Mega cruise ship arrives

Doha Port yesterday welcomed MSC Fantasia — the first ever mega cruise ship to arrive in Qatar.
The giant ship carried over 3,000 passengers and 1,300 crew members on its maiden voyage to Qatar and is scheduled to make a total of six calls to Doha throughout the 2016/2017 cruise season.
At 333 metres in length and 66 metres high, MSC Fantasia is one of MSC Cruises’ most modern ships and measures the equivalent of three football fields The on-board experience is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of guests and boasts a diverse choice of sports and entertainment facilities, from tennis and basketball courts, a mini-golf course, a jogging track and gym to an aqua park complex, Formula 1 simulator and 4D cinema.
Qatar Ports Management Company- Mwani Qatar, the exclusive operator of the state’s commercial and touristic ports, has provided all means to ensure the successful docking of the giant ship and offered the best services to passengers.
In a statement Mwani Qatar said that the success achieved by Doha Port in receiving one of the largest cruise ships in the world reflects the great efforts exerted by all concerned parties. “Along with our partners, we are making great strides towards ensuring that Qatar becomes a key port of call on all cruise itineraries that cover this region,” Mwani said.
New measures have been taken to facilitate the docking of mega ships and smooth disembarkation of large groups of passengers in order to provide a seamless tourist experience for everyone on board, Mwani added. The Museum of Islamic Art, Souq Waqif, Katara and Msheireb Museums were among the famous tourist spots the cruise passengers visited yesterday.
Mwani noted that the current cruise season is set to witness the arrival of cruise ships visiting Qatar for the first time. Other ships making their maiden calls to Qatar this season include Azamara Journey, Crystal Esprit, Thomson Celebration and Silver Whisper.
This cruise season, which began in October 2016 and continues until April 2017, is expected to bring an estimated 50,000 visitors to Qatar. Compared to last season, this marks an increase of over 1,000 percent in the number of cruise passengers visiting the country.