onassis yacht interior

In pictures: all aboard iconic superyacht Christina O

Her storied history includes serving in WW2 and hosting Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly’s wedding reception 

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The superyacht Christina O did not start her life on the seas as a playground for the rich and famous. Constructed in 1943 by Montreal-based shipbuilder Canadian Vickers, the 99m Canadian frigate - originally called HMCS Stormont - was first used to serve in the Second World War and was present at the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944.

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Acquired in 1954 by Aristotle Onassis, it was the Greek billionaire shipping magnate that transformed the Stormont into one of the world’s most luxurious superyachts . Renamed after his daughter, Onassis spent $4m on the refurbishment of a ship that would become an elite and exclusive entertainment destination.

From John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Winston Churchill to Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy, who Onassis later married, Christina O hosted some of the world’s most influential people during her glory years. The wedding reception of Monaco’s Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly was also held on board, while legendary Hollywood couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor were regular guests.

Today the Christina O can be hired for corporate events and be chartered for private use. Charter prices start from €560,000 (£492,900) a week in low season to €630,000 (£554,700) a week in high season. See morleyyachts.com

‘Greatest yacht of them all’

After a number of refits, the ship has been meticulously restored. It can sleep up to 34 guests who can enjoy the same luxury experienced by the famous visitors of yesteryear. Designed to the highest standard, Onassis’s “unique taste is everywhere”, says Boat International magazine. Christina O is regarded by many as the “greatest yacht of them all”.

Swimming pool

One of the highlights aboard the superyacht is the beautiful swimming pool. Designed with a tiled bull mosaic, the pool can turn into a dance floor at the flip of a switch.

Jacuzzi deck

Relaxation is the top activity on the Christina O. As well as the Jacuzzi deck (pictured) the ship also has an indoor air-conditioned gym and a spa which offers beauty treatments and massages.

Callas Lounge

The surroundings inside the yacht are as plush as the exteriors. The Callas Lounge (pictured) is named after the American-born Greek soprano Maria Callas. Regarded as one of the influential opera singers of the 20th century, it’s said that her “opera notes still play in the Callas Lounge”.

Ari’s Bar

The legendary Ari’s Bar is christened in tribute to Aristotle Onassis himself as “this was one of his favourite places in which to enjoy a drink”, says Yacht Charter Fleet .

Ranked 56 in the Top 100 Largest Yachts in the World list, Christina O is the “epitome of elegance and luxury”, says Superyachts.com . “Its capacious deck can host up to 250 guests beneath extensive canopies, perfect for a special occasion or one-off corporate incentive.” Other amenities include the Galaxy Bar on the Compass deck and the large Jacuzzi on the Promenade deck.

Onassis’ Suite

The expansive and luxurious Onassis Suite is situated on the bridge deck and holds a spacious bathroom with Jacuzzi tub and a private en-suite lounge, says Superyachts.com .

Spiral staircase

Christina O’s elegant marble-railed spiral staircase covers three decks and at the bottom is the floor depicting Onassis’ Omega emblem.

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Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon. 

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CHRISTINA O Yacht – Paradise-like $40M Superyacht

Conceptualized by Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping magnate, the Christina O entertained the stars of the 20th century.

Onassis hosted the likes of Winston Churchill, Grace Kelly, and Elizabeth Taylor. The $40 million yacht hosted legendary parties, scandals, and luxury on the first personal yacht.

CHRISTINA O yacht interior

After World War II, Onassis bought the River-class frigate and spent $4 million converting the vessel into a luxurious superyacht named after his daughter.

The opulence reflected his tastes, with a Minotaur-themed mosaic swimming pool that could be raised into a dance floor once drained.

Ari’s Bar had barstools upholstered with the foreskins of whales, with whales’ teeth as the footrests and ivory armrests.

The bathrooms were in marble, and the fittings were in gold. The fireplace in the famous Lapis Lazuli lounge was encrusted in lapis lazuli.

Illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans designed and painted the children’s dining room. When Onassis died, his daughter donated the boat to the Greek government, which let the masterpiece go to rot.

In 1999, she was bought back from the Greek government by John Paul Papanicolaou and completely gutted.

The CHRISTINA O yacht was refitted with replicas of the lavish features Onassis was so proud of. The interior of the yacht reflects an English country manor house style.

During the refit, more accommodation was added to the vessel. The staterooms are smaller compared to 21st-century yachts. CHRISTINA O has a master suite and 17 passenger staterooms.

She can accommodate 34 guests on board and 39 crew. A spiral staircase connects the many indoor and outdoor living spaces.

