Recently, the world’s largest hybrid sailing cruise ship “Orient Express Corinthian” (OE Corinthian) built by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard was successfully launched and has now been transferred from the dry dock to the outfitting berth.
The cruise ship is the first of two luxury cruise ships ordered by French hotel group Accor for its subsidiary Orient Express in early 2023, with construction scheduled to begin in March 2024.
The Orient Express Corinthian is expected to be delivered in 2026 and will set sail from Marseille in June of the same year, cruising the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas before crossing the Atlantic to spend the winter in the Caribbean. Its sister vessel, the Orient Express Olympian, is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2027 and will begin service in the summer of the same year.
Orient Express Corinthian spans 220 meters long and develops 4,500 m² of sails spread across three tilting masts, reaching 100 meters above sea level. The SolidSail concept has been developed over the past ten years by Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Under optimized wind conditions, the ship will be able to navigate under sails only and reach speeds of up to 17 knots, even exceeding the standard engine propulsion speed. The highest attention has been paid to set new standards for environmentally friendly operations and design.
The hybrid propulsion formula will combine wind power with a state-of-the-art powerplant running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and Orient Express’ Commitment to sustainability has resulted in numerous additional state of the art equipment such as an advanced AI detectio system intended to protect marine mammals by avoiding collisions and minimizing underwater noise pollution, or a dynamic positioning technology that reduces the yacht’s impact on the seabed by eliminating the need to drop anchor in shallow sensitive areas. Together, these efforts ensure a harmonious relationship with the ocean and its ecosystems. Orient Express Corinthian’s itineraries have also been developed to take advantage of the wind with special works in progress developed together with routing specialists coming in from the international sail racing world.
Orient Express Corinthian is scheduled to set sail in June 2026 with itineraries across the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and the Caribbean. A technological jewel engineered by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, this exceptional sailing yacht features a sleek and elegant profile, completed with stunning interiors designed by Maxime d’Angeac, Artistic Director of Orient Express. Orient Express Corinthian will propose 54 suites with panoramic openings to the sea, including six exceptional penthouse suites on deck 7, all of unforeseen sizes in the cruise market. With an exceptional crew ratio, the ship will offer five restaurants, eight bars and lounges, an amphitheater, cinema room, recording studio and a sophisticated spa wellness center.
As one of the world’s largest hotel groups, Accor Group operates over 5,600 hotels and 850,000 rooms, and acquired the legendary Orient Express brand in 2022. The group plans to launch its first Orient Express-branded hotel by 2025. Last year, Accor Group entered into a strategic partnership with LVMH to accelerate the development of the Orient Express brand.
The launch of this new cruise ship not only leverages the brand recognition of AccorHotels, but also injects new elements into the luxury segment, signaling that AccorHotels will become the third hotel group to enter the luxury cruise market, following Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons.