Two major players, Belmond and Accor, share the Orient Express brand, each taking it in different directions.
Belmond stays true to tradition, operating iconic luxury trains like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE), which crosses Europe in restored carriages from the 1920s, and the Eastern & Oriental Express in Southeast Asia. It also manages luxury hotels worldwide, many of which are housed in meticulously restored historic buildings.

Accor, on the other hand, is redefining the brand. La Dolce Vita train explores Italy’s landscapes. New hotels, like La Minerva in Rome (2024) and Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice (2025), merge heritage and modern luxury. A major milestone for Accor is the upcoming launch of the Orient Express yacht, scheduled to debut in early summer 2026.
2026 Prices, Suites & Launch Dates
The first Orient Express sailing yacht, Orient Express Corinthian, will make its inaugural voyage on June 6–12, 2026, along the French and Italian Riviera. Accor plans to deploy the sister ship, Orient Express Olympian, in 2027.
Although Accor hasn’t published official fares, credible sources provide early guidance: Travel and Tour World reports that a suite on the six‑night launch cruise costs £52,870 per person.
The French luxury guide Paris Select notes that bookings opened 25 March 2025 and that entry‑level fares are expected to start around €16,800 and climb to €43,000 for the largest suites.
What Is the Orient Express Corinthian (Silenseas)?
The project is a collaboration between Accor and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, a French shipbuilding company. There’s a bit of confusion about the name: some sources refer to it as ‘Corinthian’, and others claim it to be ‘Silenseas’.
The company’s official website has press releases featuring both names. However, according to Chantiers de l’Atlantique itself, the order was made on 2 ships, so both ‘Slienseas’ and ‘Corinthian’ will likely be used, one for each ship.
Corinthian Factsheet
Dimensions and Design | 220m / 722ft |
Accommodations | 54 suites from 47m2 / 505ft2 to 950+m2 / 10,255ft2 |
Amenities | 2 swimming pools, theater, private recording studio, speakeasy bar |
Sustainable Propulsion | combining liquefied natural gas (LNG) with an innovative ‘SolidSail’ system. 3 rigid sails (1,500m2 / 16,000ft2 each), tilting 100m / 328ft masts |
Cultural Experiences | artistic heritage of the French Riviera |
Corinthian Key Features & Onboard Experience
For its size, the Corinthian is unusually facility-heavy. It is reported to have 5 restaurants, 8 bars, 2 pools, a cabaret, a cinema, and a recording studio.

By contrast, other boutique ships such as SeaDream I and II typically carry just 2 restaurants and 1 small pool, while Scenic Eclipse offers 1 plunge pool but no large lap lane.
Ship | Theaters and shows | Recreational facilities | Spa and wellness |
---|---|---|---|
Seven Seas Splendor | Constellation Theater (Broadway-style shows), live music | pool, fitness center, sports deck (golf net, shuffleboard, paddle tennis) | Serene Spa & Wellness (massages, treatments, sauna) |
Seabourn Ovation | Grand Salon (shows, concerts), live piano | pool, fitness center, marina day (water sports from the ship’s marina) | The Spa at Seabourn (thermal suite, treatments, salon) |
Scenic Eclipse | theatre (performances, movies), live music | indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, helicopter, submarine, kayaks, zodiacs | Senses Spa (therapies, yoga, pilates, infrared sauna) |
Explora I | Explora Lounge (live entertainment), Journeys Lounge (performances) | pools (indoor, outdoor, infinity), fitness center, sports court, culinary kitchen | Ocean Wellness (spa treatments, fitness classes, meditation) |
Crystal Serenity | Galaxy Lounge (production shows), Stardust Club (dancing, live music), Hollywood Theatre (movies) | pool, fitness center, paddle tennis, golf nets | Crystal Life Spa (massages, acupuncture, salon) |
Orient Express | Amphitheatre-Cabaret (live performances, themed shows) | 2 pools (1 lap pool), fitness center | spa treatments, meditation rooms |
The 54-foot pool, therefore, sets the Corinthian apart, since most yachts under 300 passengers rarely include a true swimming facility.
Design and Inspiration
Maxime d’Angeac’s design leans into Riviera Art Deco of the 1920s–30s. This places it closer to the look of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express rail cars than to contemporary luxury ships like Ritz-Carlton Evrima or Explora I, both of which favor muted modern minimalism.

