For more than 140 years, the name Orient Express has consistently signified luxury travel—a rarefied experience that few can afford, yet one that many dream of undertaking at least once in a lifetime. After having stirred dreams in generations of travelers with the most sumptuous trains, the brand now stands out with what has been hailed as the largest sailing yacht in the world: the Orient Express Corinthian.
At the Penhoët pier in Saint-Nazaire, the sister ship of Orient Express Corinthian, Orient Express Olympian, is currently in the fitting-out phase, following its launch on 17 April 2026.
Stretching 220 meters in length, the sailing vessel inaugurates a new era of travel, blending the excellence of French craftsmanship with the most advanced naval innovations.
Orient Express Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing yacht
Accor and the French shipyards Chantiers de l’Atlantique have joined forces to create an unprecedented craft, the fruit of ten years of research and development: 220 meters in length, 15,000 tons moved by wind, three sails designed with the revolutionary wind-propulsion technology SolidSail. As Laurent Castaing, Chief Executive Officer of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, described it, this is a concrete, technological answer to the challenge of decarbonizing maritime transport.
“A journey founded on discovery, slow pacing, excellence and elegance.” On board, fortunate passengers will be able to unwind in spaces born of elegant French craftsmanship, inspired by the heritage of iconic trains. Its interiors, crafted by nearly 2,000 artisans, artists, and ateliers, reinterpret the golden age of travel, conjuring the grandeur of legendary ocean liners like the SS Normandie, which in 1935 stood as the largest and fastest passenger ship in service.
The suites and itineraries for a dream travel experience
The guests will be accommodated in 54 suites distributed across four decks. Each suite features a 3.60-meter panoramic window, a ceiling height that sits 25 cm higher than industry standards, and the attentive service of a butler.
No Orient Express journey would be complete without exceptional culinary experiences: five restaurants and private dining rooms have been entrusted to the culinary direction of the multi-starred chef Yannick Alléno. There are also eight bars, including an Art Déco-style speakeasy, a 115-seat cabaret, and a recording studio, as well as the Guerlain spa, a 16.5-meter swimming lane, a pool, and a private marina, available to guests for the entire voyage.
After departing Saint-Nazaire, the ship will reach the French Riviera to begin its inaugural season. From May to October 2026, the first passengers to experience this journey will sail through the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, before crossing the Atlantic in autumn and spending the winter in the Caribbean. In 2027, a new itinerary lineup will extend routes to the Eastern Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
