Cruise the Galapagos Islands like a royal aboard Grace Kelly’s honeymoon yacht.
Guests who cruise aboard the M/Y Grace will experience the islands the way Darwin did in the past: personally and privately, but with the added distinction, comfort and elegance of today. Refined yet adventurous and agile, it’s no wonder Grace Kelly chose this ship for her royal honeymoon.
A Galapagos icon, our 16-Guest Camper & Nicholson yacht gives passengers a luxurious glimpse into its stellar history, including ownership by millionaire tycoons, the royalty of Monaco, and a stint in the British Navy during WWII. With a focus on Galapagos immersion, the Grace offers expanded deck space, naturalist guides with 15+ years of experience, and itineraries crafted for maximum wildlife encounters.
Our sea kayaks are the ideal means by which to get some good exercise and explore the cliffs and shores of the various visitor sites around the archipelago. A typical cruise week offers great opportunities to go kayaking around secluded coves, shores, mangrove estuaries and beautiful beaches. Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, sea lions and many other animals can be seen from up-close on a kayak and even as they swim!
walks & hikes
A highlight of all our Galapagos cruises, this activity allows you to enjoy spectacular encounters with the Island's wildlife.
During each day of your Galapagos cruise aboard M/Y Grace you will have two expeditions to a visiting point on a specific island where you will be able to walk and hike on beaches, lava fields, alongside cliffs and around mangrove estuaries. Our walks and hikes include wildlife encounters, scenic views and detailed lectures and explanations from your naturalist guide on many issues concerning the islands. This activity is great to get amazing shots of wildlife from up-close.
snorkeling
The #1 preferred activity by 9 out of 10 guests who cruise with us. It requires no previous experience to be fully enjoyed.
You will be offered the opportunity to go snorkeling almost every day at various snorkeling sites around the archipelago. You will have the chance to snorkel with playful sea lions, marine iguanas, green sea turtles and many other wonderful creatures. For non-divers, this is an incredible way to get a glimpse of the marine.
zodiac rides
On all of our cruises we offer daily dinghy or "panga" rides to several visitor sites aboard inflatable expedition zodiacs.
The group, of up to 9 guests per zodiac, is taken for a ride alongside cliffs and shores, secluded coves and beautiful mangrove estuaries. This activity is great to see volcanic formations as well as shore birds from up-close. In the mangrove estuaries it is very common to see green sea turtles mating, golden & eagle rays and sleeping reef sharks! This activity provides various chances to get some great photographs of marine creatures from up close!
scuba diving optional extra
Optional activity (not included in our cruises). This activity gives you a chance to explore the underwater world of the Galapagos at its best.
Scuba diving is offered as an additional activity for those guests who are looking to take a peek at the underwater world of the Galapagos. On the day your yacht visits the port town of Puerto Ayora, you can choose to go on a day diving trip instead of the visit planned for that day. If you do not want to miss the activities planned for the day at Port, you can also choose to go diving either by arriving a couple of days before the start of your cruise or by staying on the islands a couple of days after the cruise. Please inquire with us for more information on our Galapagos diving adventures.
photography
Taking you off-the beaten path, to see wildlife and places that few travelers get to see.
Those who voyage and explore with us our destinations and sites offered are able to experience a vision of the destination known only by a special few.
bird watching
Daily opportunities to see some of the strangest and most exotic birds in all of the world. One of which, due to the lack of predators, lost its ability to fly!
For bird lovers, the Galapagos Islands offer you the opportunity of seeing shore birds, water birds, sea birds and land birds daily. Some of these birds appear to be taken out of a fiction book. And best of all, because they are unafraid of humans, you don't need big lenses to get amazing shots. Birdlife in Galapagos literally will pose for the perfect shot.
star gazing
Galapagos skies are starry and bright. Enjoy star-gazing experiences during several nights of your cruise, led by our experienced naturalists guides.
Being right on the equator, and because of the lack of light pollution, Galapaogs skies are ideal to witness the constellations of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
whale & dolphin spotting
Whales and dolphins are a part of all our Galapagos cruises, especially between the months of August - November.
Whale spotting and snorkeling with wild dolphins is quite common in our Galapagos cruises. During the longer navigations, you may even see dolphins riding the waves in front of your yacht. Get ready for some spectacular encounters with Galapagos' best sea mammals.
activities for families
Galapagos is the perfect place for children and adults alike to enjoy nature at its best.
Our yachts are perfect for families. From the special activities we offer onboard for children, like star-gazing, movie nights and our Young Explorers Club, cruising the Islands as a family is an unforgettable experience.
We believed then, and we believe now, that the world’s most beautiful destinations are meant to e experienced away from the crowds, with the freedom and flexibility of creating your own, perfect adventure.
single-use plastic free
Our adventures are entirely free of single-use, disposable plastics.
When you travel with Quasar, plastic waste as a result of your presence is kept to a minimum. We have eliminated single-use plastics from all our trips, including plastic straws, single-use disposable soaps and single-serving edible products.
expert guides
Professionals who make the difference between a good and an exceptional adventure.
Our unmatched itineraries give you a unique perspective of the destination that is only experienced by a special few. Our experiences are fully immersive and they guarantee some of the most spectacular encounters with the destination’s exotic wildlife.
maximum, well- paced activities
Taking you off-the beaten path, to places few travelers get to see.
Those who voyage and explore with us our destinations and sites offered are able to experience a vision of the destination known only by a special few.
people & service
You will be welcomed and pampered only by the best.
The ability to turn the inaccessible and intangible, into an intimate and immersive experience, is a trait owned by only a special few. These are the real experts, the ones who make the difference between a good and an exceptional adventure.
full access to the park
97% of The Galapagos Archipelago is a National Park only accessible by yacht.
97% of The Galapagos Archipelago is a National Park and only 3% is inhabited by humans. Considering that 10 of the 13 major islands are only accessible by sea, cruising the Galapagos by yacht is the best and only way to visit this natural paradise.
With a completely new concept for adventure travel, Quasar Expeditions, for over 30 years, has led private adventurous travelers to some of the most astonoshing destinations in South America leaving memories that last a lifetime.
ample outside space
When cruising the tropical waters of the Galapagos, outside is where you want to be.
Our yachts are tailored specifically for Galapagos, offering our guests an experience that encapsulates the wildlife, scenery and environment.
yacht details & layout
DECKPLAN, TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND SAFETY
M/Y Grace abides under all international standards of safety for a Galapagos cruise ship of its type.
Our yachts were selected and built to experience the islands the way we did long ago, personally and privately but with distinction, comfort and elegance.
Take those photos of a lifetime on our photo departures. Get the best light and take advantage of our guides’ knowledge for those unique locations and angles.