The result will likely appeal to travelers who prefer nostalgia and ornament over the clean-lined style now common in new cruise builds. It is a deliberate throwback rather than an attempt to look futuristic.
Suites

The Corinthian and its sister Olympian plan 54 suites each, ranging 45–230 m². To put this in context, SeaDream cabins start at about 18 m², Ritz-Carlton Evrima suites at 29–102 m², and Scenic Eclipse suites at 32–245 m².
Ship | Suite Sizes ( ft2) | Suite Sizes (m2) | In-Room |
---|---|---|---|
Seven Seas Splendor | 307 – 4,443 | 28.5 – 412.8 | private balcony, marble bathroom, walk-in closet, king-size bed, flat-screen TV |
Seabourn Ovation | 295 – 1,397 | 27.4 – 129.8 | private veranda, queen or king-size bed, walk-in closet, living area, flat-screen TV |
Scenic Eclipse | 344 – 2,099 | 32 – 195.1 | private veranda, king-size bed, separate lounge, Dyson hairdryer, pillow menu, butler’s pantry |
Explora I | 377 – 3,014 | 35 – 280.1 | private terrace, walk-in closet, Dyson hairdryer, espresso machine, personal mini-bar, king-size bed |
Crystal Serenity | 269 – 1,368 | 25 – 127.1 | private veranda, walk-in closet, king-size bed, flat-screen TV, personal refrigerator |
Orient Express | 505 – 10,225 | 47 – 950 | private terrace, walk-in closet, king-size bed, marble bathrooms |
The duplex layouts for families echo what Scenic has offered in its “Grand Panorama” suites. Size alone doesn’t make the Corinthian stand out, but the private terraces and higher ceilings are consistent with top-tier competitors.
Dining

Yannick Alléno’s appointment fits Accor’s wider strategy of linking Michelin-level chefs to its brands. For example, he oversees menus at Pavillon Ledoyen in Paris and was involved in Accor’s Raffles and Sofitel projects.
Corinthian Itineraries and Destinations
The Orient Express Corinthian will spend its first season, June 2026 to February 2027, in the Mediterranean before heading across the Atlantic for winter in the Caribbean.

Sailings are short by cruise standards, ranging from just 2 nights to a week or slightly longer. The program mixes well-known ports like Marseille, Venice, and Naples with smaller stops such as Propriano in Corsica or Lerici on the Italian coast.
Mediterranean, Summer to Autumn 2026
The Mediterranean schedule is heavy on the French and Italian Riviera, with occasional extensions into Corsica, Sicily, or the Adriatic.
- Provence & French Riviera (6 nights, June 2026): Marseille, Cannes, Saint-Tropez.
- Corsica & Liguria (7 nights, June and July 2026): Propriano, Calvi, Saint-Florent, Lerici, Monte Carlo.
- Italian Riviera & Tyrrhenian Islands (8 nights, July 2026): Portofino, Elba, Sardinia, finishing near Rome.
- Amalfi Coast & Sicily (8 nights, August 2026): Naples, Capri, Amalfi, Siracusa, Valletta.
- Adriatic Coast (7 nights, August and September 2026): Dubrovnik, Hvar, Rovinj, Venice.
- Special events (September 2026): short trips tied to the Venice Film Festival and Monaco Yacht Show.
These itineraries look similar to what lines like SeaDream and Ponant already offer in the region, though the short 2- to 3-night sailings are more unusual, catering to guests who may be combining a cruise with a land-based holiday.

