The world's largest sailing cruise ship was officially named at the Jobegan Dockyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The "Orient Express Corinthian" was unveiled as the first "Silenseas" class sailing cruise ship, combining high-tech environmentally friendly design with traditional maritime luxury experience. The launch of this new ship marks that modern cruise ships, known for their heavy environmental burden, are trying to reshape their image through technological innovation and brand stories.
For a long time, modern cruise ships have had a poor reputation in the public eye. People regard them more as floating over-the-top luxury resorts rather than ocean voyages full of exploration. Coupled with frequent passenger disorderly behavior and rare disease outbreaks, their image has been further tarnished. At the same time, rail travel has gradually changed from a symbol of elegant travel in the past to a commuting method similar to large buses. In this context, a historical brand tries to find the imaginative space of the golden age for both "sea" and "road".
The "Orient Express" brand is jointly operated by Accor Hotels Group (Accor) and luxury goods giant LVMH Group (LVMH). In recent years, it has restored and reused 17 original "Nostalgia Istanbul Orient Express" carriages, and plans to restart luxury train services between Paris and Istanbul starting in 2027. This project aims to recreate the travel atmosphere between World War I and World War II - flamboyant and gorgeous decoration, extremely personalized service, exquisite dining experience, plus a hint of suspense like in an Agatha Christie novel. As the name suggests, the "Orient Express Corinthian" continues this brand narrative at sea, but chooses to focus on high-tech and environmental protection rather than simple retro.
According to reports, this new ship condenses the results of more than ten years of ship engineering research and uses a solid sail propulsion system called "SolidSail". When wind conditions are suitable, it can sail completely powered by sails. Different from the traditional rope and canvas picture, the SolidSail system consists of three sets of rigid sail wings, made of fiberglass, carbon and epoxy resin panels, and is equipped with the "AeolDrive" system, which allows the mast to rotate 360 degrees and tilt 70 degrees to pass through highly restricted waters such as bridges. The sail surface is automatically adjusted by a servo motor under computer control. The entire lifting and angle changing process is highly automated, and there is almost no traditional scene of sailors climbing ropes to pull the sail.
In conditions where wind is calm or unsuitable for sailing, the Orient Express Corinthian will rely on hybrid liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion to reduce emissions and ensure punctual voyages. The hull design has also been optimized to improve energy efficiency. It can reach a maximum speed of 17 knots (approximately 31.5 kilometers/hour) under power propulsion, and can achieve a speed of approximately 12 knots (approximately 22.2 kilometers/hour) with only sails in a wind speed of 20 knots. The project party has also reserved space for conversion to a hydrogen propulsion system, leaving a technical interface for further carbon reduction in the future.
In terms of environmental protection and safety technology, this cruise ship is equipped with a marine life detection system assisted by artificial intelligence, which is used to identify and avoid large marine mammals such as whales and reduce the risk of collision. In addition, the ship is also equipped with a computer-controlled dynamic positioning system. When anchored at sea for sightseeing or water activities, the propeller can be used to adjust the posture and maintain a fixed point without anchoring, thus minimizing interference to the seabed ecological environment.
In terms of size and passenger structure, the "Orient Express Corinthian" is not based on "the most passengers" as its selling point, but on "space for service" to highlight its high-end positioning. The entire ship can carry up to about 130 passengers, but is equipped with about 170 crew members. Passenger accommodation is distributed in 54 suites. This almost "upside-down" configuration of the number of crew and passengers allows each passenger to receive highly personalized care, in line with the "old-school luxury" temperament emphasized by the brand.
Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of AccorHotels, said that extending the Orient Express brand to the sea is a natural extension of this legendary story, and its core is still a travel imagination with exploration, calmness, excellence and elegance as key words. He said that the "Orient Express Corinthian" through sail propulsion, on-board space created with rare materials and a unique experience tailored for international passengers, simultaneously poses challenges in the three dimensions of industry, architecture and art, and demonstrates France's comprehensive strength in shipbuilding, design and craftsmanship.
At present, the "Orient Express Corinthian" has successfully completed the naming ceremony and launched marketing promotion before it was officially put into service. For passengers interested in experiencing this new sea journey, relevant voyage and cabin information can already be booked through the official channels of Orient Express. This cruise ship, which integrates sail power, hybrid energy propulsion and a high-density service team, is undoubtedly trying to use a new narrative that takes into account environmental responsibility and exquisite enjoyment to find new imagination space for the large cruise industry.
