The legend of Orient Express continues with the reveal of the world’s largest sailing ship, Orient Express Silenseas. Its first luxury train having launched 140 years ago, this new addition makes maritime history for Orient Express. The extraordinary sailing yacht came from a French partnership between world leaders in hospitality, Accor, and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, a major shipbuilding company.
Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor, is delighted in this new chapter for luxury travel.
“This exceptional sailing yacht, with roots in Orient Express’ history, will offer unparalleled service and refined design spaces reminiscent of the golden age of mythical cruises. Innovation is at the heart of this ultra-modern ship that will revolutionise the maritime world with new technology to meet today’s sustainability changes. It is a boat designed to make dreams a reality, a showcase for the best of French savoir-faire.”
Georges Nagelmackers border the transatlantic ships connecting Europe to America in 1867, setting off on a journey to the United States. Intrigued by the glory of the vessel, Nagelmackers explored every inch of the ship, experiencing all the rich and luxurious services the boat had to offer: libraries, lounges, and entertainment. This led Nagelmacker to launch the Orient Express in 1883.
Inspired by the Golden Age of the French Riviera, Orient Express Silenseas is a harmony of the era when artists, painters, writers, princesses, and movie stars holidayed between Monte-Carlo, Saint-Tropez, and Cannes. Featuring 54 suites measuring approximately 70 square meters, the 220-metre-long ship has two swimming pools, restaurants, a speakeasy bar, and 1,415-square-metre Presidential Suite. The boat also offers spa treatments and meditation sessions and will host shows in its Amphitheatre-Cabaret.
“With a signed letter of intent to order two ships, Chantiers de l’Atlantique is proud to herald a new era in the shipbuilding industry with Silenseas,” said Laurent Castaing, Managing Director of Chantiers de l’Atlantique. “This concept, born in our design offices in 2018, is the quintessence of our savoir-faire in the fields of naval architecture, the construction of sophisticated hulls, as well as the design of luxurious spaces.”
The ship will sail with a revolutionary technological design called ‘SolidSail,’ three rigid sails with a surface area of 1,500 metres, each hoisted on a balestron rig. With three tilting masts up to 100 metres high, the technology will ensure up to 100 percent of the propulsion in suitable weather.
“Combined with a hybrid propulsion system running on liquefied natural gas (LNG), Silenseas will thus become the ship of reference in terms of environmentally-friendly operation and design,” explained Castaing.
The sailing yacht is due to set sail in 2026.
