christina o yacht

672 Wine Club

• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Cardinale Estate
• Raffles Hotels & Resorts
• Rocco Forte Hotels
• Tributary Idaho
• Sports & Leisure
• Health & Wellness
• Best of the Best
• The Ultimate Gift Guide

Boat of the Week: This Historic 325-Foot Superyacht Hosted JFK, Winston Churchill, and Elizabeth Taylor

Christina o , owned by aristotle onassis, has a rich past that includes visits by prime ministers and presidents, love affairs with famous opera singers, and 42 phone lines. it is now available for charter., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories, how jeff bezos, bill gates, and more tech billionaires have transformed gigayacht design.

• Why Yacht Owners Are Commissioning Copies of Original Art to Display at Sea
• These Charter Yachts Let You Tag Hammerhead Sharks and Count Spirit Bears for Research
• Share This Article

Related Stories

• U.K. Police Recover $7.8 Million in Stolen Cars Including BMWs, Nissan GT-Rs, and a Lamborghini
• This New Custom Ford F-150 Is a Supercharged Muscle Truck
• First Drive: Gateway Bronco’s New 760 HP SUV Blends Vintage Vibes With a Thoroughly Modern Drive

It wasn’t always a glamorous superyacht . The vessel started out as Canadian Navy Frigate,  HMCS Stormont , built in 1943 by Vickers of Montreal. It played an active role in World War II. In 1952, Onassis acquired it for $34,000 as part of a block purchase of ten ships that he intended to convert into a fleet of whaling vessels. When plans fell through, he kept Stormont for himself, spending $4 million (or about $46 million in today’s dollars) to convert it into a luxury superyacht—the first true gigayacht. He lengthened the hull by 29 feet and named it Christina after his daughter.

No expense was spared for its rebirth. Powered by steam engines that delivered a top speed of 21 knots, the yacht was equipped with five fast launches, a glass-bottomed boat for underwater observation, a small dinghy, two kayaks, a Fiat 500, and a five-seater Piaggio P.136L-2. (This was the same seaplane that crashed in 1973, killing Onassis’s 24-year-old son Alexander.)

Christina was one of the few yachts of its time to have an elevator, not to mention a surgical operating theater with radiography equipment. The mosaiced swimming pool also broke molds, with a minotaur-themed lifting floor that converted into a dance floor.

A close-knit group of Onassis’s friends and family partied alongside powerful figures and stars of the silver screen, including Marilyn Monroe, Margot Fonteyn, Frank Sinatra, the Rockefellers, the Rothschilds and Paul Getty. Ex-King Farouk of Egypt referred to the yacht as “the height of opulence.” The guests were entertained in reception lounges that are now famous with whispered stories.

The wood-paneled Jackie O Lapis Lounge on the main deck—named after a lapis-lazuli fireplace rumored to have cost a princely sum of one dollar per square centimeter—is stocked with rare books and a self-playing electric piano. The fake El Grecos that Onassis hung during his ownership—“If people want to believe they are authentic, why spoil their pleasure,” he once quipped—have been switched for real masterpieces by Renoir, Le Corbusier and Chirico.

Adjacent is Ari’s Bar where orca teeth serve as armrests for stools and are engraved with scenes from Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey . Wood from a sunken Spanish galleon was used for the bar. On the walls hang portraits of John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, all guests aboard the boat.

Christina was also a place where Onassis conducted business, thanks to the network of 42 telephone lines across the boat. John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill had their first encounter on the yacht. Britain’s wartime Prime Minister enjoyed eight voyages between 1958 and 1965 and was the only guest for whom Onassis gave up his own suite. The Library is named in his honor.

The 16 additional guest cabins are named after and inspired by Greek islands. The Ithaca suite was Christina’s cabin, which she surrendered to Greta Garbo, Maria Callas and Jackie Kennedy (prior to her marriage to Onassis in 1975) whenever they visited. They each feature wood, marble and gold bathroom fittings. The pastel color schemes were selected by Jackie O, who was renowned for her restoration of the White House.

Maria Callas embarked on a nine-year-long love affair with Onassis in 1959. The Maria Callas Lounge contains her original grand Steinway piano. Her wedding rings from her first marriage and a solid silver Tiffany dish presented to her by JFK are displayed by the entrance, and the entire collection of her operatic recordings are available to play. For film nights, there is a remote-controlled projector.