Caribbean, Winter 2026–27
After October, the ship shifts to the Caribbean, focusing less on large islands and more on smaller ports and private anchorages.
- Caribbean Private Islands & St Barth (8–9 nights, November 2026–January 2027): includes smaller cays plus time in Gustavia.
- French West Indies & Windward Islands (7–8 nights, November 2026–February 2027): Martinique, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Grenada.
- Lesser Antilles circuits (7 nights, November 2026–February 2027): Guadeloupe, Antigua, St Kitts, St Lucia.
- Short escapes (2–4 nights): quick sailings focused on St Barth, Anguilla, or the BVIs.
The Caribbean routes echo what Ritz-Carlton’s Evrima or SeaDream II already cover, though Corinthian leans more on French West Indies pairings and condensed getaways.
The holiday-season departures in late December and January are clearly aimed at the peak travel period, when demand for St Barth and nearby islands is highest.
World’s Biggest Sailing Yacht

As of today, the biggest yacht in the world belongs to Russian businessman Andrey Melnichenko. It goes by the mysterious name ‘A’ and cannot be chartered. However, it’s not a ‘sailing yacht’ since it uses a diesel-electric engine for its propulsion.
So among the super-yachts that use wind power for propulsion, the largest one is Koru, belonging to Jeff Bezos. Let’s have a look at how Silenseas or Corinthian compares to the 6 largest yachts.
Yacht | Length (m/ft) | Gross Tonnage (GT) | Speed (knots) | Owner | Charter Availability | Charter Price (per week) | Year Launched | Builder | Technology |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Orient Express | 220m / 722ft | 25,200 | 15 | Accor | Planned for luxury cruises | N/A | 2026 | Chantiers de l’Atlantique | hybrid: wind power + LNG |
Sailing Yacht A | 143m / 468ft | 12,558 | 16 | Andrey Melnichenko | No | N/A | 2017 | Nobiskrug | Diesel-electric |
Koru | 127m / 417ft | 3,493 | 17 | Jeff Bezos | No | N/A | 2021 | Oceanco | hybrid |
Black Pearl | 107m / 350ft | 2,864 | 30 | Oleg Burlakov | Yes | ≈$250,000 | 2018 | Oceanco | DynaRig (wind power) |
EOS | 93 m / 305 ft | 1,500 | 16 | Barry Diller | No | N/A | 2006 | Lürssen | hybrid: wind power + diesel engine |
Athena | 90m / 295ft | 1,177 | 19 | James H. Clark | Yes | ≈$324,000 | 2004 | Royal Huisman | wind power |
Maltese Falcon | 88m / 289ft | 1,100 | 18 | Late Tom Perkins | Yes | ≈€490,000 | 2006 | Perini Navi | DynaRig (wind power) |
Sea Eagle II | 81m / 266ft | 1,150 | 22 | Dr. Samuel Yin | No | N/A | 2020 | Royal Huisman | Caterpillar engines (diesel) |
As we can see, the Accor yacht is the longest and the heaviest, which in due turn affects its speed — it is definitely not the fastest.

As for the sailing experience, 3 of them (Black Pearl, Maltese Falcon, and Athena) are available for charter. Here’s what they offer in terms of accommodations and amenities:
Orient Express | Black Pearl | Maltese Falcon | Athena | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Accommodations | 130 guests, 54 suites | 10 guests, 5 cabins | 12 guests, 6 cabins | 10 guests, 5 cabins |
Dining & Entertainment | 2 restaurants, speakeasy bar, amphitheatre-cabaret, private recording studio | fly bridge, veranda area, main deck | dining room, bar, sky lounge | salon and sky lounge |
Leisure & Wellness | 2 pools (including lap pool), wellness areas, sun decks | jacuzzi, gym, movie theatre, sauna, hammam, water sports equipment | gym, spa, water sports equipment, jacuzzi, projector, water sports equipment | library, gym, water sports equipment |
Design & Ambiance | 1930s French Riviera by Maxime d’Angeac | modern design with eco-friendly technologies | a blend of classic and contemporary | traditional maritime with wood finishes |
So OE Corinthian or Slienseas is positioned as the ‘world’s largest sailing yacht’. While this is technically correct since it uses sails in its hybrid propulsion, it should be viewed more as a ‘luxury cruise ship’, as it’s not available for private charter.

