The yacht used for the honeymoon of Hollywood star–turned–princess Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco after their wedding in 1956 has been repurposed to give cruisers the royal treatment during sailings in the Galápagos Islands.
(Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly at the White House in 1961 | Public domain)
The 145-foot-long vessel was a wedding present from shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis—speaking of 20th-century icons of jet-settery.
Following their April 1956 nuptials, the royal couple took the boat on a cruise along the coasts of Corsica and Sardinia.
(1956 news photo showing Prince Rainier III's new yacht in Monaco's harbor)
Now rechristened the M/Y Grace, the elegant craft has been given a thorough renovation for 8- and 15-day Galápagos itineraries from small-group tour operator Quasar Expeditions.
Chilean design firm Enrique Concha & Co. made over the yacht's eight staterooms with understated decor incorporating lots of blond wood, which seems fitting given the vessel's fair-haired namesake.
(Grace Kelly suite on Quasar Expeditions' Grace yacht | Credit: Quasar Expeditions)
Refurbishments also included the addition of a coffee lounge, upgrades to the bar and kitchen, and adjustments intended to maximize indoor and outdoor space to show off the landscapes and, especially, the unique wildlife of the Galápagos.
(Outdoor lounge on the Grace yacht | Credit: Quasar Expeditions)
Improvements to the Grace's engines, generators, and propellers should make for a faster, smoother ride up to speeds of 15 knots, and the new equipment should consume less fuel, too.
(Lounge on Quasar Expeditions' Grace yacht | Credit: Quasar Expeditions)
Accommodating no more than 16 guests at a time—high society, indeed—the yacht follows three different island-hopping itineraries inspired by Charles Darwin's famous Galápagos visit in 1835. Along the way, passengers will have abundant opportunities to snorkel, kayak, and take naturalist-led hikes in search of seals, crabs, sea lions, lizards, and one-of-a-kind, delightfully named avian stars like the magnificent frigatebird and the blue-footed booby.
Rates for Quasar's Galápagos expeditions aboard the Grace yacht start at $8,500 per person. For more information, go to QuasarEx.com.
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