Luxury Cruising: Orient Express Has Ordered Two Cruise Ships

Orient Express is a big name in luxury travel, so it makes sense to broaden its options into luxury cruises. In fact, the company has just ordered two, 108-guest cruise ships from Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Meanwhile, the first is to be named Orient Express Silenseas, set to debut in 2026.

Orient Express Silenseas

Sébastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of Accor, parent to Orient Express, made a press statement:

With Orient Express Silenseas, we are beginning a new chapter in our history, taking the experience and excellence of luxury travel and transposing it onto the world’s most beautiful seas. 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 revolutionize the maritime world with new technology to meet today’s sustainability challenges. It is a boat designed to make dreams a reality, a showcase for the best of French savoir-faire.

Bazin went on to say that a signed letter of intent to order two ships is now in process with Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The concept was put together in 2018 in the company’s design offices and includes the design of luxurious spaces on the ships. Moreover, three SolidSail rigs are to be installed, which is reportedly a 1,500-sq-m unit wind propulsion system.

According to Laurent Castaing, Managing Director, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, they have already developed and tested the first prototype. Meanwhile, the sail will be combined with a hybrid propulsion system running on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Castaing said Silenseas will become “the ship of reference in terms of environmentally-friendly operation and design.

Golden Age of the French Riviera

According to Orient Express, the two cruise ships will be inspired by the “Golden Age of the French Riviera.” In fact, the Orient Express Silenseas will echo a glorious era when writers, painters, artists, princesses and movie stars spent time along the French Riviera

Meanwhile, the Orient Express Silenseas will be a 220-meter-long ocean ship, featuring 54 suites. Each suite will measure an average of 70 sq meters, along with a 1,415 sq meter Presidential Suite. Moreover, the cruise ship will feature two swimming pools, a lap pool, two restaurants as well as a speakeasy bar.

Environmentally friendly sea travel

Orient Express Silenseas will sail with a revolutionary technological design known as SolidSail: three rigid sails with a surface area of 1,500 meters each will be hoisted on a balestron rig, with three tilting masts reaching more than 100 meters high, able to ensure up to 100% of the propulsion in suitable weather conditions. This hybrid propulsion formula will combine wind power with a state-of-the-art engine running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and plans to use green hydrogen once the technology is approved for ocean passenger ships, launching a new, more environmentally friendly vision of sea travel.