Motor yacht Grace was built in England in 1928 for the Argentinean tycoon Santiago Soulas. In 1938 the yacht was named "Rion" when she was acquired by Sir George Tilley, the chairman of Prudential Insurance Co. Year later the British government enrolled the yacht in the army. In 1940, Rion was given the objective to evacuate the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk beaches. She completed this objective two times, before the third time her starboard board was strucked by a bomb, which caused huge hull damage and death of 15 men. After being repaired, Rion captured a German E-boat that same year south of the Isle of Wight.
In 1951 the yacht was acquired by Aristotle Onassis and his ownership is notable that many famous people spent time on board, such as Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor. Nowadays, guests can experience the same level of hospitality, but with every modern convenience. In the indoor or outdoor dining room, guests enjoy meals such as Ecuadorian-style Jipjipapa red crab ceviche and grilled octopus with grated green plantains and coconut rice, along with glasses of Champagne or Argentinian Malbec from the yacht’s deep wine cellar. Guests sunbathe on custom-made sunbeds from Ecuador before taking a dip in the outdoor hot tub.
In the 1956 Aristotle Onassis has gifted the yacht as a wedding present to the royal couple consisting of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier. The couple spent a honeymoon on the yacht, cruising waters near Corsica and Sardinia. In 1958 they decided to part with the vessel.
Now the vessel is cruising the Galapagos Islands, as she was obtained by the Quasar Expeditions, which is a cruising company that restored the yacht and named it Grace. A full refit included expanding of the sun deck, bar renovating and Grace Kelly suite designed by Adriana Hoyos. The 17 square meters cabin, which is the suite in which Kelly honeymooned, is customized with Seike wood furnishings, including a king-size bed with a leather headboard, as well as art deco–inspired mirrors and large rectangular windows on either side.
The motor yacht Grace’s two decks also allow guests to walk 360 degrees around the boat, maximizing the chances for spotting wildlife such as dolphins, whales, manta rays, sea lions and a host of rare birds including the Galapagos’ famed blue-footed boobies and short-eared owls. In addition to the Grace Kelly Suite, other luxurious onboard accommodations include staterooms with queen beds, wooden furnishings, and luxurious bathrooms that include walk-in showers and vanities.
The motor yacht Grace accomodates 18 people and has 2 destinations : one on beginning on Baltra and continues to remote and rarely-visited islands like Genovesa and the western side of Isabela and Fernandina, while another begins on San Cristobal and ends on Baltra. The private charter rate starts at $127,000 per week.
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Lürssen has launched the 114-meter megayacht Cosmos, a hybrid vessel equipped with two 500 kW methanol fuel cells that enable emissions-free cruising for extended periods. The yacht, introduced as part of the company’s 150th anniversary, can travel up to 1,000 nautical miles on electricity alone and remain at anchor with zero emissions for up to 15 days.Commissioned by an undisclosed owner, Cosmos features an all-steel hull reinforced to Ice Class 1D, allowing navigation in polar waters as well as across all major oceans. Alongside its methanol-based hydrogen power system, the yacht is fitted with diesel generators, engines, and tanks to allow conventional propulsion for higher speeds.Designed inside and out by Marc Newson, the vessel has a beam of 18 metres (59 feet), a gross tonnage of 6,300, and spans six decks. The design incorporates extensive use of glass, including a custom-engineered glass-domed owner’s study offering 360-degree views, a surrounding sky terrace, and an observation lounge located beneath the helipad.Outdoor amenities include a main deck with a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, seating areas, and an aft dry dock for tender operations. The combination of ice-class construction, hybrid propulsion, and large-scale glazing represents Lürssen’s latest application of advanced engineering to meet evolving environmental and design goals.Credits: Lürssen
August 12, 2025
The NOA 46, a 46-meter motor yacht built by The Yacht Factory in Yalova, Turkey, will be presented for the first time at the Cannes Yachting Festival from 9 to 14 September. Ocean Independence has been appointed as Central Agent for the vessel.Designed by Hot Lab Yacht Design, the yacht is intended for long-range cruising and features a steel hull, aluminium superstructure, and compliance with RINA and MCA classifications. Accommodation is arranged for ten guests in five staterooms. The main salon connects directly to an al fresco lounge area with a large jacuzzi, while the sundeck includes a DJ booth, bar, and gym area.The interior uses predominantly brown and beige tones, with large windows providing natural light throughout. Power comes from twin MAN 1,450HP engines meeting IMO Tier III standards, giving a range of 4,000 nautical miles at 10 knots, a cruising speed of 13 knots, and a top speed of 15.7 knots. ABT TRAC fin stabilisers are fitted for stability underway and at anchor, and the yacht is equipped with Simrad navigation systems.The Yacht Factory operates on a 200,000-square-meter site with facilities including a floating dock for large yachts and a travel lift with an 800-ton capacity.Credits: Ocean Independence
