There are few weekends on the global calendar where the worlds of sport, fashion, and high society converge with such effortless glamour as the Grand Prix de Monaco. And while the roar of Formula 1 engines electrified the streets of Monte Carlo this year, a quieter kind of magic was unfolding just a few metres away – aboard Explora II.
Moored in the heart of Port Hercule, Explora II, the latest ship from Explora Journeys, became a private sanctuary amid the frenzy of the race. With its Riviera views, elegant decks, and a guest list drawn from the worlds of royalty, business, motorsport, and luxury, the ship captured the weekend’s true spirit: intimate, exhilarating, and impossibly stylish.
The weekend began in spectacular fashion with a private edition of the Vanity Fair Club, hosted on board. Guests including Prince Alexandre Grimaldi, Flavio Briatore, Technogym CEO Nerio Alessandri, MSC Group Cruise Division Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, Renault CEO Luca de Meo, Princess Alexandra de Hanovre, and entrepreneur Kevin Lütolf mingled over champagne as the sun set across the Riviera.
“It was an extraordinary weekend,” reflected Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys. “Hosting our guests aboard Explora II during one of the world’s most iconic sporting events was a true celebration of elegance, energy, and modern luxury.”
For those on board, the experience was about more than proximity to the track. From the decks of Explora II, the drama of the race unfolded below, the sounds of the engines drifting across the water. But between races, life on board shifted into its own rhythm — a blend of indulgence and discovery.
Motorsport legends including David Coulthard, Sir Jackie Stewart, and Mika Häkkinen were on hand, exchanging stories with rising stars Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto from the BWT Alpine Formula One Team. A VR race simulator brought the thrill of the circuit to life, while Formula 1 trivia and an onboard miniature track offered playful nods to the weekend’s adrenaline-fuelled theme.
But not everything was about speed. In quieter corners of the ship, curated showcases from Buccellati, Panerai, and Piaget invited guests to linger and explore craftsmanship at its finest. The atmosphere on board shifted from day to night with effortless grace: by evening, Explora II became a floating salon of conversation, starlit cocktails, and impromptu celebrations.
The setting itself was a masterstroke. Designed with the feel of a private yacht, Explora II offered a level of intimacy rarely found during the Grand Prix weekend — a place where guests could retreat from the spectacle ashore and savour a slower, more refined experience of Monaco.
As the final race day dawned and the crescendo of the weekend approached, one thing had become clear: Explora Journeys had not merely offered a place to stay — it had created a new kind of Grand Prix ritual. One where the best views weren’t always from the grandstands, but from the water, with a glass in hand and the city glittering beyond.
In the world of Formula 1, moments off the track can matter as much as those on it. And this year, the most coveted ticket wasn’t to a corporate suite — it was a place aboard Explora II, where the true essence of Monaco unfolded, one unforgettable moment at a time.