After Onassis’ death in 1975, his daughter gifted the boat to the Greek government and a slow deterioration ensued. In 1999, a new owner, Onassis family friend John Paul Papanicolaou, undertook a sizable refit estimated at $50 million that replaced 65 percent of the steel hull. He also renamed the vessel Christina O .

Subsequent refit work from 2016 to 2018 added an aft deck bimini system and a boarding platform for easier guest transfers. Two sets of Vosper stabilizer fins were installed, along with cold rooms, an incineration chamber and garbage compactor for the lower deck galley. A split-level Jacuzzi deck now overlooks a bar and large dining table with intricate marquetry inlays depicting the tales of Ulysses.

A pair of restored mahogany HackerCraft tenders sit alongside original features, such as the circular staircase with its onyx and silver handrail, vintage wall lights and leather settees.

The vessel has recently been a case of life imitating art. Christina O played a starring role in the Netflix series  The Crown and 2022 comedy  Triangle of Sadness . The 1956 wedding reception held on board for Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly was echoed in 2019 when supermodel Heidi Klum was married on board. Most recently, Rupert Murdoch chartered the yacht in July for a family reunion in Positano, Italy.

Other amenities include a spa with two full-time therapists forming part of the 38 crew and a chest of water toys, including an inflatable slide and Flyboard. Those weren’t toys that were available when Onassis acquired the vessel and turned it into a superyacht, but one imagines he would’ve approved.

Christina O can be chartered around $768,500 per week with Morley Yachts.

Click here to see more images of Christina O.

Read More On:

• Christina O

More Marine

This Luxe 230-Foot Cruise Ship Will Explore the Arctic Circle With Zero Carbon Emissions

Tom Brady’s Team Wins the Inaugural All-Electric Powerboat Title

New Zealand Bests Britain for Its Third Consecutive America’s Cup Win

Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently.

Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

The 13 Best New Yachts at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

Elite Sailing Clubs Around the Globe Are Going Local

More from our brands, charli xcx, troye sivan and brat green heat up 2024 gucci lacma art+film gala, garrett wilson’s viral ‘jumpman’ catch a moment for adidas , ‘ravens’ review: ‘shogun’ star tadanobu asano plays celebrated photographer masahisa fukase in a fascinating biopic , with increased buzz, art collaboration kyoto may not remain japan’s ‘well-kept secret’ for much longer, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

Please use a modern browser to view this website. Some elements might not work as expected when using Internet Explorer.

• Why Charter Homepage
• Luxury Yacht Vacation Types
• Corporate Yacht Charter
• Tailor Made Vacations
• Luxury Exploration Vacations
• ALL 3,741 Yachts For Charter
• Motor Yachts
• Sailing Yachts
• Classic Yachts
• Catamaran Yachts
• Special Offers
• by Destination

Yacht Reviews

• Destination Guides
• Inspiration & Features
• Mediterranean Charter Yachts
• France Charter Yachts
• Italy Charter Yachts
• Croatia Charter Yachts
• Greece Charter Yachts
• Turkey Charter Yachts
• Bahamas Charter Yachts
• Caribbean Charter Yachts
• Australia Charter Yachts
• Thailand Charter Yachts
• Dubai Charter Yachts
• Destination News
• New To Fleet
• Charter Fleet Updates
• Industry News
• Yacht Shows
• Corporate Charter
• Charter Advice
• Why Use a Yacht Broker
• Charter Costs Explained
• Add my yacht
• Yacht Charter Fleet
• CHRISTINA O

Spotlight On  CHRISTINA O

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on X
• Share via Email

By Rebecca Bradbury | 15th Mar 2017

As the former vessel of billionaire shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, the legendary 99m/325ft superyacht ‘Christina O’ set the scene for the original jetsetters of the late-1950s and, today, continues to be among the most world’s most famous yachts.

Starting life in 1943 as a surplus Canadian war frigate, Christina O was bought in 1954 by Onassis who, as one of the richest and most famous men in the world, spent a huge sum of money transforming her into a pleasure palace for him, his family and an array of illustrious guests.

During the late 1950s, Onassis effectively established the jetset lifestyle. Under the gaze of the world’s media, the self-made magnate received a VIP list of guests aboard  superyacht ‘Christina O’ , ranging from politicians, businessmen and bankers to Hollywood movie stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. 

Thus, the setting for many an iconic moment in history,  this  motor yacht  was where Winston Churchill first met John F. Kennedy, where the tumultuous affair between Onassis and opera star Maria Callas began, and where Onassis married former first lady Jackie Kennedy.