WHY 7 NIGHTS / 8 DAYS? For over 30 years, Quasar Expeditions has ONLY offered 7 Night / 8 Day Cruise Itineraries in Galapagos.
Experience has shown us that 8 Days is just right to maximize your time for exploration, amazing animal encounters and for some balanced downtime for optimal relaxation. Probably the biggest mistake a traveler can make when visiting the Galapagos is simply not leaving enough time to see it, especially since both the first day you travel to the Galapagos and the day you return to the mainland are down days.
NOTE ON THIS ITINERARY
There is really no better or worse itinerary when onboard our ships, they are just different. When visiting the Galapagos Islands for one week there are tradeoffs regarding the landing sites you can and can’t see, in a place where one can encounter as great a variation crossing from one side of a bay or island to another, as traversing the entire archipelago.
This particular itinerary begins on San Cristobal Island and ends on Baltra Island, focusing on the wilds of the central and Southern Islands of the Archipelago. We highly encourage you to go through the entire itinerary, day by day, using the arrows, to learn all about the wonders that await when going "Beyond Darwin’s Footsteps".
Today we fly to San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos in the morning. Flight time is just under two hours from the mainland. Upon arrival we board M/Y Grace where you will have lunch and a quick briefing en route to our first visitor sites: Isla Lobos.
PM
Lobos, lives up to its name of -Sea Lion Island- with its noisy population of frolicking and barking beasts. It lies just a short navigation north, up the west coast of San Cristobal, separated by a channel that forms an inviting lagoon. This is where you'll have your first chance to share the water with a playful colony of the "wolves of the sea". From lobos we should have views of Kicker Rock, a spectacular formation that rises 152 meters (500 feet) out of the Pacific. It takes the form of a sleeping lion, but from another angle you can see that the rock is split, forming a colossal tablet and, piercing the sea, a great chisel ready for etching.
After this visit you have time for a shower as we get ready for our welcome cocktail and our first formal briefing before dinner. (lunch, dinner)
SUNDAY (DAY 2) espaÑola island: punta suarez & gardner bay
AM
Hood is the southernmost island of the archipelago, and is one of the most popular due to the breathtaking variation and number of fauna that inhabit the island. In the morning we visit Punta Suarez where you will witness the largest variety of marine iguanas in the Galapagos, masked boobies and blue footed boobies nesting along the cliff’s edge, as well as the famous waved albatross.
PM
In the afternoon we visit Gardner Bay, a magnificent long white sandy beach, where colonies of sea lions laze in the sun, sea turtles swim offshore, and inquisitive mockingbirds boldly investigate new arrivals. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
MONDAY (DAY 3) floreana island: post office bay & cormorant point
AM
Floreana Island: Cormorant Point & Champion Islet
Floreana has had a colorful history: Pirates, whalers, convicts, and a small band of somewhat peculiar colonists—a Baroness among them—who chose a Robinson Crusoe existence that ended in mystery and death. We visit Post Office Bay, where in 1793 British whalers set up a barrel as the island‘s Post Office, to send letters home on passing ships. The tradition continues to this day, simply by dropping a post card into the barrel without a stamp.
PM
Afternoon visit to Punta Cormorant which offers two highly contrasting beaches; a green-olivine beach and an iron-red beach. Between the two beaches is a salt lagoon frequented by flamingoes, pintails, stilts and other wading birds. Late afternoon snorkeling at Champion Islet, which is home to a myriad of marine species including a variety of pencil sea urchin, wrasses, angelfish and amberjacks. Look for sea lions, rays, white-tipped reef sharks, and sea turtles. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
TUESDAY (DAY 4) santa cruz island: highlands and the charles darwin research st.
AM
Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos and its capital, Puerto Ayora, is the economic center of the Islands. In the morning we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to visit the Giant Tortoise and Land Iguana Breeding and Rearing Program. Here we used to find Lonesome George (now deceased), the last of his particular race of tortoise.
PM
In the afternoon we are off to the Highlands of Santa Cruz, where the dry coastal vegetation transitions to lush wet fields and forests overgrown with moss and lichens. Our destination is the Tortoise Reserve, where we will have chances see these animals in the wild, walk through lava tubes and see the Gemelos, twin collapsed craters. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
WEDNESDAY (DAY 5) santa cruz island: bachas beach & chinese hat
AM
In the morning we visit Las Bachas, a sandy white-coral beach that is a major egg-laying site for sea turtles. The name Bachas refers to the remains of landing craft left here at the end of WWII. Ashore marine iguanas mingle with flamingos and other wading birds in another of the many super saline lagoons found in the Galapagos.
PM
Chinese Hat Islet, a fairly recent volcanic cone, has the shape of a down-facing Chinese hat for which it is named. On the rocky shoreline of nearby Santiago island, Galapagos penguins dot the coast. There is a small sea lion cove on the north shore, where boats anchor and land at the visitor site. Late afternoon snorkeling with sea lions and penguins and swimming opportunities in the cove. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
THURSDAY (DAY 6) rabida island: jervis & santiago island: sullivan bay
AM
Rabida Island, commonly known by its English name of Jervis, is unique for the very red color of the beach and cliffs, beneath which one can find gliding sea turtles and perched blue footed boobies. A thick forest of Palo Santo trees sits back from the beach sheltering a yellow saltwater lagoon. Pelicans next in the thickets and brightly colored pink flamingoes graze the lagoon. A sea lion colony likes to laze on the red sands of the beach. We hike up a tiny peninsula for a wonderful view of the beach and lagoon. Sea caves invite exploration further down the coast.
PM
Afternoon visit to Sullivan Bay, one of the most outstanding volcanic sites in the Galapagos. In the nearly 100 years since the Sullivan Bay Flow, only a few plants like Mollugo and Lava cacti have managed to take root in this harsh environment. Oystercatchers can be seen fishing for crabs and mollusks in the tide pools of Sullivan Bay. After exploring the lava flow, there is swimming and snorkeling with playful sea lions off two small coraline beaches. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
FRIDAY (DAY 7) Bartolome Is.: Pinnacle Rock & overlook & North Seymour Is.
AM
In the morning we visit Bartolome Island, famous for Pinnacle Rock, where we will see Galapagos Penguins and sea lions. We will also hike a trail to Bartolome's summit where you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Pinnacle Rock and our beach, where the crystal blue waters of the bay cradle your yacht.
PM
Afternoon visit to North Seymour Island which is teaming with wildlife! Cliffs only a few meters high form the shoreline are home to swallow-tailed gulls. A tiny forest of silver-grey Palo Santo trees stands just above the landing, where a trail will take us to see sea lions, marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds and land iguanas. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Today your Galapagos cruise comes to an end, but before we bid farewell to the Grace we visit Black Turtle Cove, a mangrove estuary on the northern shores of Santa Cruz Island. We visit the cove via panga (local dinghy) but with the engines turned off. Many rays, sea turtles, pelicans and other wildlife live among the mangroves.
