The Christina O: From World War II Escort to Iconic Luxury Yacht

Built originally as a Canadian anti-submarine and convoy escort during World War II’s Battle of the Atlantic, the 325-foot vessel that would become known as the Christina O followed one of the most remarkable transformations in maritime history. Purchased after the war by Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis and renamed for his daughter, the ship was converted from a surplus navy escort into a lavish private yacht that quickly became synonymous with high society, privacy and extravagant entertaining.

Onassis invested heavily in the conversion, reportedly spending around $4 million to refit and redecorate the vessel for comfortable, opulent civilian use. The redesign created expansive indoor and outdoor entertainment spaces, a master suite and 18 staterooms. Among its distinctive features was an aft main-deck pool finished in mosaic tile that could be drained and raised to become a dance floor—an inventive touch that reflected Onassis’s flair for dramatic hospitality. Details of the interior emphasized luxury and showmanship; guests were often regaled with stories about unique appointments, including bar stools upholstered in leather Onassis would claim came from whale hide.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the Christina O emerged as one of the largest and most famous private yachts in the world. It hosted an array of grand events and drew celebrities, royalty and heads of state. In 1956, the yacht served as the setting for the wedding reception of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and American actress Grace Kelly, an event that further solidified the ship’s reputation as an exclusive venue for high-profile celebrations.

Perhaps the most internationally noted ceremony held aboard occurred on October 20, 1968, when Aristotle Onassis married Jacqueline Kennedy. The former First Lady, five years widowed after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, chose the Christina O as the site for the wedding that attracted intense public and media attention. Onassis and Jacqueline Kennedy sailed through the Ionian Sea to the private island of Skorpios, off Greece’s western coast, where a small chapel surrounded by cypress trees awaited the couple. The ceremony, conducted in both English and Greek, was accompanied by a flotilla of press boats attempting to capture images, but the newlyweds soon returned to the Christina O to continue their celebrations in private.

Beyond its role in celebrity weddings and social gatherings, the Christina O symbolized a postwar era of reinvention—turning a utilitarian warship into an instrument of leisure and privacy for the global elite. Its combination of maritime history and extravagant amenities created a narrative that kept the vessel in the public eye for decades.

Decades after Onassis’s ownership, the yacht continued to attract famous guests and serve as a setting for important personal milestones. In 2019, the Christina O was again in the spotlight when model and television personality Heidi Klum married musician Tom Kaulitz aboard the vessel while anchored near the Italian island of Capri. Such events demonstrate the yacht’s enduring appeal as a romantic and exclusive venue for celebrity ceremonies.

Today, the Christina O is remembered both for its wartime origin and for the glamorous chapter of luxury yachting it helped define. Its story connects themes of transformation, discretion and spectacle, illustrating how a single vessel evolved from convoy escort to one of the most celebrated private yachts of the 20th and early 21st centuries.

—Lidia Goldberg

This article was originally published in the June 2023 issue.