August 12, 2025
The 76.6-meter motor yacht Boadicea is now available for charter through Northrop & Johnson, with Mediterranean itineraries this summer followed by Caribbean and Bahamas deployments this winter. The 1999-built Amels flagship, designed by Terence Disdale, carries a weekly rate of EUR725,000 plus expenses.Recent refits have maintained Boadicea's competitive position in the charter market, including installation of a 12-seat cinema theater and exterior repainting. The yacht offers 2,191 GT of interior volume across five decks served by an elevator and spiral staircase.Accommodations include nine staterooms for 18 guests, featuring two master suites - one on the upper deck with private terrace and dual bathrooms, another forward on the main deck. Common areas comprise a walnut-paneled main salon, upper deck lounge with Roche Bobois furnishings, and multiple entertainment spaces.Outdoor amenities includes sundeck with 6-meter counter-current pool, bridge deck wellness area with gym and spa facilities, expanded beach club with inflatable sea pool platform, 13-meter Pirelli chase tender plus extensive toy selection.The yacht's recent updates preserve Disdale's original design while incorporating modern charter requirements. Boadicea remains one of the largest vessels available for private charter, offering rare volume in the 70+ meter segment.Northrop & Johnson will manage bookings for the 2024/2025 charter seasons, with the vessel currently positioned in the Mediterranean. The Amels-built superyacht joins the brokerage's portfolio of large-tonnage charter options.Damen Yachting, the yacht-building division of Damen Shipyards Group, employs approximately 500 professionals across its Amels, SeaXplorer, and Yacht Support vessel programs. No purchase price was disclosed for the new build.Credits: Northrop & Johnson
August 12, 2025
Feadship has delivered the 71.76-meter superyacht Stella M to her owner on 5 August 2025. Built at the Dutch yard and designed by Studio De Voogt, the vessel features five decks and a layout intended for multi-generational use.The yacht is equipped with a next-generation diesel-electric propulsion system, designed to reduce noise and vibration while supporting cleaner cruising. According to Feadship, sea trials confirmed notably low noise and vibration levels.The project was carried out in collaboration with Burgess, representing the owner throughout the build, and Hugo-Morgan Harris acting as technical representative.“Every detail was shaped by a shared ambition to create something exceptional,” said Maarten Janssen, Feadship Sales Director. “Her advanced diesel-electric propulsion system has resulted in remarkably low noise and vibration levels.”Burgess Senior Partner Richard Lambert commented: “Her Dutch pedigree coupled with complete collaboration between all parties resulted in a vessel that meets the owner’s forward-thinking vision.”Stella M is set to begin her first Mediterranean season following delivery.Credits: Feadship
August 11, 2025
Oceanco has launched the 111-meter diesel-electric yacht Leviathan, previously known as Project Y722, at its facility in the Netherlands. The vessel features naval architecture by Oceanco and Lateral Naval Architects, exterior design by Oceanco, and interiors by Mark Berryman Design.Commissioned by an experienced owner, Leviathan was developed with a focus on operational efficiency and crew wellbeing. According to Oceanco, crew members were involved in the design process to provide practical input. The yacht incorporates durable, low-maintenance materials such as honed stone, natural wool carpets, composite capping rails and decks, and full-height glass superstructure bulkheads, replacing more maintenance-intensive elements like teak decks and polished wooden handrails. These choices are intended to reduce routine upkeep and allow crew to focus on guest services and operational tasks.The project involved collaboration between the owner, technical representatives from YTMC, and management company Y.CO. More than 2,000 people contributed to the build, and their names are engraved on a glass panel in the main staircase.Leviathan is designed to accommodate a variety of uses, including hospitality and scientific work. She has a beam of 17.8 metres and is scheduled to begin sea trials in the coming weeks. Further details on her capabilities are expected to be released later.Credits: Oceanico
August 11, 2025