yacht grace monaco

• S.DEVOTA, PATRONA DI MONACO E DELLA FAMIGLIA PRINCIPESCA
• LA GUIDA UTILE A TROVARE UN HOBBY
• PRIMAVERA E VACANZE DI PASQUA IMPERDIBILI A MONACO!
• IL BLUE BAY MARCEL RAVIN, ENNESIMO GIOIELLO MONEGASCO
• L’ IMPAGABILE QUALITÀ DELL’ AGRICOLTURA SOSTENIBILE

MonteCarlo Times

MONACO’S FAMOUS HISTORIC YACHTS AND MORE

The “Pacha III” looks almost “tiny” with its 36 meters, but the timeless beauty is still a place of honor in the harbor. After all, it belongs to the oldest sister of Prince Albert II, Princess Caroline . Although it is not one of the largest luxury yachts in the Principality of Monaco, it is often the center of interest. Dozens of paparazzi photos show Caroline of Hanover and her Casiraghi sprouts along with partners and friends on the legendary boat. Could she say, the 79-year-old “Pacha III” would have something to say. The yacht was bought just before the death of Caroline’s second husband, Stefano Casiraghi, son to a prominent Italian family, who died in an off-shore crash in October 1990 off the coast of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, near Monaco. Since then “Pacha III” has a special meaning for Princess Caroline and her family. In the year 2000 Stefano‘s mother, Fernanda Casiraghi-Biffi, was awarded the Foglio Italiano of Montecarlo – Foglio d’Oro Prize for her merits in charity events and as President of Engeco SAM, (now owned by Pizzarotti &C S.P.A.) a very important building company in the Principality. It is an habit to the Monaco family to have composed names yachts: Princes Rainier and Grace used to own “Stalca” St (ephanie) Al (bert) Ca (roline) a yacht, after naming Albercaro Alber (t) and Caro (line) their first yacht. Princess Stephanie named her yacht “Louine”, of course after her two first kids, Lou (is) and (Paul) ine . In the XIX and XX centuries, Prince Albert I , great-great-grandfather of Albert II, owned four, increasingly impressive research yachts: Hirondelle, Hirondelle I, Princess Alice and Princesse Alice I, named after his second beloved wife, the American-born Alice Heine , Duchess of Richelieu . Back to the Caroline and Stefano’s boat, previously she already had several names such as Briseis, Cardigrae, Priamar and Arlette II. The name “Pacha III” is made up of the initials of their three children Pierre, Andrea and Charlotte together. Pacha , means P (ierre) A (ndrea) Cha (rlotte). Also, it is a nice coincidence that the initial of Alexandra, the Caroline and Ernst August Hanover ‘s daughter, is the last letter of Pacha… Caroline had to add the “III” because there existed already a Pacha, Pacha I and a Pacha II. She was originally built in 1936 by the British shipyard Camper & Nicholson in Southampton. Her dark blue steel hull is slender 5.60 meters wide and has a draft of 2.50 meters. On board nine guests can be accommodated by seven crew members. The Grimaldi Clan uses the yacht regularly for trips in the Mediterranean. Now Caroline’s children are increasingly using the boat. So also recently newlewds Pierre Casiraghi and noblewoman Beatrice Borromeo .

Probably no other family of rulers of Europe can be seen under the media’s observation, like the Monegasque princes’ house. The millenarian history of the Grimaldis is at least as interesting as their current glamorous performances. Fast boats and beautiful women, international jet set, the Grimaldi Forum Congress Centre, the Prince’s committment to sustainability and once a year Formula 1 Grand Prix , the Rose and the Red Cross Gala, all this an much more is Monaco. But what would the dwarf state on the Côte d’Azur be without the Grimaldis? The princely family is probably the best PR machine for their country. Whether it’s the joy of the world or the catastrophe – (the Grimaldi Royal House, founded in 1297, is the oldest in Europe) the world is there live. The Grimaldis now land regularly on the covers of the boulevard and lifestyle media. The first attention is given to the first-born daughter Caroline (* 1957). The failure of their first and later annullated marriage to much older real estate agent Philippe Junot was also in the limelight as the accidental death of her second husband Stefano Casiraghi . Her last marriage to Ernst August Prinz of Hanover , to which she owes the title of Caroline Prinzessin from Hanover, always provides grateful material for the Yellow Press. Her younger sister, Stéphanie (* 1965), also contributed a lot to bringing the family back into the flash of lightning. Meanwhile the sisters have calmed down. Both engage in social projects; Caroline has three grandchildren, Stéphanie got three children from two marriages. HSH Albert II is now in the center of interest. No wonder he is a prince, he has a beautiful wife – and adorable twins.

Well, now I invite you to continue navigating the website and make a Graceful tour in the Galapagos with the Grace Yatch! 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”: born in 1928, just before The Crash silenced the Roaring Twenties, 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. M/Y Grace bore many names since Santiago Soulas, an Argentinean, commissioned her in Southampton. She weighed 298 tons, was 147 feet long, with a 23-foot beam and a draft of 12 feet. Soulas 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 stafed 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. 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.

Over the course of the next 2 years the yacht was refitted to embark her new era as one of the most elegant and tasteful Galapagos Cruise yachts to sail the enchanted Galapagos Islands. The cabins are in the Sun Deck, the top-most deck of the yacht where one can find plenty of reclinable lounge chairs for sunbathing or for reading in the open air. The Albert Deck has 2 Master Suites and 2 Twin Suites with ocean-view windows. The captain’s bridge, the al-fresco lounge and al-fresco bar are also located on this deck. The Carolina Deck is fitted with 5 Premium Staterooms (double and twin) with ocean-view port-holes. The Monaco Deck is the main deck of the yacht with the interior dining room, the reception area and the main lounge. On the outside of this deck there are the al-fresco dining area, the stern resting area and the jacuzzi. And… A FABERGE IMPERIAL EGG EMBODIES A FABULOUS LUXURY YACHT FULL OF HISTORY: THE STANDART YACHT

MOSCOW. Last but not least, and exort ing you to read the Fabergé Eggs history in the CULTURE & MONACO WEALTHS wish to report a curiosity about fabolous luxury yachts , with the description of the Fabergé Standart Yacht Leaf Egg . The “Standart 1909” is a transparent hollowed-out rock crystal egg, mounted horizontally, with a gold band with inlaid leaves of green enamel and small diamonds marking the separation point between upper and lower halves, which bears the inscription “Standart 1909”. The surprise is a golden replica of the Imperial Yacht , the Standart Yacht, made of gold and platinum , and coated in vitreous enamel . The model rests on a carved bed of crystal representing the ocean, but can be removed from the egg.

The c5,500 ton Standart was commissioned by Tsar Alexander III in Copenhagen . It was launched in 1895 and was 116 meters long, which made it the largest yacht in the world at that time. Outfitted with ornate fixtures, including mahogany paneling, crystal chandeliers, and other amenities (including a stable with a cow to provide the imperial children with fresh milk) it was a floating palace for the Russian Imperial Family for their vacations in the Baltic Sea. The Russian Imperial Family was vacationing on the Standart during the summer of 1914, when they received the news of the aassassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in Sarajevo, marking the start of World War I . After the Russian Revolution the ship was placed in drydock until 1936, when she was converted to a minelayer. During World War she played a significant role in the defence of Leningrad.