Next we return to the airport where we began our journey in the Galapagos for the flight back to the Ecuadorian mainland. (breakfast)
WHY 7 NIGHTS / 8 DAYS? For over 30 years, Quasar Expeditions has ONLY offered 7 Night / 8 Day Cruise Itineraries in Galapagos.
Experience has shown us that 8 Days is just right to maximize your time for exploration, amazing animal encounters and for some balanced downtime for optimal relaxation. Probably the biggest mistake a traveler can make when visiting the Galapagos is simply not leaving enough time to see it, especially since both the first day you travel to the Galapagos and the day you return to the mainland are down days.
NOTE ON THIS ITINERARY
There is really no better or worse itinerary when onboard our ships, they are just different. When visiting the Galapagos Islands for one week there are tradeoffs regarding the landing sites you can and can’t see, in a place where one can encounter as great a variation crossing from one side of a bay or island to another, as traversing the entire archipelago.
This particular itinerary begins in Baltra Island and ends in San Cristobal Island, focusing on the wilds of the Northern and Western Islands of the Archipelago. We highly encourage you to go through the entire itinerary, day by day, using the arrows, to learn all about the wonders that await when "Following Darwin’s Trail".
This morning we fly to Baltra Island in the Galapagos. Flight time is just under 2 hours from the mainland. Upon arrival we board M/Y Grace where you will have lunch and a quick briefing en route to our first visitor site: Daphne Major Islet.
PM
We will circumnavigate Daphne Major Islet which is home to a variety of birds including Galapagos martins, blue footed boobies, nazca boobies, short eared owls, red billed tropic birds amongst others. (lunch, dinner)
Morning visit to Santa Fe Island, home to one of the most beautiful and sheltered bays of the archipelago, and to some of the best snorkeling - with its crystal clear waters. Certainly one of the best locations to see sea turtles, swim with sea lions and get a glimpse of the Galapagos White-tipped Shark. After a wet landing you will walk up to a nearby cliff to see the land iguanas through an area of Opuntia Cactus.
PM
Afternoon visit to South Plaza, one of the smallest yet most colorful islands in the Galapagos. Yellow land iguanas wander through bright red carpet weed, waiting from prickly pears to drop from green cactus. Orange sally lightfoot crabs dot the blackened lava above the landing site, all surrounded by turquoise waters. We'll see swallow tailed gulls nesting along the up-tilted end of the tiny island, while red-billed tropicbirds, frigatebirds and shearwaters fly in dancing displays. You''ll also have the chance to see blue footed boobies along the cliff's edge. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
MONDAY (DAY 3) genovesa island: prince phillip's steps & darwin bay
AM
Tower Island could serve as a film set for a secret submarine base! The southern part of the island is an ocean-filled caldera ringed by the throat of a sizeable and mostly submerged volcano. The island sits to the northwest, slightly removed from the Galapagos archipelago. It is also known as "Bird Island," which it lives up to in a spectacular way. Our first visit is to Prince Phillips Steps, the best Galapagos landing site to see red footed boobies, comically perched by wrapping big red feet around tiny branches. We walk a short distance to seek out short eared owls preying on swarms of storm petrels. The snorkeling at the foot of the steps is amazing with large, brightly colored tropical fish taking on a neon quality against the black lava background.
PM
After lunch take time to kayak beside the walls of the sunken caldera before our afternoon visit to Darwin Bay, A gorgeous tidal grotto forms the backdrop to the gaggle of nesting and soaring seabirds birds and path leads up to the rookery cliffs for views of the bay and colonies of gulls, tropic birds and frigates. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
In the morning we visit Fernandina Island, home to La Cumbre volcano, which erupts frequently (most recently in May 2005). We visit Punta Espinoza, a narrow spit of land, where a number of unique species, such as marine iguanas, sea lions, flightless cormorants, herons, egrets and Galapagos hawks can be seen in close proximity.
PM
Afternoon visit to Urbina Bay, directly west of Isabela’s Volcano Alcedo, where we will make an easy, wet landing (a hop into a few inches of water). We walk on a stretch of three miles (5 km) of the marine reef that has been uplifted by as much as 13 feet (4 meters) out of the water. A highlight of this excursion are the giant land iguanas and giant tortoises, as well as the opportunity to go snorkeling amongst marine creatures, or just relaxing on shore. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
A morning visit to Tagus Cove on Isabela Island. A wooden stairway rises to the trail entrance and continues around Darwin Lake through a dry vegetation zone, and ends in a promontory formed by spatter cones. The site provides spectacular views of our anchorage in the bay, as well as Darwin and Wolf Volcanoes. The green algae underwater pastures of the cove offer the chance to snorkel with marine iguanas, sea turtles, penguins and sea horses.
PM
In the afternoon we visit Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island. Snorkeling is incredible here as a result of the nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt Current that bathe the western side of the archipelago. We will have a chance to see colorful fish, sea lions, penguins and sea turtles in the water. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
THURSDAY (DAY 6) santiago island: espumilla beach & james bay
AM
The short walk up the beach leads inland to a mangrove typically inhabited by Common stilts. Beyond the mangroves is a brackish lagoon where flocks of pink flamingos and white cheeked pintails wade in search of mollusks. The trail passes over a tiny hilltop through a sparse Palo Santo forest before looping back to the beach. Galapagos finches and Vermilion fly catchers inhabit the area. The tuff formations that form the cliffs that surround the cove have created a natural sculptor gallery rising from the sea with formations including the Monk and Elephant Rock.
PM
Afternoon visit to James Bay, where we land on a black beach with intriguing eroded rock formations. A trail leads to a series of crystal-clear grottos with a natural bridge formed of broken lava tubes. This is the best place in the Galapagos to see fur seals and equally best place to see samurai like marine iguanas feeding in tidal pools nearby. You will find a colony of sea lions here and Galapagos hawk frequent the area. Snorkeling offers encounters with Green Sea Turtles and tropical fish. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
FRIDAY (DAY 7) santa cruz island: highlands & charles darwin research station
AM
Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos and its capital, Puerto Ayora, is the economic center of the Islands. In the morning we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to visit the Giant Tortoise and Land Iguana Breeding and Rearing Program. Here we used to find Lonesome George (now deceased), the last of his particular race of tortoise.
