Christina O under way in open water, white hull and yellow funnel seen in profile

Christina O

HyperyachtHistorical

A Second World War anti-submarine frigate that Aristotle Onassis turned into one of the most glamorous private yachts of the 1950s and 1960s, rebuilt in 1999–2001 and still in service.

Formerly Stormont, Christina, Argo

99.13 m
Length
1943
Built
1954
Converted
34
Guests

In short

Christina O began as HMCS Stormont, a River-class anti-submarine frigate that Canadian Vickers launched in July 1943 for the Royal Canadian Navy and that served on Atlantic convoys and at the Normandy landings (YachtBuyer, Yachts International). Aristotle Onassis bought her at scrap value in the early 1950s, reportedly for $34,000, and spent about $4 million having her converted at Howaldtswerke in Germany to a design by Caesar Pinnau; she was delivered as Christina in October 1954 (Boat International, Yachts International). Guests including Winston Churchill, who sailed on eight cruises between 1958 and 1965, Maria Callas and John F. Kennedy made her what Boat International calls the world's most famous luxury yacht, and her pool with a rising mosaic floor that becomes a dance floor has been copied on later superyachts (Yachts International, Boat International, Boat International). After years of neglect in Greek state ownership she was rebuilt in 1999–2001 at a reported cost of about $50 million, and in March 2026 she was listed for sale at €52 million (Yachts International, Boat International).

Videos

Three tours from YouTube, most viewed first.

WALKTHROUGH CHRISTINA O - Video TourMorley Yachts · 2025-04-09 · 126,404 viewsWatch on YouTube
CHRISTINA O | 99m/325' | Canadian Vickers - Yacht for SaleFraser Yachts · 2026-06-01 · 39,557 viewsWatch on YouTube
Christina O - The historic superyacht of Aristotle OnassisAsia-Pacific Boating · 2021-11-29 · 33,435 viewsWatch on YouTube

Photos

Christina O under way, seen from above off her starboard bow
Under way
Christina O entering a harbour past a breakwater, bow and yellow funnel in view
Entering harbour
Aerial view of Christina O's aft decks, with the pool on the main deck
Aft decks from above
Wood-panelled lounge with sofas around a low table and a grand piano
Lounge with grand piano
Panelled lounge lined with bookshelves, armchairs and a globe
Lounge with library shelves
Guest stateroom with a double bed under a gold damask cover and wood panelling
Guest stateroom
Christina O lit up at night alongside a city waterfront, reflected in the water
Alongside at night
Teak deck with a Jacuzzi in the foreground, sun loungers and parasols behind
Jacuzzi deck
Gym with a treadmill and exercise machines along a row of windows
Gym

Further reading

Independent coverage we found. We link to it rather than rewrite it.

Specifications

Length overall
99.13 m (325 ft) 99.15 m at YachtBuyer and VesselFinder
Beam
11.12 m
Maximum draught
4.11 m 4.24 m at YachtBuyer
Gross tonnage
1,802
Construction
Steel hull; aluminium and steel superstructure
Original builder
Canadian Vickers, Montreal: laid down in late 1942, launched in July 1943, delivered in November 1943
Naval service
HMCS Stormont, a River-class anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy: Atlantic convoys and the Normandy landings, 1944
Conversion
Howaldtswerke, Kiel, Germany; about a year and a half of work, delivered to Aristotle Onassis in October 1954 as Christina Boat International dates the conversion to 1953
Conversion design
Caesar Pinnau
State ownership
Inherited by Christina Onassis in 1975 and given to the Greek state in 1978
Rebuild
Viktor Lenac shipyard, Rijeka, Croatia: started January 1999, delivered in July 2001; about 65% of the hull and 560 tonnes of steel replaced, about 1.2 million man-hours 630 tonnes of new steel and 95 tonnes of aluminium in Boat International, 2024
Rebuild design
Costas Carabelas (naval architecture and project management); Apostolos Molindris (general arrangement and interior)
Main engines
Two MAN diesels of 2,775 hp each, replacing the original steam engines in the rebuild
Stabilisers
Two pairs of Vosper fin stabilisers; she was one of the first yachts fitted with Vosper stabilisers in the 1950s conversion
Top speed
19 kn
Cruising speed
15 kn
Range
4,690 nautical miles at cruising speed about 6,000 nautical miles at Boat International brokerage news, 2026
Guests
34 in 17 cabins 36 guests in some listings
Crew
Up to 40 36 at YachtBuyer; 39 at Boat International brokerage news
On board
Saltwater pool whose mosaic floor, a Minoan bull-leaping scene from Knossos, rises to form a dance floor; Ari's Bar and the Lapis Lounge kept from the Onassis era; helicopter platform; gym, spa and Jacuzzi deck; two Hacker-Craft tenders
On screen
Played the yacht Alexander in season five of Netflix's The Crown and the cruise ship in Ruben Östlund's Triangle of Sadness (2022)
Flag
Malta
Owner
Private owner
Reported cost
About $34,000 at scrap value and $4 million for the conversion (1950s); about $50 million for the 1999–2001 rebuild around $30,000 purchase price and a rebuild above $40 million in Boat International, 2024
For sale
Asking €52 million (March 2026), reduced from €90 million
Charter
Available