Furthermore, in terms of the experience and amenities, while being a sailing yacht, it provides a lot more services and amenities than all of the existing super yachts.
Nautical Luxury
While being a giant amongst the super yachts, Silenseas (or Corinthian) is quite tiny compared to the 5 most luxurious cruise ships. Only Scenic Eclipse, though substantially longer, can compare to OE in size. All other ships are somewhat 5 times bigger. Except for the size, what truly sets Corinthian apart is the exceptional crew-to-passenger ratio:
Cruise Line | Ship | Year | Gross Tonnage (GT) | Passengers | Crew | Crew-to-Passenger Ratio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Regent Seven Seas Cruises | Seven Seas Splendor | 2020 | 55,254 | 750 | 542 | 1:1.38 |
Seabourn Cruise Line | Seabourn Ovation | 2018 | 40,350 | 600 | 450 | 1:1.33 |
Scenic Luxury Cruises | Scenic Eclipse | 2019 | 17,085 | 228 | 176 | 1:1.3 |
Explora Journeys | Explora I | 2023 | 63,900 | 922 | 640 | 1:1.44 |
Crystal Cruises | Crystal Serenity | 2003 (Refurbished 2023) | 68,870 | 740 | 655 | 1:1.13 |
Accor | Orient Express Corinthian | Planned 2026 | 25,200 | 130 | 170 | 1:0.76 |
The in-room amenities are pretty similar across different lines: king-size beds, walk-in closets, and marble bathrooms. Though Crystal Serenity offers a personal refrigerator, which is quite unusual for the luxury level of accommodations. Corinthian stands out in terms of its suite sizes.
Who owns the Orient Express sailing yachts?
In mid‑2024, Accor formed a strategic partnership with LVMH; LVMH took a 50 % stake and an option to acquire full ownership by 2027
What is the Orient Express Corinthian (also called Silenseas)?
The Orient Express Corinthian is the first of two sailing yachts being built for the brand; during the concept phase, it was referred to as Silenseas, but Accor later confirmed the names Corinthian (launching 2026) and Olympian (2027)
What itineraries and cruises will the Orient Express yacht offer in 2026–27?
In summer 2026, the ship sails in the Mediterranean, offering itineraries such as Provence & French Riviera, Corsica & Liguria, Italian Riviera & Tyrrhenian Islands, Amalfi Coast & Sicily, and Adriatic Coast. From November 2026 through February 2027, the ship repositions to the Caribbean, with sailings such as Caribbean Private Islands & Saint Barth, French West Indies & Windward Islands, Iconic Saint‑Barth & Anguilla, and Lesser Antilles
How much does a voyage on the Orient Express yacht cost?
Accor has not published official prices, but several sources give an idea of the range. The inaugural 6-night sailing in June 2026 is reported at about £52,870 per person for a suite. Industry estimates suggest entry-level fares may begin around €16,800 per person, with top suites reaching €43,000. Some reports put standard cabins closer to €9,200 per week.
Are Orient Express Corinthian and Silenseas the same?
“Silenseas” was the working title used when the sailing yacht project was unveiled. Accor subsequently named the ships Orient Express Corinthian (launching 2026) and Orient Express Olympian (2027) to align with the brand’s rail and hotel heritage.
When will Orient Express sailing yacht start cruising?
The inaugural voyage of Orient Express Corinthian departs 6 June 2026 on a six‑night cruise along the French and Italian Riviera