PM
Afternoon visit to the Highlands, where the dry coastal vegetation transitions to lush wet fields and forests overgrown with moss and lichens. Our destination is the Tortoise Reserve, where we will have chances see these animals in the wild. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
SATURDAY (DAY 8) san cristobal island: interpretation center
AM
Today your Galapagos cruise comes to an end, but before we bid farewell to the Grace we visit the Galapagos National Park Visitor Centre that presents a comprehensive exhibit of the islands’ natural history, human interaction, ecosystems, flora & fauna. From the Centre, a short trail arrives at Frigate Bird Hill, where both “magnificent-frigates” and “great-frigates” can be seen in the same colony. Next we return to the airport where we began our journey in the Galapagos for the flight back to the Ecuadorian mainland. (breakfast)
Quasar Expeditions' Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
itinerary from baltra island
FOLLOWING DARWIN'S TRAIL
Saturday to Saturday
Jan 4-11
Jan 18-25
Feb 1-8
Feb 15-22
Feb 29-Mar 7
Mar 14-21
Mar 28-Apr 4
Apr 11-18
Apr 25-May 2
May 9-16
Tuesday to Tuesday
May 26-Jun 2
Jun 9-16
Jun 23-30
Jul 7-14
Jul 21-28
Aug 4-11
Aug 18-25
Sept 1-8
Sept 15-22
Sept 29-Oct 6
Oct 13-20
Oct 27-Nov 3
Nov 10-17
Nov 24-Dec 1
Dec 8-15
Dec 22-29
Quasar Expeditions' Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
2020 dates
Quasar Expeditions' Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
Quasar Expeditions' Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
itinerary from baltra island
FOLLOWING DARWIN'S TRAIL
Tuesday to Tuesday
Jan 5-12
Jan 19-26
Feb 2-9
Feb 16-23
Mar 2-9
Mar 16-23
Mar 30-Apr 6
Apr 13-20
Apr 27-May 4
May 11-18
May 25-Jun 1
Jun 8-15
Jun 22-29
Jul 6-13
Jul 20-27
Aug 3-10
Aug 17-24 (TBD)
Aug 31-Sept 7 (TBD)
Sept 14-21
Sept 28-Oct 5
Oct 12-19 (TBD)
Oct 26-Nov 2 (TBD)
Nov 9-16 (TBD)
Nov 23-30
Dec 7-14
Dec 21-28
Quasar Expeditions’ Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
2021 dates
Quasar Expeditions' Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
Retail Rates are per person & are valid from January 1 through December 31, 2020, 2021 or 2022.
*All Twin Cabins aboard M/Y Grace can be converted to offer 1 Queen bed.
*All other cabins have 1 Queen bed.
*Payment Schedule for reservations for 1 to 5 Travelers: A $500 non-refundable deposit per person is due at time of booking, final payment due 65 days prior to departure.
*Payment Schedule for Groups over 5 Travelers & Charters: Please inquire with us.
* ‘Willing to share’ accommodations are not offered by the Tour Company.
*Supplements & surcharges can be subject to change without prior notice.
Note: Current/additional taxes and surcharges not explicitly mentioned on this document may also change/apply depending on the rules, regulations, legislation and discretion of the Galapagos National Park and the local government. These may especially apply if local authorities raise the price of fuel in the Galapagos which as of April 1st, 2013 is set at $3.250062 USD / Gallon.
Galapagos National Park one-time Fee ($100 adults, $50 children)
INGALA Transit Control Card one-time fee ($20)
ADDITIONAL CHARGES (DISCOUNTS & CONDITIONS)
15% discount off the above rates (cruise only) for children 15 years old and younger. Maximum of 3 children discounts per family, per booking. No exceptions.
75% Single Supplement surcharge applies to suites. 50% Single Supplement surcharge applies to other cabins.
100% Single Supplement applies in all cabins and no discounts for children in Christmas and New Year’s cruises.
An additional $500-$700 per person holiday surcharge applies for FIT (individual passengers) for Christmas and New Years cruises.
Private charter surcharges apply for Christmas and New Years cruises. Please inquire with us for details.
payment terms & booking policies
payments
FOR RESERVATIONS FOR 1 TO 5 TRAVELERS:
To confirm a Galapagos reservation: A $500 USD non-refundable per person deposit is due from the Customer at the time of booking.
Final Payment: Final Payment is due from the Customer at 65 days prior to departure
FOR RESERVATIONS OVER 5+ TRAVELERS OR CHARTERS, please inquire with us about the Payment & Cancellation Policies.
Forms of payment: Forms of payment accepted by the Tour Company include wire transfers, credit cards and checks. Detailed information regarding forms of payment will appear on the Customer’s invoice or will be provided upon request by the Tour Company. For Travel professionals, please note we do not accept credit card payments, only wire transfers or checks.
Payments are due in the Tour Company’s offices on the due date specified on the passenger’s invoice and should be sent in a timely fashion to arrive by the above mentioned date. Failure to do so may result in the release of cabins, with rebooking subject to availability at the discretion of the Tour Company.
cancellations
FOR RESERVATIONS FOR 1 TO 5 TRAVELERS:
The following cancellation fees will be applied to the Customer according to the number of days prior to departure that the Tour Company receives written notice of cancellation from the Customer. All cancellations must be made in writing and should be sent via email to the sales agent who made the Customer’s reservation for the Tour Company.
65 days or more prior to departure: Deposit will be forfeited
64 days or less prior to departure: 100% of total invoiced amount
FOR RESERVATIONS OVER 5+ TRAVELERS OR CHARTERS, please inquire with us about the Payment & Cancellation Policies.
How to guard against cancellation fees: The Tour Company strongly recommends the Customer purchase trip cancellation / interrupt insurance directly after the reservation is confirmed. This coverage reimburses the Customer for most non-refundable costs of the tour should he or she need to cancel due to illness, injury or other reasons covered under the policy.
For passengers with pre-existing conditions: coverage must typically be purchased from a travel insurance company within 24 hours from the time a reservation is confirmed to cover cancellation resulting from the pre-existing condition.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Please click here to view our complete Terms & Conditions.
WHY 7 NIGHTS / 8 DAYS? For over 30 years, Quasar Expeditions has ONLY offered 7 Night / 8 Day Cruise Itineraries in Galapagos.
Experience has shown us that 8 Days is just right to maximize your time for exploration, amazing animal encounters and for some balanced downtime for optimal relaxation. Probably the biggest mistake a traveler can make when visiting the Galapagos is simply not leaving enough time to see it, especially since both the first day you travel to the Galapagos and the day you return to the mainland are down days.
NOTE ON THIS ITINERARY
There is really no better or worse itinerary when onboard our ships, they are just different. When visiting the Galapagos Islands for one week there are tradeoffs regarding the landing sites you can and can’t see, in a place where one can encounter as great a variation crossing from one side of a bay or island to another, as traversing the entire archipelago.
