Chandra Hamzah
The Orient Express Corinthian, a vessel that has already garnered a reputation as the world’s largest sailing yacht, is poised to redefine the very concept of ultra-luxury sea travel. More than just a superlative-laden ship, its sheer scale is breathtaking, exemplified by its three masts that soar an astonishing 69 meters above the deck, reaching a staggering 100 meters from their apex to the waterline. This imposing presence immediately distinguishes the Corinthian from any other vessel gracing the oceans.
Launched as the flagship of a new era for the iconic Orient Express brand, now under the umbrella of the French hospitality giant Accor Group, the Corinthian represents a bold expansion of the legendary name into the realm of exclusive yachting. Accor’s acquisition of the Orient Express name in 2022 marked a strategic move to leverage its rich heritage of opulent travel, distinct from the existing Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train operated by Belmond. This foray into yachting follows a series of high-profile developments, including the opening of palatial hotels in Rome and Venice, a testament to a partnership with luxury conglomerate LVMH, and the upcoming "La Dolce Vita" Orient Express train, all designed to evoke a glamorous, bygone era of travel. The Corinthian, therefore, can be seen as a natural and ambitious progression in this multifaceted luxury offering.
The yacht’s design masterfully blends the timeless elegance of Art Deco interiors with cutting-edge marine technology. While every detail within its opulent spaces harks back to the golden age of travel, the underlying engineering is resolutely modern. Its expansive sails, covering an impressive 4,500 square meters, are constructed from advanced carbon fiber and fiberglass, promising both aesthetic grandeur and performance. The sheer size of the Corinthian is underscored by its dimensions: a length of 220 meters, which dwarfs even established luxury vessels like the Scenic Eclipse (168 meters long). This impressive stature accommodates a select 110 passengers, attended by a dedicated crew of 170, ensuring an exceptionally high staff-to-guest ratio and an atmosphere of exclusivity. This deliberate choice in capacity underscores the yacht’s commitment to providing an intimate and highly personalized experience, a hallmark of true ultra-luxury.
The genesis of the Orient Express yacht project can be traced back to Accor’s strategic vision to extend the brand’s experiential offerings beyond its storied train and hotel ventures. The acquisition of the Orient Express name provided a fertile ground for innovation, and the partnership with LVMH further amplified the potential for creating unparalleled luxury experiences. The hotels in Rome and Venice, themselves situated in historic palaces, set a precedent for the grandeur and historical reverence that the brand aims to embody. The "La Dolce Vita" train, inspired by the cinematic allure of the 1960s, signals a continued commitment to evoking a sense of timeless glamour and adventure. The decision to venture into superyachting, therefore, represents a logical and ambitious extension of this brand philosophy, offering a new frontier for discerning travelers seeking the ultimate in luxury and exploration.
The Corinthian is not an isolated development but part of a burgeoning trend of ultra-luxury hotel groups entering the yachting sector. Renowned brands such as Ritz-Carlton, Aman, and Four Seasons have also launched their own bespoke yachts, signaling a significant shift in the high-end hospitality landscape. This influx of branded yachts reflects a growing demand from affluent travelers for unique, immersive experiences that combine the exclusivity of private travel with the renowned service standards of their preferred hotel brands. The Corinthian, with its extravagant beauty, daring design elements, and evocative nods to France’s legendary ocean liners, positions itself at the forefront of this new wave of luxury maritime experiences. The white bas-relief panels in the lobby, crafted by sculptor Etienne Rayssac, are a direct tribute to the iconic designs of the legendary S.S. Normandie, a celebrated French ocean liner of the 1930s, further cementing the yacht’s connection to a rich maritime heritage.
A Departure from Conventional Maritime Design
The architectural vision for the Orient Express Corinthian was spearheaded by Maxime d’Angeac, the architect and artistic director for Orient Express. His approach has been described as revolutionary, deliberately challenging conventional ship design norms. "We’ve used a lot of materials that we had to get certified for use on a ship – big pieces of marble and glass, a lot of varnished wood, carpets, certain fabrics," d’Angeac explained, highlighting the meticulous process of integrating luxurious materials into a maritime environment. His primary objective was to create an immersive experience that transcends the perception of being on a vessel. "The first impression of people coming on the yacht is to forget they are on a boat and think they are in a hotel," he stated. This philosophy is deeply rooted in the brand’s heritage: "We have designed the yacht for the kind of voyageur who would have chosen Orient Express at the beginning of the 20th century; people who are curious, elegant and looking for a different way to spend their time." This sentiment aims to attract a clientele that appreciates historical context, sophisticated aesthetics, and a unique approach to leisure.
Sumptuous Suites and Unrivaled Comfort
The Corinthian features an exclusive collection of just 54 suites, each promising an unparalleled level of comfort and bespoke service. Every suite is attended by a dedicated butler, ensuring that guest needs are anticipated and met with discreet efficiency. The interiors are characterized by sumptuous finishes, including hand-selected marble, backlit onyx, meticulously hand-stitched leather, and exquisitely polished wood. The term "cabin" feels inadequate to describe these expansive living spaces; "suite" is a far more fitting descriptor for accommodations that redefine onboard living.
The entry-level accommodation, the Suite Panoramique, offers a generous 47 square meters of space. While these suites do not feature private balconies, they are designed to maximize the visual connection with the ocean. Two daybeds are strategically positioned along an entire wall of glass, creating a seamless panorama of the seascape. Between them, a polished wooden box conceals a selection of classic games such as chess and dominoes, inviting moments of leisurely engagement. The bathrooms are equally divine, adorned with rich, red-veined marble and featuring exquisite details, from vintage Art Deco door handles to delicate inlaid wood accents behind the headboards, all contributing to an atmosphere of refined indulgence.
