Explora Journeys Hosts Formula 1 Monaco Opening Party Aboard Luxury Ship
The ocean travel brand deepened its partnership with the Grand Prix by hosting an official event on EXPLORA I, featuring performances by Bob Sinclar and Naomi C
Explora Journeys hosted the official opening party of the FORMULA 1 LOUIS VUITTON GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2026 aboard EXPLORA I on Thursday in Port Hercule, marking the second consecutive year the luxury ocean travel brand has partnered with the Monaco Grand Prix.
The event drew international guests, cultural tastemakers and motorsport figures to the ship, which remained docked in Port Hercule throughout the race weekend. According to Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, the activation represents the brand's strategy to connect luxury hospitality experiences across land and sea. "Hosting the official opening party of Formula 1 aboard EXPLORA I places our brand, our ships and our vision centre stage during one of the world's most iconic events," Nash said.
The evening's entertainment included DJ sets from Bob Sinclar and Naomi Campbell. The celebration also featured a choreographed drone display over Monaco harbor with 3,050 separate drones, described as Europe's largest-ever drone show. The 10-minute sequence recreated the Monaco cityscape, the street circuit and the Grand Prix trophy, with the animation measuring 600 feet high and 800 feet wide. The display highlighted Formula 1's extension in the Principality through 2035.
Among attendees were former Formula 1 drivers Mika Häkkinen, Damon Hill and David Coulthard, alongside senior executives from both Formula 1 and Explora Journeys. Throughout the race weekend, EXPLORA I served as an accommodation and entertainment venue for guests, offering what the brand described as an unrivaled vantage point on the Grand Prix alongside bespoke shore excursions and onboard programming.
Explora Journeys, the privately owned luxury ocean travel brand of the MSC Group headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, launched EXPLORA I in July 2023 and EXPLORA II in September 2024. The LNG-powered EXPLORA III is scheduled to join the fleet in July 2026, with EXPLORA IV arriving in 2027. EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will follow in 2027 and 2028.
The partnership signals how luxury hospitality brands are leveraging major sporting events to build brand visibility among high-net-worth audiences while testing experiential marketing tied to iconic destinations.