She lacks the indoor boat storage that is now standard on superyachts, but she has many living areas, and the deck space is very generous.

She also features a glass-paneled gym, a music room, and other luxury amenities. The compass deck features areas for lounging and sunbathing, while the deck below, called the promenade deck, had an aft spa pool and dining area.

She also has a tender garage filled with toys for fun on the water.

CHRISTINA O yacht exterior

Canadian Vickers built the CHRISTINA O yacht in 1943. She served in Normandy during WWII but later became a surplus relic.

Onassis bought the vessel for her scrap value. Onassis charged the Howaldt Shipyard in Germany with creating the lavish personal yacht.

Caesar Pinnau, a German professor of architecture, created classic lines and a high stern for the new and improved CHRISTINA O.

The classic yellow funnel remains to this day. While the yacht retains some of her rugged exteriors, she appears low-slung and eye-catching in the water.

CHRISTINA O yacht specifications

With a length of 99.1m, the CHRISTINA O yacht has a beam of 11.12m and a draft of 4.24m.

She has a volume of 1802 gross tons; she has a top speed of 19 knots and a cruising speed of 14 knots. Her MAN engines give her a range of 5000 nautical miles.

She was one of the first boats to fit an onboard stabilization system for guests’ comfort.

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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.

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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.

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CHRISTINA O Yacht for Charter

1943 / 2022

Overview | Exterior | Interior | Accommodation | Photos | Layout | Price

CHRISTINA O Yacht Interior

Welcome aboard to an unparalleled journey of luxury and sophistication. The yacht’s interior is meticulously designed to offer the ultimate in comfort and elegance. 

Bright Bursts of Color

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Preserving history, elegant settings, luxury and comfort.

Grand Artwork

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Take a look at the glitzy yacht once owned by Jackie O that's been the scene of huge celebrity parties, has 17 cabins, and can now be rented for $100,000 a day

• The 325-foot yacht formerly owned by Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis can now be rented for $100,000 per day, CNN and Robb Report recently reported.
• The couple frequently hosted famous guests aboard their ship, including Hollywood stars Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe .
• Named the Christina O after Aristotle Onassis' daughter, the ship remains one of the only luxury yachts to accommodate a large number of passengers.

Jackie O's yacht can now be yours for a day — if you have $100,000 to drop on it, that is.

According to recent reports from CNN and Robb Report , interested parties can now rent the Christina O, the legendary superyacht that was formerly owned by millionaire shipping mogul Aristotle Onassis and former First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis .

With new updates made in 2015 and 2018 , Valef Yachts is now chartering the ship for € 90,000 , ($100,000) per day for the upcoming peak summer months and €80,000 ($90,000) during the low season. Rental also comes with additional fees and deposits for food, fuel, and other amenities.

Read more : Millennial superyacht owners are on the rise — and their preference for experiences over things may be turning yachting into a ride-sharing service

After Onassis' death in 1975 , his daughter — whom the yacht is named after — donated the vessel to the Greek government. The vessel, under the name the Argo, remained in government hands until the late 1990s, when a family friend purchased the ship at an auction, restored it to premium condition, and renamed it the Christina O to honor its history.

The Telegraph reported the ship was "once the most exclusive bar in the world," as the rich and famous gathered there by invitation only. Keep reading for a look inside the Christina O from the stateroom lounges to the outdoor Jacuzzi deck.

Originally a convoy escort called the Stormont, shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis purchased the yacht in 1954.

Onassis purchased the ship for just $34,000 , its scrap value. He then spent $4 million refurbishing the 325-foot vessel and named it the Christina after his daughter.

Until his death in 1975, the Christina served as both Onassis' residence and headquarters.

Onassis made his fortune in the shipping business, eventually owning one of the world's largest fleets . However, the Christina luxury yacht was considered his flagship vessel, as it served as both his office headquarters and as his "floating mansion."

Both Aristotle and Jackie frequently used the ship to entertain an impressive list of guests.

Aristotle and Jackie Onassis married in 1968, a wedding that shocked many fans still mourning the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 

This list included Hollywood stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

In addition to celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and Frank Sinatra , who graced the Christina during the 1970s, politicians such as Sir Winston Churchill and royalty such as Princess Grace of Monaco visited as well.

After Onassis' death, his daughter Christina donated the ship to the Greek government.

Onassis' friend John Paul Papanicolaou bought the vessel at an auction in 1998 .

He spent $50 million restoring the yacht to its former glory and renamed it the Christina O to honor its origins and family history.

