Quasar Grace Yacht

Once known as Monica and later as Rion, the M/Y Grace has a fascinating history. Commissioned by Argentinean Santiago Soulas, she originally weighed 298 tons and was 147 feet long with a 23-foot beam and a 12-foot draft.

Once enjoyed by Sir George Tilley in the late 1930s, she was conscripted by the British for the war effort in 1939. Stripped of her furnishings and paneling, she was used by the Royal Navy for coastal patrols during the War Years.

Grace played an important role during WWII as she patrolled the calm waters off the Isle of Wight. Later, she was dispatched to the beaches of Dunkirk for the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force during Operation Dynamo.

In a daring night operation, Rion and two other ships captured a German E-boat off the Isle of Wight. After engaging in a firefight, Rion delivered the final blow, securing the enemy vessel and escorting it to Portsmouth Harbour naval base.

Her heroics continued as she hunted a submarine on the night of March 23, 1941, making multiple depth charge runs. Refitted as a floating annex to the Royal Navy Hospital, she served until the end of the war, earning a new name, HMS Noir.

After being decommissioned in 1945, she was restored to her luxurious beginnings by her original builders, Camper & Nicholsons. She was then returned to Sir George Tilley on September 16, 1947, remaining with him until his death in 1951.

HMS Noir became the glamorous Arion under Aristotle Onassis' charter firm, hosting a stream of A-list celebrities and even welcoming Sir Winston Churchill aboard during her three-year reign as the queen of the seas.

Aristotle Onassis gave a royal gift to Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly: the luxurious yacht Arion. The prince spent weeks refurbishing the vessel, which would later welcome the Hollywood star to her new home in Monaco.

After the wedding, the royal couple began their honeymoon with a short stay in Mallorca, Spain, followed by a cruise aboard the yacht—which they christened Deo Juvente II—along the coasts of Corsica and Sardinia.

After being gifted to Monaco's royal couple, the yacht changed hands and was renamed Daska before becoming a popular charter in the Bahamas under Crest Shipping in the 1960s. She’s no stranger to crystalline waters.

Newly-named Angela continued her journey under the ownership of Valef Yachts in the Caribbean. After a heroic evacuation effort in the Lebanese Civil War and a stunning refurbishment, she remained a beloved luxury charter until 1982.

With a new identity as the M/Y Zein, named after one of John Issa’s daughters, she cruised along the East Coast. Zein remained a sought-after vessel, catching the attention of buyers such as Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft.

Unforgettable meals are included in your authentic Galapagos experiences. Three meals a day are carefully prepared by master chefs who cater to every craving and dietary need. Plus, appetizers and snacks to rival your 5 o’clock favorites.

Our wine selection? A cut above. Reminisce about your adventurous days and take in the sunset from the yacht lounge. Mingle with other like-minded travelers for an even more memorable adventure—don’t be surprised if they become friends for life.

Quasar partners with chefs and service aficionados who are not only celebrated in the food industry, but who celebrate food itself. Taste their culinary passion and years of worldly experience in the subtle details of every memorable meal.