Formula 1’s Popularity Is in Overdrive-and Cruise Lines Want in on the Action

Text size
The glitz and glam of a Formula 1 race in a famed locale such as Monaco has long drawn an international crowd, many arriving on their private planes or personal yachts—and now many by cruise ship.
A number of luxury cruise operators around the world are capitalizing on the appeal of the races and their accompanying festivities to offer packages geared toward walking straight off a ship’s gangway and into the grandstands to attend F1 races.
The 23-race Formula 1 schedule in 2023 takes the series to 20 countries across five continents, and features an expanded presence in the U.S., with three stops including Miami, Las Vegas, and Austin. The Las Vegas Grand Prix is making its debut in 2023, while the inaugural Miami Grand Prix was held the year prior.
One reason that F1 racing has started to gain traction with sports fans in the U.S. is the Netflix reality series Formula 1: Drive to Survive. The show has spurred increased news coverage and the addition of more stateside events.
“I’m a huge fan of F1 racing, and with the sport experiencing its highest ratings ever in the U.S., more and more of our Windstar customers are racing fans as well,” says Christopher Prelog, Windstar Cruises president. The circuit concluding its 2023 calendar on Nov. 26 in Abu Dhabi offered a tantalizing opportunity for the operator which is debuting a new Middle East itinerary dubbed the Sparkling Sands & Cities of the Persian Gulf at the same time.
“I had hoped a 2023 race date would overlap, and lucky for us, our inaugural voyage aligns with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,” Prelog says. “It was really a happy overlap on the timing, and we’ve seen that our guests are definitely interested in the sport. They view it like they are arriving at these events on their own private yacht with Windstar’s small ships and attentive crew.”
From Abu Dhabi to Monaco, Cruises Are Heading to F1 Races
MSC Cruises is the official cruise partner for Formula 1, signing a multi-year deal in 2022. The first collaboration between the racing series and the cruise line was for the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix.
MSC is another major line that will offer a unique traveler experience in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The MSC Virtuosa vessel will stay docked at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal throughout the duration of the track events, serving as an enormous floating hotel for race attendees. Guests will be able to purchase packages including race tickets, exclusive access, and ship accommodations, along with on board interactive F1 entertainment and activities.
Windstar isn’t a stranger to offering F1 cruises either, as it has been offering trips to the Monaco Grand Prix since the 1990s, which Prelog says was one of the industry’s first themed cruises of any variety. The current itinerary is titled Rome & Prix du Monde of Monaco, and offers a load of F1 perks in a more comprehensive fashion than the Abu Dhabi sailing. The latter is an optional shore excursion, purchased separately, as opposed to an inclusion or theme.
The Rome & Prix du Monde of Monaco trip offers a full array of themed activities with ticket prices and race events included, along with a themed cocktail reception and dinner, and spectator accessories. “All passengers receive race tickets and the entire cruise is hosted by a Formula 1 racing expert, who provides behind-the-scenes insight,” Prelog says.
Beyond the cruise lines themselves, certain tour operators and travel agencies now offer their own F1-themed cruise packages. For instance, in 2022 Paramount Cruises built a package around an MSC voyage ending in Barcelona, and then tacked on a stay in the city including tickets to the Spanish Grand Prix. Planet Cruise has a bespoke package based on this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with guests taking a Royal Caribbean cruise from Sydney to Abu Dhabi, culminating with on the ground accommodations and access to the race.
Formula Escapes specializes in F1 travel packages around the world. Next year, the agency will offer a series of different trips around the Miami Grand Prix. Travelers receive Miami hotel accommodations and race tickets, and embark on one of several different cruises, including options with Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC. The 2024 F1 schedule will feature 24 races overall, beginning in Bahrain on March 2 and ending in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 8, including three stops in the U.S.
With so many Formula 1 events held in seaside cities that are already cruise ship ports of call, as well as popular tourist destinations, it’s natural that cruises and travel agencies would seek to combine these attractions. “Some of our guests are brand new to the sport that book the cruise, while others are die-hard,” Prelog says. With the sport on the rise in the U.S., expect to see more operators get in on the fun in the future.