Under its new name the Christina O, the vessel remains one of the only ships that can accommodate a large number of passengers.

It is one of the only superyachts capable of accommodating up to 34 guests overnight — and that's in addition to 38 crew members.

Guests have access to a variety of water toys that are included in the rental price.

Among the water toys included in the rental price of the Christina O are a hoverboard, water skis, and snorkel gear .

But the yacht comes with a serious price tag: Valef Yachts is currently chartering the yacht for € 90,000 , ($100,000) per day for July and August €80,000 ($90,000) during the low season, plus additional fees.

The yacht also boasts several additional watercraft.

The Christina O comes with several personal boats capable of carrying eight guests each, along with several tenders — smaller boats that serve as support to a large vessel , especially when docking is inconvenient or impossible.

When it comes to the yacht's interior, an immaculate spiral staircase leads up to the boat's suites.

The vessel is complete with 17 cabins .

All rooms are equipped with an en suite shower , along with televisions and stereo systems. All but two cabins are convertible from twin to double beds .

The master suite opens up to a private sitting area complete with library shelving.

The yacht has two lounges: the Lapis Lounge and the Callas Lounge.

The Callas Lounge is named after opera singer Marie Callas , with whom Aristotle Onassis had an affair . The pair began a relationship while they were both married. After divorcing their spouses, the relationship continued for several years until Onassis married Jackie Kennedy.

It also features a grand piano and an area for guests to enjoy drinks.

And then, there's the iconic Ari's Bar.

The bar, named after the late owner, remains well-preserved with its original orca teeth hooks and whale skin stools.

The bar top is made from a sunken Spanish galleon , while the footrests are engraved with scenes from epics "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey."

The yacht also features a gym space.

The gym is equipped with treadmills , elliptical bikes, and a free weights.

Along with two massage rooms, the Christina O has a beauty room.

Massage therapists and additional staff help are included in the cost of renting the boat.

In recent years, the yacht has seen several notable updates.

In 2018, the ship was re-fitted with a new cinema.

Several other upgrades were made in 2018, including new paint, a new swim platform, and updates to the Jacuzzi Deck.

Outside on the deck, guests can enjoy the sunshine.

The outdoor dining table on the Jacuzzi Deck seats eight guests. Lounge chairs are spread across the extensive sunbathing decks.

The mosaic pool doubles as a dance floor space when covered.

"The mosaic pool that converts into a dance floor and the famous bar evoke another era and absolute glamour," a PR representative for Valef Yachts told Business Insider.

Additional dining space on the ship means there's room for many guests.

While the dining room seats 40 , staff can also rearrange the deck furniture for larger gatherings. The Christina O is capable of carrying up to 157 guests while cruising and up to 250 guests while docked .

The ship is specifically outfitted to host large parties.

Today, the Christina O remains one of the few superyachts capable of accommodating up to 34 guests across 17 cabins.

Most yachts — even oversized vessels — rarely accommodate more than 12 people .

On top of that, the yacht can accommodate hundreds for daytime cruising or evening events, such as weddings and private parties.

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Christina O

Motor Yacht

Mega yacht Christina O is the epitome of elegance and luxury and embodies the legend that was Aristotle Onassis. In her original heyday, motor yacht Christina O defined a new category in luxury yachting and hosted some of the world’s most glittering personalities such as Sir Winston Churchill, John F.Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne and countless others.

Originally built in 1943 for use as a Canadian convoy escort, Christina O came into her own when Onassis purchased her in 1954 and converted the sumptuous megayacht at the expense of over US $4m. Christina O became Onassis’ floating mansion and headquarters for over two decades until his death in 1975. Christina Onassis, namesake of the vessel and Aristotle’s daughter, donated her to the Greek government in 1978 where she fell into disrepair. A close family friend purchased Christina O in 1998 and financed an extensive refurbishment and re-powering which has helped restore this incredible yacht to her former glory with the addition of all the latest technology and equipment.

Chartering luxury megayacht Christina O is a spectacular opportunity for those who desire a cruising holiday with the utmost of style and comfort. Christina O’s capacious deck can host up to 250 guests beneath extensive canopies, perfect for a special occasion or one-off corporate incentive. Retaining a dazzling atmosphere of opulence, many photographs and original items from her early days when her guests and cruising destinations were regularly reported in the news.

