Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 by Peter Knego
Anyone venturing to London with the slightest interest in classic ships and luxury yachts has a treat in store at the Canary Wharf. The 325 by 36 foot former Onassis yacht CHRISTINA O is now open for daily tours.
CHRISTINA O at London.
For more information, please go to: www.thejackieoexperience.com
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All photos by and copyright Peter Knego 2012 unless otherwise noted.
The face of fame and fortune.
Even if she weren’t the playground of the wealthiest and most glamorous people of the 20th Century, the MV CHRISTINA O would still be a fascinating subject, simply for her splendid maritime architecture.
Spiraling down to a mosaic “O".
After decades of neglect and obscurity, the now glistening super yacht was originally a Canadian frigate built for World War Two service and rebuilt by Aristotle Onassis at a German shipyard in 1954 as one of the most opulent and sleek ships of the day.
The Callas Lounge is furnished with rare artifacts celebrating the legendary opera singer who frequently rendezvoused with Onassis aboard the CHRISTINA.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the CHRISTINA was the playground of such luminaries as Winston Churchill, JFK, Onassis’ mistress Maria Callas, Greta Garbo, Grace Kelley and Frank Sinatra. After he married Jackie Kennedy, the former first family vacationed aboard with her children.
Through these portals...
When Onassis died in 1975, the yacht was passed on to her tragic namesake, Christina Onassis, who in turn donated her to the Greek government. Instead of becoming a presidential yacht, CHRISTINA O lay tucked away at Perama until 1999, when the rust-streaked derelict was towed off to a Croatian shipyard, re engined with diesels and restored to her original glory over a period of two years.
Sign.
The vessel accommodates 36 guests and is available for charter at USD $65,000 per day. But for a mere 15 pounds, you can see what all the fuss is about and take a narrated tour of most of the ship’s public areas.
Shoe covers are supplied.
Open daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, the sleek white vessel will be off on charter for the London Olympics and sailing back into the realm of the inaccessible.
Lapis Lounge, facing aft.
On a gloomy afternoon this past April, Peter Knego went on board and was able to take a number of photos. While photography is a sensitive issue, he worked with the ship’s representative to capture as much of the CHRISTINA as possible.
A Decked! feature will soon follow…
With special thanks: Martin Cox, David JeanJean, Mike Masino
Bruce
May 15, 2012 at 3:51 pm
I last saw her in La Ciotat France in May 2011. There are large repair facilities there for the world ultra rich’s yachts.
David L. NYC
May 16, 2012 at 8:30 am
One of my favorite yachts…her lines were sleeker before her restorative refit, but still one of the great vessels of her type. Daily tours? Hmmmm…
Stephen Moore
May 18, 2012 at 1:06 am
Brilliant I can’t wait to see more.
Warren Samut
July 27, 2012 at 7:58 am
Hi! martin ,
I think we have been the only Model Company to have produced the
beautiful Christina O for a friend of the Owner who presented it to the owner as a Gift !!
I had to prepare General Arrangement plans from many photos & then we produced the model , which we are allowed to sell to whoever may desire such a beautiful reminder of a past era & very famous man !!
I am updating my Web site at the moment & that is why we haven`t spoken as yet re Advertizing on your marvelous site !!
Hope all is well with you & I hope I may be able to get sales of our model now she is open to the Public , as we have done with a Contract with the RY Britannia in Edinburgh .
ciao! & very best ,
warren
Petra
September 16, 2012 at 6:27 am
I can see this vessel sat in Chatham docks at present and she has been here for several weeks now. I do hope that such a pretty boat is not there to be scrapped. Does anyone know why she is there?
mario perez
March 19, 2013 at 1:26 pm
exe cellent web page, can you help me to get any set of plans to build a model of this wonder ship, this vessel was originaly a river frigate class of the world war 2, the dominican navy had one of this class the hmcs carplace
Miriam Ansell
April 2, 2013 at 10:23 am
We would like to have lunch or dinner on the Yacht!!!