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Home » Europe » F1 Monaco Grand Prix Voyage with Azamara
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F1 Monaco Grand Prix Voyage with Azamara

BonBon February 21, 2017 24 Comments

Being at the Monaco Grand Prix has been on my bucket list since I started watching Formula 1, way back 2003. Aside from the sport, I’ve been wanting to see the beauty of Monte Carlo. My husband and I have been in and out Europe but hadn’t got the chance to visit Monaco and the French Riviera until last year. We just passed our 10th Wedding anniversary so we decided to do a couple’s trip – we haven’t done one since we had our first kid. We were lucky in that my in-laws were kind enough to fly in from South Africa to hang out and spend time with the kids. I know… they are the best!!! We went away for 2 weeks, kinda too long but we were so at peace knowing that the kids are in good hands and thanks to advance technology, we got to Skype with them everytime we got WIFI signal. We are beyond thankful.

You know the famous saying of Mark Twain, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Fortunately, I made my passion for travel into something that I can do for a living. I started my home-based travel agency last year and one of “the perks of the job” was to go onboard an Azamara Cruise for free… a choice of any destination I wanted. Pretty neat huh?!? So many options but one stuck out of the catalog was the 5 day F1 Monaco Grand Prix Voyage.

Azamara Quest tendered by Monte Carlo harbor Photo credit by Azamara Cruises
Azamara Quest tendered by Monte Carlo harbor
Photo credit by Azamara Cruises

We flew to Nice, France a few days before our cruise to enjoy the city and it’s neighboring towns. We arrived in time for the Cannes Film Festival which by the way was such an amazing experience. I owe you a write up on that one 🙂 Anyway, we were so excited and looking forward to the cruise since it was our 1st time with Azamara and the F1 Monaco race is one of the best there is. The Grand Prix is held on the narrow winding streets of Monaco, and as everyone says, it’s one of the most demanding tracks in Formula 1. It is also a gathering of the rich and famous; most of whom watch from their super yachts. Also, many 5-star luxury all-inclusive cruise lines join the party. The Azamara Club Cruises travels the region during the season and we were one of the lucky sailors.

Our Voyage Itinerary was as follow:

DATE PORT/CITY ACTIVITY ARRIVAL DEPART
WED 25-MAY Nice, France Embark 11:00 pm
THU 26-MAY  Florence/ Pisa (Livorno), Italy Tendered 9:00 am 9:00 pm
FRI 27-MAY Saint-Tropez, France Tendered 9:00 am 10:00 pm
SAT 28-MAY Monte-Carlo, Monaco Tendered 7:00 am
SUN 29-MAY Monte-Carlo, Monaco Tendered 3:00 am
MON 30-MAY Nice, France Debark 6:00 am

Boarding was seamless; when we arrived at the port, we were greeted with some snacks and bubbly. It was very organized and the crew were so friendly and accommodating. It was a breeze and since we arrived early, we got time to tour and get familiarize with the ship.

Very organize boarding process... The welcome food and drinks is a great start:)
Very organized boarding process… The welcome food and drinks is a great start:)

The SHIP

The Azamara Quest is small and can carry 1120 people including staff; this gives it a cozier and relaxing atmosphere with a bit of that feeling of exclusivity. You can expect a more personalized and intimate service from the crew. Every stateroom offers full butler and concierge service.  To me, that is a luxury.

 

Where are the rest of the people? :) It was nice to have peace byt he pool area.
Where are the rest of the people? 🙂 It was nice to have peace by the pool area.

 

Water & Sun...can't get any better:)
Water & Sun… can’t get any better:)

 

every morning, you get to eat with a beautiful view.
Every morning, you get to eat with a beautiful view of the Mediterranean sea or a city.

 

We got an ocean view stateroom... There's always a beautiful view from the window:)
We got an ocean view stateroom… There was always a beautiful view from the window:)

 

Beautiful pieces of arts around the ship
Beautiful pieces of arts around the ship

 

Every night is party night:)
Every night is party night:)

 

Azamara Quest at Livorno, Italy
Azamara Quest at Livorno, Italy

Dining

Amazing… We were stuffed every day and we love the food. Discoveries dining room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s open seating and you can choose to dine alone or join others in a larger table (which is neat if you want to meet new people). We liked having dinner at Discoveries since it had a cozy ambiance and menu had tons of options. Well… except for one night when we pre-ordered a customized dinner meal and were seated on the top deck by the balcony. For our breakfast, we like the Window Cafe since it’s on the top deck which gives a great city views while at the port. And it offers buffet dining the whole day long.

