The ultimate symbol of power and glamour has just seen its asking price on the brokerage market reduced to €52 million. Few vessels can claim to hold Hollywood stardom, political history and commercial charter success like the legendary 99.1-metre Christina O.
Originally built in 1943 by Canadian Vickers as a wartime anti-submarine vessel, Christina O’s transformation into a floating palace is one of yachting’s most remarkable reinventions. And at €52 million, her latest price adjustment invites a new custodian to step in and own a living chapter of maritime heritage.
From wartime to world stage
The yacht’s story is inseparable from that of Aristotle Onassis – the self-made shipping titan who once rose from a penniless refugee to become one of the richest men in the world.
Onassis acquired the vessel in the early 1950s and famously spent $4 million on her conversion – equivalent to around $50 million today – turning a utilitarian naval escort into one of the most glamorous yachts afloat. At a time when global shipping was being reshaped by bold entrepreneurs, Onassis pioneered tanker expansion and international trade routes, helping redefine modern maritime commerce.
Previously known as Christina, or The Christina, she became the epicentre of mid-20th-century power and culture. On board, alliances were forged and legends entertained. Winston Churchill also became a close friend of Onassis, taking extended cruises across the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Among these voyages was a particularly poignant passage past the Gallipoli peninsula - a site that held emotional significance for Churchill, whose political career had long been shadowed by the heavy Allied casualties suffered there during the Great War.
Steeped in the golden age of the French Riviera, the yacht’s guest list reads like a cultural hall of fame: Maria Callas, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra all graced her decks.
A $50 million resurrection
Following Onassis’ death in 1975, Christina O fell into decline until she was rescued by family friend John Paul Papanicolaou. What followed was a major three-year, $50 million rebuild completed in 2001.
The yacht was completely rebuilt to ABS class and MCA compliance, effectively becoming a new build while preserving her DNA. The steel hull and much of the superstructure were renewed. Every pipe, cable, engine, generator, pump and valve was replaced. Yet the soul of Onassis’ yacht remained intact.
One of the yacht's most talked-about features is Ari's Bar. Guests can enjoy cocktails at the very same bar that has remained unchanged since 1956 - reportedly the site of the first meeting between Churchill and John F. Kennedy. The original rope-covered bar, made from the timbers of a sunken Spanish galleon, and famous whale-foreskin-upholstered barstools are still intact. The vintage grand spiral staircase with its onyx and silver handrail also still sweeps between the decks.
Over the past eight years, Christina O has undergone annual refits that have transformed nearly every aspect of the yacht. Additions include a new hydraulic swim platform, shade structures across all decks, fresh teak decking, updated paint, a modernised air-conditioning system and enhanced WiFi connectivity via Starlink.
The cabins were refined with connecting doors that allow for the creation of two family suites when needed. The dining room received a complete makeover and was renamed the Princess Grace Dining Room. On the Jacuzzi Deck, the outdoor bar was redesigned with integrated lighting and an upgraded sound system, while push-button electric doors replaced traditional ones throughout the interior-exterior transitions.
The spa was elevated with the addition of a dedicated shower room, allowing guests to rinse off after treatments without returning to their cabins. Behind the scenes, all technical equipment has been meticulously maintained to ensure flawless operation.
A charter powerhouse
With 1,802GT of internal volume, Christina O impressively sleeps up to 34 guests, making her attractive on today's charter market. Her 17 guest cabins include the bridge-deck master "Onassis Suite", complete with a sitting room and original onyx fireplace, while the remaining guest cabins can be found on the main and lower decks. There are separate quarters that house up to 40 crew.
Her main deck features a swimming pool with a moving mosaic floor inspired by Minoan artwork discovered at the Palace of Knossos in Crete, dating back to 1450 BC. The famous moving floor of the pool can transform the space into a dance floor. The Callas Lounge – named after the renowned opera singer and Onassis' lover, Maria Callas – houses the original 100-year-old Steinway piano once played by Sinatra and Callas to entertain high-profile guests. The deck below features the updated dining room, the famous Ari’s Bar and the Jackie O Lapis Lounge, which leads out to the pool deck.
Powered by twin MAN-B&W 6L-27/38 engines, Christina O has a range of up to 6,000 nautical miles, a cruising speed of 15 knots and she can reach a top speed of 19 knots. Other key numbers include an 11.1-metre beam and a 4.1-metre draught.
With both her cultural heritage and modern capabilities, Christina O has achieved remarkable success on the charter market, attracting repeat bookings across the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Caribbean and even Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Her starring roles in the acclaimed Netflix series The Crown and the award-winning comedy-drama Triangle of Sadness have solidified her status as both a historical and modern-day icon.
Lying in Athens, Greece, Christina O is listed for sale with Tim Morley of Morley Yachts. For further information or to arrange a private viewing, contact Morley Yachts directly.
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