Skip to main content

Cruise the Galapagos Islands in Style Aboard this Historical Luxury Yacht

my grace yacht
Quasar Expeditions/Facebook
There are plenty of great ways to cruise the Galapagos Islands. It’s an unforgettable trip of a lifetime, no matter what ship you’re sailing aboard. But, if you’re heading to the land of Darwin and giant tortoises anyway, why not do it in the utmost style? One classic vessel has luxury, panache, and a royal and military history unlike any other. The best part: You can book a cabin right now.

The 147-foot M/Y Grace boasts one of the most fascinating histories of any ship, not just in the Galapagos Islands, but in the world as a whole. She began life simply as Monica in the late 1920s in Southampton, England, under the ownership of Jacques “Santiago” Soulas, a Franco-Argentine tycoon. Over the next decade, the ship would change hands several times before being acquired in 1939 by the British Royal Navy to patrol the area around the Isle of Wight. The newly-named Rion was stripped of her elegance, structurally hardened, and outfitted with hardcore military weaponry. Twin Oerlikons (a.k.a. “Kamikaze Killers”) were mounted astride the bridge, a 12-pound rapid-fire guy was affixed to the forecastle, and a stern rack was added to hold 300-pound depth charges.

my grace yacht corridor
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The ship was decommissioned after World War II, rechristened HMS Noir, and returned to her original builders, Camper & Nicholson International. The team worked hard in the ensuing years to refurbish the ship as a pleasure craft. In 1951, Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, bought the ship, rechristened her Arion, and kept her in his stable of toys for several years. She was ultimately gifted as a wedding present to Prince Rainier and Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco. They hosted an array of lavish parties with some of the world’s most illustrious guests (Winston Churchill among them) before parting with her in 1958.

Decades on, the ship would travel throughout the eastern United States and the Caribbean under numerous banners and owners. She was purchased in 2007 by Quasar Expeditions who, in a thoughtful nod to the princess, rechristened her the M/Y Grace. The company spent two full years retrofitting and restoring the ship to her former glory. Under the new banner, and with a healthy dose of modern comfort amenities in place, the ship now sails exclusive routes to and through the Galapagos Islands.

my grace yacht deck
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The roughly 25 guests on each eight-day sailing are free to explore Ecuador’s famous islands amid the stately elegance of a bygone sailing era. Every interior space is awash in rich wood paneling and flooring, custom tufted seating, and plush fabrics. Even the ship’s original wheel has been returned with the inscription “Deo Juvante” (the former name).

The ship’s diminutive size belies a host of creature comforts, including an intimate main saloon, a sun deck, a wine cellar, and an alfresco dining space. Quasar’s commercial director, Eduardo Diez Jr., notes, “It is probably now one of the most sought-after products in the archipelago.” It’s easy to see why.

my grace yacht suite
Image used with permission by copyright holder

As of October 2017, adventurous, well-heeled travelers can book one of two unique itineraries aboard the M/Y Grace directly through Quasar Expeditions. Off-season rates in the fall of 2018 start at USD $5,600 per person (which covers almost every aspect of the eight-day trip less international airfare and domestic transfers). Although, we recommend splurging on the Grace Kelly Suite — the cabin where the Monegasque royalty honeymooned — with an all-in rate of USD $8,900. If you’re a hotshot willing to really open his wallet, you can charter the whole boat for you and 17 of your closest friends for just north of USD $125,000.

Feature image courtesy of Quasar Expeditions/Facebook.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Plan a trip to see some incredible fall foliage: 7 stellar spots across the U.S.
The fall colors will be gorgeous in these travel destinations
A pop of fall color in Oak Glen, California (in the San Bernardino Mountains).

The weather is cooler. The nights are longer. The tree leaves are starting to change colors. Finally, fall is here. And now, we have to think about where to go to find the best fall foliage.

Whether you need a quick weekend getaway, a nice change of scenery as you "work from home", or another good reason to travel for great fall foliage, we have you covered. As we enter into a new season, let’s discover some new ideas for fall travel. Come for the colorful fall foliage, and stay for the stunning mountain views, the friendly locals, various pleasant surprises, and a whole lot of good vibes. 

Read more
Will Sony’s portable PlayStation Portal be your new travel buddy?
Move over, Nintendo Switch?
Sony PlayStation Portal

If you want to travel and play video games remotely, you can connect your smartphone to your PS5 at home using the PS Remote Play app. However, there are two limitations to using your smartphone or tablet to stream your PlayStation games. For starters, most smartphones don’t have the ideal visuals to get the best performance out of PS5 games. But even if you own a smartphone with a display that exceeds expectations, you may find it inconvenient to use on-screen buttons.

Well, Sony has a solution for gamers who want a handheld gaming console that’s better than a smartphone — it’s called the PlayStation Portal remote player. It comes with an 8-inch LCD screen that can support 1080p at 60 frames per second. But the best part about it is that the LCD screen is sandwiched between a PS5 DualSense wireless controller. This means you can enjoy the full gaming pad experience, including the haptic feedback when you’re playing your PlayStation games remotely.

Read more
Yellowstone National Park, the Amalfi Coast, and more: Add these top 5 heritage sites to your travel bucket list
When you should visit (and more)
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon (Arizona)

Betway has recently revealed the top 100 most beautiful Natural heritage sites based on the number of Instagram hashtags, and the United States and Italy dominate the top 5 spots. If you're considering a trip this year, why not go and see what all the fuss is about? This post will explore the top 5 results of Betway's study and provide some valuable planning information for all of these heritage sites.

Grand Canyon
What list would be complete without the Grand Canyon? About 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon every year, so it's not a surprise that it's one of the most Instagrammed places out there. Coming into first place with a whopping 4.3 million hashtags, the Grand Canyon is sure to blow your mind.

Read more