27 December 2023 , 21:00
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Neymar set sail from Santos on Boxing Day for a three-day cruise off the coast of Brazil to party alongside friends and family between Christmas and New Year.
Neymar, 31, suffered a season-ending knee injury two months ago playing for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. He had only played three games for the Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal since they signed him from Paris Saint-Germain for £77.6m plus add-ons.
The league leaders - who signed Chelsea 's Kalidou Koulibaly, Fulham 's Aleksandar Mitrovic and Wolves ' Ruben Neves from the Premier League last summer, plus Malcom from Zenit Saint Petersburg, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio and the former Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou - will pay Neymar £129.2m per year in wages.
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However, he had been hyping the "Ney Em Alto Mar' (Neymar on the high seas) dating back to May, three months before signing for his new club. While friends and family are aboard alongside Neymar, tickets were available for others to join them on the MSC Preziosa, a vessel boasting a glass staircase connecting its 18 decks.
Prices began at upwards of £800, with some setting passengers back almost £5,000 for its luxury suites, with a coffee maker, minibar, interactive television, telephone and Wi-Fi all coming as standard. Staterooms are also available on board for a premium experience, with options to cater for families, too.
The three-day trip started in Neymar's hometown at the Port of Santos, the country's largest port, and takes them around the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro, stopping off in Armação dos Búzios before returning to the beginning on December 29.
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Neymar is two months removed from tearing his ACL playing for Brazil (Getty)There are ample amenities aboard, including a 4D cinema, bowling alley, casino, games room, gym, spa and water park to keep passengers occupied. The children's water park is said to have the longest water slide at sea, stretching 120 meters in length.
Plenty of parties will also happen, with different themes for each night. First up was an Ibiza night, followed by a fancy dress party before, finally, a tropical theme to end the cruise on Friday.
Alongside all those activities, there will be several concerts from Brazilian musicians such as Belo, Jota Quest and Pericles. Comedians, including Renato Albani, Victor Sarro and Thiago Ventura, are also on board to entertain the passengers with performances.
Neymar, though, is, of course, the main attraction as host. Getting around with the aid of a cane thanks to his untimely knee injury, the former Barcelona forward has been seen showered in gold rings and chains, surrounded by cocktails and energy drinks with a small fortune in cash beside him.
However, he is still taking his recovery seriously with a return expected late next summer. Sharing a photo of himself sitting inside his cabin with a heating pad wrapped around his outstretched left leg, Neymar captioned the Instagram story post: "Treatment on board, ok?"