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CHRISTINA O, a story that continues to sail

At 99 metres with 17 staterooms and legendary interiors, CHRISTINA O preserves the spirit of the Onassis era while offering a distinctive modern charter experience

CHRISTINA O, the superyacht once owned by Aristotle Onassis, continues to cruise between history, the Mediterranean and charter life after her 2022 refit

CHRISTINA O does not need a story to be created around her: she has been carrying one for more than eighty years. Built by Canadian Vickers in 1943 and later transformed into the celebrated private yacht of Aristotle Onassis, this 99.13-metre superyacht still cruises today with spaces, names and atmospheres connected to one of the most widely remembered eras of 20th-century yachting. Following an extensive rebuild between 1999 and 2001 and a further refit in 2022, CHRISTINA O is now also available for charter.

A floating salon that witnessed history

Sir Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas are among the personalities Fraser recalls as having stepped aboard during the Onassis years. Their names help explain why CHRISTINA O occupies a particular place in yachting culture, extending well beyond her technical specifications or dimensions.

Much of that identity can still be experienced on board. Ari’s Bar, the Callas Lounge and the Jackie Kennedy Lapis Lounge preserve references to the yacht’s original era, while memorabilia and carefully retained details turn parts of the vessel into living chapters of its history.

The swimming pool that becomes a dance floor

One of CHRISTINA O’s most distinctive features remains the swimming pool on the Pool Deck. Its mosaic floor can rise to deck level, transforming the area into a dance floor.

It is perhaps one of the clearest expressions of the yacht’s original philosophy: spaces conceived not simply for cruising, but for entertaining, dining, conversation and social occasions on a scale rarely associated with a conventional superyacht.

The same spirit can be found in the Grace Kelly Dining Room, designed for formal dinners, the Churchill Terraces for open-air moments and the Jacuzzi Deck, which today also features a large outdoor bar.

34 guests across 17 staterooms

CHRISTINA O’s dimensions allow her to offer an unusual level of guest capacity. Fraser lists 17 staterooms accommodating 34 overnight guests, supported by a crew of 40. When the yacht is at anchor, events can welcome as many as 157 guests.

This makes the yacht suitable for very different uses, from private journeys with family and friends to large celebrations, film productions and prestigious events.

Her scale does not prevent the creation of more intimate spaces. It is precisely the contrast between grand entertaining areas and rooms closely connected with the yacht’s history that gives life on board its particular character.

Time has passed, technology has evolved

History does not mean remaining unchanged. CHRISTINA O underwent an extensive reconstruction between 1999 and 2001 and a comprehensive refit in 2022. Fraser lists a steel hull, a gross tonnage of 1,802 GT, a beam of 11.12 metres and a draft of 4.11 metres.

Power comes from two MAN engines rated at 2,772 hp each. The declared cruising speed is 15 knots, maximum speed is 19 knots and range is approximately 6,000 nautical miles.

The yacht also features a recently upgraded spa with two full-time therapists, extensive exterior deck areas and two custom Hacker-Craft tenders. These contemporary elements have been integrated into a vessel whose historical identity nevertheless remains its defining feature.

From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean

Fraser’s charter programme places CHRISTINA O in the Mediterranean from April to September, while during the winter season she cruises in the Caribbean and Bahamas. Published charter rates start from €700,000 per week during the summer season and reach €740,000 during the stated high-season periods.

In 2026, the yacht is also scheduled to be at anchor during the Cannes Yachting Festival from 8 to 13 September and the Monaco Yacht Show from 23 to 26 September.

More than a historic superyacht

Describing CHRISTINA O simply as a historic yacht would probably be too limiting. She is certainly a surviving expression of the Onassis era, but she remains an operational vessel, crossing the Mediterranean and welcoming new guests into spaces once shared by some of the best-known figures of the 20th century.

It is this overlap between memory and the present that sets her apart. Guests can dine in rooms associated with political, cultural and social history, walk through spaces that still carry the names of their former visitors and, a few hours later, find themselves at anchor off a new Mediterranean destination.

CHRISTINA O therefore continues to do what every yacht was built to do: sail. In her case, however, every new route carries the memory of those that came before.

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Fraser Yachts

22 August 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
CHRISTINA O, a story that continues to sail
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The information in this article has been sourced from and adapted from official sources and/or press releases, in accordance with our editorial code of ethics.