First came La Minerva hotel, a 17th-century palazzo just steps from the Pantheon. Then arrived La Dolce Vita train threading 1960s glamour through Italy’s cinematic landscapes. In June, the Corinthian, the first of Accor’s two Orient Express sailing yachts, will set sail on her Mediterranean maiden voyage completing the brand’s trifecta of nostalgic hospitality experiences.
The Corinthian signals a new chapter of discovery for Accor, which formed a strategic partnership with LVMH in June 2024. At 721.8 ft, she’s pitched as the world’s largest sailing yacht (sail-assisted with electric propulsion) and is the latest offering in a string of hotel giants competing for yacht-style hospitality at sea, from Ritz-Carlton to Four Seasons.
Accor sets itself apart in the lengths it has gone to emulate the superyacht lifestyle, including a fleet of Pascoe International tenders, and personalized service with 170 crew for just 110 passengers. There’s a sprawling marina platform that folds out at the stern for watersports, as well as a beach club setup with pool and bar (one of eight). You can take all six penthouse suites to form a private 10,000-sq-ft sanctuary for 22 people, akin to a dedicated superyacht owner’s deck.
According to Orient Express Sailing Yachts President Philippe Brault, formerly CEO of Monaco-based yacht brokerage YPI, “the only thing where we are not as good as a yacht is the flexibility.” And yet, while guests can’t dictate the ship’s course, the all-inclusive itineraries take in the yachting hotspots of the French and Italian Riviera in summer and the Caribbean in winter, with voyages from just two days. Longer sojourns, such as eight nights on the Amalfi Coast, start at €45,600 (approx. $53,380) per suite.
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Arguably the most novel element is the ship’s soaring sails, with Accor expressing interest in the Corinthian being wind powered up to 80 percent of the time. The three 328-ft-high masts and 16,145-sq-ft of rigid sails (built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique from carbon fiber-reinforced glass panels instead of woven cloth) are fully automated from the safety of the wheelhouse, which means there won’t be crew crashing into martini-sipping guests on deck as the sails hoist. The vessel is also built to cruise without heeling, guaranteeing a swim in the couloir de nage – a 55-ft lap pool sliced deep into the sun deck – without a drop of spillage.
Other omissions include clichéd cruise details, such as ubiquitous handrails and lengthy shopping malls, not to mention children. The Corinthian is a more intimate affair, with just four weeks a year dedicated to family sailings. Guests can expect an assortment of onboard entertainment, from a professional recording studio to a hidden whisky speakeasy sandwiched between a barber shop and treatment room.
Penned by French design studio Maxime d’Angeac, which specializes in reinterpreting historical private homes, the interior is an homage to the Orient Express’ original Art Deco heritage. A highlight is the historic-themed cabin fitted with luggage racks and vintage lights sourced from the original train, while the carpet motif in the 20-seater cinema is inspired by Suzanne Lalique’s flower bouquet glass panels.
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Materials for the largely masculine and moody interior are sourced from or created by European artisans, from Jean Brieuc’s wood embroidery (also found on the headboards of Accor’s upcoming 2027 Istanbul train) to Franck Benito’s engraved crystal lights used to illuminate the yacht’s wellness center — Guerlain’s first spa at sea, complete with a hammam, sauna, tepidarium, and movement studio with instructor-led classes.
Vibrant sculpture en plâtre panels by French sculptor Etienne Rayssac feature in the main lobby and La Table de l'Orient Express par Yannick Alléno – one of five Michelin-level restaurants overseen by executive chef Yannick Alléno. The fine-dining establishment is the only double-height area on board, with floor-to-ceiling windows that introduce a welcome connection to the sea. When the sun dips, late-night revelers can party in the wagon bar with its velvet-lined cabaret aesthetic and DJ decks.
Time spent off the boat ranges from a car rally and truffle lunch in the sun-drenched hills of Provence to an evening on Moskito Island. The few extra special soirees curated exclusively for Corinthian passengers, such as dinner at Palais Bulles in Cannes (Pierre Cardin’s former holiday home), perfectly illustrate Accor’s intent to balance heritage-rich storytelling with superyacht sensibilities to redefine what high-end hospitality at sea can be.
