Orient Express confirms its position as a leading innovator in luxury travel with the announcement of Orient Express Silenseas, billed as the world’s largest sailing ship. Slated to debut in 2026, the vessel is presented as a bold blend of modern technology and classic Riviera glamour.
The project is the result of a French partnership between Accor and shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Inspired by the golden age of the French Riviera, Orient Express Silenseas channels the elegance and cultural energy of places like Monte-Carlo, Saint-Tropez, Cap d’Antibes and Cannes, where artists, writers and movie stars once gathered.
At 720 feet long, the sailing yacht will accommodate guests across 54 suites and a 15,230-square-foot presidential suite. Public amenities are designed to celebrate refined travel: two restaurants, a speakeasy bar, two swimming pools and a spacious amphitheater-cabaret will provide entertainment and dining options aligned with the Orient Express heritage.
© Maxime d’Angeac & Martin Darzacq for Orient Express, Accor
Beyond dining and leisure, the ship will offer cultural and wellbeing experiences. Guests can attend shows in the amphitheater-cabaret, make use of a private recording studio, and enjoy spa treatments and meditation sessions. Carefully chosen stopovers are planned to enhance itineraries with memorable coastal destinations.
“With Orient Express Silenseas, we are beginning a new chapter in our history, taking the experience and excellence of luxury travel and transposing it onto the world’s most beautiful seas,” said Sébastien Bazin, CEO and chairman of Accor. He emphasized that the vessel combines refined design, exceptional service and French craftsmanship while embracing innovation to address modern sustainability challenges.
At the core of the design is a propulsion concept called SolidSail: three rigid sails mounted on a balestron rig with tilting masts. In favorable conditions, these sails can provide up to 100 percent of the ship’s propulsion. The hybrid system pairs wind power with a liquefied natural gas engine today, and the project includes plans to adopt green hydrogen propulsion once the technology is certified for passenger ships. This approach aims to reduce emissions and move maritime luxury travel toward greater environmental responsibility.
Orient Express positions Silenseas as more than a vessel: it is presented as an immersive travel platform that blends heritage, contemporary comfort and forward-looking engineering. By combining spacious private accommodations, curated cultural programming and advanced, eco-conscious propulsion, the ship seeks to offer a distinctive maritime experience that honors the brand’s storied past while looking ahead to sustainable luxury cruising.