Posted by Formula 1 had been on my husband Scott’s bucket list for years. When Netflix released Drive to Survive in 2019, it shot straight to the top. His sales pitch was irresistible. “We’ll travel with friends, buy an extravagant viewing package, and experience it all while cruising on a luxury ship in the Mediterranean.” He was drawn by the pageantry, the competition, the capitalism…and yes, the gluttony. I, on the other hand, knew almost nothing about Formula 1. I’d never watched a race or seen the Netflix series. My curiosity was centered less on the sport than on the spectacle. What kind of event attracts billionaires, celebrities, and racing fanatics from around the world?
There was only one way to find out.
We boarded Silversea’s newest ship, Silver Ray, in Rome for an eleven-day Mediterranean voyage that would eventually bring us to Monaco for one of the world’s most famous sporting events. More on the cruise later. Once we arrived in Monaco, the ship gifted us with F1 swag and decorated our bedroom dining table with a racecar theme. Everyone onboard was buzzing with excitement to be a part of the big event.
The first day in town is the “qualifying day,” and we roamed the streets people-watching and scoping out the scene. Enormous yachts lined the harbor. DJs played music while the yacht guests danced on private helicopter pads. Luxury cars pulled up to valet park their vehicles at the local restaurants on the limited streets that weren’t blocked off. Crowds waited in lines to purchase hats, t-shirts, and all manner of F1 merchandise. I’d never seen so many stunning people in one place! I spotted an abundance of young women with older men, not surprising. Luxury watches, designer handbags, and effortless confidence seemed to be part of the unofficial dress code.
Thankfully, we decided not to compete with the crowds and the insider-only dining reservations, so we ate dinner onboard the ship. That evening, I relaxed in my cozy air-conditioned bedroom knowing that wild parties were simultaneously happening in the town and on the yachts.
For a mere $5300 per person, guests of Silver Seas could watch the race from an apartment a few stories above the racetrack, with a coveted bird’s-eye view in the shade. The ship didn’t mention a few important features when they sold us this package months ago…. Guests would have to arrive by bus transportation departing at 10:00 AM. (The race started at 3:00 pm). The bus would make one return to the ship at 6:00 pm. We also didn’t realize that guests could only see the race from the apartment balcony, and that a pushy handful of people would “stake out” their balcony spots all day.
The night before the race, we met with the Guest Services manager, and we were able to get these pertinent facts. (We had been asking for particulars for 10 days prior to the race, but couldn’t find out anything.) Based on what we now knew, I decided that qualifying day was sufficient, and I would skip the race and hang out by the pool. I donated my ticket to a staff member on the ship. Scott called from the viewing apartment to let me know I had absolutely made the right decision. What he didn’t know was that the ship anchored underneath the path of the private helicopter VIP drop-offs. The helicopters went back and forth constantly throughout the entire 10 AM-6 PM period of time. Even my noise-cancelling earphones couldn’t block out the extremely loud blade sounds.
PART 2
Before the extravaganza of F1 began, however, we flew to Rome to start our journey. One of the city highlights was a side-car tour with our friends. Our tour guides narrated through headsets while we rode beside them in scenic Roman fashion. We toured the city and eventually stopped for scrumptious gelato.
Since it was summer, we dined “al fresco” on various rooftops and in quaint alleyways. My two favorite restaurant spots were Gigi and Cielo. Our hotel, The Hotel De La Ville, was at the top of the Spanish Steps: 11 flights of stairs with a 95-foot vertical rise. Our multiple trips up and down those 135 steps daily allowed for plenty of pasta and Aperol Spritzes nightly.
Once onboard the Silver Ray, we set sail for Salerno, Livorno, Portofino, Porto Santo Stefano, and Corsica. At our first stop, Salerno, we decided to hire a driver and guide to show us around Amalfi… a short one-hour ride away. I didn’t realize that the hour drive would be among the most car-sick of my life. I didn’t vomit, but I was darn close. It turned out to be extremely crowded in Amalfi, so we drove over to nearby Vietri Sul Mare, another seaside town without the crowds. It was charming, colorful, quaint, and just what we needed. I bought a homemade leather purse that was hand-painted. Score!
Livorno is the port where one can explore Tuscany. We drove out to Fattoria Sardi vineyards for a small group multi-course lunch and wine pairing. The ship arranged for us to meet with the chef, tour the property, and indulge in Tuscan food under a shaded pergola. My favorite course was the zucchini flan; I had never heard of a flan that wasn’t dessert. Divine.
As we left Tuscany, a warm breeze came up, and we dined on the aft deck and cruised to Portofino.
Portofino was the most gorgeous harbor to pull into. Italian trattorias lined the harbor and provided the ideal atmosphere for lingering over a leisurely meal. I dined for lunch at Del Fino. While wandering the cobblestone streets afterwards, I happened upon the most chic clothing store, La Vela, and ended up with multiple outfits and shoes to bring home. The store was designed like a rainbow with sections of clothes divided by color palette. It was a joy to head straight to the racks with my favorite colors!
Porto Santo Stefano is known for its delicious olive oil, so we decided to go to where it is produced in the little town of Porto Ercole at the Monte Argentario olive grove and manufacturing headquarters. We learned how to “suck” the olive oil sample onto the back of our tongues to taste its peppery flavor. Several of the samples were too strong; it reminded me of tasting whiskey at Jack Daniel’s! On the way to our tasting, we stopped for cappuccinos in the Old Town where the first tower dates back to 1296! To end our visit, we had a delicious seafood lunch by the port at AGRITURISMO PIMPINNACOLO RESTAURANT.
Agaccio, Corsica, presented our next adventure. We decided to explore the home of Napoleon Bonaparte and dine on a traditional Corsican meal. The meal was pri-fixe and heavy on the cheese and protein. We had roast lamb, wild boar, polenta, and Brocciu cheese. Although quite filling, it was delicious.
We disembarked the next day in Barcelona, wearing our F1 swag, but feeling a bit conflicted. Would I do Formula 1 in Monaco again?
No.
Am I glad I went?
Absolutely.
Some experiences aren’t meant to become annual traditions—they’re meant to satisfy your curiosity, check off a bucket-list dream, and give you stories you’ll tell for years. For Scott, Monaco delivered everything he’d hoped for: the spectacle, the glamour, the engineering, and the excitement. For me, it confirmed something else. I much preferred sipping wine on the deck of Silver Ray, wandering medieval villages, lingering over long Italian lunches, and discovering hidden boutiques than standing shoulder to shoulder with thousands of race fans.
In the end, the Mediterranean cruise became the real star of our adventure. Formula 1 simply gave it an unforgettable—and very expensive—closing act.
Quite an adventure! Very impressive I enjoyed reading and viewing the images!