I didn’t take many pictures of the food as I normally do but I’ve got few and it was definitely an experience of culinary delights from the destinations with a good selection of wines to pair with every mouth-watering dish:) They truly incorporated the flavors of each destination into the menus.

Suckling pig... I mean. WOW... I was in heaven:)
Suckling pig… I mean. WOW… I was in heaven:)

 

They have great wine selection as well.
They have great wine selection as well.

 

I ordered escargot every meal:) Soooo yummy...
I ordered escargot at almost every meal:) Soooo yummy…

 

 

Our anniversary dinner:) They made our meal so special:)
Our anniversary dinner:) It was so romantic… 

 

The View from the ship:) Beautiful Cannes...
The View from the ship:) Beautiful Cannes…

 

Thank you Azamara for cooking us my kare-kare (Filipino dish) and hubby's jerky chicken:)
Thank You, Azamara for cooking us my Kare-Kare (Filipino dish) and hubby’s jerky chicken:)

 

Thank You:) We are feeling the love...
Thank You:) We are feeling the love…

 

Missing the kids but we are loving our time together.
Missing the kids but we are loving our time together.

 

Filipino Breakfast, especially prepared for me:) weeeeh....
Filipino Breakfast, specially prepared for me:) weeeeh….

There are 2 specialty dining restaurants in case you wanted to have a more unique culinary experience.

Entertainment

I think they are playing it classy, safe and appropriate for the guests. There are bars, lounges, shows, a casino and they have this “white night party” (which by the way you can’t miss). It was just perfect!!!

This cellist made our evening so romantic and sentimental... She was Amazing!!!
This cellist made our evening so romantic and sentimental… She was Amazing!!!

 

Famous singer aboard Azamara Quest for an unforgettable evening.
Famous singer aboard Azamara Quest for an unforgettable evening.

White Night Party was so much fun. Definitely, one of the most memorable nights we had on board the ship:) It started early at night so one can still see the beautiful view of Saint-Tropez as the sun sets.

We were on the top deck, spent few minutes just watching the beautiful Saint Tropez. Such a glamorous little town!!!
We were on the top deck, spent few minutes just watching the beautiful Saint Tropez. Such a glamorous little town!!!

 

My handsome date.
My handsome date

 

He made sure he got the drinks that I wanted:)
He made sure he got the drinks that I wanted:)

 

It was an epic night:)
It was an epic night:)

 

Everyone dancing.... fun fun fun...
Everyone dancing…. fun fun fun…

 

We love Azamara!!!
Azamara #lovetravel

 

WE had a blast!!!
WE had a blast!!!

Destination

The F1 MonacoGrand Prix Voyage started in Nice where it sails to Livorno (near Florence), then onward to Saint-Tropez, Cannes before arriving in Monte Carlo for the F1 race and returning back to Nice. We thought this is a perfect route as we wanted to see the region and to experience the F1 Monaco race.

Livorno is an Italian port city on the west coast of Tuscany. It’s known for its seafood, Renaissance-era fortifications and modern harbor with a cruise ship port. Florence is about 45 minutes but since we’ve been there; we decided to check out another nearby town called Lucca. It is famous for its renaissance walls, its cobbled streets, beautiful piazzas and promenades which make it a perfect destination for a day trip:)

Piazza dell'Anfiteatro - public square in the northeast quadrant of walled center of Lucca
Piazza dell’Anfiteatro – public square (actually it’s oval) in the northeast quadrant of walled center of Lucca

 

Infront of Basilica di San Frediano
In front of Basilica di San Frediano

Saint Tropez, France I was so excited to visit this little town of the French Riviera. Home of the rich and famous, jet-setters, models and celebrities, Saint Tropez is a very charming little town:) We love it and I will be writing more about this place.

