Grace| Galapagos Cruise

In the spring of 1956, the world watched as Hollywood actress Grace Kelly became the Princess of Monaco. What is less well known is that her honeymoon yacht was already a piece of history. It was a 1928 Camper & Nicholsons motor yacht that had served in two world wars, hosted statesmen and billionaires, and survived a German E-boat attack off the British coast.

Origins: Built for an Argentinean Gentleman (1928)

Jacques “Santiago” Soulas, a French-Argentinean entrepreneur, commissioned the yacht, which was delivered from Camper & Nicholsons’ Southampton yard in 1928 and named Monica after his daughter. At 147 feet (44.8 m) and 298 gross tons, she was a substantial vessel for her time. Four years later, Soulas sold her to Zarch Couyoumbian, a Greek gentleman who renamed her Rion.

By 1938, she had been passed to Sir George Tilley, chairman of the Prudential Insurance Company. He owned her until autumn 1939, when the British government requisitioned her for the war effort.

A Warship in the Channel (1939–1945)

The vessel joined the Royal Navy on 21 October 1939. Its teak panelling and soft furnishings were removed and replaced with machine guns, hammocks, and anti-submarine equipment. Renamed HMS Rion, she was sent on coastal patrols.

On 26 May 1940, she was sent to Dunkirk as part of Operation Dynamo. She made three 39-mile trips from Dunkirk to Dover, carrying about 300 soldiers each time. On the third trip, an explosion off the starboard bow killed 14 soldiers and one sailor and damaged her hull. After repairs in Portsmouth, she returned to active duty and helped capture a German E-boat in November 1940. By 1941, she was serving as a floating annex to the Royal Naval Hospital and had been renamed HMS Noir. She was decommissioned in October 1945.

Aristotle Onassis and the Royal Gift (1951–1956)

After restoration at Camper & Nicholsons and a brief return to Sir George Tilley’s ownership, the yacht was acquired by Aristotle Onassis’ charter company after Tilley’s death in 1951. Onassis renamed her Arion and added her to his charter fleet. She reportedly hosted Winston Churchill during this period.

In 1956, Onassis gifted Arion to Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly as a wedding present. The newlyweds renamed her Deo Juvante II, meaning “God willing,” and sailed into Monaco harbour to a warm welcome. They spent their seven-week honeymoon cruising along the coasts of Corsica and Sardinia. In 1958, the royal couple sold the yacht.

Subsequent Ownership and the Road to the Galápagos (1958–2007)

After Monaco, the yacht changed owners and names several times. A Monegasque businessman renamed her Daska in 1958. A Caribbean charter company renamed her Angela in 1965. In 1983, the Jamaican government seized her over unpaid taxes. In 1985, John Issa, chairman of SuperClubs, bought her at auction and had her extensively refitted in Tampa, Florida. He renamed her Zein, after one of his daughters, and operated her from Negril, Jamaica, until 2006.

Quasar Expeditions acquired the M/Y Zein in 2007. After two years of refitting, the yacht was brought to the Galápagos and renamed Grace, in recognition of her most famous chapter. Her most recent refit was completed in 2023.

Her name history is: Monica → Rion → HMS Rion → HMS Noir → Arion → Deo Juvante II → Daska → Angela → Daska → Zein → Grace.

Quasar Expeditions operates three Grace itineraries, all departing from Baltra Island unless otherwise specified. All are rated light to moderate in activity level and operate year-round, subject to National Park permits.

• 8-Day — Beyond Darwin’s Footsteps: 7 nights exploring the central and southern islands, including Española, Floreana, and Santa Cruz. From US $10,950 per person. Guests embark at Baltra.
• 8-Day — Following Darwin’s Trail: 7 nights visiting northern islands and different sites from the first itinerary. From US $10,950 per person. Guests embark at Baltra or Puerto Ayora.
• 15-Day — Darwin’s Muse: 14 nights combining both 8-day routes into a full archipelago voyage. From US $20,805 per person. Guests embark at Baltra or Puerto Ayora.

The Galápagos archipelago has 19 major islands and more than 40 visitor sites approved by the National Park Directorate (GNPD). Depending on the season and itinerary, guests may see Nazca boobies, waved albatrosses on Española, marine iguanas, giant tortoises, Galápagos penguins, sea lions, reef sharks, and rays.