Before the Sails Catch Wind

Orient Express hasn’t even set sail yet, but that hasn’t stopped it from thinking several voyages ahead. With a new slate of itineraries unveiled for 2027, the storied name—now under the Accor umbrella—is making it clear that the future of sea travel will be as much about imagination as it is about movement. 

At the center of this next chapter are two sailing yachts, Corinthian and Olympian, designed to reintroduce romance, restraint, and true craftsmanship to the open water. The 722-foot Corinthian, slated to debut in 2026, will begin with an inaugural season through the Mediterranean and Caribbean before expanding its reach. A year later, its sister ship Olympian will join the fleet, opening up new routes across Greece, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia. 

The itineraries read less like cruise schedules and more like carefully composed journeys. One Mediterranean route begins in Piraeus, tracing the Aegean and the Sporades before concluding in Istanbul. Another departs Valletta, Malta, winding through the Ionian Sea en route back to Greece. Northern European voyages are equally deliberate: departures from London glide down the Thames and along England’s southern coast before crossing to France, while other sailings follow Britain’s eastern shoreline north to Edinburgh, then onward to Norway and Denmark. A third route begins in Copenhagen, travels the Norwegian coast, and returns south through Scotland before finishing in London. 

Sustainability is quietly built into the experience. Each journey is planned to take advantage of favorable winds, reducing fuel use and environmental impact. Both yachts are equipped with a cutting-edge SolidSail 

propulsion system—three towering, adjustable masts with nearly 50,000 square feet of sail—engineered to maximize wind efficiency while minimizing emissions. 

Luxury, of course, is non-negotiable. Interiors, overseen by artistic director Maxime d’Angeac, draw inspiration from the golden age of rail and ocean travel, reinterpreted through a modern, pared-back lens. Each vessel houses just 54 suites, all with expansive terraces or panoramic windows, reinforcing a sense of privacy and intention. Onboard dining is led by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, while wellness experiences are curated in partnership with Guerlain—ensuring that time at sea feels as restorative as it is transportive. 

The result is not simply a new way to sail, but a new way to think about travel altogether. Less about ticking destinations off a list, more about how the journey unfolds. Because long before the sails catch wind, the voyage has already begun.