MSC World Europe: discover the luxury cruise – 08/03/2023 – Tourism

Drink craft beer made with desalinated water, play in a Formula 1 simulator or go down a water slide with virtual reality glasses. These are some of the suggested experiences for anyone taking a cruise to the Middle East.

Activities are available on MSC World Europa, opened in the port of Doha, capital of Qatar, in November last year, a few days before the start of the 2022 World Cup.

However, it only started sailing in January 2023. This is because, during the competition, the ship was used as a hotel.

Qatar is a small country in the Middle East, almost half the size of the Brazilian state of Sergipe. And to meet the demand from tourists during the World Cup, it used three ships as floating hotels. All from the Italian company.

With the end of the tournament and the end of the year festivities behind, MSC World Europa enters its first route. The route includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and Doha (Qatar).

They are cities known for receiving tourists with high purchasing power and for offering these visitors leisure options based on luxury. Maybe that’s why the ship’s sumptuous dimensions — MSC World Europa is the largest vessel in the Italian company’s fleet.

And the size really impresses. The boat has the capacity to house around 6,800 people, with 2,626 cabins ranging from 10 to 104 square meters.

One of the highlights of the ship is the aquatic sector. In addition to the waterslide with virtual reality glasses, passengers have access to seven pools and 12 jacuzzis. The area has bars serving drinks and snacks. Some of these water options are in a covered area, as the heat in the Qatar region is intense. The absence of wind does not help those who like to sunbathe.

For those who enjoy more fun, but prefer air conditioning, inside it is possible to get lost in the middle of games and arcades, some nostalgic for those who were children in the 1990s.

In terms of entertainment, the main hit is the drone races, in which passengers can participate by piloting, or trying to pilot, a drone in the midst of challenges that are quite complicated.

At night, the fun comes from the shows and theaters, but those who enjoy ballads and parties will not be disappointed and can dance until morning.

Well-heeled travelers wanting to shop can step off the ship and into one of the many shops selling gold items in the Qatari capital. Doha is home to two interesting museums on land, the National of Qatar and the Museum of Islamic Art.

The vessel is powered by LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). Later this year, the vessel will sail the route Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona, ​​in Europe. However, it will not be seen yet in Brazilian waters. Ports in Brazil are not adapted to supply vessels with this type of fuel.

Seven-night individual packages from R$1,999 on the MSC Cruises website.

The journalist traveled at the invitation of MSC