Christina O boasts eighteen exquisite en-suite cabins, fourteen of which can be configured for either double or twin beds and 10 of which lie forward on the main deck while the remaining eight are housed aft on the cabin deck. The cabins all have an en-suite shower room and are connected by an elegant marble-railed spiral staircase that covers three decks. The Onassis suite is situated on the bridge deck and holds a spacious bathroom with Jacuzzi tub and a private en-suite lounge. The intricate detailing throughout this incredible yacht, from its excess of precious inlay and Baccarat wall lights, is sure to astound.

Other amenities onboard Christina O includes the following: the Galaxy Bar and extensive sunbathing decks on the Compass deck, show lounge, library, massage and beauty salon, children’s playroom, fitness centre, sports lounge and large Jacuzzi on the Promenade deck, ‘Rendezvous’ music lounge, impressive interior dining room, Ari’s Bar, Lapis Lounge and the famous swimming pool whose floor is a replication of the ancient mosaic of Knossos and converts to a dance floor located on the Main deck.

Christina O is available for charter in the Mediterranean for the summer season and the Caribbean and Bahamas during the winter season.

• Yacht Builder Canadian Vickers No profile available
• Exterior Designer Caesar Pinnau No profile available
• Interior Designer Apostolos Molindris & Associates No profile available

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How Aristotle Onassis Designed the World's First Superyacht

Before the Christina O , the superyacht as we know it wasn’t a thing.

But in 1954, shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis happened upon a slender, elegantly shaped anti-submarine frigate that had served at the D-Day landings, and paid its scrap value of $34,000. What happened next was typical of the Golden Greek: Naming the boat after his daughter, he spent almost $4 million creating the original floating pleasure palace, adding revolutionary touches like a helipad and the mosaic-tiled bottom of the seawater pool that would rise to become a dance floor at the touch of a button.

Soon Frank Sinatra was playing the Steinway or flirting with Marilyn Monroe on barstools made of whale foreskins at Ari’s Bar—where Winston Churchill is said to have thought that a young John F. Kennedy was a waiter when they first met in the mid-1950s. For all that went down on the 325-foot Christina O, the ship itself was influential, providing a blueprint for both design and hedonism to a generation of superyachts, especially those of fledgling boat designer Jon Bannenberg, whose interior design of Talitha G for the Getty family owed a debt to this original. After Onassis’s death, in 1975, Christina Onassis (shown above, at age 3, on board) donated her namesake to the Greek government, and the ship was allowed to decay until a 2001 overhaul, followed by another restoration 15 years later. Now it’s available to rent—if only those Spanish-galleon-timber walls could talk.

The Christina O can be chartered for $624,500 a week through Morley Yachts .

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The real story behind the Triangle of Sadness superyacht

When an unhinged captain, celebrity model couple and an elderly arms dealer find themselves on a luxury cruise ship, things take a turn for the worse in Ruben Östlund's Triangle of Sadness. As the glossy satire is released in theatres, we dive into the colourful history of the film's true star (no, not Woody Harrelson), the 99.15 metre superyacht Christina O .

Christina O is no stranger to celebrity fanfare. With classic lines and a trademark yellow funnel, some might say she was destined for the screen and even secured a role in Netflix drama The Crown , starring as the 121.95 metre Alexander , before landing the part of a luxury cruiser in the 2022 comedy Triangle of Sadness. Even in her early years she was often found in the company of A-listers. The former warship was famously rescued and rebuilt by Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis and her guest list reads like a who's who of Hollywood's finest, the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Greta Garbo and Grace Kelley having all graced her decks.

Spending $4 million on a yacht in the years of austerity after the Second World War seemed an act of frivolity by Onassis , but it was shrewd philosophy that underpinned what appeared to be a wasteful extravagance. The Canadian anti-submarine frigate HMCS Stormont , which he bought for its scrap value of $34,000 in 1954, was transformed into Christina O : a pleasure palace that vastly enhanced his status – and wealth – as film stars, politicians, bankers and businessmen answered his invitation to ‘come aboard’. 

What sets Onassis apart from the more patrician yacht owners of the day, who valued their privacy above all else, is that he virtually wrote the manual for today’s superyacht lifestyle. Espadrilled, tanned and always with an eye open beneath his sunglasses to the possibilities of a little publicity, he epitomised the roguish glamour of the mega-rich. Who didn’t aspire to a lifestyle that revolved around beautiful women, yachts and film stars? Yet, as a shrewd businessman, he was among the first to realise the potential of a yacht as a business tool. Who knows how many lucrative doors a few days’ hospitality aboard Christina O opened up for the man who began his career as a refugee from Turkish Anatolia with $250 in his pocket and a ticket to Argentina, where he made his first fortune.

