The Orient Express, a historic train service, is venturing into the cruise industry. The Orient Express Silenseas yacht will set sail in 2026, according to Accor, the company that owns the brand.
“We are beginning a new chapter in our history with Orient Express Silenseas, taking the experience and excellence of luxury travel and transposing it onto the world’s most beautiful seas,” said Accor Chairman and CEO Sébastien Bazin in a news release. “With roots in the history of the Orient Express, this exceptional sailing yacht will offer unparalleled service and refined design spaces reminiscent of the golden age of mythical cruises.”
According to Accor, the over 720-foot vessel will be inspired by the “golden age of the French Riviera,” with an emphasis on art and culture offerings.
The Orient Express Silenseas will sail Mediterranean itineraries in the summer and Caribbean itineraries in the winter, “punctuated by exclusive experiences to discover exceptional sites dedicated to art, culture, and nature,” said Guillaume de Saint Lager, vice president of the Orient Express brand at Accor, in an email.
What can guests look forward to at the Orient Express Silenseas?
The yacht will have 54 suites, each measuring 70 square metres (about 753 square-foot area). According to the news release, the ship will also have a Presidential Suite measuring 1,415 square metres (about 15,231 square feet), two pools, a speakeasy bar, and two restaurants.
The ship will host performances in a “Amphitheatre-Cabaret,” as well as a private recording studio and spa treatments and meditation sessions.
Silenseas will be built at the French shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique and will run on a combination of wind power and cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas.
Accor is also planning Orient Express hotels and a relaunch of the luxury train.
The Orient Express is not the only luxury line that has set sail. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection debuted in October, and Four Seasons recently announced plans to launch Four Seasons Yachts in 2025.