I'm not one to spend fall Sunday afternoons or Monday nights sitting on the couch watching NFL football, nor am I one to wake up at 3 or 4 a.m. to watch the Australian Open tennis tournament.
But I love sports, and I especially love going to live sporting events. The energy I love attending a stadium or stadium full of sports fans is a level higher than the energy I feel at a concert.
So I jumped at the invitation to head to Abu Dhabi for four action-packed days in November to watch the final race of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship and board the MSC Virtuosa, which was docked in port for the event.
Unlike other sports, where there are a lot of subtle rules that can be difficult to follow for first-timers, I had to watch everything from practice sessions to qualifying races, and it was ultimately through the big races that Formula 1 proved itself to me. It is one of the great sports that anyone can participate in at any time.
The author and her brother Brandon in front of the Formula 1 World Championship Driver's Trophy during an exclusive tour of the racetrack and paddock area of Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Photo courtesy of Nicole Edenedo
Still, it was a good thing I invited my brother Brandon on this trip. When I asked him if he wanted to accompany me on the trip, I had no idea he was a Formula 1 fan. Although the speed with which he cleared his work schedule to go along was my first clue. He knew everything about the drivers, the statistics, and the roads they took to get there (literally and figuratively). It was like having my own TV color commentator with me.
rejuvenate
The 6,334-passenger Virtuosa, the second in MSC's Meraviglia Plus class after the MSC Grandiosa, has docked at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal. The hotel served as a floating hotel for cruisers as well as travelers who purchased fan hospitality packages ranging from room-only tickets to the full F1 experience.
The F1 Experience package includes a range of activities and programming on board and at the Yas Marina Circuit, where the race weekend events take place. Our Formula 1 packages include a variety of premium, all-inclusive experiences, including track circuit tours, Q&As and panel discussions with current and former Formula 1 drivers aboard the vessel, and perhaps my favorite perk, air access. . Enjoy access to the Yas Marina Suites, which features grandstand seating and a VIP area serving hot meals and beverages all day.
There was also an even more exclusive package on offer, with access to the Paddock Club available for fans looking for luxury. This package includes access to a luxury suite above the pit lane with views of the starting grid or Turn 1, a pivotal corner of the race.
The MSC Virtuosa docked in Abu Dhabi and served as a hotel for the race weekend. Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo
The night after the event at the racecourse was followed by a two-hour concert featuring some of music's biggest stars. DJ Tiesto, Chris Brown and Shania Twain each headlined the evening's performances at the Ferrari World stadium next to the track, while the closing show was headlined by Foo Fighters.
While in Abu Dhabi, whether it's race week or any time of the year, it's a must to make time to check out Ferrari World. It is a space themed around car racing and transportation, and is basically an indoor amusement park, complete with rides for adults and children. Ferrari World is also home to Formula Rossa, the world's fastest roller coaster. Although my roller coaster days are mostly behind me, one of the “thrill-seeking” things I did was ride my Bird electric scooter for the first time, and it was plenty exciting.
Travel tip: If you arrive late and need to rush somewhere in the Yas Marina area, you can take one of the scooters for a very small fee. When you rent using the Bird app, it will also tell you where there are scooters nearby.
Spectators at Yas Marina Circuit. Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo
hit the racecourse
Friday night was our first full day experience. We headed to the track to watch a practice session in the late afternoon and after a hearty meal at Yas Sweets, we headed to the racecourse for a guided tour in the back of a flatbed truck. This is the same truck that transports the drivers during the driver parade on race day, which was quite the experience.
Another very cool feature of the F1 Experience was the walk along the pit lane, where we got to pass through the paddock for all the drivers. My brother, a Formula 1 expert, was like a kid in a candy store posing for pictures in front of the paddock for Lewis Hamilton, then long-time McLaren driver. To the Mercedes team).
The pit lane walk and flatbed tour were both perks that came with the Cabin + F1 Experience. This was a step above the basic Formula 1 package and also included three-day grandstand seating with access to the West Yas Suite and Balcony Cabin. ; A more luxurious Cabin + F1 Premium Hospitality package was also available.
Before taking to the track each day, there were Q&A sessions with current and former Formula 1 drivers on the ship's sundeck. This was a great start to the day as attendees were able to gain a more in-depth, insider knowledge of the sport, hear the drivers' career highlights and pitfalls and what the sport means to them before watching the race live. It gives those new to the sport a better understanding of the sport.
Steaks are served at Butcher's Cut, one of more than a dozen specialty restaurants at MSC Virtuosa. Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo
Spa and Steak Relaxation
Although I did not actually sail aboard the MSC when I visited, I was able to enjoy many of the MSC Virtuosa's amenities during my stay on board. My most memorable moments were lunch at a specialty restaurant and time at the spa.
Due to our tight schedule between the ship and the racecourse, we were only able to spend a few hours at the MSC Aurea Spa, but every minute we spent there was worth it. It's a spacious space located in a quieter part of the ship on deck 7, the deck that houses some specialty restaurants.
There are several saunas, steam rooms, salt rooms, refrigerators and whirlpool baths. We recommend visiting the spa early in the morning (8am to 8pm) to make the most of your time at the spa before starting the rest of your day.
As for food, I'm still drooling over pictures of the steak I ate at Butcher's Cut, a steakhouse restaurant on Deck 7 a short walk from the spa. It was juicy, tender, thick and medium rare, and I sprinkled a few sea salts on each bite. It was the way I liked it.
I was surprised that two of my favorite dishes, bone marrow and lobster bisque, were both on the menu and just as delicious as the steak. The bone marrow dish was particularly hearty and larger than what I'm used to, even at one of my favorite restaurants in New York.
We also recommend Indochine, located one floor below Butcher's Cut. It serves Asian fusion cuisine with a Vietnamese twist. I really enjoyed the appetizers, including spring rolls served in rice paper and the main dish, pork belly. It came in four thick pieces.
It's a tricky place to find (it's inside the L'Atelier Arts bar), so take some extra time if you're planning on meeting friends there.