Christina O was named after his first-born child, who inherited her father’s yacht at his death in 1975. However, with the memories of those carefree days perhaps too poignant, Christina donated her namesake to the Greek government in 1978, and a period of slow deterioration followed. Greece was in the hands of a left-wing regime, and the former plaything of a capitalist millionaire was embarrassing.

The yacht was rescued in 1999 by an Onassis family friend, John Paul Papanicolaou, who set about restoring her. The work was more extensive than first thought – 560 tonnes of new steel were required to replace corroded plating – but now with MAN diesels in place of her original steam turbines and many of her original fittings retained, she charters extremely successfully, her 17 cabins putting her into the exclusive mini-cruise liner market, a role that suits her perfectly.

Christina O has undergone numerous refits in recent years, which saw some mechanical and repair work undertaken, including careful restoration of her famous Minotaur mosaic swimming pool/dance floor. A new ‘Callas stage’ was also constructed and installed around the base of the funnel. Although there is an official concert room below – for events like the Maria Callas opera recitals that showcase the yacht’s links to the famous soprano – it was considered that in view of all the available Mediterranean sunshine going to waste, an alternative outdoor space would be a sound investment.

The most preserved areas are the Onassis Suite, the famous Ari’s Bar and the concert room. All guest cabins have been completely refurbished in similar style and still use the names of Greek islands, as accorded by Onassis. The pastel colour scheme in all of the cabins was selected by Jackie O and her choice of colour schemes and décor.

Ari’s Bar is one of the most historical parts of the Christina O . Engraved orca whale teeth provide places to hang a handbag, or hold on to, around the circumference of the bar, whose surface is still the original massive piece of timber from a sunken Spanish galleon. Similar orca teeth offer footrests on the stool columns, which are covered with the whale penis skin that Aristotle loved to tell his guests about.

Countless reams have been written about this famous yacht in gossip columns, scandal sheets, fashion magazines and yachting journals – probably more so than any other yacht afloat. Christina O is a celebrity in her own right and represents a golden age, an era of giants, from those who owned her to those who trod her decks and gave everlasting ambience to her interior spaces.

While she is truly an icon of her time, her legacy lives on both on and off the screen.

Christina O is available for charter with Morley Yachts from €700,000 per week.

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Jackie Onassis' superyacht, 99m Christina O, available to charter at a reduced rate

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By Katia Damborsky   29 March 2019

Explore Mediterranean hotspots such as the South of France and the Italian Riviera at a reduced rate on board one of the most famous yachts in the global charter fleet: the 99m/325ft superyacht ‘Christina O’ .

It may be many years since Christina O played host to the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly, but the superyacht still retains all of her Old-World glamour and allure.

Owned by Aristotle and Jackie Onassis (formerly Kennedy), the superyacht promises a yachting vacation in the lap of luxury, as well as allowing you to get closer to a slice of rich and fascinating American history.

Perfectly complementing the glittering cruising grounds of St Tropez and Capri , Christina O is offering an excellent  20% charter rate reduction in the West Mediterranean region throughout May and June.

Launched in 1943 from Canadian Vickers, the motor yacht provides accommodation for an incredible 34 guests in 17 staterooms, including the now-famous ‘Onassis Suite’.

Her interiors share the same timeless elegance as the White House during the Jackie Kennedy era, with infusions of Royal Blue offset by crisp cream, richly polished woods and plush upholstery. Sophisticated and warm, guests will feel both comfortable and impressed by Christina O’s social living spaces.

The piano lounge and bar is sure to prove popular for charter guests looking to enjoy dignified soirees at sea. Meanwhile, a dining room flanked by pillars and gold-gilded oil paintings provides the most beguiling setting for formal meals, and a pair of Michelin-starred chefs will create bespoke menus to satisfy every member of the charter party.

Stepping outside onto the main deck aft, the pool is one of the superyacht’s most enviable features. Its depth alone is an impressive feat, but it also features bronze edges, a mosaic-tiled floor, and the capacity to transform into a dancefloor or entertaining area.

Crowning the yacht, the sundeck volunteers a spa pool and selection of lounging areas for making the most out of the Mediterranean's blissful weather. It is situated in close proximity to a bar, for all-day refreshment.

Her interiors share the same timeless elegance as the White House during the Jackie Kennedy era.

After a long day at sea, guests can take advantage of an indulgent Six Senses Spa, which is complete with a beauty room for the ultimate pampering experience. Families will be pleased to find the motor yacht is equipped with a children’s playroom, ensuring the adults can steal a quiet moment while on charter.

