After much anticipation, the veil has been lifted on Orient Express Sailing Yachts, which mark the luxury brand’s foray into ocean cruising.
Unsurprisingly, the revealed ship renderings are gorgeous. Originally referred to as Silenseas (seemingly the ship series name), these vessels now have official titles: Orient Express Corinthian, launching in 2026, and Orient Express Olympian, launching in 2027.
Editor’s Note: This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
“With Orient Express Corinthian, the Orient Express legend is now preparing to sail the world’s finest seas, offering an unprecedented experience of travel and adventure,” said Sebastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of Accor Group. “Drawing inspiration from the golden age of luxury cruises, the yacht reinvents movement and comfort on the water and is designed to meet the sustainability challenges of the future. It’s a great source of pride for all of us.”
Constructed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France, the vessels are said to be the world’s largest sailing yachts. Each will measure 220 meters and feature 4,500 square meters of sail stretching across three masts. These sails propel the vessels at speeds of up to 17 knots under wind power alone. Architect Maxime d’Angeac, artistic director of Orient Express, is leading the design.
Both of the forthcoming ships will offer 54 suites.
Credit: 2025 Orient ExpressSuite Details
Corinthian and Olympian will each feature 54 suites ranging from 45 and 230 square meters (about 484 to 2,475 square feet). According to the brand, all rooms will be decorated with wood, leather and marble “fashioned by exceptionally talented, meticulously selected craftsmen and women.”
Some suites will be two-story duplexes and some configurations will accommodate up to four guests, making them ideal for families. Dedicated family-friendly voyages will be offered to take advantage of these higher-capacity suites.
A rendering of one of two onboard pools.
Credit: 2025 Orient ExpressPublic Spaces
Despite their smaller size, the yachts will have an impressive array of venues: five restaurants, eight bars (including a 1930s-style speakeasy), an elegant spa, two pools (one a 54-foot lap lane), a marina, a 115-seat Parisian Art Deco cabaret, a 24-seat cinema and even an onboard recording studio.
Among the restaurants and bars will be La Table de L’Orient-Express by Yannick Alleno, the brand’s Michelin-starred chef; L’Encre, a seafood-forward restaurant; Le Speakeasy, evoking the roaring twenties; and the handsome Le Bar de la Bibliotheque.
Additional wellness venues will include a full-service salon, barber, gymnasium and even a bespoke suit tailor.
Sustainable Sailing
The ship will feature “SolidSail” ocean racing technology, with a trio of inclinable and rotating 100-meter masts with spritsail rigging and rigid sails. When not under wind power, the ship will rely on liquefied natural gas to fuel a hybrid engine that can, in the future, also accept clean-burning hydrogen.
To be even more environmentally friendly, the yachts will utilize an artificial intelligence-based detection system to reduce the risk of marine mammal collisions, and a dynamic positioning system will eliminate the need for traditional anchors, protecting seabeds.
Bookings Are Now Open
Orient Express Corinthian’s inaugural season — sailing from May to October in 2026 — is already open for bookings. The vessel will cruise the Mediterranean and Adriatic for two- to eight-night voyages, visiting ports such as Monte-Carlo, Portofino and Saint-Tropez.
Available shoreside experiences will include private access to Pompeii, a private tour and dinner at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice and a race car drive on the Circuit Paul Ricard.
More information is available online.
