In 1860 General Admiral of Russian Imperial Navy Grand Duke Constantin converted Tigr, a three-masted paddle steamer built in 1855–1858, into a yacht for the Romanovs.

The 62 meter long Tigr did not have the space and comforts expected by her distinguished patrons, and in 1868 the government discussed ordering her replacement in England.

[1] Livadia spent the summer of 1873 on the Black Sea, tending to the Romanovs on their short route from Sebastopol to Yalta.

[2] In the foggy morning of October 22, 1878 Livadia ran aground near the Tarkhankut Lighthouse, the western vortex of the Crimean peninsula (45°20′52″N 32°29′46″E / 45.34778°N 32.49611°E / 45.34778; 32.49611).

[2] Remains of the deck and copper lining were still identifiable; sensors showed presence of more metal in the sand.