Not The Ordinary Fan Zone, Hotel Floating Investigation Of The Qatar 2022 World Cup Audience

MSC World Europa cruise ship. (Wikimedia Commons/Didier Duforest)

JAKARTA - The launches of giants, water vortices, bundle cars, non-stop entertainment, and food, are how thousands of football fans in Qatar spend their time on the sidelines of the match.

During this World Cup, the first to invite fans to sleep on a cruise ship, a Dubai father and son having fun over a never-sleeping fan zone.

Saptarshi Bandopadhyay and his son Siddharth spent five days at MSC World Europa, one of three cruise ships hosting 10,000 fans from around the world.

Ordering a small cabin in a floating hotel with 22 decks makes a lot of sense for this marketing manager, who wants to keep his son busy before kick-off.

"This is a completely different party on a cruise ship," Bandopadhyay told The National News, as quoted November 30.

"Tempo changes at night and everyone gathers on the 18th floor where there are large pools, water vortices, and large screens to watch matches that you don't have tickets to," he explained.

"When looking for accommodation, the choice is a stand-alone hotel, fan village or container camp."

"Since I brought my son, the idea is to find a place we can relax and he can have fun all day with 1,001 activities and we can easily go to the game and come back."

On the Doha Grand Terminal, this cruise ship was reached with a short bus ride from eight stadiums used for the tournament, all located within a radius of 50 km from the city center.

Cruise ship guests are very diverse: some alone, others share rooms with friends and there are also family groups traveling with younger fans.

Fans spend the day sunbathing on the deck at one of the six swimming pools, exercising in the gym, or spa treatments before the game.

Returning from the stadium at night, guests watched themed shows, ate at one of the 13 restaurants to go to nightclubs or theaters.

The flags of Denmark, Wales, Iran and Croatia are among the many colors of the team hanging outside the cabin.

Bandopadhyay often watched the last game of the day on the big screen, on the deck with hundreds of other fans.

"The atmosphere changes at night when you see Brazilian and Argentine players coming in," said the Indian who supported both teams at the order.

"South American people bring cheerful energy, singing and dancing that lifts the whole mood," he said.

Not only adults, children are spoiled here, with a series of persistent activities, playing football with new friends, until sliding on a giant water slide with a virtual reality headset that takes guests to a snowy magic country or African safari.

Of all the activities aboard the giant passenger cruise ship, there's a clear favorite, climbing into the mouth of a giant snake, skating on the boat.

The launch of Venom 11 spiral decks, the longest dry slide at sea, which descends from the 20th floor to the eighth floor, is a favorite among the younger guests.

"The yacht is crazy. It's basically a fun hotel, but you're anchored at the dock," he said.

"I'm going to stay on the cruise ship again. I made a new friend from Tokyo and played football with them."

"The decline in Venom spirals and VR sets on water slides is the coolest," he said.

A true football fan, a real sensation came from watching the game.

Of the four matches he attended, his main choice was Spain's decisive victory over Costa Rica.

"I know some kids don't like watching the whole game, because they think it's taking too long," he said.

Bandopadhyay has so far collected a team scarf and flag from Spain, Denmark and Tunisia to be brought back to Dubai as part of the World Cup memorabilia that he will always value.

With a 90-meter outdoor Promenade and indoor pedestrian areas, MSC World Europa aims to emulate small city offerings, with conference centers, computer video games, theaters, spas, salons, boutiques and shops. Prices for the cabin start at 350 US dollars per night.

Bandopadhyay chose a full board package for four nights. He and his son live in a small room without a view, as he knows they are mostly outdoors.

Prices move above $2,600 per night for luxury suites with living rooms, terraces with outdoor sirlpools and wide glass doors open to panoramic views.

Football fans will return to Qatar later in a tournament with a friend, staying at the hotel for two quarter-final matches.

He has been to the World Cup in Russia (2018) and Brazil (2014), where he says his atmosphere is very different.

"If it was Russia or Brazil, I definitely wouldn't be taking a cruise because you want to be in the heart of football," he said.

"It was natural and free-flowing there. People will be playing football on the streets. In St Petersburg, you will see two Argentine fans versus hundreds of fans from Brazil shouting each other's songs."

"That's something you can't imitate in Qatar, the true spirit of football fans and their passions."

"But they do a decent job of gathering people in fan zones with DJs, people, singing and dancing," he said.

What's unusual about the experience of shipping is the time other fans spend.

"In the previous two World Cups, you have to chat with other fans, but this is a very temporary phase at a bar or restaurant," Bandopadhyay said.

" Cruise ships have different views on fan interactions. You have more time to talk to other fans about their country, football culture, favorite players, what they think is right or wrong."

"And it's a unique and interesting thing to live on a ship."

After the World Cup, MSC World Europa will make the UAE its home port, then sail to the Gulf of Arabia for winter.