Orient Express Cruise

The Accor group

launches the world's largest luxury sailing yacht

A new chapter at sea begins for the Orient Express

Blending legendary heritage with maritime innovation, Accor opens a new chapter in the history of the Orient Express, a mythical brand associated for over a century with luxury travel, elegance, and the French art of living.

With the Orient Express Corinthian, the French hotel group is no longer content with simply transporting its guests by rail; it now aims to reinvent the luxury cruise experience.

Billed as the world’s largest sailing ship, measuring 220 metres in length and featuring three monumental masts rising to over 100 metres, this spectacular vessel combines the timeless elegance of the golden age of travel with the most advanced maritime technologies.

Designed as a veritable floating palace, the Corinthian Orient Express will accommodate just 110 passengers in 54 ultra-luxurious suites with panoramic sea views. On board, everything evokes the refined world of the legendary brand: Art Deco influences, fine materials, French craftsmanship, restaurants curated by multi-Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, a Guerlain spa, as well as a cabaret and a private recording studio. 

But behind the glitz lies a technological showcase. The result of a partnership with Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the yacht features the SolidSail propulsion system, consisting of giant rigid sails capable of drastically reducing the vessel’s energy consumption. Combined with a liquefied natural gas (LNG) hybrid propulsion system and technologies designed to minimise the environmental impact on the oceans, this project symbolises Accor’s commitment to making luxury part of a more sustainable approach.

Scheduled to set sail in the Mediterranean and Adriatic from 2026 before heading to the Caribbean, the Orient Express Corinthian embodies a new vision of travel: slower, more exclusive, more immersive. A cross between a five-star hotel, a private yacht and a travelling cultural experience, this giant of the seas could well become one of the most ambitious symbols of the revival of experiential luxury.

The Suites

The Corinthian Orient Express Suites, developed by Orient Express in partnership with Accor, have been designed to be the heart of the on-board experience: not merely cruise cabins, but genuine floating private residences. The guiding principle is to recreate the privacy and refinement of a grand luxury hotel, whilst offering unobstructed views of the ocean at all times. With capacity deliberately limited to around fifty suites, the ship prioritises space, tranquillity and exclusivity over passenger density.

Each suite stands out first and foremost for its generous proportions. Unlike traditional cruise cabins, which are often compact, those on the Corinthian are designed to offer a genuine apartment-like feel. Some categories feature separate living areas, sitting areas, and even private reception areas. The large bay windows or openings to the outside play a central role: they transform the sea into a permanent backdrop and give the impression of living in tune with the horizon.

The interior design draws on the Orient Express’s historical heritage, with a strong, reimagined Art Deco influence. The materials have been selected for their elegance and timelessness: fine woods, polished brass, marble, fine leathers and bespoke woven fabrics. The overall effect seeks to create an atmosphere that is both warm and sophisticated, evoking the legendary carriages of the original train, yet transposed into a contemporary maritime setting.

Comfort is also taken to a very high standard, on a par with that of a luxury hotel. The suites feature bathrooms worthy of private spas, with spacious showers, designer baths and premium toiletries. Technology is present but unobtrusive: smart lighting, climate control, enhanced soundproofing and integrated fittings that blend seamlessly into the design. The aim is to ensure a seamless experience, where technology takes a back seat to comfort.

Finally, the on-board service is a key feature of these suites. Every passenger enjoys a highly personalised experience, including butler service, 24-hour assistance and bespoke amenities. In the most prestigious suites, the level of service rivals that of a private villa: exclusive dinners are organised, personalised experiences are curated, and constant attention is paid to every last detail. All of this transforms the suite into a true sanctuary at sea, where the journey becomes an immersive, unhurried experience entirely dedicated to luxury and serenity.

Gastronomy and restaurant

The dining experience aboard the Corinthian Orient Express, developed by Orient Express in partnership with Accor, plays a central role in the journey. Far more than just a catering service, it is designed to be a key element of the ship’s identity, building on the historical legacy of the Orient Express, where dining was already an integral part of the prestige of the journey.

On board, the culinary offering is based on a high-end gastronomic approach, with several dining areas, each with its own distinct atmosphere. The main restaurant echoes the style of grand dining rooms in luxury hotels, with an elegant setting, fine materials and highly formal service. Meals here are designed as true experiences, where the leisurely pace of service complements that of the voyage, in keeping with a ‘slow dining’ philosophy that harmonises with the journey.

The cuisine on offer is predominantly contemporary French in style, enriched with Mediterranean and international influences depending on the itinerary. The aim is to offer a dining experience on a par with the finest land-based establishments, with particular attention paid to ingredients, seasonality and the precision of culinary techniques. The project also draws on internationally renowned chefs, notably Yannick Alléno, who help to define a discerning and creative culinary identity.

