Every May, the world’s attention turns to the French Riviera as the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix transform the coastline into a sizzling hub of glitz, glamour and superyachts. Signalling the start of the summer cruising season, these events are not to be missed.
As the days start to get longer and the temperature rises, the Mediterranean begins to awake from its winter slumber. But breathing life back into the French Riviera with an almighty bang are two of the hottest dates in the diaries of the global elite: the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix.
Succumbing to the A-list allure of the film festival, the rich, the famous and the beautiful flock to Cannes before, just days later, converging in Monaco for its iconic sporting fixture.
And joining this migration along the Cote d’Azur is a world-class fleet of superyachts, with most returning from the Caribbean especially to make the events before their cruising season in the summer hotspot gets underway. Read on to discover how you can be a part of the action.
The Cannes Film Festival sees some of the world’s biggest names touch down in the French Riviera for the annual international celebration of film. From photo calls and screenings to blockbuster premieres, the Croisette and red carpet are guaranteed to be populated by Hollywood’s finest.
Starting in mid-May, the 11-day festival is renowned for providing a platform for upcoming directors and performers of all nationalities and culminates in the unveiling of the winner of the Palme d’Or.
Most of the action centres on the Palais des Festival, located just metres away from the Old Port where scores of superyachts jostle for a slice of the action. But with so many stars in town, parties and charity dinners also ramp up in number with everybody clamouring to get onto the VIP guest lists.
Nothing screams VIP quite like a luxury yacht, so what better way to immerse yourself in the celebrity-packed surrounds of the Cannes Film Festival than by chartering your own superyacht.
Not only is it possible to rent a yacht berthed in Le Vieux Port, but tickets to hotly anticipated movie premieres, as well as to exclusive soirees, can also be incorporated into the package.
Experiencing the illustrious film festival from such a platform comes with many benefits, ranging from having deluxe accommodation on the event’s ‘front door’ to hosting your own charter party.
An event unlike any other, the Monaco Grand Prix is arguably the most iconic fixture both on the Formula One circuit and the French Riviera’s social calendar. Fusing a prestigious history, high-octane thrills and glitz and glamour in abundance, this is the race all F1 drivers want to win.
Kicking off on the third Thursday of every May with practice sessions, the event takes a break on Thursday before resuming again on Saturday for qualifying and concluding on Sunday with the main race. And, away from the track, Monaco’s social scene revs up another gear with after-parties aplenty.
The grand prix also stands out as one of only two F1 races that can be viewed from a superyacht. This means demand for a berth in Port Hercules soars during race week and, fortunately for the global elite, a variety of charter options can make this dream a reality.
When the Cannes Film Festival is over, the superyachts that have gathered for the event make their way along the coast from the French town to Monaco in time for the grand prix, alongside a glittering convoy of celebrities, who stick around for more dazzling Riviera action.
Securing a track view berth for your own Monaco Grand Prix private yacht charter is extremely difficult as demand is fierce during race week. But there are alternatives, such as undertaking a grand prix superyacht hospitality package on a yacht berthed in one of these prime viewing spots.
Or, a charter on board a yacht berthed elsewhere in Port Hercules will ensure you can still be immersed in the marina's high-energy atmosphere while anchoring off the coast of Monaco and taking a private tender ashore for race viewing and post-race entertainment is also possible.