Ascending to the upper decks, the yacht boasts six penthouses, offering even more expansive living areas and enhanced amenities. Three of these luxurious residences are equipped with private outdoor hot tubs, providing exclusive spaces for relaxation and enjoyment of the surrounding vistas. The decor in these penthouses shifts to a more masculine and bold aesthetic, featuring decadent cream sofas and ottomans in rich burnt orange hues, complemented by polished chrome fittings. Vast living spaces are artfully segmented by clever use of polished eucalyptus, creating distinct zones for entertainment and dining. A unique and captivating surprise awaits in two of these suites, Meltem and Zephyr: hidden within their opulent design are "heritage" cabins, meticulously crafted replicas of the sleeping compartments found on the 1927 Orient Express train. These intimate spaces feature fold-down bunks, a washbasin discreetly concealed within a cabinet, and authentic original luggage racks, offering a tangible link to the romance of early 20th-century rail travel.
A Culinary Journey of Michelin-Starred Excellence
The dining experience aboard the Corinthian is curated to be as exceptional as its accommodations, featuring multiple distinct restaurants rather than a single, monolithic dining room. La Terrasse offers a versatile setting for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, providing guests with a relaxed yet elegant environment. For those seeking the pinnacle of gastronomic indulgence, L’Encre presents a sophisticated ambiance with a chic color scheme of black, white, and gold, where no expense is spared on premium offerings like Veuve Clicquot champagne and Petrossian caviar. L’Ecrin, meanwhile, evokes a charming Mediterranean vibe, offering a different yet equally delightful culinary atmosphere. Crucially, all these dining venues, along with free-flowing drinks, are included in the overall guest experience, reflecting the yacht’s all-encompassing luxury proposition.
The undisputed jewel in the Corinthian’s culinary crown is La Table de L’Orient-Express, a gastronomic sanctuary helmed by the internationally acclaimed chef Yannick Alléno. With an impressive 18 Michelin stars across his various establishments, Alléno oversees all dining on board, promising an unparalleled gastronomic journey. This intimate dining space, seating just 20 guests, is a masterpiece of design, featuring soaring ceilings, panoramic ocean views, intricately carved columns of warm wood, and textured panels of black glass crafted by the esteemed master glassmaker Emmanuel Barrois. While Orient Express has not yet disclosed the supplementary cost for dining at La Table de L’Orient-Express, given that the yacht’s charter rates begin at upwards of AU$9,250 per cabin per night, it is anticipated that the supplement will be commensurate with the extraordinary quality and exclusivity of the experience. This commitment to world-class dining underscores the yacht’s ambition to set new benchmarks in luxury cruising.
Bespoke Lounges and Recreational Havens
The Corinthian offers a diverse array of bars, each designed to cater to different moods and preferences. The Marina Bar provides sweeping views of the ship’s wake and, when conditions permit, the impressive fold-out watersports platform. For those seeking a more clandestine experience, Le Speakeasy is hidden behind an unassuming door within the barber’s salon, revealing a decadent space with gold-upholstered bar stools encircling a striking crimson marble bar. A particular highlight is Le Wagon, a meticulously recreated homage to the eponymous bar on the original Orient Express train, complete with authentic Lalique Art Deco lamps and plush emerald velvet banquettes, transporting guests directly to a bygone era of glamorous soirees.
Beyond its bars, the Corinthian boasts a comprehensive array of amenities designed to enrich the guest experience. A cabaret lounge and a cinema provide entertainment options, while a well-appointed card room and a library stocked with 1,500 books, including rare editions, offer spaces for intellectual pursuits and quiet reflection. Uniquely, the yacht also features a recording studio, an intriguing addition that will undoubtedly spark creative endeavors among guests. The expansive spa marks the first seagoing venture for the renowned luxury French brand, Guerlain, promising a sanctuary of wellness and rejuvenation. The yacht’s swimming pool facilities, however, present a more nuanced offering. The black mosaiced pool located outside La Terrasse, while pleasant, is relatively modest in size. A more distinctive feature is Le Couloir de Nage, a 16-meter lap pool that runs along the center of Deck 7, situated beneath the sails. Despite its length, the pool’s design, with the water level positioned at the base of four-meter walls, creates an oddly claustrophobic sensation, a design choice that may divide opinion among guests.
Exclusive Excursions and the Dawn of a New Travel Era
The Orient Express Corinthian is scheduled to navigate the Mediterranean for the coming months before embarking on a transatlantic voyage to the Caribbean. While shore excursions will incur additional costs, the yacht offers a selection of creatively curated included experiences. These range from a classic car rally through the picturesque landscapes of Provence, culminating in a truffle tasting at an 18th-century farmhouse, to an espionage-themed gala night on Sir Richard Branson’s private Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands. For discerning travelers with the means, the yacht’s itinerary is designed to seamlessly integrate with the Orient Express train and hotel experiences, allowing for the creation of extended, bespoke itineraries. This holistic approach to luxury travel, seamlessly connecting diverse modes of transport and accommodation, heralds what is being termed a new golden age of travel, one that emphasizes immersive experiences, unparalleled comfort, and a profound connection to the art of journeying. The Corinthian stands as a testament to this evolving vision, promising an unforgettable adventure for those who seek the extraordinary.
Tatiana Tantri Indah Sari
Budi Mulyono