This particular itinerary begins on Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and ends on Baltra Island, focusing on the wilds of the central and Southern Islands of the Archipelago. We highly encourage you to go through the entire itinerary, day by day, using the arrows, to learn all about the wonders that await when "Beyond Darwin's Footsteps".
TUESDAY (DAY 1) SANTA CRUZ island: Charles Darwin research station
AM
Today we fly to Baltra Island in the Galapagos in the morning. Flight time is just under two hours from the mainland. Upon arrival we take a bus to Los Gemelos, crossing the Itabaca channel and taking a 15-20 minute bus ride. After our visit, we are off to the Highlands of Santa Cruz, where the dry coastal vegetation transitions to lush wet fields and forests overgrown with moss and lichens. Our destination is the Tortoise Reserve, where we will have chances to see these animals in the wild and walk through lava tubes.
PM
In the afternoon, we will board the M/Y Grace and later, visit the town of Puerto Ayora, which is the economic center of the Islands. We will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to visit the Giant Tortoise and Land Iguana Breeding and Rearing Program. Here we used to find Lonesome George (now deceased), the last of his particular race of tortoise.
After this visit you have time for a shower as we get ready for our welcome cocktail and our first formal briefing before dinner. (lunch, dinner)
Floreana Island: After breakfast we travel in an open-air bus into the highlands of Floreana, while your Naturalist Guide begins filling you in on the history of this, the first settled island in the Galapagos. You will walk to the Asilo de la Paz (Peace Asylum) where one of the islands’ few springs is located. This artesian spring attracted pirates, whalers and later settlers to Floreana as it was one of the very few year round sources of fresh water in the Galapagos. The Cueva de los Piratas (Pirate's Cave) is quite literally where pirates carved temporary shelter out of soft stone and is also where one of the original settlers, Margaret Wittmer, gave birth to a son, Rolf, who is still living. We will visit a tortoise reserve where you can watch many of the giant tortoises up close and personal.
PM
Afternoon visit to Punta Cormorant which offers two highly contrasting beaches; a green-olivine beach and an iron-red beach. Between the two beaches is a salt lagoon frequented by flamingoes, pintails, stilts and other wading birds. Late afternoon snorkeling at Devil's Crown, which is home to a myriad of marine species including a variety of corals, pencil sea urchin, wrasses, angelfish and amberjacks - making for some of the best snorkeling in the Galapagos. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
THURSDAY (DAY 3) española island: punta suarez & gardner bay
AM
Hood is the southernmost island of the archipelago, and is one of the most popular due to the breathtaking variation and number of fauna that inhabit the island. In the morning we visit Punta Suarez where you will witness the largest variety of marine iguanas in the Galapagos, masked boobies and blue footed boobies nesting along the cliff’s edge, as well as the famous waved albatross.
PM
In the afternoon we visit Gardner Bay, a magnificent long white sandy beach, where colonies of sea lions laze in the sun, sea turtles swim offshore, and inquisitive mockingbirds boldly investigate new arrivals. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
FRIDAY (DAY 4) san cristobal island: punta pitt, isla lobos & kicker rock
AM
Punta Pitt is on San Cristobal Island and offers impressive views after climbing up a steep narrow path onto a plateau surrounded by reddish hills. Depending on the time of year, there may be nesting marine iguanas, red footed boobies and other marine birds down on the cliffs.
PM
Lobos, lives up to its name of -Sea Lion Island- with its noisy population of frolicking and barking beasts. It lies just a short navigation north, up the west coast of San Cristobal, separated by a channel that forms an inviting lagoon. This is where you'll have your first chance to share the water with a playful colony of the "wolves of the sea". From lobos we will circumnavigate Kicker Rock, a spectacular formation that rises 152 meters (500 feet) out of the Pacific. It takes the form of a sleeping lion, but from another angle you can see that the rock is split, forming a colossal tablet and, piercing the sea, a great chisel ready for etching. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Morning visit to Santa Fe Island, home to one of the most beautiful and sheltered bays of the archipelago, and to some of the best snorkeling - with its crystal clear waters. Certainly one of the best locations to see sea turtles, swim with sea lions and get a glimpse of the Galapagos White-tipped Shark. After a wet landing you will walk up to a nearby cliff to see the land iguanas through an area of Opuntia Cactus.
PM
Afternoon visit to South Plaza, one of the smallest yet most colorful islands in the Galapagos. Yellow land iguanas wander through bright red carpet weed, waiting from prickly pears to drop from green cactus. Orange sally lightfoot crabs dot the blackened lava above the landing site, all surrounded by turquoise waters. We'll see swallow tailed gulls nesting along the up-tilted end of the tiny island, while red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds and shearwaters fly in dancing displays. You''ll also have the chance to see blue footed boobies along the cliff's edge. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
SUNDAY (DAY 6) Bartolome Is.: North Seymour Is. & Pinnacle Rock & overlook
AM
In the morning we visit North Seymour Island which is teaming with wildlife! Cliffs only a few meters high form the shoreline are home to swallow-tailed gulls. A tiny forest of silver-grey Palo Santo trees stands just above the landing, where a trail will take us to see sea lions, marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, pelicans, magnificent frigate birds and land iguanas.
PM
Afternoon visit to Bartolome Island, famous for Pinnacle Rock, where we will see Galapagos Penguins and sea lions. We will also hike a trail to Bartolome's summit where you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Pinnacle Rock and our beach, where the crystal blue waters of the bay cradle your yacht. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
MONDAY (DAY 7) santiago island: chinese hat & santa cruz island: dragon hill
AM
Morning visit to Chinese Hat Islet, a fairly recent volcanic cone; it has the shape of a down-facing Chinese hat. On the rocky shoreline of nearby Santiago, Galapagos penguins are often seen. There is a small sea lion cove on the north shore, where boats anchor and land at the visitor site. Late morning snorkeling with sea lions and penguins and swimming opportunities in the cove.
PM
In the afternoon, we visit Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragon). Located on the far western extreme of the island--makes and easy dry landing on a cement jetty. The path leads to a white sandy beach and then a rocky and dusty trail. Here the visitor will be rewarded by the presence of wading birds in another hyper-saline lagoon, and once inland, a nesting group of land iguanas. Less than a mile apart, a breathtaking dinghy ride will give the visitor an opportunity to see turtles and typically large numbers of sea birds as well as sharks in a mangrove environment. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
TUESDAY (DAY 8) santa cruz island: black turtle cove
AM
Today our Galapagos cruise comes to an end, but before we bid farewell to the yacht and her crew we pay a visit to Black Turtle Cove, a beautiful mangrove estuary where we quietly drift in our panga to see spotted eagle rays, diamond shaped mustard rays, white-tipped reef sharks, pacific green sea turtles and a large variety of shore birds. Next we head to Baltra Island airport for the flight back to the Ecuadorian mainland. (breakfast)
Next we return to the airport where we began our journey in the Galapagos for the flight back to the Ecuadorian mainland. (breakfast)
WHY 7 NIGHTS / 8 DAYS? For over 30 years, Quasar Expeditions has ONLY offered 7 Night / 8 Day Cruise Itineraries in Galapagos.