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• ← THE ROMANOVS AND THE GRIMALDIS. THREE CENTURIES OF HISTORY – XVII-XX – 6 October -13 November 2016
• IN MOSCOW THE ROMANOVS AND THE GRIMALDIS. THREE CENTURIES OF HISTORY – XVII-XX →

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INVITO ALLA PRIMA EDIZIONE DI L’ART DE LA FÊTE AL CHÂTEAU DE CRÉMAT

FESTIVAL PRINTEMPS DES ARTS MONTE-CARLO – MARCH 16 – APRIL 29, 2018 – XXXIV Edition

DA VENEZIA A NIZZA, GRANDE RITORNO DEL CARNEVALE!

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Charters , Experiences , Featured Luxury Yachts for Charter

M/y grace – a classic yacht with a legacy.

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April 22, 2021

A GRAND DAME, ‘GRACE’, WAS BUILT IN 1928.

 WHAT A LIFE SHE HAS TO TELL….

How it all began.

An Argentinean, Jacques “Santiago” Soulas launched the 298 ton and 147 foot in length Motor Yacht ‘Monica’ in 1928 from the famous Camper & Nicholson Shipyards.   Commissioned in the jazz age, a year before The Crash brought the Roaring Twenties to a halt. She sported a canoe-stern design and was made of steel. Fine splendor and elegance were to be found throughout the yacht. Mr. Soulas named the yacht Monica after his daughter and the family hosted family and friends aboard for cruises until she changed hands in 1932, to a Greek gentleman, Zarch Couyoumbian, purchasing her and named her ‘Rion’.

The Rion changed hands a few times before it was acquired by Sir George Tilly, Chairman of the Prudential Insurance Co., in 1938.  Just a year later she was conscripted by the British Royal Navy in 1939 for the war effort as smaller vessels were enlisted to act as coastal patrol yachts for the larger warships.  Leaving behind her use as a leisure craft, she enters turbulent waters so to speak but not before becoming fully outfitted to do so.

The War Years

The war years were hard on her as she was sent off to the Tynemouth shipyard where she had her hull reinforced, she was stripped of all her glitz and finery, and outfitted with a 12- pound quick-firing gun on the forecastle; the bridge sported twin 40 mm Oerlikons and even a large rack on the stern which held 300-pound depth charges. All suites were transformed, one to an ammunition magazine, another to the radio room, and another even a sonar room.  Hammocks hung from panel stripped walls where 20 crew slept under the command of Lt. T. Brydon, RNVR. She, along with 15 other vessels cruised along the Isle of Wight off the South coast of England.  After those patrols, in 1939, she made many runs between Dunkirk to Dover (a 39-mile run), delivering 300 soldiers each time to safety. Then in 1949 on the beaches of Dunkirk she helped evacuate the British Expeditionary Force.  She had a near miss from a bomb on her third run and lost 14 soldiers and one sailor. After being repaired in Portsmouth, she resumed her duty in the channel from Portsmouth to Southampton.

Her wartime record’s claim to fame was on November 22, 1940, at 2:44 am with the capture of a German E-boat (patrol craft) off of the Isle of Wight. On March 23, 1941 she came across a submarine and laid numerous depth charges, but the oil slick found in the early hours of the day was insufficient evidence the U-boat was destroyed. Later her port side engine was damaged and she became refitted as a red-cross ship and acted as an annex to the Royal Navy Hospital. Decommissioned in October of 1945, six-years later, she then made it back to her builders to be restored to her formal glory and opulence and returned to Sir George Tilley.

From Glory to Fame & Prestige

After 6 years and the death of Sir George Tilley, The HMS Noir was bought by Aristotle Onassis in 1951. He renamed her ‘Arion’ and she remained in his charter fleet, amongst the likes of the well-known Christina-O which he famously stayed aboard for business and leisure.

Two years later, in 1953, Aristotle gifted the yacht to Prince Rainer and Princess Grace as a wedding present.  She made her way to the open sea to meet the ship Constitution, which Grace Kelly was aboard, coming to meet her new to-be husband, Prince Rainer. The yacht eased up to the Constitution to take aboard the royal couple and famously sailed them into the Monaco Harbor where the entire principality came out to greet them. Soon after they boarded the yacht for a romantic honeymoon voyage aboard the newly christened ‘Deo Juvente II’, cruising the coast of Corsica and Sardinia, two of Italy & France’s most famous playgrounds for luxury yachting.  They enjoyed many happy cruises aboard until 1958, when Milica Bana, a close friend of Prince Ranier and Princess Grace, purchased her and name her ‘Daska’ after her granddaughter.

In 1960 sometime after she was family-owned, Crest Shipping’s charter business took her to the West to the Bahamas. In 1965 Cove Shipping took her to Montego Bay.

In 1976, Greek Yachting entrepreneur Vassilios (“Bill”) Lefakinis of Valef Yachts met with the owner of Daska in the bar of the Famous Grande Bretagne Hotel in Athens and made a deal to purchase the Daska by each signing on a cocktail napkin.  She crosses back to Europe and ends in Athens, Greece, her new home. Now begins her life as a professional charter yacht in the Valef Yacht’s fleet of yachts, chartering out of Athens with her homeport in Marina Zeas of Pireaus.  Bill renamed the yacht ‘Angela’ after his beloved mother.

Quirky note: Two of Grace’s previous owners hailed from Philadelphia in the U.S. and had a black toy poodle, Grace Kelly, and Kathy Lefakinis.

Another Safe Haven

During the early years of the Lebanese War of 1970-1990, Angela was used under great danger, along with a handful of other Valef Yachts, to help evacuate people trying to flee Beruit’s injustice.

During the strong 1981 Earthquake of over 6 magnitude in Athens, causing great damage over an 11-day period, Angela was opened in the cold of a strong winter to house Mr. Lefakinis’s family, friends, and crew safely aboard.

In 1981 Mr. Lefakinis christened his first daughter, Alexandra, aboard and held a lavish party in her honor.  She was home away from home to many famous charterers and was used by the Lefakinis family for private cruises and parties, most often seen at the island of Hydra where in the early 80’s disco (Lagoudera) and yacht parties were the norm. She was the pride of the Marina during the opening of the Yachting Season each year and was always adorned in the flags of the world. Her majestic stature was used often as the backdrop for the Minister of the Merchant Marine’s speeches.

Angela was sold by Mr. Lefakinis in 1983, renamed Daska and crossed the Atlantic again to reach its new home in Montego Bay.  While crossing, her engine broke and Mr. Lefakinis, after being called by the Captain, had them fix it by placing a sock as a filter until repairs could be made at their next port of call.  The little lady was not going to give up.  Due to breaching the payment agreement and not paying taxes once in Jamaica by her new owners, the yacht was seized by the Jamaican Government.  She languished in the bay until 1985 when she was then purchased at auction by Club Med’s’ chairman Mr. John Issa.  She went under a total refit, renamed ‘Zein’ (Mr. Issa’s daughter’s name) and made it to Negril for the Grand opening of the Grand Lido Negril.  She remained there doing sunset cruises until 2006.

Many buyers were tempted to purchase her, even Paul Allen the co-founder of Microsoft, but she was finally purchased by Quasar Expeditions in 2007.

She was brought to the Galapagos islands and given her present name of ‘Grace’, in honor of her past history, and refitted once again.  She presently still cruises in the Galapagos taking paying passengers on Galapagos expeditions.  The glory of her history is on display onboard and an integral part of the experience for all luxury charter guests exploring this unique destination on earth.

