A third cruise ship, the MSC Opera, has been hired by World Cup organizers in Qatar to operate as a soccer fan hotel docked in Doha Port – adding much-needed rooms for the tournament.

The Geneva-based cruise line announced the agreement only six weeks before the World Cup of Football – one of the largest sporting events in the world – is scheduled to start on Nov. 20. The 1,075-cabin MSC Opera will be available from Nov. 19 to Dec. 19.

Prices for the Opera were listed on MSC’s website starting from 470 Swiss francs ($650) p.p. per night during the group stage, with a minimum two-night stay.

Qatar does not have the hotel capacity for all teams, workers, volunteers and fans at the World Cup and is creating camping and cabin sites, hiring cruise ships, and encouraging fans to stay in neighbouring countries and fly in for games.

MSC previously signed a deal with the Qatari government in 2019 to provide two ships with about 4,000 cabins as floating hotels to help house the expected 1.2 million international visitors.

The high-end flagship MSC World Europa is starting work at the World Cup after being built in France.

Prices on the cruise ships fall during the tournament when half the teams go home. During the round of 16 and quarterfinals, the cheapest rooms on MSC Opera cost 320 Swiss francs ($442), then 220 Swiss francs ($304) during the final week.

Basic rates include breakfast on board with an option to pay a €90 ($120) daily supplement for all meals.

Alcohol is expected to be available on board with MSC offering wine and draft beer in accordance with the Muslim-majority nation’s restriction of alcohol to luxury hotels.