Experience has shown us that 8 Days is just right to maximize your time for exploration, amazing animal encounters and for some balanced downtime for optimal relaxation. Probably the biggest mistake a traveler can make when visiting the Galapagos is simply not leaving enough time to see it, especially since both the first day you travel to the Galapagos and the day you return to the mainland are down days.
NOTE ON THIS ITINERARY
There is really no better or worse itinerary when onboard our ships, they are just different. When visiting the Galapagos Islands for one week there are tradeoffs regarding the landing sites you can and can’t see, in a place where one can encounter as great a variation crossing from one side of a bay or island to another, as traversing the entire archipelago.
This particular itinerary begins on Baltra Island and ends on Puerto Ayora, focusing on the wilds of the central and Western Islands of the Archipelago. We highly encourage you to go through the entire itinerary, day by day, using the arrows, to learn all about the wonders that await when "Following Darwin's Trail".
Today we fly to Baltra Island in the Galapagos in the morning. Flight time is just under two hours from the mainland. Upon arrival we board your yacht where you will have lunch and a quick briefing en route to our first visitor sites: Bachas Beach.
PM
In the afternoon we visit Las Bachas, a sandy white-coral beach that is a major egg-laying site for sea turtles. The name Bachas refers to the remains of landing craft left here at the end of WWII. Ashore marine iguanas mingle with flamingos and other wading birds in another of the many super saline lagoons found in the Galapagos.
After this visit you have time for a shower as we get ready for our welcome cocktail and our first formal briefing before dinner. (lunch, dinner)
WEDNESDAY (DAY 2) genovesa island: darwin bay & prince phillip's steps
AM
Tower Island could serve as a film set for a secret submarine base! The southern part of the island is an ocean-filled caldera ringed by the throat of a sizeable and mostly submerged volcano. The island sits to the northwest, slightly removed from the Galapagos archipelago. It is also known as "Bird Island" and home to Prince Phillip’s steps. This is the best Galapagos landing site to see red footed boobies, comically perched by wrapping big red feet around tiny branches. We walk a short distance to seek out short eared owls preying on swarms of storm petrels. The snorkeling at the foot of the steps is amazing with large, brightly colored tropical fish taking on a neon quality against the black lava background.
PM
Take time to kayak beside the walls of the sunken caldera before our afternoon visit to Darwin Bay, which lives up to that name in a spectacular way! A gorgeous tidal grotto forms the backdrop to the gaggle of nesting and soaring seabirds birds and path leads up to the rookery cliffs for views of the bay and colonies of gulls, tropic birds and frigates. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Morning visit to James Bay, where we land on a black beach with intriguing eroded rock formations. A trail leads to a series of crystal-clear grottos with a natural bridge formed of broken lava tubes. This is the best place in the Galapagos to see fur seals and equally best place to see samurai like marine iguanas feeding in tidal pools nearby. You will find a colony of sea lions here and Galapagos hawk frequent the area. Snorkeling offers encounters with Green Sea Turtles and tropical fish.(breakfast, lunch, dinner)
In the morning we visit Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island. Snorkeling is incredible here as a result of the nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt Current that bathe the western side of the archipelago. We will have a chance to see colorful fish, sea lions, penguins and sea turtles in the water.
PM
In the afternoon we visit Tagus Cove on Isabela Island. A wooden stairway rises to the trail entrance and continues around Darwin Lake through a dry vegetation zone, and ends in a promontory formed by spatter cones. The site provides spectacular views of our anchorage in the bay, as well as Darwin and Wolf Volcanoes. The green algae underwater pastures of the cove offer the chance to snorkel with marine iguanas, sea turtles, penguins and sea horses. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
SATURDAY (DAY 5) fernandina island: punta Espinosa & isabela island urbina bay
AM
Morning visit to Fernandina Island, home to La Cumbre volcano, which erupts frequently (most recently in May 2005). We visit Punta Espinoza, a narrow spit of land, where a number of unique species, such as flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, sea turtles, Galapagos Penguins and Galapagos hawks can be seen in close proximity.
PM
Urbina Bay is directly west of Isabela's Volcano Alcedo, where we will make an easy, wet landing (a hop into a few inches of water). We walk on a stretch of three miles (5 km) of the marine reef that has been uplifted by as much as 13 feet (4 meters) out of the water. A highlight of this excursion are the giant land iguanas and giant tortoises, as well as the opportunity to go snorkeling amongst marine creatures, or just relaxing on shore. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
SUNDAY (DAY 6) isabela island: ELIZABETH BAY & PUNTA MORENO
AM
A panga ride brings us to a protected mangrove lagoon, where sea lions sleep in trees (tree lions). Sea turtles and manta rays surface in the quiet waters while Galápagos hawks circle overhead. Outside the lagoon sit three islets known as Las Marielas, home to the largest concentration of Galápagos penguins on the islands.
PM
In the afternoon we visit Punta Moreno, a place where the forces of the Galápagos have joined to create a work of art. In the places where the roof of a large swirling black-lava flow gave way to form craters, crystal tidal pools have formed, some surrounded by mangroves. These are a magnet for wildlife, including flamingo, great blue herons and pintails. One can walk to the edge of the lava to look straight down at the inhabitants of the pools, including the occasional green sea turtle, white-tipped sharks and puffer fish. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
MONDAY (DAY 7) santa cruz island: highlands and the charles darwin research st.
AM
Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos and its capital, Puerto Ayora, is the economic center of the Islands. In the morning we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to visit the Giant Tortoise and Land Iguana Breeding and Rearing Program. Here we used to find Lonesome George (now deceased), the last of his particular race of tortoise.
