Orient Express Corinthian Begins Mediterranean Season Under Sail

Orient Express Corinthian has been named at the Joubert graving dock in Saint-Nazaire, France, in an April 29 ceremony with builder Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The first vessel for Orient Express Sailing Yachts departed Saint-Nazaire on May 2 for the French Riviera, opening an inaugural season in the Mediterranean.

Billed by the companies as the world’s largest sailing yacht, the 220-meter vessel is also described by Orient Express as the first cruise ship fitted with Chantiers’ SolidSail wind-propulsion system. The ship measures about 26,300 GT, with a displacement of roughly 15,000 tonnes, and follows a decade of SolidSail development.

“It is a concrete, technical response to the decarbonization challenges facing maritime transport,” Laurent Castaing, chief executive officer of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, said of the ship. Castaing also credited the shipyard’s teams and thanked Orient Express for backing the project from its outset.

SolidSail system enters cruise operation

Orient Express Corinthian carries three rigid SolidSail rigs, each with 1,500 square meters of sail area and rising more than 100 meters. Chantiers says the automated rigs can rotate 360 degrees and tilt up to 70 degrees, allowing the ship to adjust sail position for wind direction and reduce air draft for bridge passages.

During sea trials in February, the vessel reached 12 knots in 20-knot winds using sail power alone. The sailing system is paired with LNG-powered hybrid propulsion, while other design features include dynamic positioning to hold position without anchoring and an AI-assisted detection system for marine mammals and objects at sea.

During an early Lisbon call, the ship lowered its sails to pass beneath the 25 de Abril Bridge, which has 70 meters of clearance for vessels, before approaching the Lisbon Cruise Terminal.

Inaugural season and sister ship

From May to October 2026, Orient Express Corinthian is scheduled to sail in the Mediterranean and Adriatic before crossing the Atlantic in autumn for a Caribbean winter season. In 2027, the ship is scheduled for itineraries in the eastern Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

The vessel has 54 suites across four decks, ranging from 45 to 230 square meters, and is designed for about 110 guests. Onboard spaces include five restaurants and private dining rooms, a 115-seat theater, a recording studio, a spa, a pool and a marina.

Sébastien Bazin, chairman and chief executive officer of Accor, told ceremony attendees that taking Orient Express to sea fits naturally with the brand’s identity. Orient Express has been part of Accor Group since 2022, and Accor and LVMH formed a partnership in 2024 aimed at developing the brand across hospitality and travel products.

The next vessel in the program, Orient Express Olympian, is being fitted out at the Penhoët quay in Saint-Nazaire following its April 17 launch. Its delivery is scheduled for 2027.