Bal Harbour

P H OTO BY S M I T H A R C H I V E /A L A M Y (G R AC E ) ; C O U R T E S Y O F Q UA S A R E X P E D I T I O N S here is nothing predictable about the Galápagos, the remote volcanic archipelago in the Pacific some 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. One morning you slip into the ocean and find yourself escorted by a flotilla of penguins, skimming past like tuxedoed torpedoes; that afternoon a baby sea lion noses your calf, whiskers tickling, as if to say, Welcome to our world. Another day, among these islands born of fire and titanic forces, you're kayaking past black-lava amphitheaters and hiking over honeycomb flows. This is a marine safari where the animals do not retreat; they regard you, unafraid, and carry on with their luminous lives. It is here that Quasar Expeditions' Grace yacht becomes both vessel and vantage point—a floating lodge with a royal lineage and the nimble spirit of a true explorer. Originally gifted by Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis to Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco as their wedding yacht, Grace went on to host a glittering circle of friends—Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton among them—adding a whisper of Old-World glamour to her seaworthy soul. She carries a mere 16 guests, which means that shore landings happen swiftly and encounters unfold intimately. From the low, teak-warmed decks, you dine practically at sea level while nocturnal terns pinwheel for their supper, sea lions cartwheel in Once a wedding gift to Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco, the Grace, an intimate yacht operated by Quasar Expeditions, sails the enchanted islands on an aquatic safari of sea lions, penguins, and sharks. BY DEBORAH FRANK the grace of the galápagos T CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco disembark their wedding gift in 1956, the year they were married; Quasar Expeditions' guests explore the shore zone of the Galápagos; sea lions sunbathe on the beach of Gardner Bay on Espanola Island. BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M

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