“Guests who cruise aboard the Grace will experience the Galapagos 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 Princess Grace Kelly selected this ship for her royal honeymoon.”

INQUIRE TO CHARTER HER PRIVATELY OR BY CABIN :

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Princess Grace

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Princess Grace is a stunning motor yacht that was once owned by Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco. In her current representation she maintains all of her elegance, beauty and prestige. Princess Grace is the ideal yacht for the traveller who seeks a safari experience, complimented by excellent service, superb accommodations and excellent dining. She also has one of the best expert naturalist guide to guest ratios of any Galapagos yacht at 1:9.

Please note that these itineraries are subject to change without notice due to seasonal changes, last minute weather conditions and the decision of the Galapagos National Park authority.

Beyond Darwin's Footsteps

Following in Darwin's Trail

Our prices include Daily served meals or buffet offering a wide choice of dishes Naturalist guides & activities throughout the cruise All transfers (with rest of group) while in Galapagos Select wines, local beer, cocktails, spirits, soft drinks, juice, coffee, hot chocolate, water and tea are included throughout the cruise Lectures and entertainment onboard Snorkeling equipment (masks, snorkels & fins) and wetsuits (3mm long wetsuit) Kayaks and equipment Galapagos National Park entrance fee ($100 USD adults / $50 USD children) * Galapagos Transit Control Card ($20 USD per person) * Internet / Wi-Fi connection throughout the cruise (within limited schedule) A year's membership to the Galapagos Conservation Trust. (*subject to availability) Our prices exclude Flights, accommodations, meals, excursions and transfers other than those included in the itinerary International air tickets to either Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador Gratuities to guides, crew and staff  Extra expenses (communication, laundry, souvenirs, etc.) Trip insurance and medical evacuation insurance Personal travel insurance Premium brands of wines, beer or spirits Mainland Ecuador arrangements (we'd be delighted to arrange these for you) Galapagos flights for your requested dates (required to be booked through Aqua-Firma)

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Beyond time: the impeccable style of Princess Grace of Monaco

«The thing that made her stand out is what we call ‘style’». That is how, in 1955, the American magazine McCall’s described the mythical «look of Grace Kelly», recognized as the standard of elegance and refined taste, beyond time and trends.  

The American actress-turned-princess undoubtedly conquered the world of cinema, but she also became a style icon of the 20th century, shaping fashion trends.  

How did Grace Kelly’s style change throughout her life? What designers contributed to her legendary image? Let’s take a closer look at Grace Kelly’s fabulous outfits.  

Miss Kelly, Queen of Hollywood

In October 1953, «Mogambo», a new film by John Ford with Clark Gable and Grace Kelly, was released to theatres. The blue-eyed blonde was already known to the Americans, but the success of this movie was the official beginning of her inevitable rise to the top of Hollywood glory. From this point on, the attention of the public and, in particular, of its female half, was drawn to the young actress with her «classic» natural beauty.

In her acting years, Grace stood out among her colleagues by her lady-like restrained manners. «Miss Kelly», as they called her in the press, looked more like the Snow Queen, rather than a Hollywood star, ready to do anything to stay in the spotlight. In the USA, she was considered as a well-bred and genteel young lady. She spoke little about her personal life, and only few lucky ones had seen her small apartment in Manhattan.

Grace Kelly’s restraint and her desire to be seen as a serious actress definitely affected her choice of clothes. Probably, Grace’s upbringing also played a role in creating her laconic style. Her mother was an ardent Catholic, while her father became an Olympic champion in rowing. Parental rigour in upbringing and sports discipline were also reflected in Grace’s style.

The 22-year-old who signed a contract with MGM, the largest American film studio of that time, preferred shirtwaist dresses, high-quality tweed suits, hats and low-heeled shoes.

Nevertheless, in her rather classic look, which many Americans tried to copy from the pages of fashion magazines, there was a detail that turned her from a «college girl» into an elegant lady…  

«The girl in white gloves»

Along with her short blond curls, white gloves became Kelly’s visiting card in Hollywood. They certainly distinguished her from the motley crowd of Hollywood stars, who often appeared in rather extravagant outfits. In the mid-50s, white gloves were a sign of well-educated noble girls who strictly followed the canons of etiquette, according to which this accessory was necessary on the streets, in church, at official dinners or in the theatre. Nevertheless, in the film industry, this fashion trend turned out to be so unpopular that director Fred Zinnemann had long remembered his meeting with Grace Kelly, noting that «no one had yet come to him wearing white gloves».

Grace would keep this habit in her new status of a princess, and the magazine American Vogue would eloquently call her «the girl in white gloves».

From the most memorable outfits of Grace Kelly as an actress, a few come to mind straight away: the iconic mint green dress by Edith Head, worn by Grace for the Oscars in 1955. Another outfit of this designer caught the attention of the public in the movie «To Catch a Thief», where the actress appeared in a spectacular golden ball gown.

Alfred Hitchcock, who fell under the spell of the blond beauty and often collaborated with her on set, paid special attention to her costumes: Grace’s perfect outfits always reflected the inner state of her character.

«The Wedding of the Century»

January, 1956. Grace Kelly , named the Oscars best actress for her performance in «The Country Girl», announced her engagement with Prince Rainier III of Monaco . From now on, no self-respecting magazine would publish its new edition without mentioning the name of the American star.

In the same month, MGM studio announced that Kelly’s wedding gowns for religious and civil ceremonies would be made by Helen Rose, the studio’s chief designer. This would be a wedding present for the actress who was on set for her last movie, «High Society».

Grace Kelly’s wedding dress

By the time of the engagement, Helen Rose knew the tastes of the future princess of Monaco, as they worked closely on set of many MGM films: from «Mogambo» and its safari-style dresses to «High Society» with gorgeous evening gowns. It is not surprising that both wedding dresses fit Kelly’s lady-like style perfectly.

For the civil ceremony in the Prince’s Palace, Helen Rose chose an elegant pale pink dress made of taffeta covered by cream-coloured lace. This second wedding dress required more effort and imagination. Wearing it, the actress was supposed to feel like a princess.

In order to create the iconic Grace Kelly wedding dress, 35 seamstresses would work for six weeks in complete secrecy. This piece of art took 25 metres of ivory silk taffeta, about 100 metres of Brussels lace and tulle embroidered with pearls. Instead of a tiara, Grace put on a silk Juliet cap.  

On the wedding day, Grace Kelly looked gorgeous. About 30 million people from nine countries witnessed the ceremony, dubbed «the wedding of the century». By the way, both of Kelly’s wedding dresses were among her very last outfits made in the USA, which the Princess wore for her public appearances. For her new role, Grace had to rethink her choices of clothes and designers.

Grace, the Princess of Monaco  

Before moving to Europe, Grace Kelly had a love for the French fashion house, Christian Dior, which opened its boutique in New York in 1948. Grace’s new life and the role of the Princess of Monaco required cooperation with new designers and brands, particularly, from France.

And Grace didn’t wait long to put on an outfit made by a French designer. On the occasion of the wedding celebrations held in Monte-Carlo, the Princess appeared in a sumptuous dress by Antonio Castillo from the Parisian house Lanvin-Castillo. The Princess wore it several times for official receptions.

