Whether polar icebreaker, dive support vessel, luxurious yacht, or nimble sailing craft, EYOS will guide you to the best expedition yacht for your charter. In this ongoing series, we ask what makes the yachts we regularly work with so special.
But Christina O isn’t just a yacht; she’s a living, breathing piece of history, a vessel whose story embodies the golden age of luxury and adventure. Once the pride of Aristotle Onassis, this iconic yacht has hosted some of the most celebrated figures of the 20th century. In the time since, she has undergone a breathtaking transformation that keeps her storied legacy alive in new destinations around the world. Here’s why we can’t help but admire this floating masterpiece.
Interested in chartering Christina O? Act fast – the yacht is available in the Caribbean now. Contact EYOS at [email protected] for details.
-
A Storied Past That Shaped Modern Yachting
In 1954, shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis transformed a humble Canadian warship into Christina, a 99-meter superyacht unlike anything the world had seen. Designed by the brilliant Caesar Pinnau, the yacht radiated opulence—from her lapis lazuli fireplace to the mosaic-tiled swimming pool that could convert into a dance floor. Christina wasn’t just luxurious; she was a symbol of possibility and audacity.
Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, John F. Kennedy, and Winston Churchill all graced her decks. Even after Onassis’s death, Christina’s influence endured, setting the standard for modern superyacht design and inspiring the culture of luxury travel as we know it.
“Christina O is one of the most iconic yachts on the planet and a true honor to step onboard. On projects we have run with the yacht, we and our clients have found her crew to be truly exceptional. She provides an experience unlike anything else available today.”
-
Ben Lyons, EYOS CEO
-
A Timeless Restoration
Fast forward to 1998: Christina had been abandoned, left to decay in a naval base off Piraeus. Enter John “Big John” Papanicolaou, a visionary with the ambition to restore the yacht to her former glory. What followed was an extraordinary 18-month odyssey that tested the limits of engineering, design, and human perseverance. Naval architect Costas Carabelas took on the task, describing it as both a dream and a nightmare.
Big John envisioned modernizing the yacht’s accommodations—expanding from 24 to 34 guests—while staying true to Onassis’s original vision. It was a feat of craftsmanship: 630 tons of new steel, 95 tons of aluminum, and 90 kilometers of wiring later, Christina O was born. The restoration honored the yacht’s legendary spaces, including Ari’s Bar—famous for its barstools crafted from whale scrotum—and the spiral staircase adorned with the yacht’s Omega and laurel wreath logo.
-
Why It Inspires Us
Today, Christina O sails as a charter yacht, allowing modern travelers to step into the shoes of Churchill, Callas, and Kennedy. The vessel is a portal to an era of glamour and intrigue, where every detail—from the glass-bottomed tenders to the sun-drenched aft deck— is an entry point into a story of adventure and ambition.
We love Christina O because she embodies the spirit of exploration and reinvention. Whether it’s navigating the Caribbean reefs of Costa Rica or basking under the Mediterranean sun, this yacht reminds us of the timeless allure of the sea and the stories waiting to be discovered. At EYOS Expeditions, we live for moments like these—where history, luxury, and adventure come together in perfect harmony.