But, after Onassis' death in 1975, the yacht sadly entered a period of slow deterioration. Help was eventually at hand, however, and in 1999 a friend of the family, John Paul Papanicolaou, who remembered the yacht's former glory, undertook the extensive, two-year project of faithfully restoring the superyacht.

In 2001, she emerged from the shipyard as the yacht she is today. Available for charter, she now offers the unique chance to experience the opulence of the Onassis era with the amenities expected from a modern-day superyacht.

What's more, she is one of the rare charter yachts capable of sleeping up to 36 guests while cruising on a luxury yacht charter and she can also host up to 157 guests at harbour-side events and celebrations.

Much care and effort went into restoring the important artefacts within her interior, and one such example can be seen in the Lapis Lounge.

Welcoming guests aboard on the main deck aft, the salon is named after its original, dazzling blue lapis lazuli fireplace which has been faithfully reconstructed.

With oak and iroko panelling, book-lined shelves and sumptuous pale-coloured settees, the overall look of the salon is reminiscent of an old English country manor.

Yet teak floorboards serve as a reminder of being at sea, and artworks by Renoir, Le Corbusier and de Chirico add to the grandeur of the setting.

Ari’s Bar is christened in tribute to Aristotle himself as this was one of his favourite places in which to enjoy a drink

A door to starboard opens forward, from the Lapis Lounge into the teak-lined Ari’s bar, christened in tribute to Aristotle himself as this was one of his favourite places on board in which to enjoy a drink and socialise with his guests.

A small and cosy place to relax, the room focuses on the original rope-covered bar, which is reputedly made from the timbers of an old Spanish galleon. A huge map of the wall lines the wall, while housed in the glass-topped bar are models depicting Christina O through the ages.

Whale’s teeth form handles around the bar’s edge, acting as a grip to keep one’s seat on the bar stools in rough weather. Historically famous, these original stools are made from the leather of a whale’s foreskin and continue to be a conversation starter on today's charters.

During her recent transformation, Christina O’s old central steam engines, which extended upwards through three decks, were replaced with smaller diesels. This change means space once taken up by one of these regions now serves as a large dining salon.

Located forward of Ari’s bar, the salon centres on a long, 24-seater table reflected in a backlit glass panel on the ceiling. To port, a raised plinth hosts four smaller tables for a more intimate dining experience, while pillars and a shiny marble floor further enhance the splendour.

To starboard, glazed panelling partially divides the salon from a music lounge. Fitted out with a grand piano and a collection of Maria Callas memorabilia, the room is one of four guest lounges on board and is a light and airy escape thanks to large windows and a light colour palette.

Exiting the salon forward, the corridor opens out into a breathtaking atrium, with a majestic staircase and brass and onyx handrail that spirals upwards. Best taken in from above, there is a spectacular mosaic on the floor depicting Onassis' Omega emblem.

The staircase gently ascends to the promenade deck above, where an oval-shaped, oak-panelled library is located forward off the lobby. Features include green upholstered seating, an extensive collection of books and double doors that open into the spacious Maria Callas Lounge.

The oak panelling continues and Giorgetti sofas create three sumptuous seating areas, but the main focus is on a raised plinth forward, which can be used as a stage for live music. A drop-down screen and state-of-the-art surround sound system means movie nights can also take place here.

Aft of the central lobby, meanwhile, is the Sports Lounge. Cards and backgammon can be played around three games tables, while a curved glass walls divides the lounge from a children’s play room decorated in a colourful mural.

There is also space here, on the port-side, for a fully-equipped gymnasium. Work out while taking in glorious ocean vistas before indulging in a massage or spa treatment from the on-board therapist in the adjoining beauty salon and treatment room.

Purely the domain of the principal charterer is the expansive and luxurious Onassis Suite

The bridge deck is also accessed from the central staircase, but this is purely the domain of the principal charterer and the captain as sitting behind the bridge itself is the expansive and luxurious Onassis Suite.

An oak-panelled study, which also serves as a cosy lounge, with the original onyx fireplace provides entry into the sleeping quarters forward. Fine Venetian linen drapes the large bed, the original Baccarat crystal lights line the walls and white Penteli marble glistens in the bathroom.

Ten guest staterooms, meanwhile, span off a long central corridor on the main deck forward, with the remaining eight cabins situated towards the aft end of the lower deck. Those nearer the centre of Christina O are bigger in size, with writing desks and larger walk-in wardrobes.

