The Orient Express fleet is slowly but surely coming to fruition.
The first block of the brand’s second sailing yacht was laid down at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France on Wednesday, marking the beginning of the vessel’s assembly phase. The 721-foot Olympian is expected to set sail in spring 2027, shortly after flagship Corinthian debuts in summer 2026.
More from Robb Report
The keel laying was carried out by one of the shipyard’s two gantry cranes, with the first of the 17 blocks put into position to form the steel hull. Once this stage is complete, the outfitting phase will begin. All that work will lead to one of the biggest sailing yachts in the world. The 722-foot Corinthian will be the world’s largest sailing yacht by length, measuring just one foot more than Olympian.
As with its sistership, Olympian will be equipped with a SolidSail propulsion system that includes three masts with a total sail surface area of nearly 50,000 square feet. Designed by the French shipyard, the innovative setup enables the masts to be tilted and rotated to maximize the wind, thereby reducing fuel consumption, lowering operating costs, cutting emissions, and increasing efficiency.
Orient Express Olympian Sailing Yacht Keel Laying
The yacht can cruise using the wind alone or switch into hybrid mode to get some extra power from engines running on liquefied natural gas (LNG). (LNG produces fewer emissions than standard marine diesel, too.) It can hit a max speed of 12 knots with the motors. At the same time, dynamic positioning technology allows the yacht to stay put in bays without dropping anchor, thus protecting the seabed in fragile and protected areas.
Orient Express ‘Corinthian’ yacht
Details on the interior are scant, but we do know Olympian will feature 54 suites for 110 guests and space for 170 crew. Corinthian has the same number of suites, with each one ranging from 485 to 2,476 square feet and offering expansive picture windows or a private terrace. If Olympian is anything like Corinthian, she will be a stunner, too. The flagship features a lavish interior designed by Orient Express artistic director Maxime d’Angeac, with decor that pays homage to the golden age of rail travel and legendary ocean liners while incorporating chic, contemporary elements. Corinthian will also be fitted with five restaurants and private dining spaces, plus eight bars.
Corinthian is scheduled to set sail in May 2026, cruising in the Mediterranean and Adriatic in the summer, before heading to the Caribbean. To book, visit the Orient Express Sailing Yachts website.
Best of Robb Report
Sign up for RobbReports’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Click here to read the full article.