Orient Express Silenseas largest sailboat in the world (220 m)

After 140 years of rail travel between Europe and Asia, theOrient Express is preparing to ply the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas aboard Silenseas, the world’s largest sailboat. The French hotel group Accor, owner of the Orient Express brand and the historic “Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits,” already engaged as a sponsor of the French challenge to the next America’s Cup, Is preparing to launch a 220-meter-long sailing cruise ship in spring 2026 (twice the size of Jeff Bezos’s).

Aboard Orient Express Silenseas

To create the extravagant clipper Orient Express Silenseas, with its three masts resembling racing yachts complete with hull, square-top mainsail and jib, Accord turned to Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The famous French shipbuilder, which specializes in large ships, developed the first Silenseas model in 2018, but has further refined the design for Accor, working hand in hand with French firm Stirling Design International, which is responsible for naval architecture.

This impressive 220-meter luxury cruise ship will be able to accommodate up to 120 passengers, in 54 spacious suites starting at about 70 square meters each. The largest of these, the Presidential Suite, spans more than 1,400 square meters and boasts an impressive 530-square-meter private terrace. There will be no shortage of amenities on board; there will be no less than two swimming pools, two restaurants, and a speakeasy (hidden cocktail bar inspired by Prohibition-era speakeasies where alcoholic beverages were illegally sold).

As a tribute to the artists and culture that have always defined the Orient Express brand, Silenseas will offer incredible performances in its amphitheater-cabaret, while a private recording studio will give voice to on-board tunes. This unique wind-driven travel experience will include spa treatments, meditation sessions and exploratory stops to discover cultural treasures, allowing guests to completely detach from reality and stop time in a bygone era.

Driven by wind and green

The new Orient Express Silenseas is not only big and beautiful, but also environmentally friendly. The ship will be equipped with a patented SolidSail system consisting of three tilting masts more than 100 meters high and three rigid sails with an area of more than 450 square meters. Sails can provide up to 100% propulsion under the right conditions, reducing emissions and operating costs. This also ensures that the ship is virtually silent at sea, hence its name. If the wind is not enough, hybrid engines powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) will come into operation to minimize the impact on the environment. These will be replaced with green hydrogen engines in the future, once the technology is approved for ocean-going passenger ships

“With the Orient Express Silenseas we are opening a new chapter in our history, transferring the experience and excellence of luxury travel to the world’s most beautiful seas,” said Sébastien Bazin, President and CEO of Accor. “This exceptional sailing yacht, with roots in Orient Express history, will offer unparalleled service and beautifully designed spaces reminiscent of the golden age of mythical cruises. Innovation is at the heart of this ultramodern ship that will revolutionize the maritime world with new technologies to meet today’s sustainability challenges.”

A tribute to another legend

Silenseas’ story is intertwined with the roots of the Orient Express. In 1867, Georges Nagelmackers, founder of the Orient Express trains, boarded a transatlantic ship connecting Europe to America and embarked on a voyage of discovery to the United States. Fascinated by the grandeur of these impressive vessels, the founder of the Orient Express trains explored the luxurious traveler suites, decorated with extraordinary marqueterie, social experiences in the restaurants, and the unique atmosphere of the lounges, libraries, and entertainment venues. This experience of sea travel would later inspire, in 1883, the launch of his train that became legendary: the Orient Express.

James Barbaro