Where is she now

Live AIS position on:

MarineTrafficVesselFinder

IMO 8963818 · MMSI 248383000

Questions

What was Christina O originally?
A warship. Canadian Vickers built her in Montreal as HMCS Stormont, a River-class anti-submarine frigate launched in July 1943, and she escorted Atlantic convoys and took part in the Normandy landings (YachtBuyer, Yachts International). Aristotle Onassis had her converted into the yacht Christina, delivered in October 1954 (Yachts International).
How much did Onassis pay for Christina O?
He bought the surplus frigate at scrap value, reported as $34,000, and spent about $4 million on the conversion (Boat International). Yachts International gives the purchase price as $50,000 and Boat International, in another article, as around $30,000 (Yachts International, Boat International). The 1999–2001 rebuild was reported to cost about $50 million (Yachts International, Boat International).
Who has been on board Christina O?
Winston Churchill sailed on eight cruises between 1958 and 1965, and in 1959 Maria Callas and John F. Kennedy were also guests (Yachts International, Boat International). Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Frank Sinatra and Greta Garbo are among the other guests recorded (Yachts International, Boat International).
What happened to Christina O after Onassis died?
After his death in 1975 she passed to his daughter Christina, who gave her to the Greek state in 1978; she was later left to deteriorate (Yachts International, Boat International). In 1998 an investor group that included the Greek shipowner John Paul Papanicolaou, an Onassis family friend, bought her and had her rebuilt at the Viktor Lenac yard in Rijeka, Croatia; she returned to service as Christina O in 2001 (Yachts International, Boat International, Boat International).
Is Christina O for sale?
Yes. In March 2026 her asking price was cut by €38 million to €52 million (Boat International), and in September 2026 she was listed with Morley Yachts and Fraser (Boat International, YachtBuyer).
Can you charter Christina O?
Yes. She takes 34 overnight guests in 17 cabins and has worked as a charter yacht since her rebuild (Boat International, Boat International, Boat International).
Where is Christina O now?
She sails under the Maltese flag with IMO number 8963818 (VesselFinder); her live position can be followed through the AIS tracker links on this page. In September 2026 she was at anchor off Cannes during the Cannes Yachting Festival ahead of the Monaco Yacht Show (Boat International).

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Breakthrough yacht

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Sources (10)
  1. Boat International, Superyacht Directory: Christina O
  2. Boat International, Christina O: what happened to Aristotle Onassis' 99m superyacht? (Daniel Pembrey) 29 Feb 2024
  3. Boat International, What to know about the legendary 99m superyacht Christina O 11 Sep 2026
  4. Boat International, Major €38M price drop on 99m iconic Hollywood motor yacht Christina O (archived copy of 9 March 2026; the live URL now carries the 2 June 2026 update) 5 Mar 2026
  5. Boat International, The real story behind the Triangle of Sadness superyacht 22 Nov 2022
  6. Boat International, Classic superyacht Christina O to star in Netflix's The Crown 13 Oct 2021
  7. Yachts International, Christina O: rebirth of a legend (March/April 2002 issue) 8 May 2012
  8. YachtBuyer, Christina O
  9. YachtBuyer, Christina O for sale (Fraser Yachts)
  10. VesselFinder, Christina O (IMO 8963818), archived copy 21 Mar 2026