MSC Cruises)

There's also a sports complex complete with football challenges and a bumper cars ride, as well as a 1,150 seat 5D cinema here guests can watch films or even World Cup managers. Children are all catered for too, with a mini and juniors club being run on board, leaving parents free to have some time to themselves in the pool or stroll along the 643 foot promenade.

Guest may also want to check out the two-storey mall, where they can find a range of luxury shops, including jewellery stores and a chocolatier, as well as the vast range of bars and restaurants.

However, perhaps the most striking feature on the mammoth ship is the 75-metre, 11-deck high helter skelter called The Venom Drop, which takes riders all the way from the top of the ship, past other guests balconies and onto the promenade.

Understandably, this luxury does not come cheap, with some guests reportedly paying over £300 a night for a cabin on the ship, while longer packages are understood to cost as much as £6,000.

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