Her daily wardrobe included creations of several French designers, but Grace had a preference for Christian Dior. The designer personally created for her suits for formal meetings and evening dresses for official visits and receptions. Being a loyal client of the brand, Grace collaborated with Marc Bohan, who became artistic director of the House after its founder’s death in 1957. Princess Grace unconditionally trusted Dior’s designers, believing that their creations fully reflected her style. In addition, Prince Rainier’s wife chose eye-catching dresses designed by Bohan for costume balls.

The Princess, many times listed among the most stylish celebrities, followed fashion trends, but never forgot about her elegant eternal look. Despite the ever-changing fashion, she preferred classic outfits from designers like Madame Grès and Balenciaga. She was also a client of Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy and supported couturiers from Monaco and Nice.

Talking about the choice of outfits, the Princess once said: «Twice a year, I think about what clothes I need in the upcoming months. Then, I usually ask Parisian fashion houses to send me some sketches».

Right down to the last detail: accessories and jewels of Princess Grace

Probably one the most well-known accessories which has been associated with Grace Kelly for more than 40 years, is the iconic Hermès handbag. In the mid-50s, large bags entered everyday women’s fashion. This trend was strengthened even more by Grace Kelly, who was many times seen with her Hermès handbag: during the Cannes Film Festival in 1955, after the announcement of her engagement with Prince Rainier III, and during the pre-wedding events in Monaco.

Only a few public appearances were enough for the handbag to be named in honour of the star. In the 1960s it became a symbol of a special social status, since few could afford it. And the length of the waiting list said a lot about the prestige of the «Kelly» handbag.

Also, Grace was part of the so-called «sunglasses set». Together with Brigitte Bardot and Jacqueline Kennedy, the Princess of Monaco made the glasses so popular that some American women with excellent eye sight wore them in order to be in vogue. By 1980, the Princess’ collection consisted of 45 pairs created by Oliver Goldsmith of London.

Princess Grace’s Jewels: a savvy combination of luxury and poetry

«The pearl is the queen of gems and the gem for queens». Princess Grace showed a clear predilection for these little wonders named «Tears of Aphrodite» by the ancient Romans. The Princess of Hanover thus paid an elegant tribute to her mother wearing a sumptuous necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels at the last Rose Ball. Princess Caroline opted for a pearl necklace gifted by Prince Rainier to his fiancée just before their marriage in 1956. An elegant diamond adornment was a delightful accessory to her black dress by Chanel.  

Princess Grace whose beauty shone like a diamond had an art of matching her jewellery to her outfits and events she was taking part in. She was particularly seduced by the Alhambra collection and acquired one of its first necklaces in 1968. The animalistic clips by Van Cleef & Arpels were adding a little playful note to the brilliance of jewels. The Princess was equally amused and seduced by the Cartier «bestiary», the favorite jewellery house with the princely family . Golden, coral, pearl, emerald, platinum birds, roosters and chickens, her favorite poodles in platinum, diamonds and rubies… Original, elegant, somewhat playful brooches.

The Cartier House that was closely linked to the princely family created the Princess’s engagement ring (an emerald-cut 10.47 carat diamond of an exceptional purity in a platinum frame enhanced by two baguette diamonds). This episode was mentioned in Olivier Dahan’s biopic on Grace Kelly, embodied by Nicole Kidman. The filming team had specially appealed to the Cartier expertise and the Palace of Monaco had authorized a faithful reproduction of five of its jewels.

At the time of her wedding Princess Grace was gifted several jewels by Cartier. Three diamond and ruby clips worn in a tiara or in a necklace, a diamond necklace, a ruby and diamond bracelet… Other prestigious houses have also enriched the Princess’ superb and eclectic collection.

In 1976, the Princess of Monaco commissioned a tiara from Van Cleef & Arpels. Grace put it on only once on the occasion of the engagement of her daughter, Princess Caroline. The accessory was decorated with 140 stones with a total weight of over 77 carats.

The Bulgari House with its distinctive stylized shapes and original colours equally tempted Grace who, far from the rigid principles of classicism, enjoyed a touch of fantasy.

Chaumet or Chopard fine jewellery houses have naturally been immutable references in the Principality and elsewhere alike. In fact, true to her style, Princess Grace was inspired by their ceremonial pieces. She knew the art of matching an eternal brilliance of diamonds to a discreet poetry of more affordable gems. A precious alloy of luxury and elegance, that’s what she always sought.

Today, the clothes from Grace Kelly’s closet, stored in the Princely Palace, have become the object of several exhibitions. One of them takes place at the Christian Dior Museum in Granville until mid-November, exposing 86 outfits made by the French fashion house.

Ollioules, the last refuge of a powerful bishop from the Grimaldi family

Did you know “l’eden”, the first magazine about monaco, the first hydroplane and two extensions into the sea: larvotto’s rich history, did you know grimaldi and doria: love and hate are just one step apart, the strategic talent of prince charles iii: the 155th anniversary of monaco’s railway, fort antoine theatre: transforming the fortress over the years, pigeon-shooting club of monte-carlo: centre of one of the most controversial sports of the xix century, survivors of the titanic honour a brave monegasque and his fellow musicians, the history of société des bains de mer, the oldest hospitality management company in the world, the year of picasso: 50th anniversary of the artist’s death.

This 16-passenger Camper & Nicholsons yacht has traversed the waters of this world under many names, but has been rechristened with a name that takes her back to her history, to the very best of her times. Named after her late owner, Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, the name is a representation of her elegance, beauty and prestige. Grace is the ideal yacht for the traveler who seeks a true explorer experience, complemented with excellent service, superb accommodations and fine dining. All who travel aboard this yacht will be part of a unique mission: to bring to life the natural living legacy of the islands through an experience unlike any other in Galapagos.

Grace Review

AdventureSmith Explorations’ Grace review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our small ship cruise experts have been aboard nearly every first-class vessel in the Galapagos Islands. Please read our Grace review below then contact us to compare the Grace with other  Galapagos cruise ships and upscale yachts offering  Galapagos luxury cruises  and private  Galapagos yacht charters .

The Galapagos is a competitive market for small ships, and it can be difficult for vessels to stand out. But the Grace does. Formerly owned by Princess Grace of Monaco, the ship is a historically significant and luxurious platform with outstanding service and guides. Motor Yacht Grace’s stellar past includes ownership of royalty, millionaire tycoons and a stint in the British Navy. Due to her small size and iconic elegance, we often recommend the Grace to clients seeking a high-end experience aboard a ship as unique as the  Galapagos Islands . Book the Grace Kelly Suite aboard to stay in the same suite that Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier did on their honeymoon. This yacht was a wedding gift from Aristotle Onassis to the Prince and Princess of Monaco. Read more details on the  History of Motor Yacht Grace .

Choose the Grace if you are seeking a combination of luxury, history and exploration. Travelers comment that the service on board this ship, coupled with the true feeling of a safari experience, is unlike anything that is currently offered in Galapagos. Refit and reconstructed during several stages of her past, the ship has always maintained her graceful and stylish lines. The Grace has begun a new era in her rich history. The level of service on board, coupled with her beauty and luxury, are highlights. She has becom an icon in the Galapagos and her best years are surely yet to come.

Common Areas Aboard Grace

Grace features a main salon equipped with a bar, TV/video system, stereo system and plenty of electrical outlets. Passengers can choose to eat inside in the interior dining room, or outside in the al-fresco dining area. The sundeck has a bar and plenty of space to be in the open air. Guests can also relax in the front of the boat where the Jacuzzi and sun chairs are located. Guests can also enjoy a topnotch Ecuadorian coffee in the coffee lounge. Finally, the onboard boutique offers travel essentials and souvenirs.

