The story of Christina O
In 1954 Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis purchased a Canadian war weary frigate and transformed her into the most luxurious and world-famous private yacht, naming her after his daughter Christina O. Famous for hosting the superyacht elite, the ‘Christina’ welcomed Hollywood stars, famous musicians, as well as heads of state, to name just a few.
It is said that this legendary yacht is where John F Kennedy first met Winston Churchill and in Autumn 1963 where Jackie Kennedy first met Aristotle Onassis; she had been invited to spend time on the ‘Christina’ by her younger sister. The ‘CHRISTINA O‘ is perhaps the most written about yacht ever, and has witnessed some of the most iconic events of the last century.
Aristotle’s beloved Christina Onassis
Born in 1950 in New York City, the only daughter and sole heiress of Aristotle, Christina was supposed to live a sheltered and carefree life, but she was haunted by family scandal, the death of all her close relatives and four unsuccessful marriages. In 1988, Christina Onassis, the golden heiress of the Onassis shipping fortune, died in Argentina at the age of just thirty-eight.
Christina spent her life as a rich girl, living a life of extreme wealth and luxury. She is said to have ordered a helicopter to fly from Austria to Switzerland to retrieve a music cassette she’d forgotten. Her marriage to French pharmaceutical heir Thierry Roussel produced Christina’s only child, Athina.
Christina Onassis
She had learned about business and finance in the New York offices of her father, beginning as a twenty-year-old secretary and later working at her father’s headquarters in Monaco. Following the tragic death of her brother Alexander and then her father a short while later in 1975, Christina gave up her American citizenship and became a dual citizen of Greece and Argentina for the remainder of her life. She proved to have smart business acumen and gradually strengthened her hold over the Onassis Group, running the entire family empire. She donated the American portion of her holdings in her father’s company to the American Hospital of Paris with half of Aristotle’s estate used to establish the Alexander Onassis Foundation.
Onassis was considering starting a new life for herself and her daughter in Argentina, but sadly in 1988, Christina was found dead in a friend’s home , another chapter in the Greek tragedy of the Onassis family. She left Athina as her heir, to inherit an estate worth a reported $250 million and is buried alongside her beloved father and brother in the family cemetery on the island of Skorpios.
ABOUT THE MEGAYACHT ‘CHRISTINA O’ – The story of Christina O
On the death of Aristotle Onassis in 1975 the ‘Christina’ became the property of the Greek Government but fell into disrepair until in 2001, Greek businessman and Onassis’ friend Pavlos Papanikolaou took responsibility and spent two years restoring her to her former glory. With her most recent refit completed in 2020 – this unique megayacht can now host 34 guests in 17 cabins and entertain more than 150 guests while at anchor. She is the perfect venue for family and friend celebrations and corporate entertainment.
More information about Christina O, and the story of the yacht are following.
Living in Opulence and Style
The exterior of Christina O stands out from other superyachts owing to her clipper bow, long line, dazzling white topsides, and vibrant yellow funnel, but her interiors are also uniquely amazing.
Relax in the main deck’s Lapis Lounge named for its stunning lapis-lazuli framed fireplace, and you will find oak adorned walls, paintings by the grand masters and sumptuous settees. Or you may prefer to enjoy listening to the sound of Onassis’ famous lover Maria Callas as her operatic talent plays in the Callas Lounge. With three pianos on board including two Steinways you can enjoy music to your heart’s content and imagine what it must have been like to listen to Maria Callas or Frank Sinatra perform live. For family entertainment the Callas Lounge also proffers a cinema with state-of-the-art sound system. Alternatively you can enjoy a drink from a whale-skin bar stool, at the rope-adorned Aris Bar where Onassis liked to socialise with his guests.
Along with the Aris Bar, the main deck is also home to a dining salon with a 24-seater table, and a stunning atrium houses a spiral staircase leading to the other salons and promenade deck above.
Accommodation on board comprises the oak panelled Onassis Master Suite with its crystal lit bedroom, marble bathroom, library and sitting room with original onyx fireplace. Guests are also well looked after in ten double staterooms on the main deck. While the lower deck can accommodate a further eight cabins.
Cuisine
At the heart of any luxury holiday or celebration is the haute cuisine. Christina O’s Head Chef can be counted on to produce star-rated cuisine, ably assisted by the Pastry Chef, the Sous Chef and Sommelier on board. The team can be relied on to offer exquisite international cuisine ranging from fresh sushi to sumptuous desserts accompanied of course, by the best wines.
Equipment and outdoor space
Not only does ‘Christina O’ have an enviable selection of toys and watersports equipment, matching the most modern of her peers, but she also offers the extra benefit of vast desk space and incomparable style, offering multiple options for lounging and socialising.
The top ‘compass deck’ provides a host of sun loungers and a bar, while the promenade deck below features a spa pool, jacuzzi bar and the opportunity for alfresco dining. Whether you prefer swimming or dancing – the main deck offers an impressive flexibility as its wondrous mosaic swimming pool. It can be easily converted, by raising its base to become a dance floor. You will also find a glass-panelled gym on board.
With a water sports instructor on the crew, you can enjoy either exhilarating or relaxing time on the water. Water toys include a Flyboard and a waterslide allowing guests to hastily reach the sea from the sun deck in seconds. Alternatively you can take to the sea on Seadoos, kayaks, paddleboards, towable toys. Or spend more relaxing time snorkelling or watching the world go by from the inflatable swim platform. For travel from the boat ‘Christina O’ also has you covered – with launches, tenders and lifeboats of course.
Performance and Range
Powered by twin MAN engines and with a stabilisation system, the ’Christina O’ comfortably cruises at 14 knots and can reach a maximum speed of 19 knots. With an enviable range of up to 5,000 nautical miles you can travel to the ends of the Earth in comfort.
Classic yacht ‘CHRISTINA O‘ is an outstanding pedigree yacht that delivers on all fronts for a superlative luxury yacht vacation. If you are looking to entertain or be entertained in a setting which combines opulence with the echoes of an iconic past, the ‘CHRISTINA O‘ Megayacht will give you the flavour of the amazing lifestyle enjoyed by the jetsetters of the past. Christina O and her 38 strong crew are available for charter cruising within the Caribbean and Central America.
For more information about the story of Christina O, please contact us at info@westcoastint.com or visit CHRISTINA O on our website .
