Lady Hutton facts for kids
The Lady Hutton is a special ship that was built in 1924. It was first a fancy, private yacht. A yacht is a boat used for fun trips or racing. This one was made in Kiel, Germany. Today, it is a hotel and restaurant ship. It has been docked in Stockholm, Sweden, at a place called Riddarholmen, since 1982. The ship is famous not just for its size, but also because it is named after a very well-known person, Barbara Hutton.
The Ship's Early Life
This large ship was first called Vanadis. It was a motor yacht, meaning it used a diesel engine. It was built in 1924 for a person named C. K. G. Billings. At the time, it was one of the biggest yachts ever built. Its hull, which is the main body of the ship, was made of strong steel and nickel. The inside was very luxurious and fancy.
Later, a rich stock market businessman named Harrison Williams bought the Vanadis. He changed its name to Warrior. In 1926, he and his wife, Mona, took a year-long trip around the world on this yacht for their honeymoon.
In 1930, when she turned 18, Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton received the yacht as a gift from her father. She renamed the yacht in her own honor, calling it Lady Hutton. She became the ship's most famous owner.
In 1940, during Second World War, the yacht was sold to the British Royal Navy. After the war ended, it was used in Panama. From 1948, it also served as a schoolship in Norway, teaching young sailors. In the early 1950s, it was renamed Cort Adeler in Sweden. The ship was also used as a regular passenger boat, traveling between Sweden and Åbo, Finland.
Eventually, the yacht was going to be taken apart for scrap metal. But a group of Swedish business people bought it instead. They spent more than $2.5 million to fix it up. Their plan was to turn it into a floating hotel and restaurant that would stay in one place.
What It Is Now
The work to change the yacht into a hotel and restaurant started in 1980. It was finished in 1982. Today, it is a hotel for people traveling for business and a restaurant ship. Most of the rooms, also called cabins, are quite small. The ship also has meeting rooms for up to 20 people. There is even a Finnish sauna on board.
The ship is officially registered as the Lady Hutton. This name can be seen on the back of the ship, called the stern. However, the hotel's name on the front of the ship, called the prow, is Mälardrottningen. This means "the Queen of Lake Mälar".
Since September 1982, the yacht has been docked at Riddarholmen in Stockholm. A family company called Mälardrottningen Holding AB owns it. The name Mälardrottningen has been a nickname for the city of Stockholm since the late 1800s.
The ship has a special lounge with a glass floor. This lets guests look down and see the engine room below. The Captain's Lounge has the best view, looking out over the city hall. The 59 rooms are often described as "tiny" but also unique. Some people say that staying in a "floating palace" is a fun and different experience for families. The gourmet restaurant on board is known for its relatively expensive meals.
Earlier Names of the Yacht
Before it became the Lady Hutton, this yacht had its name changed ten times! Here are its past names:
- Vanadis (1924–1926)
- Warrior (1926–1937)
- Vanadis (1937–1939)
- Warrior (1939–1940)
- Troubadour (1940–1948)
- King (1948–1950)
- Cort Adeler (1950–1954)
- Brand VI (1954–1960)
- Marina (1960)
- Gann (1960–1978)
- Vikingfjord (1978–1981)