Grace offers intimate and personal expedition experiences in the Galapagos, where guests can truly interact and gain a wealth of knowledge from a real Galapagos expert. Grace features a Jacuzzi, sea kayaks, snorkeling gear and wetsuits on board. A Kid’s Club with activities like stargazing and movie nights is available for special family-oriented departures. Child-oriented guides who organize learning activities and provide children with a kid’s expedition journal, are placed specifically for departures with children. A wide variety of books are available in the library as well as various board games and movies for children.

Dining Aboard Grace

All meals are served in either the inside dining room or the equally elegant al-fresco dining area at the stern of the yacht. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served buffet style and prepared by specially trained chefs. Meals are served in wholesome quantities and in a variety of menus with tropical exotic fruits always available. Children’s menus, vegetarian menus and other special menus are available upon request. Hors d’oeuvres are normally served along with local juices as a welcome treat twice a day upon return to Grace following your daily Galapagos Island visits and snorkeling outings. Water (sparkling or still), soft drinks and juices are available free of charge throughout the duration of your cruise. Wine and beer are offered with meals and added to your bar tab. There is a self-service coffee station that is open 18 hours per day. It opens at 6:30am with fresh-brewed coffee, tea or herbal teas and typically closes at 11:00pm. Cookies, crackers and chocolates are available at the coffee station 24 hours a day, as well as instant coffee.

Cabins & Deck Plan Aboard Grace

M/Y Grace offers suites and staterooms of up to 200 square feet with private facilities, individual climate controls, safe boxes, USB ports, telephones and plenty of storage space for clothing and luggage. Bathrooms feature a walk-in shower, vanity, shampoo, conditioner, soap and hair dryers. During your visits to the islands, your cabin will be cleaned twice each day.

C1, C2, C3 and C5 are Premium Staterooms on the Carolina Deck with ocean-view portholes. C1 and C2 each features a queen bed; C3 features two twin beds that can convert to a queen bed; C5 has a single twin bed and a queen bed. Cabin C3 measures 140 square feet, C1 is 148 square feet, C2 is 160 square feet and C5 is 168 square feet.

A2 and A3 Twin Suites are located on the Albert Deck with windows. Each has two twin beds that can convert to one queen bed and measure 138 square feet.

A1 and A4 are the two Master Suites, each with a queen bed and windows, located on the Albert Deck which is also home to the Captain’s bridge, the al-fresco lounge and al-fresco bar. Suite A1 is 178 square feet, while Suite A4 measures 194 square feet.

Located on the Monaco Deck, this is the same suite used by Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco on their honeymoon. Newly renovated, the suite features six windows, a separate seating area, larger bathroom and more closet space. The cabin is approx 175 square feet.

Galapagos Grace Reviews from Our Travelers

The Grace and her crew were everything one could hope for. Both the Grace and Napo Wildlife Center were wonderfully comfortable.

Everything on the Grace was wonderful - guide, staff & crew, food, outings, etc.

The Grace and her crew were everything one could hope for. Only suggestion, a door stop for exterior door of each cabin and hiking sticks with pointed ends for the elderly among us.

Accommodations Review

Both the Grace and Napo Wildlife Center were wonderfully comfortable.

Crew & Guides Review

Our Galapagos guide, Rafael, was incredibly knowledgeable and informative.  He always went the extra mile to insure that each guest had the best possible experience and  I required more attention than most being older and having mobility issues.

Featured in this Traveler Review

• Grace Galapagos Cruises
• Ecuador Amazon Adventure - Napo Wildlife Center
• Napo Wildlife Center

Note that this review also includes comments on the traveler’s pre-cruise trip to  Ecuador  with AdventureSmith Explorations.

Everything on the Grace was wonderful - guide, staff & crew, food, outings, etc.  Mashpi Lodge was also a great experience and very unique place.  For the transfers and city tour in Quito Metropolitan Touring did an excellent job. Only disappointment was that the Grace makes a big deal of marketing the fact that there would be one guide for every 9 guests.  We had 16 people on our trip but only one guide so that did not meet our expectation even though our guide was exceptional. 

Get Aboard this Small Ship

This ship is an AdventureSmith favorite for private  Galapagos yacht charters . For charter pricing and details,  contact us  to connect with a charter cruise specialist.

The 16-guest yacht Grace was a wedding gift from Aristotle Onassis to Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, and it was on board this vessel where they spent their honeymoon. Cruise back in time and lay back in luxury and romance as you enjoy one of the finest cruises available in the Galapagos.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

Learn More About the Grace & Her Sister Ship

What’s it like aboard the Galapagos Grace ship? Intrigued to learn her full history? AdventureSmith’s experts and many of our travelers have been aboard and can help you compare this ship with her sister ship, Evolution. These two first-class ships will have similar amenities, cabin categories, meals and other services. Contact us to compare them, or learn about other comparable vessels sailing in the Galapagos Islands. From family to charter to luxury and budget, whatever your style we can find a fit.

Contact Us - Grace

Travel is best planned one-on-one, and we’re here to help you with your specific needs.

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CharterGuru

Monaco Yacht Charter

Welcome to Monaco Yacht Charter , your gateway to a luxury yacht experience in one of the world’s most prestigious destinations.

We specialize in high-end yacht charters where luxury is at the forefront, offering access to an exclusive fleet, glamorous itineraries, and prestigious events, such as the Monaco Grand Prix .

Best Time to Go: July to August  |  Monaco Grand Prix Charters   |  Inc. Cannes Film Festival

Monaco, esteemed as one of the world’s premier destinations, offers a wealth of experiences, from its acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurants to the iconic Monte Carlo Casino and exquisite architecture.

Throughout the year, Monaco hosts several prestigious events such as the iconic Monaco Grand Prix , the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters, and the Monaco Yacht Show .

To access these exclusive events, it’s essential to work with a broker who can get you entry and docking space in a place that is in very high demand.

At Monaco Yacht Charter, we specialize in organizing customized luxury charters that revolve around these exclusive events. With our expertise, you will get access to prime docking in the harbor , ensuring you have front-row seats to the race as Formula 1 cars roar by your yacht.

Additionally, we can assist in arranging trips to the Cannes Film Festival , as well as the epic Cannes Yachting Festival , only a short cruise down the French Rivera from Monaco.

TOP EVENTS TO ATTEND ON YOUR MONACO YACHT CHARTER

See All Monaco Grand Prix Yacht Charters ➝

THE MONACO GRAND PRIX

Front seat to the Monaco Grand Prix – Watch the race from the deck of your Luxury Yacht

A yacht charter at the Grand Prix requires a lot of paperwork: You need a superyacht with access and a spot in the port. We have a lot of experience arranging these charters and can get you a yacht charter where you can watch the race directly from the back deck of your yacht . If you wish to stay on anchor outside the port, we can also arrange a shuttle to and from the race.

Tickets to the race

Pit Lane access

VIP entries to exclusive parties

VIP entry to the Casino

THE MONACO YACHT SHOW

The Monaco Yacht Show is an annual event held in the iconic Port Hercules of Monaco , showcasing some of the world’s most luxurious and innovative yachts. It serves as a premier platform for yacht builders, designers, brokers, and enthusiasts to come together and explore the latest trends and innovations in the yachting industry.

