Monte carlo during grand prix

[jkoj]

I will be on Oceania's Marina docking in Monte Carlo on May 24 from 8-11. This is during the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo and the Film Festival in Cannes. I have never been to any of the cities in the area and would probably have just taken a train to spend the day in Nice otherwise. My question is, with all of this going on - am I missing my big chance at a once in a lifetime opportunity if I just bypass everything and go to Nice? Or if I just want to do some sightseeing, should I get a tour guide because of the unusual crowds? CCers seem to agree that most ships planning Monte Carlo during this time will probably go somewhere else but we haven't heard anything about that yet.

[Hlitner]

Monte Carlo is a real mess during the Grand Prix. Many of the streets are closed (including right next to the port), the town is crowded and its very difficult to get around using public transportation. Accordingly, some cruise lines have, in the past, substituted other nearby ports such as Villefranche or Cannes....but this is usually announced well in advance. If you want to go to Nice on your own your best bet would probably be to get the #100 bus since it has a stop that is quite a bit closer to the port then the train station. But, we cannot say how the street closures and traffic will affect the #100 bus route (this is the regular local bus line that runs between Monte Carlo and Nice). I should add that the Grand Prix is a very special event (fans come from all over the world) and there will be some cruise passengers who will want to take advantage of the fact that the Grand Prix course runs very close to the port. Getting tickets for the Grand Prix (they set-up grandstands all over the city) is difficult and should be done well in advance.

 

Hank

[jkoj]

I have planned a day very much like that with some others from my roll call. Can't thank everyone enough for all of the good advice I get here.

[Nigella]

We were in Monte Carlo with Silversea last year on the Saturday and Sunday of the Grand Prix and I agree it's like a zoo. However, we were there to see the race, having visited MC many times before.

You say you are there on the 24th May. That is NOT the day of the actual race, so it will be less of a zoo. The big race is on the Sunday. Thu/Fri/Sat are usually qualifying and practice races. There will still be crowds but nothing like on the Sunday. If you'd like to see a practice race on the 24th, take a look at the official Formula 1 website. Tickets will still be available, probably starting around $100, depending where you have your seat. You can get tickets cheaper from other sources but that may be risky.

If the race isn't your thing, there are limited options in MC at this time, you need to plan activities away from the race track. The Exotic Garden is open. The Oceanographic Museum is open (not on the Sunday though). Your ship may dock in Monaco itself, or you may anchor in Monaco Bay (awesome views) and tender into Fontvieille which is how it worked for us last year.

 

Away from Monaco, Cannes will be an even worse zoo if the film festival is on, so Nice would be a good option...or Eze or St Paul de Vence.

[billy.qc]

I will be on Oceania's Marina docking in Monte Carlo on May 24 from 8-11. This is during the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo and the Film Festival in Cannes. I have never been to any of the cities in the area and would probably have just taken a train to spend the day in Nice otherwise. My question is, with all of this going on - am I missing my big chance at a once in a lifetime opportunity if I just bypass everything and go to Nice? Or if I just want to do some sightseeing, should I get a tour guide because of the unusual crowds? CCers seem to agree that most ships planning Monte Carlo during this time will probably go somewhere else but we haven't heard anything about that yet.

I was there on a land trip during the GrandPrix a few years back and enjoyed watching the qualifying races, sat in the stands for an hr or so, at no cost. It is a very walkable city and worth a visit. A good idea, in your case, is to book a tour of the surrounding area incl. St.PauldeVence ending back in Monaco. On a past Nautica Cruise, I used Alain from 'DreamTours' for a day tour, return time is around 17:00, you will have 4-5hrs to walk around & enjoy the must see sites before your late departure. One thing for sure is to book early,try sharing a tour with another couple on your Roll Call.

[bingham]

We will be in MC on the day of the race(Sunday). We are really not into race car racing but is there any way of seeing the race without sitting on the grandstand?

[Cshgrand]

Yes you can buy a ticket to find a place to stand on the big hill down below the palace.

It is so worth staying for the experience, the sound of the racing is like nowhere else because of the way the engine noise echoes off the hillside. Even if you aren't a great GP fan, it's a very memorable experience which is unique to Monte Carlo.

We usually get tickets direct from the auto club of Monaco (acm), you can pick them up from their office on race day with photo Id.

[CruisingGatorGirl]

We will be in MC on the day of the race(Sunday). We are really not into race car racing but is there any way of seeing the race without sitting on the grandstand?

 

It will be very, very hard to even get a peak at the race!

We were there last year and the only way I got to see it was from the steps of the casino. However my dad somehow found a way to see it, best seat in the house... where the camera men are set up. Also because all the streets are blocked off, it is very hard to navigate. However, hearing/feeling the roar of the cars is something I will NEVER forget! And I don't watch racing. I try to describe the feeling in my review.

 

I am going to give you the links from that part of my review with lots of pics:

 

it starts at post 37

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1700095&page=2