CANADIAN VICKERS
99m Iconic Hollywood Motor Yacht Christina O Hits the Market
The legendary 99.1-meter motor yacht Christina O is now available for purchase.
Christina O’s decks have been graced by icons like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Maria Callas, Richard Burton, John Wayne, Winston Churchill, and John F. Kennedy. Her bar, built from the wood of a sunken Spanish galleon, has hosted many a famous figure.
Originally delivered in 1943 by Canadian Vickers as an anti-submarine vessel, Christina O played a role in the D-Day landings. Her naval architecture is by Professor Cãsar Pinnau and Howaldtswerke, with exterior design by Costas Carabelas. Her most recent refit was in 2023.
Greek shipowner Aristotle Onassis, Jackie Kennedy’s second husband, transformed her from scrap to splendor with a $4,000,000 rebuild—equivalent to about $50 million today. Apostolos Molindris crafted her original interior.
Recent owners include John Paul Papanicolaou, who invested $50,000,000 in her restoration, and a syndicate of Irish businessmen led by the late Ivor Fitzpatrick, who funded a comprehensive refit before placing her on the charter market.
Two of Christina O’s standout features are a mosaic-tiled, saltwater swimming pool that converts to a dance floor and the unique bar stools upholstered in whale foreskin. The bar, known as Ari’s Bar, is adorned with whale teeth footrests and rope-covered fixtures.
Christina O can host 34 guests in 17 cabins, refurbished to match the original décor chosen by Jackie Onassis. Her rich interior still features the Steinway piano once played by Frank Sinatra and Maria Callas, and the Onassis suite boasts an onyx fireplace and Baccarat crystal lighting. The yacht’s circular staircase is highlighted by a vintage onyx and silver handrail.
She accommodates up to 39 crew members but can cruise with up to 157 guests for coastal voyages. Powered by twin MAN diesels providing 5,500hp, Christina O cruises at 15 knots, reaching a top speed of 19 knots, and has an impressive range of 12,000 nautical miles at 10 knots. Her inventory includes two Hacker Craft Prestige varnished tenders, each seating eight guests.
Currently lying in Nice, France, Christina O is asking €90,000,000.