Top 10 Cruise Ports Of Call For F1 Fans
The sports heartlands are in Europe and in many ways it is a mostly British sport with most teams based in and around Silverstone and many involved in the teams, from mechanics to drivers, are British or come through junior fromulas held on British shores but it is also a sport that promotes itself as a global one, which includes hosting races around the globe.
Many of the host countries pay for the races to promote themselves as a travel destination and many more traditional racecourses pay to promote themselves as a track to visit and to take advantage of their open race days etc.
No matter what the aim of the host, much of the coverage offered is promoting the host and that often leads motor racing fans with Wanderlust drooling and mentally planning their next adventure.
Our Top 10 Cruise Ports Of Call For F1 Fans
The great news for lovers of F1 and lovers of cruising is that you can combine those loves as many race tracks are located close to popular cruise ports of calls, with some needing a short taxi drive and some just a short stroll from where your ship docks.
As is ever the case with our top 10 lists on CruiseHols, we are not listing the best port or, in this case, the best F1 track but the one that combines the best of both world’s and offers a great cruse experience whilst been able to enjoy exploring a great race track.
Monte Carlo, Monaco
If you were to ask a number of casual racing fans, or even a non-fans, there is likely 1 race track that would be named time and time again and that is the street circuit around Monte Carlo.
The Monaco Grand Prix is known for its glitz and glamour but it is also known for its lack of race action and for not allowing any overtaking.
Thankfully the views of the Med and of the stunning Monte Carlo marina, and the multi million pound yachts moored up, make for a fascinating visual on race days but they are even better enjoyed in person.
For a long time, a cruise holiday to Monaco needed a long bus trip from the French Riviera or for you to be onboard a smaller, luxurious ship but thanks to investment in the cruise terminal in the city, there are now many mainstream lines calling into Monaco as part of a wider cruise around the Mediterranean.
When you dock at the Quai Rainier III, you are just a short stroll from the race track which as open public roads, you can easily stroll around whilst taking in the many highlights of the Principality.
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada
The beautiful city of Montreal is a great destination to visit for all cruisers but if you are an F1 fan, you are all set for a great day on shore.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve hosts the annual Canadian GP as well as other top races from other fromula’s and competitions but what makes it rank so highly on this list is the fact that its location in the Jean-Drapeau Park on an island in the St Lawrence seaway, it not only means you often get a view of the track as you sail past before docking just across from the race track and within walking distance.
The course location in a public park and consisting of open roads also means that you can simply walk around the course and take it all in before enjoying time exploring all that the biggest city in Quebec has to offer.
Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore
Singapore is simply a stunning city state that offers a great holiday to all who visit.
No matter if you love history, culture, food, big brand attractions, nature or the energy or a huge city- Singapore offers it all and so much more but if you are a fan of F1, it is likely the beautiful Marina Bay that has grabbed your attention.
Built around a manmade reservoir, the bay features skyscrapers on one side, the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel on one side and a massive grandstand to the other from where the F1 circuit not only goes in front of but it also goes through.
The great news for all fans is that it is just a short walk from the stunning Gardens By The Bay complex to Marina Bay, from where you can stroll around the course including the pit straight and over the Anderson Bridge or why not take a ride on the Singapore Flyer Ferris wheel to take in the best of the track.
Once you are done exploring the street circuit, you can then visit the numerous attractions found around Singapore thanks to the easy to use, cheap and spotlessly clean metro system.
Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne, Australia
The Melbourne Grand Prix is known as the season opener on a F1 calendar and is enjoyed by the teams thanks to its relaxed nature that comes from been located in a large downtown park, called Albert Park.
That also means that it is public land and the course can therefore be easily explored but best of all, the park is walkable from the main Melbourne cruise terminal.
After walking around the track ,there is lots to enjoy in the vibrant capital city of Victoria including the many coffee houses that the city Is famed for and the architecturally stunning AAMI Park stadium, home of the Melbourne Storm rugby side.
Autodromo Juan y Oscar Galvez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Autodromo in Buenos Aires may not be used of Formula 1 anymore but it is one of the most historic racing tracks in the world and is still well used for other fromulas, which makes it well worth visiting for fans of the history of F1 or for petrolheads today.
The course is located in the west of the densely populated city of Buenos Aires but thanks to a stop on the cities tram network, it is relatively easy to find your own way there and back to the downtown before heading back to cruise terminal exploring South America or Antarctica on a cruise to remember.
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations and it is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world and whilst most visitors head to the Sagrada Familiar or to the always busy Las Ramblas, it is possible to organise a private tour or book a taxi to head further afield to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, home of the Barcelona Grand Prix and the location for many hours of pre-season testing.
The difficulty in reaching the track, around 30 minutes away from the cruise terminal by road, is the main reason why it features relatively low on this list as Barcelona is simply a must visit for cruisers.
Circuit Zandvoort, Ijmuiden, The Netherlands
Zandvoort is an historic racetrack on the Dutch coast that featured heavily on the F1 calendar from the 1950’s to the mid 1980’s and ever since then there have been lots of clambering from fans for the track to return and that is something that has finally happened.
Located close to the capital city of Amsterdam, the course is just down the road from the port town of Ijmuiden, which is used by some cruise lines to avoid the fees of the North Sea Canal.
Sepang International Circuit, Port Klang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Although the Malaysian Grand Prix only took place between 1999-2017, it quickly become one of the most impressive tracks on the calendar.
Featuring a huge grandstand around a traditional race track and narrow, fence line street circuit like sections, the course stood out from the off but it was one that never really grabbed the attention of locals.
It is a track that lives on in the memory of some fans however and the great news for fans is that whilst the course is some distance from Port Klang, where cruise ships dock for Kuala Lumpur, there is a high speed rail link from the city centre to the airport next door to the racecourse, with only a short taxi ride or long walk needed.
Once you have finished looking around the track, you are left with a visit to one of the world’s greatest cities and a gem of Asia.
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Yas Marina is a stunning back drop for am Formula race and the course itself always looks good but sadly the racing action has often failed to live up to the expectations and to its surroundings but that is certainty not an excuse to avoid visiting and having a look around yourself.
The course is just a short drive from the cruise terminal in Abu Dhabi and there is lots to do when you get there including visiting Ferrari World, something which can be achieved via a roughly 30 minute taxi ride or taking a bus.
Circuit Paul Ricard, Toulon or Marseille, France
The course is one that fans either love or hate, due to the overzealous ‘art work around the track that is just as likely to give you a headache as it is to add to the interest in the racing from the South of France, which sadly is also often lacking but what the track lacks in exciting wheel to wheel racing, it more than make sup for by the fact it is located relatively close to 2 cruise ports.
You can visit the track from either the port of Toulon or Marseille, although it unfortunately difficult to reach from either via public transport and you will need to organise a taxi or hire a car.
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