With a jet set lifestyle, Onassis often entertained VIP guests on board, including Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. Winston Churchill first met John F Kennedy on the Christina O, so this splendid vessel has had many famous people walking her decks. John Paul Papanicolaou, who was a friend of the Onassis family, started a two-year project restoring the superyacht to its former glory. In 2001, she was completed and now provides a yacht chartering experience like no other. 

 

Hosting up to 157 guests at harbour side celebrations and events, Christina O can sleep up to 36 people. A superb blue lapis lazuli fireplace was reconstructed in the Lapis Lounge which also has iroko and oak panelling. Book lined shelves and pale coloured sofas give this saloon an old English country manor appearance.

 

 

Teak floorboards act as a reminder of being out at sea while art by Le Corbusier, de Chirico and Renoir add a touch of grandeur. Ari’s Bar is always fully-stocked with drinks so why not enjoy a taste of the high life when on board? This bar is teak lined and accessed via a door to starboard which opens forward. It’s a lovely place to relax especially when you learn about the history of it. 

 

 

The rope-covered bar made from old Spanish galleon timbers has an enormous map on the wall. In the glass topped bar you will see models of Christina O from the day she was built to the present day. Take a look at the whale’s teeth that form the handles around the edge of the bar. They act as a grip if the weather gets a little rough outside.

 

 

When she was transformed, Christina O’s old steam engines were replaced with diesel engines. These extended through three decks. The space which the engines used to take up has now become a large dining area. Forward of Ari’s bar, this dining area has a 24-seater table which is reflected in a glass panel on the ceiling. A raised plinth has four smaller tables on it which provide a more intimate dining area. Pillars and a beautiful marble floor enhance this part of the vessel even more.

 

 

Glazed panelling to starboard divides the saloon from a creatively designed music lounge. The music lounge features a collection of Maria Callas memorabilia as well as a grand piano, delightful. This room is one of four guest lounges and thanks to very large windows, is airy and light, a lovely place to relax and catch up with fellow guests.

 

A corridor is just outside the saloon. This opens out into an atrium which is breath-taking to say the least. The staircase with onyx and brass handrails goes upward and when you look down, you’ll notice the mosaic on the floor which is Onassis’ Omega emblem, totally amazing. This staircase leads you to a promenade deck above where there’s an oval shaped oak panelled library forward off the lobby. Green upholstered seating and a huge selection of books will keep you both comfortable as well as occupied. Double doors then open into the huge Maria Callas lounge.

In the Maria Callas lounge oak panelling is featured along with Giorgetti sofas. A raised plinth forward can be used as a stage for live music or there’s a drop-down screen for movie nights plus a fabulous surround sound system. A Sports Lounge is aft of the central lobby so guests can have a game of backgammon or cards on one of the three games tables. A curved glass wall separates this lounge from a children’s play area which is colourfully decorated with youngsters in mind. 

 

 

Take a look at the fully-equipped gym situated on the port side. If you like to keep fit, there are plenty of things to do in the gym, work out while enjoying fantastic ocean views. After exercising pamper yourself with a spa treatment or a soothing massage from a beauty therapist who is professional and discreet.

 

The luxurious and large Onassis Suite can be found behind the bridge accessed from the central staircase. An original onyx fireplace, an oak-panelled study which doubles as a lounge as well as sleeping quarters forward, form this beautiful suite. Venetian linen drapes over the large bed while Baccarat crystal lights can be seen on the walls. White Penteli marble has been used in the bathroom making it a wonderful place to relax in.

 

With ten guest state rooms spanning off a long corridor on the main deck forward, there are eight other cabins at the aft end of the lower deck. The rooms closer to the centre of the vessel are large with walk-in wardrobes and writing desks. All of these pleasant cabins can be arranged into twins or doubles. Each has wall panels, prints of Greek Islands, marble-lined shower rooms and pastel coloured décor.

 

The generously large decks on the Christina O are ideal for relaxation and entertainment. A compass deck on the top tier has a bar, plenty of sun loungers and naturally offers fabulous views of the ocean. A teak deck below is versatile and flexible, capable of adapting to any occasion yacht charter guests have in mind.

 

 

Sweeping staircases to starboard and port take you down to the promenade deck. This deck can hold large numbers of guests and even has a helipad aft overlooked by a bubbling Jacuzzi. After taking a dip, why not order an exotic cocktail at the bar before enjoying dinner at one of the circular tables?

The main deck aft boasts a swimming pool with a mosaic of a Minoan bull and vaulter from the Palace of Knossos. This has been created by the designers and provides a focal as well as a talking point. The floor of the pool can be elevated and when the water is drained, forms a dance floor where everyone can enjoy an evening of entertainment.

 

 

Forward of the swimming pool is a rectangular dining table and many places to relax. Posing stools have been designed with windlasses and bollards which many of Onassis’s famous guests have sat on. Walk in the footsteps of some of the stars and celebrities who have boarded the Christina O to see how they lived a life of sheer luxury.

 

 

In a league of her own, Christina O offers world-class facilities and amenities. Accommodating large numbers of guests, she is an iconic superyacht, perfect in every way, offering unforgettable charter vacations and memories to last a lifetime.