In 1883, the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits revolutionized travel between Europe and Asia with its legendary Orient Express train, the first to feature sleeper cars and a dining car on this side of the Atlantic. In 2026, the Orient Express brand, now owned by the Accor hotel group, is revolutionizing ultra-luxury cruises with a sailboat that breaks all the molds: Corinthian.
Article from the magazine CruisesNews No. 77 – June 2026
The Corinthian stands out for its amazing SolidSail system, designed and patented by Chantiers de l’Atlantique after more than a decade of innovation and development. It features three 69-meter carbon masts, each supporting a rigid sail measuring 1,500 m². At 220 meters in length, the Corinthian is the longest sailing vessel ever built.
Unlike traditional canvas sails, SolidSail's rigid sails are composed of fiberglass, carbon fiber, and epoxy resin panels, framed by carbon fiber spars. This design gives the SolidSail ten times the strength of conventional sails, with an estimated service life of 20 years—five times that of a fabric sail of equivalent size.
The SolidSail system is based on a specialized rig called AeolDrive, also developed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique. This system includes carbon-fiber masts mounted on a 360° rotating steel boom that optimizes navigation regardless of wind direction. In addition, it can be tilted up to 70° to reduce the air draft and allow passage under bridges, such as those in New York, which are only 54 meters high, or the one in Lisbon, under which it passed in early May with the masts folded down.
The sail panels are moved by computer-controlled servomotors, making the system fully robotic and automated. It takes just seven minutes to unfurl the sail, while lowering it takes only five.
During the most recent propulsion tests, the vessel reached a speed of about 12 knots under sail alone, with winds of around 37 km/h—a record that, according to the shipyard, is unprecedented for a sailboat of this size.
In addition to its sails, the ship is equipped with engines that can run on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the cleanest fossil fuel currently available. The vessel is designed to incorporate green hydrogen as soon as port infrastructure and storage technology allow, ensuring that it will not become obsolete in just a few years.
Several Spanish companies have participated in the design and construction of the Corinthian, including CT Ingenieros, which provided resources for the modeling and fabrication of the booms through its team in Saint-Nazaire and oversaw the ship’s 3D model through its team in Ferrol. Likewise, a Galician company, Martinez Otero Contract, has completed a significant portion of the interior work.
The Interior: Pure French Glamour
The interior of the Corinthian pays homage to the Golden Age of the French Riviera, featuring understated glamour, decorative arts, and intuitive hospitality.
It's easy to find references to the historic Orient Express train, such as the movie theater seats—exact replicas of the originals and manufactured by the same company that produced them for the train. Another example is Le Wagon bar, which is an exact replica of the train's circular bar.
The quality of the materials—marble in the bathrooms, leather chairs, wooden furniture, and genuine teak floors—and their weight required a special permit for their use on a boat. In fact, the lead designer, Maxime d’Angeac, spent months searching for the finest artisans in France to incorporate the best of French craftsmanship into the vessel.
Christened in Saint-Nazaire on April 29, the Corinthian kicked off its inaugural season in the Mediterranean with an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, before making an appearance in Lisbon.
Its luxurious interior will be enjoyed by just 110 guests on each all-inclusive voyage, served by 170 crew members. Yes, there are more crew members than passengers. Its 54 suites come in various sizes, ranging from the 47 m² of the most basic suites—which feature panoramic windows but no balcony—to the Agatha Christie Suite, which measures 225 m² plus a 180 m² terrace.
Highlights include the six duplex suites, inspired by a Greek billionaire’s mansion on the French Riviera, with one floor dedicated to the bedroom and bathroom, and another to the living-dining area and terrace. They feature a carpeted spiral staircase, extra-large sofas, and Hermès-inspired throws, with nautical rope motifs on the ceilings and door handles. The television is concealed behind a false cabinet, and the speakers are built into the headboard to keep the volume at a discreet level.
The bathrooms feature freestanding bathtubs, double sinks carved from blocks of white onyx, and exclusive Maison D’Orsay toiletries that can only be found at the Corinthian.
When it comes to dining, the Corinthian features several restaurants under the leadership of Chef Yannick Alleno, who has earned 18 Michelin stars and oversees 12 restaurants around the world.
The flagship restaurant is La Table de l’Orient Express, with just six tables and an extra-high ceiling inspired by the dining room of the SS Normandie, the 1930s French ocean liner that was also built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard.
Le Cellier is a wine bar that also serves as a tea room, hosting tastings, workshops, and private events, while Le Ecrin is a restaurant that combines global influences with the highest-quality fish, shellfish, and other seafood, offering stunning views of the ocean. At the stern is La Terrasse, a panoramic restaurant that blends contemporary design with Art Deco, featuring a grand double staircase that connects to La Piscine, one deck below.
With the exception of La Table, all dining experiences are included in the fare. Most of the onboard facilities are also included, with the exception of the Guerlain Spa, which features four treatment rooms, a double VIP suite, and a sauna and relaxation room with a terrace. The sauna and relaxation room are available to all passengers, regardless of whether or not they are receiving a treatment.
There is a library featuring classic French and English novels, including works by Agatha Christie, Jules Verne, and Ian Fleming selected by the French bookstore Galignani, as well as a cabaret-style theater with a capacity of 115 people, a 20-seat movie theater with seats that are exact replicas of those on the original Orient Express train, and an onboard recording studio. The studio is available to both guests and for professional use when the ship is chartered for private events.
On Deck Six, beneath the sails, there is a 16.5-meter indoor swimming pool, while La Piscine, an oval-shaped outdoor pool, is located at the stern of Deck Five.
The boat has a large stern deck, which makes it possible to swim in the ocean when the boat is anchored in a quiet cove and to use its water “toys.”
Without a doubt, the Corinthian sets the bar for luxury, and its sail system could lay the groundwork for a more sustainable future in the cruise industry.
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