What makes Christina O unique compared to other luxury yachts currently on the market?
She has a story… a fantastic story, and guests get to be part of it. They feel it. There is an emotional reaction when you go on CHRISTINA O. It is hard to explain, but you feel a connection to many of the world’s most important people who shaped our modern world. Sir Winston Churchill took 9 cruises on board as a valued and treasured guest of Ari Onassis. Churchill first met John F. Kennedy on board CHRISTINA in the port of Monaco in 1958. Jackie Kennedy joked to JFK that Sir Winston mistook him for a waiter due to his white dinner jacket. The young Kennedy had long admired Sir Winston, and had read his books as a boy. The meeting was repeated on board the yacht CHRISTINA in 1959 when JFK again came aboard in Monaco to meet Churchill… this time at Sir Winston’s request, and their conversation is documented: Kennedy chatted with Churchill about his presidential ambitions, citing his Catholicism as a problem. Churchill replied: “If that’s the only difficulty, you can always change your religion and still remain a good Christian,” prompting a laugh by Kennedy. By this time, for sure, Sir Winston knew exactly who John F. Kennedy was.
Although the list of guests who enjoyed CHRISTINA includes numerous icons of the 20th Century, the story of the Onassis love affairs and marriages create the most intrigue. Why care about the love life of the former owner of a yacht – especially when he seems to have been disloyal to the women in his life? The reason is purely the magnitude of his achievement! Greek people revere Onassis to this day, despite his shortcomings, because he was one of the most successful shipping entrepreneurs that helped rebuild Greece as a major power in shipping after the war – something that Greeks are immensely proud of. They loved him then, and still love him now. He was known as a good employer, and generous with people at every level, which Greeks also remember.
Can there be greater achievements for a Greek from humble beginnings than to win the love of one of the most famous opera divas of all time, superstar Maria Callas? To follow that with the marriage to the stunning First Lady, America’s sweetheart, Jackie Bouvier Kennedy, who became “Jackie O” with the celebration of the wedding on board CHRISTINA and on his private island Skorpios in the Ionian.
The rebirth of CHRISTINA O as a charter yacht for 34 guests has been a huge success thanks to the careful preservation of all the physical vestiges of this great story. Guests feel it. The important soul of the yacht is intact. The more you investigate this story of Onassis and CHRISTINA, the more fascinating it becomes as a story. It is romantic and inspirational.
CHRISTINA O’s crew are all enthusiastic about the passion and pride that the yacht represents. The guest experience is literally like no other yacht.
How has the history and legacy been preserved to add to her value today?
When the refit project was considered in 1997, the main goal for the Owner and partnership at the time was to maintain the authenticity of each area of the yacht. As a result, what we can see on-board is the result of a collective effort to uphold the rich heritage of the vessel.
For example the “Jackie Kennedy Lapis Lounge” is clearly almost unchanged from Onassis time, as the multiple photographs on display show todays guests that they are clearly in the same space that the likes of Jackie and Onassis spent so much time in, with it’s incredible fireplace made of the blue gemstone lapis lazuli – a stone with a story of its own. The neighboring Ari’s Bar is unchanged from Onassis time, with the famous bar stools still covered with the soft leather of whale scrotums – another story! The “Callas Lounge” where there is a stage that is clearly where Maria Callas sang, to a private audience of Onassis and assembled guests such as Sir Winston Churchill, and where today there is a collection to celebrate the life and achievements of Maria Callas, with her original wedding rings of her and her husband Battista Meneghini – she apparently cast hers off on the deck(!); her original framed Platinum Album representing a million sales; a silver champagne bowl presented to her by La Scala, and a multitude of other treasures including framed original letters and telegrams.
Several large deck areas have been created out of spaces which previously served as storage for his open-roof Fiat 500 and his Piaggio P136 seaplane – this area now offers the Jacuzzi Deck, with probably the best outdoor bar on any yacht in the world. The Pool Deck is almost original to Onassis times, with the same genius design of a lifting-and-lowering pool platform that allows a wonderful pool to be transformed when not being used to a ‘dance floor’ with its mosaic representation of a Minoan fresco that dates to 1,400 BC depicting ‘Bull-leaping’ found in the Palace of Knossos in Crete.
The latest upgrade to CHRISTINA O’s decks has been the improvement of it’s uppermost “Compass Deck” with new shade structures; new teak; wind protection, and a new dining table.
This amazing availability of outdoor space allows CHRISTINA O to be used for weddings or social events, and film productions too. The yacht can host up to 110 film crew, as well as the actors, which made her an ideal choice for several recent films and an Emmy award winning Netflix Series.
What are some of the most notable features and amenities on Christina O that you believe will appeal to potential buyers and charterers?
CHRISTINA O has quite few tricks up her sleeve.
She was built for speed to hunt U-Boats during World War II. Her hull shape is fast and her naval architecture is intrinsically strong and stable, she was part of the Royal Canadian Navy efforts to prevent German U Boats from returning from the Atlantic to the English Channel to take part in Operation Neptune in June 1944, playing an important part in the success of the D-Day landings of 6th June 1944.
I think it is worth remembering some of the vessel’s wartime achievements. One of her sister ships was damaged by a bomber and she assisted with the rescue; she assisted in the rescue of a downed aviator off the French coast and was attacked by German guns – a sailor was killed; in October 1944 she escorted a convoy to Gibraltar; from 29th November to 7th December 1944 she escorted a convoy from Scotland to the Kohler Inlet near Murmansk in Russia, which took them into the Arctic winter, where the danger of ice added to the danger of U-Boats.
