France has just delivered the first LNG-powered cruise ship, which is about to depart for the port of Doha, Qatar, for the opening of the Qatar World Cup next month as a "floating hotel".

According to Euronews 25, the brand new cruise ship named "MSC Mediterranean Europa", just held a grand delivery ceremony in the French port of St. Nazaire on the 24th. At present, it is moored in the port, ready to depart for Qatar.

This is the first French cruise ship powered by liquefied natural gas. However, the cruise ship, despite its progress, still cannot get rid of its dependence on fossil energy. Patrick Polbay, General Manager of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Group France, also confessed: "Natural gas is relatively easier to obtain, and we would like to speed up the transition to hydrogen energy, but we can't find that much hydrogen on the earth to use as fuel".

Due to the upcoming World Cup, Qatar is in urgent need of more accommodation rooms in the short term, and the organizers prefer to rent a floating hotel like a cruise ship, compared to building a hotel, and have already rented two of them. The LNG-driven, 333-meter-long MSC Mediterranean Europa will start its maiden voyage on Nov. 13 and perhaps some 6,700 rooms for fans around the world in the future.

Accommodation options in Qatar (during the World Cup)

Through a unified platform that takes all possibilities into account, the State of Qatar is offering a wide range of accommodation options for fans watching the World Cup matches in November and December 2022.

All World Cup ticket holders will be able to access the Tournament Residence platform, which allows them to choose from several different regional accommodations with prices starting from $80, to choose the accommodation that suits them.

This platform will be updated regularly to offer new alternatives, which are constantly adding accommodations, including a fan village for camping enthusiasts and a non-traditional atmosphere that will offer comprehensive services and entertainment for fans in six different locations at reasonable prices.

Omar Abdel Rahman Jaber, Executive Director of the Housing Department of the Supreme Council for Delivery and Legacy, said that in addition to providing the best commuting experience, fans can have an extraordinary experience by staying in the same residence throughout the tournament and watching more than one game per day during the group stage.

Barakat Janub has recorded the highest demand for accommodation since the launch of the official residence platform. On an international level, the most booked fans on the platform are from USA, Mexico, and Argentina, followed by the UK, and on an Arab level, the most booked are from Saudi Arabia, followed by Kuwait.