In 2008, Chris Willson, a technology entrepreneur from Utah, made a life-changing decision to purchase a historic cruise ship he found on Craigslist. The 293-foot vessel, named Aurora, became his passion project, and for 15 years, Willson poured his life savings—over $1 million—into painstakingly restoring it. However, in a heartbreaking turn of events, the ship began sinking in 2024, and its future now hangs in the balance.
Willson’s dream began when he came across the listing for the ship, originally built in 1955 and named Wappen von Hamburg. After negotiating a deal with the owner, he moved the ship to Rio Vista, California, and renamed it Aurora after witnessing a stunning sunrise on his first night aboard.
“We absolutely loved our time with that ship,” Willson told CNN Travel. “It (selling) was probably the hardest thing I’ve done in my life.”
Willson and his partner, Jin Li, lived aboard the ship and spent years restoring it with the help of volunteers. They successfully refurbished around 10 major areas of the vessel, including the cabins, theater, and swimming pool. However, despite their efforts, the ship’s location in the California Delta presented challenges. Local authorities were not keen on having such a large decommissioned ship moored nearby, and another vessel, the Canadian Minesweeper HMCS Chaleur, sank in 2021, further complicating matters.
In January 2024, a military tugboat stationed next to the Aurora sank, creating a pollution issue, and local agencies became more involved. The situation became untenable, and Willson ultimately decided to sell the ship in October 2023.
“I don’t really want to let it go,” Willson said. “But it’s no longer my vessel.”
The Aurora’s troubles did not end with the sale. In May 2024, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office announced that the Aurora was sinking. A statement on social media explained, “It has been determined the ship has suffered a hole and is taking on water and is currently leaking diesel fuel and oil into the Delta Waterway.” Contractors were able to refloat the ship and remove hazardous waste, but the City of Stockton is now tasked with determining the vessel’s future.
Willson, who had meticulously maintained the ship for 15 years, was surprised by the news. “I didn’t see it sinking,” he said. “We had no problem with it.”
Despite the setbacks, Willson looks back fondly on his time with the ship. He recounts how he discovered its original name after removing layers of paint and how he learned the vessel had inspired The Love Boat TV series and served as a filming location for a James Bond movie.
Although the future of Aurora is uncertain, Willson remains proud of his efforts. “We turned it from just a big ship floating out on the Delta that was rusting away, to probably one of the most famous vintage cruise ships in the world,” he said. “And I’ve got to be proud of that.”