However, all cabins can serve as either doubles or twins, ensuring an extremely flexible accommodation setup on board, and all boast wall panels, a tranquil pastel colour palette, prints of the Greek islands and marble-lined shower rooms.

Opportunities for entertainment and relaxation continue onto Christina O’s generous decks. Referred to as the compass deck, her top tier features a line-up of sun loungers, a bar and, of course, fabulous ocean views.

On the deck below, a clear expanse of teak deck forms a versatile space aft of the funnel. Extremely flexible, this space perfectly adapts to whatever occassion charterers have on the agenda.

Staircases to port and starboard sweep down to the promenade deck, so called as yacht-goers can circulate the whole level.

Well-equipped for hosting large numbers, the deck features a helipad aft, which is looked over by an inviting Jacuzzi. After guests have taken a dip, they can sip cocktails at the large, circular bar before dinner is served at one of the six circular tables.  

There is also space for sun loungers, and the whole setup enables the charter party to unwind and make the most of Christina O's alfresco offerings without interfering with one another.

The outdoor offering on the main deck aft, meanwhile, very much resembles the setup of Onassis’ day. Here, the famous swimming pool with its mosaic of the Minoan bull and vaulter from the palace at Knossos has been painstakingly recreated.

Another highlight of the pool is that its floor can raise, draining the water to form a dance floor or other area in which to socialise - an innovative asset which the original boasted. The two pictures (above-right) indicate the floor in both positions.

Such a feature was extremely revolutionary in the 1950s and one which is still replicated on superyachts today, reflecting just how groundbreaking Christina O was at the time of her launch.

The area forward of the swimming pool is home to a long, rectangular dining table, lounging options, and bollards and windlasses that appear in iconic images as posing stools for many of Onassis' famous guests.   

Christina O offers the unparalleled opportunity to walk in the footsteps of some of the greatest names of the twentieth century

There can be no doubt that M/Y Christina O is in a league of her own. Not only does she offer the unparalleled opportunity to walk in the footsteps of some of the greatest names of the twentieth century, she is resplendent in modern facilities and surpasses most other superyachts in terms of accommodating large numbers of guests. 

For further information, please speak to your preferred  charter broker .

Charter Specification

• Christina O

Builder Canadian Vickers

Interior Designer Apostolos Molindris & Associates

Exterior Designer Caesar Pinnau

• READ MORE ABOUT:
• Canadian Vickers

• See All Reviews

From secret hideaways to sought-after hotspots, the Caribbean is..

From upmarket establishments to ramshackle rum shacks, the Carib..

Cocktails and superyachts go hand-in-hand, view ten top choices ..

• See All Top 10

Featured Luxury Yachts for Charter

This is a small selection of the global luxury yacht charter fleet, with 3741 motor yachts, sail yachts, explorer yachts and catamarans to choose from including superyachts and megayachts, the world is your oyster. Why search for your ideal yacht charter vacation anywhere else?

136m | Lurssen

from $3,270,000 p/week ♦︎

115m | Lurssen

from $2,874,000 p/week ♦︎

85m | Golden Yachts

from $977,000 p/week ♦︎

88m | Golden Yachts

from $1,222,000 p/week ♦︎

83m | Feadship

from $1,113,000 p/week ♦︎

93m | Feadship

from $1,554,000 p/week ♦︎

Maltese Falcon

88m | Perini Navi

from $490,000 p/week

122m | Lurssen

from $3,000,000 p/week

As Featured In

The YachtCharterFleet Difference

YachtCharterFleet makes it easy to find the yacht charter vacation that is right for you. We combine thousands of yacht listings with local destination information, sample itineraries and experiences to deliver the world's most comprehensive yacht charter website.

San Francisco

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on X
• Follow us on Instagram
• Find us on LinkedIn
• Add My Yacht
• Affiliates & Partners

Popular Destinations & Events

• St Tropez Yacht Charter
• Monaco Yacht Charter
• St Barts Yacht Charter
• Greece Yacht Charter
• Mykonos Yacht Charter
• Caribbean Yacht Charter

Featured Charter Yachts

• Maltese Falcon Yacht Charter
• Wheels Yacht Charter
• Victorious Yacht Charter
• Andrea Yacht Charter
• Titania Yacht Charter
• Ahpo Yacht Charter

Receive our latest offers, trends and stories direct to your inbox.

Please enter a valid e-mail.

Thanks for subscribing.

Search for Yachts, Destinations, Events, News... everything related to Luxury Yachts for Charter.

Yachts in your shortlist