Great view from the restaurant. We enjoyed our food and drinks:)
Great view from the restaurant. We enjoyed our food and drinks:)
IMG_9253
The Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Church and the Old Town of Saint-Tropez visible from the hills nearby
"There is No Need to Have it all... Just make the Best of what You've Got"
“There is No Need to Have it all… Just make the Best of what You’ve Got”

Our favorite pastime:) #beachbumming

Our favorite pastime:) #beachbumming

Cannes, France we were here days before the cruise for the Cannes Film Festival. It was one memorable event and couldn’t be any better to visit this beautiful city during the festival. We saw a lot of movie stars, models and the rich and famous people around the world…. It was epic!!!  I know…. I still have to write something about it:)
Even though we had been in Cannes a week earlier we still disembark and walk around the city to experience it when it isn’t so bustling from the film festival. It’s definitely a most beautiful destination to enjoy the beauty of the French Riviera or the Mediterranean Sea.
What a view!!! What else can you ask for?:)
What a view!!! What more could you ask for?:)
Fabulosu life in Cannes:) At Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez...
Fabulous life in Cannes:) At Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez…
Welcome to Cannes!!!
Welcome to Cannes!!!
Finally, F1 Monaco Grand Prix, the highlight of the cruise. It is one of the best ways to experience the glamour of Monte Carlo. Coming to the Grand Prix in Monaco for the F1 race is one of the most unforgettable moments my husband and I have ever experienced. The thrill of the race is one thing but the atmosphere, the people, and every sight made it all worth it.
F1 GrandPrix Monaco '16
F1 Monaco GrandPrix ’16
With my love:)
We’ve been dreaming about this day:)
We got to see Fernando Alonso after the race:)
We got to see Fernando Alonso after the race:)
It was indeed an unforgettable experience… Monte Carlo at it’s best. As in, literately there are miles and miles of super Yachts parked one next to each other…
Luxury to it's finest...
Luxury at it’s finest…

Fabulous & Glamorous

Cruise ships are welcomed to this event and these are some of the most expensive cruises during the Mediterranean season.

Are you planning to go on a cruise? Try Azamara … we had a fantastic time!!! Please don’t hesitate to contact me for more details, bonbonmontero@bon-bonvoyage.com

Bon-Bon Voyage is here to help on your next Voyage:)
Bon-Bon Voyage is here to help on your next Voyage:)
Thanks for reading…
Happy travels.
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About Author

BonBon

Call me BonBon!!! I am here to help you with your family travel plans and to inspire you to get out of your comfort zone. GO and explore the world. Travel. Learn. Evolve.

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24 Comments

  1. Masato Reply
    August 26, 2017 at 5:02 pm

    Hi bonBon. Did Azamara arrange the race tickets? We are considering the Monaco F1 cruise for 2018 for all the reasons you noted in your blog.

    • BonBon Reply
      August 28, 2017 at 4:27 pm

      Hello, they can arrange it for you. DO you need help in Booking? Let me help you plan… I will send you a personal message soon. thanks for dropping by.

  2. neha Reply
    March 16, 2017 at 12:18 pm

    its a great cruise trip. it has almost every desired element of a vacation. Beautiful , romantic, tasty food, entertainment. Wow! by the way, congratulations on starting and running your travel agency business, something that you love to do…

  3. Felicia Broccolo Reply
    March 16, 2017 at 8:51 am

    Oh my gosh I love this!! Cruises are my favorite thing ever and this looks sooo amazing!! I love your photos and now i need to go on this cruise! haha so fun 🙂

  4. Lauren Reply
    March 16, 2017 at 7:20 am

    I am a massive F1 fan! I recently was invited to attend the Melbourne GP but because of illness I had to turn it down! The detail you put into this blog about the cruise is so fantastic! I hope one day to do something like that!

  5. Natalie Anastasia Reply
    March 16, 2017 at 12:07 am

    What an amazing experience! I am dying to visit Monaco. I grew up in a big cruise family and we are going on another one in June. They are the best 🙂 So glad you enjoyed yours

  6. Lieselot De Brauwer Reply
    March 15, 2017 at 11:17 pm

    Wow, that’s one luxury vacation 🙂 LOoks a lot of fun!