She then escorted another convoy back from the 10th to 17th December 1944. The primary role was to hunt and kill U-Boats that were sinking merchant ships and it is worth noting that during WWII German U-Boats sank 1,587 ships and damaged 144 ships, so this was a serious and dangerous mission “those who sailed on the convoys and recalled temperatures of 40 degrees below zero… Condensation would form on the ship’s bulkheads which would turn to ice of up to three inches in thickness. To prevent the ships turning over with the weight of ice, the men were sent out to chip away the ice”. Winston Churchill described the convoys as the “worst journey in the world”.
Almost everything has been rebuilt, including changing the steel on the hull, the engines, and every mechanical and electrical system on board… but the hull shape and much of the naval architecture remain, giving her a speed of 19 knots if needed.
A feature was made possible by the removal of the huge triple-expansion steam engines in her 1999 to 2001 rebuild. The modern Man Alfa diesel engines and three large generators still left space available for the enlargement of the guest space, and the “Grace Kelly Dining Room” was made that can seat all 34 guests, and more if needed. This is almost always used once during a weeklong cruise, sometimes accompanied by live music performances, with guests dressing up for a theme like a Gatsby night.
There is a recently upgraded spa, with two massage treatment rooms, manicure and pedicure, a shower room, and a hair and makeup room. The crew of 40 people includes two full time spa therapists, which is always a hit with the guests.
The day usually starts by taking breakfast on the Pool Deck. Of note are the terraces that open out on both sides, which were much loved by Sir Winston Churchill so they have been christened the “Churchill Terraces” and there is a picture on board of Churchill painting a picture while sitting on one of the terraces.
Having these different spaces around the yacht offers variety during a cruise, changing locations for dining is a rare luxury when you have up to 34 guests.
There is a recently upgraded spa, with two massage treatment rooms, manicure and pedicure, a shower room, and a hair and makeup room. The crew of 40 people includes two full time spa therapists, which is always a hit with the guests.
The day usually starts by taking breakfast on the Pool Deck. Of note are the terraces that open out on both sides, which were much loved by Sir Winston Churchill so they have been christened the “Churchill Terraces” and there is a picture on board of Churchill painting a picture while sitting on one of the terraces.
Having these different spaces around the yacht offers variety during a cruise, changing locations for dining is a rare luxury when you have up to 34 guests.
I mentioned it already, but I have never seen such an impressive outdoor bar as the one that that they have created on the Jacuzzi Deck. In addition, the “Ari’s Bar” is unique and special, and the 1999 – 2001 rebuild had the main goal to sustain the authenticity of this space as it was during Onassis time.
She sleeps 34, but it is possible to do a seated meal for 100-120 people on the Pool Deck. We can have up to 157 guests on board at anchor, or a short cruise. I don’t think any other yachts can comfortably and legally host this number of guests for events on charter.
I do think that the yacht is perfect for smaller number of guests too, she is amazing for 18-20 people. There are many private spaces which offer guests separate areas from the rest of the group to conduct business, video calls etc., without interrupting anyone else on-board.
The 2 beautiful Hacker Craft tenders were designed and made for CHRISTINA O, and it is insane luxury to be driven out to the yacht in these boats, especially when they are both cruising next to each other. The yacht has also regularly updated her sports tenders and jetskis.
Can you share any memorable stories or experience from Christina O’s charters that highlight her unique charm and capabilities?
Often, the main guest will arrive on-board before the start of the charter and before their fellow guests, without having told them much about the yacht and what to expect on first sight. As I said before we always enjoy to see the emotional reaction of the guests when they come on board and feel they are on something special.
We have several charter clients who have come back multiple times to charter again and again, so it is like coming home for them. We have great continuity of the crew as well, so they enjoy seeing the same people and feeling instantly at ease. The Operations Manager, Florin, is a joy to work with and gives 110% to making sure everything is arranged, and responding to all the last minute guest requests.
The guests always tell me how great the food is, and part of my job as broker is to be involved in the discussion of menus in advance of the charter, so the yacht can get the provisions they need. The sample menus produced by the Executive Chef and the Pastry Chef are mouth-watering, and when we discuss them together, I get to hear the passion and enthusiasm in Chef Daniel’s description of how he will create a reduction for a sauce, for example. I had one charter guest tell me that he had never eaten so well in his life – he is a vegetarian, and he said the Chefs made unbelievable efforts with imaginative vegetarian dishes.
We have had charters with lots of children on board, and these have been a great success. I was lucky enough to spend a night on board with my children when they were younger, and they have never forgotten it – most memorable was the popcorn in bed. They were given CHRISTINA O polo shirts in their size, and wore them proudly for years.
We have also had several broker parties on board, and I we did something that Andreas Liveras taught me to do. We invite brokers to bring their partners on board, which is unusual in the yachting industry. The brokers enjoy this so much that I think it is now the hottest ticket in any yachting event, as we routinely have 120 guests for these parties, as well as a DJ, and singers and musicians. The amazing thing for me is how easy it is to organise these events, since the crew know exactly what needs to be done – you would think organising a great party for 120 people would be hugely stressful, but for CHRISTINA O it is just what they do.
I think pride is a word that springs to mind a lot with CHRISTINA O. Charterers can feel justifiably proud that they are chartering this yacht, which is intelligent, charming, and very beautiful. They then offer that to their guests. It makes having fun together even more special, knowing you are a guest like Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor before you. I am certainly proud to have been involved as the broker for this yacht for the last 7 years of success, and I’m looking forward to the next chapter.
I have written the story of CHRISTINA in longer format, with collected images, and will be happy to share it if people contact me: [email protected]