During the show, attendees have the opportunity to view a stunning array of superyachts , ranging from sleek motor yachts to elegant, classic sailing yachts, all meticulously crafted to the highest standards of luxury and craftsmanship. The Monaco Yacht Show attracts a discerning clientele, including prospective buyers, charter clients, industry professionals, and media from around the globe.

Luxury Yacht Viewings

VIP Lounges

Cocktail Parties, Gala Dinners,  Yacht Hops

Industry Seminars & Workshops

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

The 77 th annual Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious events in the global film industry, is due to take place from 14th to 25th May 2024 . American filmmaker and actress Greta Gerwig will serve as jury president for the main competition.

Located only about 22 Nautical Miles from Monaco , Cannes can be reached within a few hours. Our Charters will give you exclusive access to the Cannes Film Festival from the comfort and privacy of your own yacht. Imagine cruising along the stunning French Riviera, arriving in style at the heart of the festival action. Our experienced team will handle all the logistics, from securing berthing in Cannes ‘ prestigious port to arranging VIP tickets to film screenings and invitations to star-studded events and after-parties.

As the Cannes Film Festival takes place right before the Monaco Grand Prix, it is possible to arrange a combined Cannes-Monaco Charter that will allow you to participate in both events, crossing off two of the most glamorous events taking place in Europe.

Docking in the heart of the Festival

VIP tickets to Film Screenings

Entries to Exclusive Events & After-Parties

CANNES YACHTING FESTIVAL

Another major event worth experiencing on your Monaco yacht Charter is the impressive Cannes Yachting Festival. Returning September 10 th to the 15 th 2024 , the Cannes Yachting Festival showcases hundreds of iconic yachts attracting yachting enthusiasts and industry professionals from around the globe.

Charter guests can expect to get up close to some of the largest and most impressive yachts on the market today , as well as partake in exclusive waterfront events .

The festival is divided into distinct areas, with the bustling Vieux Port hosting luxurious superyacht charters, yachts for sale, and the upscale Luxury Gallery, while Port Canto offers displays of sailing yachts along the Boulevard de la Croisette.

Access to the #1 Yachting Festival

Docking among World-Class Yachts

VIP Entry to exclusive Events & Parties

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS IN MONACO

In addition to its glamorous events, Monaco presents a wealth of captivating attractions and activities awaiting exploration.

Wander through the historic streets of Monaco-Ville , where the centuries-old Prince’s Palace stands as a testament to royal heritage.

Dive into the depths of the ocean at the renowned Oceanographic Museum , celebrated for its pioneering contributions to marine science, captivating exhibits, and splendid architecture.

Catch your breath amidst the exotic flowers of the Jardin Exotique , or unwind on the pristine sands of Larvotto Beach .

Step into the glamourous world of the Monte-Carlo Casino , indulge in upscale shopping, and enjoy the exquisite cuisine in the city’s world-class restaurants .

And for a truly unforgettable experience, take to the skies on a helicopter tour , and get a full view of Monaco and its stunning coastline from above.

Monte-Carlo Casino

The Monte-Carlo Casino is an iconic landmark in Monaco, known for its opulent architecture and prestigious gaming rooms. Established in 1863 , it offers a luxurious gaming experience with a wide range of table games and slot machines. Beyond gambling, the casino is renowned for its elegant Belle Époque décor, lavish surroundings, and glamorous atmosphere. It has been featured in several big-screen films, such as “Casino Royale” and “Ocean’s Twelve” as well as the novel “Tender Is the Night” by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

St. Nicholas Cathedral

The St. Nicholas Cathedral, also known as the  Cathédrale Notre-Dame-Immaculée  (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception), is a stunning Roman Catholic cathedral known for its Romanesque-Byzantine architecture and intricate interior.

Built between 1875 and 1903 , it features white stone facades, ornate altars, and stained glass windows. The cathedral is the  final resting place of Monaco’s ruling family , including Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace.

Jimmy’z Night Club

Jimmy’z Monte-Carlo is a legendary nightclub located in the heart of Monaco . Since its opening in 1974 Jimmy’z has been a fixture of the Monaco Night Life Scene and has over the decades earned a reputation as one of the most iconic and exclusive nightclubs in the world. Jimmy’z has long been a favorite haunt of celebrities and VIPs from around the world. It’s not uncommon to spot A-listers and royalty mingling on the dance floor or in the club’s exclusive VIP areas .

CHARTER YACHT TYPES IN MONACO

In Monaco, a variety of luxury charter yacht types cater to those seeking a high-end charter experience. From classic sailing yachts to spacious catamarans , highspeed motor yachts , and grand superyachts , there’s a vessel to match every preference .

Superyachts, in particular, have become emblematic of Monaco’s wealthy yachting scene, reflecting the country’s status as a top destination for luxury yachting .

At Monaco Yacht Charter, we recognize that every client has unique needs and desires , and therefore, we offer fully customizable yacht charters . Whether you envision a serene sailing adventure on a classic yacht, a thrilling motor yacht excursion, or an indulgent superyacht retreat, we’ll tailor your charter itinerary, onboard services, and activities to ensure you get exactly what you want.

NEARBY CHARTER  DESTINATIONS

Explore the French Riviera with our customizable luxury yacht charter itineraries. Beyond Monaco, guests can discover fantastic destinations along the coast, from the glamorous beaches of Saint-Tropez to the historic streets of Cannes.

Talk to your Charter Broker about your wishes so they can help tailor your unique journey experiencing the best of the French Riviera in luxury and comfort aboard your private yacht.

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What do our clients say.

Our clients speak of unparalleled service, exquisite yachts, and a straightforward booking process, highlighting the excellence of their Monaco luxury yacht charter experiences.

DMA Yachting | Yacht Charter Company Rating: 4.9 out of 5 with 203 reviews – Excellent

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Grace Yacht

Classic luxury yacht Grace offers safari-style wildlife adventures in the Galapagos. A remarkable and radiant yacht offering excellent service and superb accommodations!

Call us today on +31 (0) 858 771 583

• Grace Yacht - 16 pax

• Accommodation
• Ship Specifications
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Iconic Luxury Yacht Grace

Yacht Grace has a rich and turbulent history. Built in 1928, she was originally named MY Monica. Throughout her life she had many different owners and was even dispatched to the beaches of Dunkirk to evacuate British soldiers during the second world war. After the war ended the yacht was restored and acquired by Aristotle Onassis who hosted countless celebrities on her decks, including Sir Winston Churchill. In 1956, he presented the yacht as a gift for the wedding of Prince Rainier of Monaco and Hollywood film legend Grace Kelly. The royal couple spent their honeymoon aboard the yacht, which they christened Deo Juvente II, and cruised the mediteranean. After the royal honeymoon, the yacht has traversed the waters of this world with several more owners. In 2007, she was finally rechristened with a name that takes her back to the highlight of her history. Named after her late owner, Princess Grace of Monaco, the yacht is a representation of her elegance, beauty and prestige. Today, Grace Yacht explores the Galapagos, offering a unique en personal cruising experience for her guests. On board you will get a taste of true luxury and elegance as regal as Grace Kelly herself. The Grace Yacht is ideal for travelers who seek a true explorer experience, complemented with excellent service, superb accommodations and fine dining. Yacht Grace offers space for up to 16 guests and recently had a luxury makeover. Both the interior and exterior enhancements have transformed her into the most refined adventure yacht in the Galapgos. New, contemporary decor, tailored furniture, redesigned staterooms and an improved cuisine experience are just a few of the recent upgrades. Grace features an inside lounge/presentation room, a stylish dining area, a well-stocked bar, a library, a coffee station, an alfresco lounge, a hot tub and a solarium. The yacht has two dinghies (zodiacs) that are well suited for snorkeling, landings and wildlife watching. Enjoy immersive Galapagos itineraries, top guides, and exceptional wildlife on board classic luxury yacht Grace!

