By: Debi Franke

I’ve always wanted to see the glitz and glamour of the French Riviera and the Monaco Grand Prix is a prime event for the area, so this year I decided to join the “beautiful people” on the Riviera to watch one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world.

I found that Azamara Cruises had the perfect sailing for my needs. The five-day itinerary departed from Nice, with stops in Florence (Livorno), St. Tropez, Caan, Monte Carlo during the Grand Prix, then a return to Nice. I’d never sailed with Azamara, never visited the French Riviera, and never attended a Grand Prix race, so this trip would be a trifecta of firsts for me.

I flew to Nice on Delta and spent two nights in Nice before the cruise. Because of Nice’s proximity to the Monaco Grand Prix, hotel availability was quite limited well in advance. I chose the three-star Holiday Inn Nice because of its location and it turned out to be a gem. It’s just a couple of blocks off the promenade, in a semi-residential and very tranquil area. Everything is easily walkable from there. The property was clean and the staff was very accommodating, from early check-in to the included breakfast. I can comfortably recommend this hotel for an economical option in Nice. For more luxurious accommodations, while I was there I also inspected the Negresco and the Hyatt Regency. Negresco is the Grand Lady of Nice and looked beautiful as always. Hyatt is sleek and very upscale.

I boarded the Azamara Quest for the 5-day voyage. This ship was a Renaissance ship in a prior life and I was actually sailing on her when the 911 tragedy occurred. She stopped sailing in Portugal and never left the port again until sold. I had poignant memories from that sailing and the struggle to return home from Portugal, but this cruise could not have been better.

The ship is very clean and the staff is the friendliest I’ve seen on a cruise. I felt very welcomed and their attention to detail is excellent. If I drank two bottles of water in the stateroom, three were left next time. The servers remembered preferences and within a day staff members were calling guests by name – no small feat with 720 passengers aboard!

The first port of call was Livorno, about 45 minutes from the historic city of Florence, Italy. Instead of an escorted shore excursion, I opted for transportation only into Florence. I had purchased “skip the line” tickets for Galleria dell’Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s David, in advance. When I got to the museum, I was able to bypass the very long line waiting for admission and enter through a reserved entrance – a real bonus when you have a limited amount of time.

Next, we sailed to St. Tropez, France where I took a delightful shore excursion to two hilltop villages and a vineyard. Then we called on Cannes, France just a week after the famous film festival, so the red carpets were still out, making me fell like a celebrity myself. I wandered the Saturday morning antique market with pleasure and took an afternoon shore excursion to the walled village of St. Paul d Vence, home of the artist Marc Chagall. The rustic villages in the French countryside felt like movie sets juxtaposed against the dazzling luxury and sophistication of the French Riviera cities.

Our final stop in Monte Carlo was perfectly timed for the Monaco Grand Prix, the pièce de résistance of the voyage. A cruise is an awesome way to experience the exciting ambiance and see the dazzling array of private luxury yachts on the Riviera. The Azamara Quest anchored in the bay, along with other small cruise ships like Windstar, Star Clipper, Sea Dream and Seabourn. We tendered into a private dock that was within walking distance of all the events in tiny Monte Carlo, but even if you didn’t get off the ship you could hear the race and smell the heated rubber of the tires. The atmosphere was charged with excitement and the city was packed with Formula 1 fans, including the very famous and the very wealthy. I won’t drop names, but I saw several international celebrities and more helicopters in one day than I’ve ever seen before!

 

Ship guests can wander Monte Carlo, but need tickets for raceway entrance and seats in the various viewing areas. The iconic Formula 1 race makes about 70 laps through the narrow, curving streets of the city, providing about two hours of thrilling motorsports action. I had reserved seats in a stand up on the hill near the palace, overlooking a hairpin turn and the pit areas. Binoculars were handy but not necessary – the view was simply incredible! Attending the Monaco Grand Prix was an awesome experience.

If you don’t happen to have your own private luxury yacht, a small ship cruise – and  Azamara, in particular – is a great way to see the Riviera and attend the Monaco Grand Prix. My fellow passengers were interesting and fun people from all over – only about 35% were from the U.S., giving the experience a truly international flavor. My trifecta of firsts was a grand success!

For customized vacation planning to the French Riviera, Formula 1 Grand Prix racing or Azamara Cruises, contact Debi.

Debi Franke is a Travel Advisor with Covington Travel, located in Jacksonville, Florida. Debi specializes in sports travel and personalized vacation planning.