The Orient Express name has always meant romance in motion. Under Accor — and its luxury partnership with LVMH — the brand is extending that legend from the rails to the sea with Orient Express Corinthian, described as the largest sailing yacht in the world.
Sail, reinvented
Built in partnership with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the roughly 220-metre vessel uses a system called SolidSail: three rigid sails on tilting masts rising more than 100 metres, capable — in favourable conditions — of providing the majority of the ship's propulsion. It is a genuine sailing yacht, not a motor ship with decorative canvas.
On board
The ship offers 54 suites ranging from around 45 to 230 square metres, an unusually spacious ratio that signals its ultra-luxury intent. Interiors channel the Art Deco glamour associated with the Orient Express heritage, reinterpreted for the sea.
Where and when
The inaugural season is planned across the Mediterranean, calling at both marquee harbours such as Monte Carlo, Portofino and Saint-Tropez and smaller gems along the Italian and Corsican coasts. A sister ship is planned to follow, establishing Orient Express Sailing Yachts as a fleet rather than a one-off.
The takeaway
For travellers drawn to the theatre of sail and the mythology of the Orient Express, Corinthian offers something none of its motor-yacht rivals can: the romance of moving with the wind. As with every inaugural product, dates and details can evolve — we monitor availability closely and can advise on the current schedule.