Experience the Adventure Cruise Voted #1 in the World | 5 Years in a Row! - by World's Best Awards

Grace Kelly Suite

The Grace Kelly suite is located on the Main Monaco Deck and has large oceanview windows on both sides, a Queen size double bed, private bathroom, desk, AC, safe box, and plenty of storage space for clothing and luggage. Door opens directly to outside deck.

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Master Suite

There are 2 Master Suites (A1 & A4) located on the Upper Albert Deck, both with large ocean-view windows on both sides, queen size beds, private bathrooms, individual AC, safe boxes, and plenty of storage space for clothing and luggage. The door opens directly to the outside dek.

Twin Suites

There are 2 suites (A2 & A3) on the Albert/Upper Deck, both with large windows, 2 twin beds that can convert to 1 queen bed, private bathrooms, individual AC, safe boxes, and plenty of storage space for clothing and luggage. The door opens directly to the outside dek.

Premium Stateroom

There are 3 premium staterooms (C1, C2 & C5) on the Carolina/Lower Deck, all with porthole windows. Two of the rooms have 2 twin beds, the third room has 1 twin bed and 1 queen bed. Each room has a private bathroom, individual AC, safe box and plenty of storage space for clothing and luggage.

Twin Deluxe Cabin

There is 1 premium twin stateroom (C3) located on the Carolina/Lower Deck, with porthole windows, twin beds that can convert to 1 queen bed, private bathroom, individual AC, safe box and plenty of storage space for clothing and luggage.

All Staterooms have a private bathroom with shower, vanity & toilet. You will also find a hair dryer and toiletries. Each bathroom has a window or porthole for natural light.

• Refit: 2022
• Beam: 6.73m (22' 1")
• L.O.A.: 44.20m (145' )
• Charter Guest: 16 Max
• Engines: 2 x 650 Twin Deu
• Cruise Speed: 12 knots
• More Yacht Info: Classic motor boats
• Builder/Designer: Camper & Nicholsons

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Charter Yacht 'GRACE E' Wins 'Best Interior' Award at Monaco Yacht Show

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By Editorial Team   3 October 2014

The 73m motor yacht ' GRACE E ' was one of many charter yacht winners at the inaugural Monaco Yacht Show Awards, taking home the prestigious accolade of 'Best Interior' at the ceremony.

Forty new builds of high quality interior design attended the 2014 Monaco Yacht Show , but it was elegance of  Perini Navi - build GRACE E's contemporary interior which made the best impression on judges. From the shipyard's Picchiotti range, Remi Tessier closely collaborated with the Perini Navi team to carefully craft sleek black and white themed surroundings, featuring amenities including a large exercise pool, hydrotherapy room, a dedicated wellness deck and concierge desk. 

Burak Akgul, Managing Director of Perini Navi commented,  "It's an award that we've won together with our friend Remi, with whom we've built many boats to date, and it's certainly a pleasure and an honour always to be awarded recognition for one's hard work and also for one's vision."

Motor yacht  GRACE E comfortably accommodates up to 12 guests within four staterooms, comprising of a luxurious master suite, four double staterooms and two twin cabins. Contact your preferred  charter broker  for more information about planning a luxury charter vacation on board GRACE E, she will be attending this year's Antigua Yacht Show in December. 

The 85m Lurrsen superyacht SOLANDGE  took home 'Best Exterior' at the event, on behalf of esteemed designer Espen Oeino . 

...it's a pleasure and an honour always to be awarded recognition for one's hard work and also for one's vision.

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73m Picchiotti 2014

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The princess and the sea: the story of Grace Kelly's honeymoon yacht

BOAT peels back the layers on the nearly century-old vessel, where she's gone from a hardy naval ship to a honeymoon gift fit for a princess...

What's in a name? For the 44.8-metre Camper & Nicholsons yacht Grace , it's hard to pinpoint that one pivotal moment. In her close to 100 years on the water, she has played host to a roster of impressive guests, from royalty and politicians to Navy commanders and, more recently, to charter guests. Built at the British shipyard's Southampton facility, she hit the water in 1928 and was delivered to Argentinian entrepreneur Jacques “Santiago” Soulas, who named her Monica after his daughter. 

Four years later, she was sold to a Greek gentleman named Zarch Couyoumbian, who then named the yacht Rion. By 1938, she was back on the market and snapped up by the chairman of the Prudential Insurance Co., Sir George Tilley. 

Her finest hour: the war years

Her jazz-age years were relatively short-lived. At the onset of war in 1939, she was enlisted by the British government where she joined the British Navy and was renamed HMS Rion.  Throughout this chapter, the yacht became inextricably bound to the turning point in the war – the Battle of Dunkirk.

The Royal Navy needed smaller vessels like HMS Rion for coastal patrols and she was sent to a small shipyard in Tynemouth where her furnishings and teak panelling were substituted for machine guns, hammocks and anti-submarine warfare weaponry to hunt and sink German submarines. 

Most famously, on 26 May, 1940, during Operation Dynamo, HMS Rion was dispatched to the beaches of Dunkirk to help evacuate the hundreds of soldiers trapped there. She made three 39-mile trips from Dunkirk to Dover, collecting 300 soldiers with each run. On the third trip, she suffered a blow off her starboard bow, where 14 soldiers and one sailor were killed and shrapnel punctured holes in the hull. After repairs in Portsmouth, she continued duty in the channels from Portsmouth to Southampton.

Her efforts didn't stop there. HMS Rion was also involved in a daring nighttime capture of a German E-boat in 1940 and, later, in the discovery of a submarine in 1941. A few months on, the vessel's port engine had taken a slight battering, so she was decommissioned for a short period.

She returned to the water with a red cross painted across her sides and upper deck, where she was renamed HMS Noir and became an annexe to the Royal Naval Hospital until the war's end. She was decommissioned in 1945, returned to her original shipbuilders for restoration and, with a few more stories in her structure, made her way back to Sir George Tilley.

A yacht fit for a princess

Post-war, she came into her element as the princess's yacht. She was bought by Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, who famously rescued, rebuilt and owned the 99.15-metre superyacht Christina O (named after his daughter and wife, Christina and Jackie O). Onassis restored the yacht to her original beauty, renamed her Arion and added her to his charter fleet – reportedly hosting Winston Churchill – before offering her as a wedding gift to Prince Rainier III and his bride-to-be, Grace Kelly, in 1956. 

The Hollywood actress travelled aboard the SS Constitution ship for eight days from New York to Monaco with her family, six bridesmaids, poodle and more than 50 bits of luggage, before the royal couple were legally married in a private civil ceremony in the palace throne room. Following their official nuptials, their grand fairytale wedding took place in Monaco's Saint Nicholas Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Our Immaculate Lady. Located in front of Port Hercules at the foot of the train station, most yacht-goers will be familiar with the Cathedral of Monaco, where the prince and princess exchanged their vows in French.

The newlyweds rechristened their wedding gift Deo Juvante II and sailed into Monaco harbour to rapturous applause; the entire principality flooded the docks to wish the couple fair winds and following seas on their seven-week honeymoon – a Mediterranean idyll cruising along the coasts of Corsica and Sardinia.