A stellar platform for private yacht charters , Christina O is expected to make an appearance at a number of events in the Mediterranean this year; from the F1 Monaco Grand Prix to the Cannes Film Festival .

In order to learn more about this special offer on M/Y CHRISTINA O, please get in touch with your preferred yacht charter broker .

Alternatively, view all superyachts for charter in the Mediterranean .

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99m Canadian Vickers 1943 / 2020

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This is the Christina O, Onassis’ Legendary Yacht Starring in The Crown

From d-day to the first lady's wedding to netflix; the famous yacht once belonging to aristotle onassis returns to the limelight once more..

Greece Is | October 14th, 2021

The lounges and cabins of the rechristened Christina O, the yacht that once belonged to Aristotle Onassis , have seen a parade of celebrities from the worlds of global politics, the arts and entertainment. Over the years, Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Prince Rainier of Monaco, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Greta Garbo, Lisa Minelli, Eva Perόn, John Wayne, Rudolf Nureyev and many members of the Rothschild and Rockefeller dynasties all descended the majestic central staircase, swam in the pool with the famous Minoan Bull mosaic (a pool that turned into a dance floor at the touch of a button) and drank at “Ari’s Bar,” perched on stools covered with whale skin. Today, the fabled boat is garnering yet more attention, as it plays host to Princess Diana and friends.

It has been more than half a century since this legendary boat starred in news broadcasts seen around the world as the reception venue following the wedding that shocked America , that of their former First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy , to the shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. Today, the yacht Christina O is set to play a leading role on the television screen again, this time serving as the backdrop to Princess Diana’s love affair with Egyptian billionaire Dodi Al Fayed, for the needs of the fifth season of “The Crown.”

When Onassis owned it, the yacht Christina hosted the cream of the political and artistic scenes, but today, anyone with €700,000 to spend for a week’s cruise can enjoy its luxurious appointments. Interestingly enough, nothing in the early years of this ship’s existence foretold the glory that lay ahead. This ship, which hosted Heidi Klum’s 2019 wedding and is often found off Mykonos and other cosmopolitan Mediterranean islands, made her maiden voyage in 1943 under the name “Stormont.” A frigate in the Canadian Navy, it took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and in the D-Day landings .

Onassis bought the ship at the scrap price of $34,000 in 1954 and spent $4 million renovating it, before naming it after his daughter. When one considers that amount is equivalent to approximately $45 million in today’s money, it’s easy to understand the levels of luxury involved in the restoration. The Christina was undoubtedly the most luxurious craft in the world at the time . It was, after all, the crown jewel in Onassis’ naval empire, and the magnate used it both as the headquarters of his business and as a floating mansion. In the yacht’s reception rooms hung a Renoir, a de Chirico and two fake Goyas which Onassis enjoyed fooling his esteemed guests into believing were authentic.

With the Christina, Onassis created a trend that survives to this day: every self-respecting billionaire should really have a mega-yacht that turns heads wherever it docks. After Onassis’s death in 1975, the Christina went his daughter, Christina, who, in turn, donated it to the Greek state for use as the presidential yacht. It functioned in this capacity under the name “Argo”, but gradually fell into disuse and when, in the early 1990s, it went under the hammer at a reserve price of $16 million, not a single buyer appeared.

Eventually, in poor condition, it was discovered by the shipbuilder Costas Karabelas and bought by the ship owner and friend of the Onassis family, John-Paul Papanikolaou. Its renovation took 16 months of intensive work, 1.2 million man-hours and $50 million before the boat, now renamed the Christina O, was returned to its former glory. Today, the yacht features a master suite, 17 passenger cabins, a gym, a spa, a cinema and many indoor and outdoor lounges. All its interior spaces remain connected by the ship’s impressive staircase.

The Minoan Bull mosaic at the bottom of the pool was rebuilt, piece by piece, and Aristotle’s bar, where Churchill once drank vintage brandy, was restored to its original form as well; the counter still boasts wood from a sunken Spanish galley, the bar stools are still covered in whale skin, and the hand supports are still shaped from the teeth of killer whales.

Today, another episode is unfolding in the glamorous life of this boat. On the fifth season of “The Crown” , to be released next fall, the Christina O is standing in for the Cujo , the Al Fayed family boat on which Diana was photographed by paparazzi in the summer of 1997 in Saint Tropez. It was a year after her divorce from Prince Charles, and the last summer of her life.

This article was previously published in Greek at moneyreview.gr .

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