Orient Express Launches the Corinthian, the World's Largest Sailing Yacht

The Orient Express Corinthian — the largest sailing yacht ever built — has set off on its maiden season, bringing the storied train brand's Art Deco glamour to the open sea for the first time.

At 220 metres, the French-built vessel is now cruising the Mediterranean, resetting the bar for luxury travel on the water.

What Makes It the World's Largest

The Corinthian stretches 220 metres (about 720 feet) and weighs 15,000 tonnes, yet it's a genuine sailing ship: three towering SolidSail rigid sails, each 1,500 m² and rising more than 320 feet, work alongside hybrid propulsion. On sea trials in February it hit 12 knots under sail alone. It was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique and flies the French flag.

Inside: 54 Suites, Five Restaurants, a Cabaret

For a ship this size, it carries just 54 suites — from 45 to 230 m², each with a 3.6-metre panoramic window or private terrace, finished in leather, wood and marble. Dining runs to five restaurants overseen by multi-Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, alongside eight bars (including an Art Deco speakeasy and a 115-seat Parisian cabaret), a Guerlain spa and a 16.5-metre pool.

Where It Sails

The Corinthian spends May to October crossing the Mediterranean and Adriatic — Venice, Dubrovnik, Portofino, Capri, Palermo, the Côte d'Azur and the Greek Isles. In autumn it makes a transatlantic crossing to winter in the Caribbean.

For anyone chasing the next rung of experiential luxury, this is a new flagship: an all-suite, ultra-low-density ship that pairs near-private-yacht intimacy with a fine-dining lineup most resorts can't match.