PM
In the afternoon we are off to the Highlands of Santa Cruz, where the dry coastal vegetation transitions to lush wet fields and forests overgrown with moss and lichens. Our destination is the Tortoise Reserve, where we will have chances see these animals in the wild, walk through lava tubes and see the Gemelos, twin collapsed craters. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Today our Galapagos cruise comes to an end, but before we bid farewell to this magical archipelago we pay a visit to Los Gemelos (twin craters). The craters, created when the volcanic roof of empty magma chambers collapsed from tectonic shifts, are located in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The area is surrounded by lush scalesia forests giving a habitat for bromeliads, orchids, mosses, lichens and many birds, including the famous vermillion flycatcher. Next we continue our ride to Baltra and its airport where we cross the Itabaca Channel and take our flight back to the Ecuadorian mainland. (breakfast)
Quasar Expeditions' Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
itinerary from baltra island
FOLLOWING DARWIN'S TRAIL
Saturday to Saturday
Jan 4-11
Jan 18-25
Feb 1-8
Feb 15-22
Feb 29-Mar 7
Mar 14-21
Mar 28-Apr 4
Apr 11-18
Apr 25-May 2
May 9-16
Tuesday to Tuesday
May 26-Jun 2
Jun 9-16
Jun 23-30
Jul 7-14
Jul 21-28
Aug 4-11
Aug 18-25
Sept 1-8
Sept 15-22
Sept 29-Oct 6
Oct 13-20
Oct 27-Nov 3
Nov 10-17
Nov 24-Dec 1
Dec 8-15
Dec 22-29
Quasar Expeditions' Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
2020 dates
Quasar Expeditions' Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
Quasar Expeditions' Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
itinerary from baltra island
FOLLOWING DARWIN'S TRAIL
Tuesday to Tuesday
Jan 5-12
Jan 19-26
Feb 2-9
Feb 16-23
Mar 2-9
Mar 16-23
Mar 30-Apr 6
Apr 13-20
Apr 27-May 4
May 11-18
May 25-Jun 1
Jun 8-15
Jun 22-29
Jul 6-13
Jul 20-27
Aug 3-10
Aug 17-24 (TBD)
Aug 31-Sept 7 (TBD)
Sept 14-21
Sept 28-Oct 5
Oct 12-19 (TBD)
Oct 26-Nov 2 (TBD)
Nov 9-16 (TBD)
Nov 23-30
Dec 7-14
Dec 21-28
Quasar Expeditions’ Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
2021 dates
Quasar Expeditions' Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice for various factors including, but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Dive Master, Quasar Expeditions and the Galapagos National Park.
Retail Rates are per person & are valid from January 1 through December 31, 2020, 2021 or 2022.
*All Twin Cabins aboard M/Y Grace can be converted to offer 1 Queen bed.
*All other cabins have 1 Queen bed.
*Payment Schedule for reservations for 1 to 5 Travelers: A $500 non-refundable deposit per person is due at time of booking, final payment due 65 days prior to departure.
*Payment Schedule for Groups over 5 Travelers & Charters: Please inquire with us.
* ‘Willing to share’ accommodations are not offered by the Tour Company.
*Supplements & surcharges can be subject to change without prior notice.
Note: Current/additional taxes and surcharges not explicitly mentioned on this document may also change/apply depending on the rules, regulations, legislation and discretion of the Galapagos National Park and the local government. These may especially apply if local authorities raise the price of fuel in the Galapagos which as of April 1st, 2013 is set at $3.250062 USD / Gallon.
Galapagos National Park one-time Fee ($100 adults, $50 children)
INGALA Transit Control Card one-time fee ($20)
ADDITIONAL CHARGES (DISCOUNTS & CONDITIONS)
15% discount off the above rates (cruise only) for children 15 years old and younger. Maximum of 3 children discounts per family, per booking. No exceptions.
75% Single Supplement surcharge applies to suites. 50% Single Supplement surcharge applies to other cabins.
100% Single Supplement applies in all cabins and no discounts for children in Christmas and New Year’s cruises.
An additional $500-$700 per person holiday surcharge applies for FIT (individual passengers) for Christmas and New Years cruises.
Private charter surcharges apply for Christmas and New Years cruises. Please inquire with us for details.
payment terms & booking policies
payments
FOR RESERVATIONS FOR 1 TO 5 TRAVELERS:
To confirm a Galapagos reservation: A $500 USD non-refundable per person deposit is due from the Customer at the time of booking.
Final Payment: Final Payment is due from the Customer at 65 days prior to departure
FOR RESERVATIONS OVER 5+ TRAVELERS OR CHARTERS, please inquire with us about the Payment & Cancellation Policies.
Forms of payment: Forms of payment accepted by the Tour Company include wire transfers, credit cards and checks. Detailed information regarding forms of payment will appear on the Customer’s invoice or will be provided upon request by the Tour Company. For Travel professionals, please note we do not accept credit card payments, only wire transfers or checks.
Payments are due in the Tour Company’s offices on the due date specified on the passenger’s invoice and should be sent in a timely fashion to arrive by the above mentioned date. Failure to do so may result in the release of cabins, with rebooking subject to availability at the discretion of the Tour Company.
cancellations
FOR RESERVATIONS FOR 1 TO 5 TRAVELERS:
The following cancellation fees will be applied to the Customer according to the number of days prior to departure that the Tour Company receives written notice of cancellation from the Customer. All cancellations must be made in writing and should be sent via email to the sales agent who made the Customer’s reservation for the Tour Company.
65 days or more prior to departure: Deposit will be forfeited
64 days or less prior to departure: 100% of total invoiced amount
FOR RESERVATIONS OVER 5+ TRAVELERS OR CHARTERS, please inquire with us about the Payment & Cancellation Policies.
How to guard against cancellation fees: The Tour Company strongly recommends the Customer purchase trip cancellation / interrupt insurance directly after the reservation is confirmed. This coverage reimburses the Customer for most non-refundable costs of the tour should he or she need to cancel due to illness, injury or other reasons covered under the policy.
For passengers with pre-existing conditions: coverage must typically be purchased from a travel insurance company within 24 hours from the time a reservation is confirmed to cover cancellation resulting from the pre-existing condition.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Please click here to view our complete Terms & Conditions.
M/Y Grace History
1928 - 1939
camper & nicholsons international
from its construction in south hampton, england for santiago soulas to sir george tilley
Born in 1928, Camper and Nicholsons, the oldest leisure marine company in the world, producing and managing yachts for the world's richest people, constructed the M/Y Grace in Southampton, England.
She weighed 298 tons, was 147 feet long, with a 23-foot beam and a draft of 12 feet. M/Y Grace bore many names since Santiago Soulas, an Argentinean, commissioned her just before The Crash silenced the Roaring Twenties. Soulas named her after his daughter Monica, and kept her four years before selling her to Zarch Couyoumbian, a Greek gentleman who named her Rion. In 1938, Sir George Tilley, chairman of the Prudential Insurance Co., acquired and enjoyed her until 1939, when the British conscripted her for the war effort.
The Royal Navy - well-heeled in warships - needed smaller vessels for coastal patrols and snatched yachts from the Mediterranean and the Caribbean playgrounds. Rion found herself in a Tynemouth shipyard, stripped of her furnishings and paneling. She was strengthened to carry a 12-pound quick-firing gun on the forecastle, twin 40mm Oerlikons alongside the bridge and a rack on the stern holding eight 300 lb. depth charges. The corporate crew quarters were removed and hammock-hooks were welded to the deck. The forward suite became the operations and sonar room, another suite became the radio room, and the aft suite was an ammunition magazine.
