There is one night in July when the whole Bay of Cannes turns its eyes to the sky. On 14 July, for the French national day, the city fires one of the most beautiful fireworks displays on the Riviera over the water of the bay. And the finest seat in the house is not on the Croisette, packed shoulder to shoulder, but offshore, on the deck of a yacht.
The best seat in the house is on the water
From the sea, the fireworks open right in front of you, with nothing between the deck and the sky. No crowd, no traffic, no scramble for a spot on the promenade. The bursts of gold and blue reflect on the calm water, the hills of Cannes glow in the background, and the only sound between two explosions is the sea against the hull. It is, quite simply, the most spectacular way to watch the 14 July.
More than 30 yachts on the water for our clients
This year, our clients chose the water in force: WA Yachting placed more than 30 yachts in the Bay of Cannes for the evening, from open dayboats and sport tenders to flybridge motor yachts and a handful of superyachts anchored front row. Families, groups of friends and private companies each had their own vantage point, at a comfortable distance from the pontoon crowds, with the show entirely to themselves.
An evening choreographed from the deck
A fireworks charter is a full evening, not just the fifteen minutes of the show. Guests come aboard at golden hour, glass in hand, as the sun drops behind the Esterel. Dinner is served on deck, prepared or catered to taste, while the yacht eases to its spot in the bay. When the first shell climbs into the night, the engines are off, the lights are low, and every eye is on the sky. Many guests round off the night with a swim under the stars before heading back in.
From a sunset cruise to a private superyacht
There is a format for every party. A few guests can watch from a sport boat or a dayboat, a family or a group of a dozen from a spacious flybridge motor yacht, and a larger celebration from a superyacht with crew, chef and tenders. Whatever the size, the principle is the same: your own boat, your own space, and a front-row view no rooftop or restaurant terrace can match.
Book early for next year
The 14 July is the single most requested night of the summer in Cannes, and the best yachts are reserved well ahead. If watching next year's fireworks from the water appeals to you, the time to plan is long before July. We hold dates early and build the evening around your group.
Want to watch the next Bastille Day fireworks from your own deck? Explore our fleet of yachts for a Cannes evening charter, and contact our team for a tailored quote.