Image Gallery: The Christening of the ORIENT EXPRESS CORINTHIAN
A New Chapter in Maritime History
On April 29, 2026, high-ranking representatives from business, politics, and the church gathered in the historic Joubert dry dock in Saint-Nazaire, France, to celebrate the birth of an extraordinary ship. The christening of the ORIENT EXPRESS CORINTHIAN (IMO 1050193) not only marks the completion of the world’s largest sailing yacht but also the beginning of a new era of luxurious and sustainable travel at sea.
A Ceremonial Celebration Blending Tradition and Modernity
The christening location was carefully chosen: The Joubert dry dock is deeply rooted in French shipbuilding history. It was originally built to facilitate the construction of legendary ocean liners such as the NORMANDIE. In this historic setting, the ORIENT EXPRESS CORINTHIAN was officially christened.
The ceremony was marked by spectacular moments and symbolic gestures:
• Aeronautical Salute: Four Fouga Magister jets flew over the dock in the colors of the French tricolor. This was a tribute to the industrial history of Saint-Nazaire, where shipbuilding and aviation have been closely intertwined since the 1920s.
• Hoisting the sails: Before the celebratory speeches, the three enormous rigid sails of the „SolidSail“ system were hoisted.
• Official handover: Laurent Castaing, CEO of Chantiers de l’Atlantique, formally handed over the ship to Sébastien Bazin (CEO of Accor) and Philippe Hetland Brault. Bazin, in turn, entrusted command to Captain Éric Saint-Plancat.
• Blessing and tradition: Orthodox Archbishop Monsignor Nicolas blessed the ship and its crew. The ceremony concluded with the traditional smashing of a Balthazar bottle against the ship’s hull.
Technological innovation: The power of the wind
The ORIENT EXPRESS CORINTHIAN is a technological masterpiece. With a length of 220 meters (720 feet) and a tonnage of 15,000 tons, it combines the elegance of classic sailing ships with state-of-the-art technology.
• SolidSail System: The ship features three automated sails, each with an area of 1,500 m². These can rotate 360 degrees to optimally utilize the wind and, under favorable conditions, enable 100% wind propulsion.
• Flexibility: The masts can tilt up to 70 degrees, allowing the ship to easily pass under the world’s largest bridges.
• Sustainability: In addition to wind propulsion, the ship uses a hybrid propulsion system powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Thanks to these innovations, it achieves the best Energy Efficiency Index (EEDI) rating in its class and avoids approximately 9,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.
Luxury and the French „Art de Vivre“
The interior design, conceived by architect Maxime d’Angeac, pays homage to the golden age of Orient Express trains and grand ocean liners, translated into a modern design language.
• Accommodation: The ship accommodates just 110 guests in 54 luxurious suites. These range in size from 45 to 230 square meters and feature impressive panoramic windows and above-average ceiling heights.
• Dining and Wellness: Five restaurants are overseen by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno. There are also eight bars, a 115-seat cabaret, a recording studio, a luxurious Guerlain spa, and a 16.5-meter-long pool.
• Service: A crew of 170 attends to the guests‘ every need, with each suite having its own dedicated butler service.
Outlook: The journey begins
On May 2, 2026, the ORIENT EXPRESS CORINTHIAN set sail from Saint-Nazaire for the French Riviera. She will spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea before crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean in winter.
While the ORIENT EXPRESS CORINTHIAN set sail for her first voyages, work is already underway in Saint-Nazaire on the future: Her sister ship, the ORIENT EXPRESS OLYMPIAN, is currently being outfitted and is scheduled to follow in 2027.