On October 21, 1939, she joined the Royal Navy with a crew of 20 under the command of Lt. T. Brydon, RNVR. She and 15 other vessels patrolled the entrances to the Solent and along the Isle of Wight: calm waters with the Germans focused on the skies. On patrol off the Nab Tower, however, a Dornier 110 returning from a bombing raid strafed Rion. She took some damage to her superstructure but suffered no casualties.
On May 26, 1940, during Operation Dynamo, Rion was dispatched to the beaches of Dunkirk to evacuate the British Expeditionary Force. She made three 39-mile runs from Dunkirk to Dover, each time delivering 300 soldiers. On her third run, a near-miss from a bomb off her starboard bow killed 14 soldiers and one sailor and left shrapnel holes in the hull. Repaired in Portsmouth, she resumed duty in the channels from Portsmouth to Southampton..
Rion’s finest hour came on November 22, 1940 with a daring nighttime capture. She was patrolling south of the Isle of Wight with HMS Shemara and HMS Valera. At 2:44 a.m. radar contact was obtained 10 miles southwest. Lt. Brydon ordered pursuit and discovered a German E-boat floundering in the swells, and Rion and Shemara opened fire from astern of the boat. The Germans returned small-arms fire but surrendered when a shell from Rion hit her bridge. Rion escorted the E-Boat to the Portsmouth Harbour naval base. Rion had not finished yet: she discovered a submarine on the night of March 23, 1941, and made numerous depth charge runs, but the large oil slick seen at dawn was insufficient evidence to confirm that Rion had destroyed the U-boat.
By June 3rd, Rion’s port engine had been crippled, and she was decommissioned for three months before returning to duty: stripped of armaments and refitted with three-tier bunks and a red cross painted on her sides and upper deck, she became an annex to the Royal Navy Hospital. Here she remained until the war’s end, when she was rechristened HMS Noir.
Sir Winston Churchill cruised on her after the war.
On October 1945 she was decommissioned and 17 months later she arrived at her original builders—Southampton’s Camper & Nicholson—for restoration. On September 16, 1947 she was returned to Sir George Tilley.
Upon Sir George’s death in 1951, Aristotle Onassis’ charter firm acquired HMS Noir and renamed her Arion. Two years later, the yacht became property of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco as a wedding gift from Aristotle Onassis.
(NY17-March 9)--BEING READIED FOR THE WEDDING-- This yacht ‘Deo Juvante,’ owned by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, which is enroute to Toulon, France where it will be repaired and refurbished in preparation for its use at the time of the wedding next month of Prince Rainier and American actress Grace Kelly. The yacht is shown in the harbor at Monte Carlo. (APWirephoto) (gfr614401LON) 1956.
Crest Shipping’s charter business brought her to the Bahamas in 1960. In 1965, she joined Cove Shipping in the Caribbean as Angela, headquartered in Montego Bay.
She again became Daska in 1983, before seizure by the Jamaican government for non-payment of taxes. She languished in Montego Bay until 1985, when John Issa, chairman of SuperClubs, discovered her at auction. Thoroughly refitted in Tampa, Florida, she cruised along the East Coast, bearing the name of one of John Issa’s daughters: Zein.
M/Y Zein arrived in Negril for the opening of Grand Lido Negril in 1989 and remained there until 2006, tempting buyers from around the world, including Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, who hoped to use her as a shadow boat for his mega-yacht.
In 2007 Quasar Expeditions acquired the M/Y Zein and rechristened her the M/Y Grace: a name that would take her back into her history, to her most elegant times. Over the course of the next 2 years the yacht was rebuilt completely from the ground up. She was outfitted with the latest equipment to meet the needs of modern times. Today, she is the most elegant and tasteful Galapagos cruise yacht to sail the enchanted Galapagos Islands.
Although M/Y Grace looks as young and chic today as the princess who honeymooned aboard her in the 1950s, she is nonetheless what the French call "une femme d'un certain age.” She’s surrendered none of her youth’s glamour to the scars and wrinkles of a gallant life, including a stint chasing submarines during World War II. Combat aged on her, but benefactors like Aristotle Onassis, John Issa, and Prince Rainier ensured she was kept in the style to which she was accustomed. Now, as the M/Y Grace, she plies the waters of the Galapagos Islands, once again the elegant hostess to carefree, adventurous, perfect parties.
LETTER FROM FOUNDERS
Dear Explorer,
The first time we sailed the Galapagos Islands was onboard a 1902 Baltic trader, a wooden sailing boat that transported cargo in the Baltic Sea. Her accommodations were probably not much different from those offered onboard the HMS Beagle when Charles Darwin first visited the archipelago. Nonetheless, the enchantment of the islands, untouched by human hands, was planted deep in our hearts. We knew then, the Galapagos was a place to be experienced as privately and intimately as possible. This was the birth of Quasar Expeditions.
Our yachts were selected and built to experience the islands the way we did long ago but with distinction, comfort and elegance.
We remember when we took our children onboard our first yacht, how wonderful it was to feel that nature was putting on a show exclusively for us. Sharing the encounters and discoveries of every day exculsively with your loved ones, is a wonderful priviledge.
We invite you to be enchanted by the Galapagos Islands.
1 Master Suite on Monaco Deck - Main deck
2 Master Suites on Albert Deck - A deck
2 Twin Suites on Albert Deck- A deck
2 Double Premium Staterooms on Carolina Deck
2 Twin Premium Staterooms on Carolina Deck
CREW
9 crew members plus 2 naturalist guides & 1 cruise director.
EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), 2 x 16 person open sea life
rafts, life jackets, flares and signals, fire extinguishing system, and sprinkler system throughout the vesse. Safety Onboard equipment on board either meets or exceeds USA Coast Guard regulations
COMFORT EQUIPMENT
Air Renewal System, Air conditioning throughout, TV / CD / VHS/DVD , boutique,
Jacuzzi
M/Y Grace abides under all international standards of safety for a Galapagos cruise ship of its type. It is ISM (International Safety Management) certified and is equipped with an emergency alarm system, 3 emergency life rafts for 26 pax each, emergency life vests, fog horns, a PA system, smoke detectors, a sprinkler system and fire extinguishers. All emergency equipment is SOLAS certified. The yacht also carries 2 dingies (pangas/zodiacs) for 12 pax each for day to day activities.
Planning the Trip of a Lifetime to Galapagos: An Essential Guide
If Galapagos is on your bucket list in the near future, this FREE 8-part email series contains personal tips and insider information to make your adventure a success.