They eventually parted with the yacht in 1958.

Grace : the charter yacht today

Today, charter guests can share a part of the yacht-with-many-name's history.  In 2011, the yacht was once again renamed Grace in a nod to her Hollywood associations and she now charters with Yachting Partners International (YPI) starting at a weekly rate of $134,000. According to BOATPro , she was renamed in 2007 and was most recently refitted in 2009 with a new upper deck to become a charter yacht in the Galápagos Islands, where the itinerary is heavily focused on wildlife watching with naturalist guides. 

The historic yacht has been renewed from bow to stern, where she can accommodate 16 guests across nine cabins, including the famous Grace Kelly Suite, with further accommodation for a crew of 12. Guests can make the most of her ample spaces, including a main saloon, dining area, well-stocked bar, library and al fresco lounge. There are also charter favourites including a hot tub and a solarium.

With nearly a century of seafaring under her belt, Grace has seen and heard some of the most defining moments in global history. After a rollercoaster early start to life, it's fair to say the 45-metre has earned a more peaceful chapter as a charter yacht in the Galápagos Islands, encapsulating all that it is to be Grace – always moving in a smooth, controlled, and attractive way.

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State of Grace

VIEW AT MONACO YACHT SHOW / 28th Sep. to 1st Oct. 2022

Finalist for six industry awards, STATE OF GRACE is the result of a winning collaboration with Ron Holland Design and the bespoke tailoring of Perini Navi to provide a high-performance world cruising contemporary sloop for an experienced yachtsman driven by cutting-edge sailing technology. The lifting keep allows the yacht to get much closer to shore in anchorages compared to other similar sized yachts.

Her aluminium hull and superstructure give a displacement of up to 220 tons, new generation Perini Navi captive reel winches hold 12 tons, rewinding 35 metres of sheets per minute. She comes complete with Southern Spars carbon Hybrid Modulus mast and boom, EC6+ carbon fibre rigging controlled from the trademark Perini hemi-spherical helm pod (all controllable by one person) and offers exceptional manoeuvrability.

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39.40m / 129.3ft

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€11,750,000

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About GRACE ...

Named after her late owner, Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, the name represents her elegance, beauty, and prestige. She is the ideal yacht for the traveler who seeks a true explorer experience in a unique destination, complemented with excellent service, superb accommodations, and fine dining.

Motor yacht GRACE provides yacht charters in Galapagos.

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Rupert Murdoch, 92, Is Engaged for the Second Time in 12 Months—This Time to a Woman He Met Through His Third Wife

But i want to talk about his boat..

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When I tell people about our package on American oligarchy at Mother Jones , everyone wants to know about the yachts .

As I wrote in an essay for the magazine, these gleaming vessels have come to symbolize both the decadence and detachment of Russia’s ultra-wealthy and our own. And they are full of some absolutely ridiculous shit: submarines and helicopter hangars, sculptures of spouses preening off the bow, climbing walls, anti-paparazzi lasers, drone-detection systems, gold-leaf ceilings, IMAX theaters. The former owner of Tottenham Hotspur installed a padel court on the yacht where he used to conduct his business deals. (Are you familiar with padel? It’s sort of like pickleball for people who do insider trading .)

But there’s one yacht that I’ve come to think of as sort of the yacht of yachts. The Christina O is not the biggest superyacht in the world; at 325 feet, it is a full 265 feet shorter than the royal family of Abu Dhabi’s pleasure craft, Azzam . But the Christina O is unsurpassed in both its rich-guy history and rich-guy taste. It was built for Aristotle Onassis in the 1950s, played host to Jackie Kennedy, and served as Grace Kelly’s wedding venue when she married the Prince of Monaco. It also had a swimming pool that turned into a dance floor and bar stools made out of whale foreskins, so that Onassis could tell women that they were “sitting on the largest penis in the world.” The dance floor became a recurring feature in the industry; the seats, as far as I know, did not.

    Post by @motherjonesmag View on Threads  

It wasn’t just its life under Onassis, though, that gives the Christina O its mystique. The ship has has had an illustrious afterlife as a for-charter vessel, at the low price of $800,000-a-week . It was a filming location for The Crown , and for an Angelina Jolie movie about Maria Callas (one of Onassis’ lovers), and for the 2022 Academy-Award-nominee, Triangle of Sadness , which is about a group of wealthy tourists who end up submerged in sewage and attacked by pirates after arguing about capitalism. Heidi Klum got married on it. And in the summer of 2023, a year after finalizing his divorce with his fourth-wife Jerry Hall, it’s where Rupert Murdoch retreated for a Mediterranean cruise with two of his daughters; his third ex-wife Wendy Deng; and one of Deng’s good friends—a molecular biologist named Elena Zhukova.

As they soaked in the sun in Naples and Corfu, the Daily Mail reported that Murdoch and Zhukova were more than friends. “He’s got the energy of people half his age,” a source helpfully told Matt Drudge. “He just might be in love again.” On Friday the New York Times confirmed that the 92-going-on-46-year-old Murdoch and 66-year-old Zhukova are officially engaged. There’s just something about that ship!

Murdoch, you know by now—he is the conservative media mogul “who has done more damage to the United States,” former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull told Sean Kelly in Mother Jones earlier this year, than any other person alive. But Zhukova is an equally compelling figure in oligarch circles. 

Born in the USSR, she emigrated to the US to work at Baylor College of Medicine and ended up researching diabetes at UCLA. She was married for a while to a Russian billionaire investor , Alexander Zhukov, and they had a daughter, Dasha Zhukova, but Alexander and Elena had divorced before Alexander made most of his money. Then in 2008, Dasha Zhukova also married a Russian billionaire investor—Roman Abramovich, an oligarch who made his first fortune when he scooped up a state-owned oil company at cents on the dollar and eventually built the world’s third-largest yacht, Eclipse . The couple got big into art collecting and curation, and even started a contemporary art museum in St. Petersburg. The younger Zhukova also struck up a friendship with Murdoch’s third-wife (at the time), and when Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced he was making Abramovich an “honorary citizen” of New York City in 2013, Deng was in attendance .

Murdoch divorced Deng and married Jerry Hall, and then Murdoch and Hall divorced too. Roman and Dasha divorced in 2018, and Dasha Zhukova ended up remarrying a year later to the Greek billionaire Stavros Niarchos III—who was, to bring this full circle, the grandson of Stravros Niarchos I, a famous yacht owner, and the person Onassis was trying to one-up when he decided to build a sprawling luxury yacht stuffed with whale foreskins.

That’s a lot to sift through, but that’s sort of the point: Once you start reading about rich people and their yachts, you realize that you can never stop reading about rich people and their yachts. You are always , on some level, reading about rich people and their yachts, even if it seems like you are reading about art or politics or soccer . It’s like discovering some hidden fabric of the universe that binds and connects everyone with an offshore bank account and three or more wives.

This is Murdoch’s second engagement in the last year. Last March, less than a year after he divorced Hall, he announced impending nuptials with Ann Lesley Smith, a Los Angeles dental hygienist who met Murdoch either—accounts vary—at the same southern California vineyard where he is about to marry Zhukova or at his ranch in Montana, where, The Guardian reported , “the former dental hygienist was said to have offered to check his cavities.” 

Smith, who had been married three times, referred to their union as a “ gift from God .” That engagement ended after two weeks.

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