In addition to the main restaurant, the ship offers more intimate and exclusive spaces. Private lounges are available for bespoke dining, whether for small groups or intimate dinners for two, with fully personalised service. This flexibility ensures that every meal is tailored to the passengers’ preferences, reinforcing the concept of personalised luxury.

In addition to the main restaurant, the ship offers more intimate and exclusive spaces. Private lounges are available for bespoke dining, whether for small groups or intimate dinners for two, with fully personalised service. This flexibility ensures that every meal is tailored to the passengers’ preferences, reinforcing the concept of personalised luxury.

Finally, the culinary experience on board is not limited to formal meals. More informal or immersive culinary experiences may be offered depending on the stage of the cruise: brunches overlooking the sea, themed dinners inspired by the ports of call, or even exclusive tastings organised in more private settings. All of this helps to make dining a journey within a journey, where every dish tells a story and forms part of an overall experience of luxury, leisurely pace and escape.

The itinerary

Here, the destination is not merely a place of arrival: it is an integral part of the experience, conceived as a series of unique stops, chosen for their beauty, prestige or exclusivity.

The ship will mainly sail between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, two regions synonymous with luxury travel. In the Mediterranean, the itineraries are expected to link iconic destinations such as the French Riviera, the Italian islands, the Amalfi Coast, Greece and the Adriatic Sea. These routes are designed to offer a mix of cultural, historical and seaside stops, with calls at iconic ports as well as more exclusive anchorages, accessible only to luxury yachts.

During the winter season, the yacht will sail to the Caribbean, where it will offer cruises amongst idyllic islands. The experience will focus on turquoise waters, unspoilt beaches and stops at more secluded destinations, far from the crowds of tourists. The aim is to offer a total immersion in a tropical environment, whilst maintaining the level of service and exclusivity characteristic of the Orient Express brand.

The itineraries are also designed around the principle of slow travel. Unlike traditional cruises, which feature a succession of short stopovers, the Corinthian favours longer stays at each destination, allowing for a more in-depth exploration of the area. This approach gives passengers time to discover the local cultures, landscapes and experiences on offer ashore, whilst still enjoying the ship as a luxury floating hotel.

Some port calls are designed as exclusive experiences, featuring private excursions, brand-organised events or special access to sites that are usually closed to the general public. The idea is to extend the ship’s atmosphere onto dry land, creating a seamless transition between the luxury on board and the experiences at the destination.



Finally, the element of flexibility remains key: the Corinthian is not tied to a single fixed itinerary, but to a dynamic seasonal programme. Each cruise is designed as a unique, almost bespoke journey, where the route itself becomes a narrative element. This approach reinforces the project’s overall philosophy: to make the voyage at sea an experience in its own right, on a par with the port calls, in the spirit of slow, exclusive and immersive travel.

The Orient Express: a legendary French brand in luxury travel

The Orient Express is a legendary brand in luxury travel, founded in the late 19th century and having become one of the most iconic symbols of European elegance. It first appeared in 1883 with the launch of the first train linking Paris to Constantinople (now Istanbul), conceived by the Belgian engineer Georges Nagelmackers, founder of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits.

From the very beginning, the Orient Express was more than just a train: it was a travel experience unlike anything else of its time. Comfortable cabins, elegant dining cars, service modelled on that of the finest hotels, and sumptuous décor featuring precious woods and stained-glass windows made it a world apart, reserved for the European elite – aristocrats, diplomats, writers and the wealthy. The journey quickly became synonymous with prestige, mystery and adventure across Europe.

In the 20th century, the legend grew thanks to its cultural appeal. The train inspired numerous works, including Agatha Christie’s famous novel *Murder on the Orient Express*, which helped to cement the brand’s place in the global collective imagination. The Orient Express thus became a travel legend, associated with the golden age of grand transcontinental rail journeys.

Following several decades of transformation in rail transport and the gradual decline of traditional luxury trains, the brand is enjoying a renaissance spearheaded by the Accor Group. The group is not merely seeking to revive a historic train, but to transform the Orient Express into a global world of experiential luxury.

Today, the brand extends far beyond the railways:

• luxury trains, restored or reimagined for exceptional journeys;
• upscale hotels currently under development;
• immersive experiences centred on the art of travel;
• and now maritime projects such as the Corinthian Orient Express, a giant sailing ship designed as a floating palace.

What makes the Orient Express unique today is the seamless blend of heritage and modernity: a style that remains inspired by the 1920s and 1930s (Art Deco, refinement, craftsmanship), highly personalised service, and a vision of travel focused on the long journey, the experience and exclusivity rather than simply the destination.

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