The Corinthian, the first of Accor’s two Orient Express sailing yachts, set sail on her maiden voyage in May 2026. At 721.8 feet, she’s pitched as the world’s largest sailing yacht (sail-assisted with electric propulsion) with a stylized interior that pays homage to Orient Express’s Art Deco heritage. That includes poetic design signatures that anchor the decor in authenticity, such as luggage racks and vintage lights in a few guest cabins sourced from the original train, as well as a 20-seater cinema with a carpet inspired by Suzanne Lalique’s iconic flower bouquet glass panels.

“We began sketching the first design ideas for this vessel more than three years ago,” architect Maxime d’Angeac tells me during a tour of the boat in Saint-Nazaire, France. His French design studio specializes in reinterpreting historical private homes, estates, and villas through a contemporary lens, though Corinthian is his first yacht. “The central reception area is where guests embark, so we incorporated a lot of wood and detail to keep the vibe faithful to what people expect from the Orient Express train.”

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 marble-clad wellness center—Guerlain’s first spa at sea.

“The more centrally placed you are on board, the less you feel the boat moving, which is why we located the spa amidships to create a soothing sanctuary at the heart of the vessel,” explains d’Angeac. Steeped in dip lighting and marble, the spa includes a hammam, sauna, tepidarium and ice fountains, with a movement studio that hosts instructor-led classes.

The boat was designed around 54 guest cabins, comprising 48 suites and six penthouse apartments. “It’s a very big boat for a limited number of passengers,” says d’Angeac. The 2,422-square-foot two-bedroom literary-themed Agatha Christie suite is the largest onboard and is dressed in rich rosewood with a marble bath and private terrace. Big hitters can take all six penthouse suites to form a private 10,000-square-foot refuge for 22 people that has full run of the top level, akin to a dedicated superyacht owner’s deck.

In addition to sweeping vistas, butler service, and restful, quiet days at sea (just four weeks a year are dedicated to family sailings) guests can expect an assortment of curated onboard entertainment, from a professional recording studio to a hidden whisky speakeasy sandwiched between a barber shop and treatment room.

“We experimented with contemporary materials and wide-open spaces to reflect the vessel’s highly modern technology,” adds d’Angeac. The fine-dining restaurant, one of five Michelin-level onboard eateries overseen by executive chef Yannick Alléno of Ledoyen in Paris and 1947 Cheval Blanc in Courchevel, is a case in point. The restaurant boasts the only double-height area on board, with floor-to-ceiling windows that introduce a welcome connection to the sea. Vibrant ‘sculpture en plâtre’ panels by French sculptor Etienne Rayssac draw the eye. When the sun dips, attention turns to the wagon bar with its velvet-lined cabaret aesthetic and DJ decks.

A second bathing pool on the upper deck and a stern beach club-cum-marina provide welcome lounging for sun worshippers, though it’s the ship’s three 30-foot-high masts and soaring rigid sails that present the most novel exterior design element. Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard from carbon fiber-reinforced glass panels instead of woven cloth, all of which are fully automated from the safety of the wheelhouse.