This Rugby World Cup weekend, most hotels in Marseille are full. So, where will the fans who come to watch the matches stay? To compensate for the lack of accommodation, a cruise ship was transformed into a floating hotel.
This morning, the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) arrived in the port of Marseille. It is already welcoming spectators from the Rugby World Cup this weekend and is already full. Other offers are still available on the organizer’s website, Infinity sports travel, for future meetings. The objective is to compensate for the lack of accommodation in Marseille.
This solution was put in place following a simple and quantified observation more than two years ago, according to communication from Infinity sports travel. They noticed that Marseille only had 10,000 accommodations, which corresponds to 20,000 people if two people share a room. However, the Vélodrome stadium can accommodate 80,000 people. This therefore results in people sleeping in sometimes distant cities such as Montpellier or Avignon.
In partnership with the Rugby World Cup, places were therefore offered on a cruise liner. The offers include between two and seven nights with the possibility of taking a real cruise with stopovers in Barcelona and Naples, while making stops in Marseille for the matches. For example, for three nights and four days full board and a ticket for the France/Namibia match scheduled for September 21, the proposed rate is €1,490.
However, these 4,000 places offered by the boat represent only a minimal solution given the massive influx of tourists to Marseille for the Rugby World Cup, but also for the arrival of the Pope and the city fair. Faced with these events attracting many visitors, the boat is trying to do well. For example, for the Pope’s visit, pilgrims can book a night on the “Norwegian Epic” liner for €150, following the request of the diocese of Marseille. But with only 4,000 places available, this remains insufficient compared to the 80,000 people expected at the Vélodrome for the Pope’s visit and the 300,000 people expected for the Marseille fair. The solution of the boat as a floating hotel is therefore limited.
This aquatic solution could be less expensive than some hotels which increased their prices during the Rugby World Cup period. In fact, 3% of Marseille’s hotel portfolio even multiplied their rates by 10. However, some revised their decision downwards because the rooms were not selling. Most reservations were made a year or two ago and are generally non-refundable.
This weekend, according to Nicolas Guyot, president of the Umih 13 hoteliers, Marseille hotels have an occupancy rate of 90%. He is convinced that the remaining 10% will be filled at the last minute by tourists.
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