- Rescued Twice by Billionaires: Christina O, originally built as a wartime anti-submarine vessel, was rescued from obscurity twice. Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis acquired her for a mere $34,000, investing an astonishing $4 million in her transformation, setting a new post-war standard of luxury. After his passing, the yacht was inherited by his muse and then donated to the Greek government. It suffered a decade of decline before being saved by John Paul Papanicolaou, a friend of the Onassis family, who embarked on a three-year, $50 million restoration in 2001.
- Hollywood Stars and Silver Screen Appearances: Christina O’s guestlist reads like a who’s who of Hollywood, with luminaries such as Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra gracing her decks. The yacht itself has also appeared on both the big and small screens, most recently portraying the converted cruise ship where Princess Diana and Prince Charles celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in Netflix’s “The Crown.”
- Preserved Golden-Era Features: Christina O boasts a wealth of golden-era artifacts, including the original Steinway piano in the Callas Lounge, named after Maria Callas, the lover of Aristotle Onassis. The Onassis Suite retains its onyx fireplace and Baccarat crystal lighting, while the vintage circular staircase features onyx and silver handrails.
- Carefully Restored Features: Many of Christina O’s features have been meticulously restored to their former glory, including the 16-person dining table on the main deck, adorned with Melinda Patten marquetry depicting tales of Ulysses, and the iconic saltwater pool with its Greek mythological minotaur mosaic, capable of transforming into a dance floor. The yacht’s Lapis Lounge features a working Lapis Lazuli fireplace, and the 16 guest cabins have been refurbished with the same pastel color scheme and décor originally selected by Jackie Onassis.
- Unconventional Materials: A unique aspect of Christina O is Ari’s Bar, which is made from the timbers of a sunken Spanish Galleon, with engraved orca whale teeth serving as footrests on the stools. What’s more unusual is that the stools are upholstered with whale penis skin, a quirky detail that Aristotle Onassis enjoyed sharing with his guests, including the famous line he once used with Greta Garbo: “Madame, you are now sitting on the largest penis in the world.”