  7. Kelly Reply
    March 15, 2017 at 10:16 pm

    So cool to see the grand prix! When we went to monaco, everything was all set up for the race, but we weren’t able to stay to see it.

  8. Hanna-Mari Reply
    March 15, 2017 at 9:59 pm

    What a gorgeous couple! The trip sounds really interesting. I have never been on a luxury cruise and own butler sure sounds good. Will have to try cruise like this in the future!

  9. Lisa Reply
    March 11, 2017 at 10:27 am

    I went on a cruise vacation last september and reading this post made me wanna go back so badly! Happy you enjoyed yours, I find it a very good way to relaz and get new energy! Also, amazing pics! 🙂

  10. Mags Reply
    February 27, 2017 at 8:12 pm

    I’ve never been a formula 1 fan, but I am a huge drinking wine on a boat in Europe fan! This trip looks incredible.

    • BonBon Reply
      February 27, 2017 at 8:53 pm

      hahaha… Then, you’re in:) Thanks for droppin by…

  11. Cory Varga Reply
    February 27, 2017 at 3:02 am

    That looks so luxurious and awesome. My husband is not into F1 but I am haha. I would love to go and check it out. We went to Nice a couple of years ago and did a day trip to Monaco. Loooved it.

    • BonBon Reply
      February 27, 2017 at 8:56 pm

      He can just enjoy the scenery hahaha But yeah… Monaco is so glamorous, few days stay probably will break the bank:) hehehe Thanks for reading. xoxo

  12. Andi Reply
    February 25, 2017 at 8:02 pm

    I love cruises and this one looks really great. I have been to the south of France a few times, but never by boat, I think it would be amazing to it that way. And ohhh, the food!

  13. Tais Reply
    February 25, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    What a special trip you guys had, and you even could meed alonso after the race, so cool!
    The French riviera looks amazing and I would like to visit it one day as well 🙂

  14. Jenn and Ed Coleman Reply
    February 25, 2017 at 5:35 pm

    Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix, what a double header. Could you have stayed for the Tour d’France and gotten the triple crown? Sometimes, it’s not about where you go but when you go and it seems like you choose the ideal timing. I guess that is the sort of inside information one would expect from a travel agent booking their own trip. Glad you two had fun on your ten year anniversary trip. Finding time for yourselves between work and kids is so important.

    • BonBon Reply
      February 25, 2017 at 5:50 pm

      Hello there… thanks for dropping by:) hahaha Tour d’France should be fun huh:) BUT yeah… we had a fantastic time. This place is just perfect to begin the next chapter of our marriage life; it has been an amazing journey. Happy travels. xoxo

  15. Katie at Study Hard Travel Smart Reply
    February 25, 2017 at 3:22 pm

    That cruise looks amazing! I’ve done a couple of the big ships before, but nothing as intimate as this. I absolutely love the south of France, it looks like you had a great trip!

    • BonBon Reply
      February 25, 2017 at 5:54 pm

      Yeah, smaller ships are more intimate so it gives you peace to reconnect to yourself or to your partner and enjoy the scenery/ ocean better than with a lot of crowds. Well… I guess depends on the purpose of your cruise; we did Disney cruise and it was crazy busy… but fun:) Thank you for dropping by… xoxo

  16. hannah Reply
    February 25, 2017 at 10:01 am

    I’ve never been on a cruise before, but what a great area to cruise in! I spent a week in the south of france a few years ago- so beautiful, but i think getting around by boat was more exciting than my busses. I spent an day in monaco as well- wow. such an elegant place.

    • BonBon Reply
      February 25, 2017 at 5:56 pm

      Yeah… I guess looking at the place in a different perspective. Soooo beautiful:) Southern France is definitely one of those places that I don’t mind going back again and again:) Happy travels. xoxo

  17. Mike Cotton Reply
    February 25, 2017 at 8:42 am

    Wow, Monaco looks beyond luxurious. I’d love to go see the F1 live there one day.

    • BonBon Reply
      February 25, 2017 at 5:57 pm

      You should!!! IT was so much fun…. truly it was a lifetime experience. We will talk about our experience until we grow old:)

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