Photo: Orient Express
Everybody knows and loves the Orient Express train (available both in the original form and the contemporary version), but did you know there will soon be a fleet of high-end cruise ships operating under the same brand? The first one, OE Corinthian, is already under construction, and it's said to be the world's largest sailing ship and "a technological marvel" in terms of eco-friendly capabilities.
It's official: the first ship in the Orient Express Sileanseas fleet will be named Corinthian and is currently under construction at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France. This is much more than just a builder. The French shipyard originally came up with the Silenseas concept based on its innovative wind-powered propulsion solution, named Solid Sail.
Following the partnership with hospitality giant Accor, which also owns the Orient Express brand, the Sileanseas cruise ships operated under this brand will become the first-ever cruise ships equipped with the Solid Sail, and the Corinthian will lead the way.
This ambitious project was announced at the beginning of last year when Orient Express shared a few details about the future (and futuristic) ships it would use to make its debut on the luxury cruise market.
The OE Corinthian will boast more than 720 feet in length (220 meters), making it the world's largest sailing ship and the world's biggest cruise ship with wind-based propulsion. The Solid Sail system onboard will be comprised of three huge tilting masts (each one more than 100 meters/ 328 feet tall) and three rigid sails with a surface of more than 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) each.
Despite the ship's mammoth proportions, this system is said to be efficient enough to ensure complete propulsion as long as the right weather and sailing conditions are met. Still, this is a hybrid vessel designed to rely on LNG (liquefied natural gas) in conjunction with wind power. LNG is considered the best available alternative to conventional fuel in maritime transportation, and many new-generation cruise ships are designed to run exclusively on LNG.
By combining LNG with wind-assisted propulsion, the Orient Express cruise ship will go further than any modern-day cruise ship has gone before. And it won't stop there: the vessel is also designed to be hydrogen-ready so that it can incorporate this green capability as well in the future.
Although remarkably green, the OE Corinthian will also be just as lavish and spectacular as you'd expect from an Orient Express ship. To give you an idea, know that the Presidential Suite onboard will offer 1,415 square meters (15,230 square feet) of floor space, accompanied by a magnificent terrace that boasts 530 square meters (5,704 square feet). This is about as close as you can get to the ultimate superyacht experience without owning or chartering one of the world's top pleasure craft.
You can already start saving for your first trip onboard this futuristic masterpiece, as the OE Corinthian is expected to set sail in 2026.
Following the partnership with hospitality giant Accor, which also owns the Orient Express brand, the Sileanseas cruise ships operated under this brand will become the first-ever cruise ships equipped with the Solid Sail, and the Corinthian will lead the way.
This ambitious project was announced at the beginning of last year when Orient Express shared a few details about the future (and futuristic) ships it would use to make its debut on the luxury cruise market.
The OE Corinthian will boast more than 720 feet in length (220 meters), making it the world's largest sailing ship and the world's biggest cruise ship with wind-based propulsion. The Solid Sail system onboard will be comprised of three huge tilting masts (each one more than 100 meters/ 328 feet tall) and three rigid sails with a surface of more than 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) each.
Despite the ship's mammoth proportions, this system is said to be efficient enough to ensure complete propulsion as long as the right weather and sailing conditions are met. Still, this is a hybrid vessel designed to rely on LNG (liquefied natural gas) in conjunction with wind power. LNG is considered the best available alternative to conventional fuel in maritime transportation, and many new-generation cruise ships are designed to run exclusively on LNG.
By combining LNG with wind-assisted propulsion, the Orient Express cruise ship will go further than any modern-day cruise ship has gone before. And it won't stop there: the vessel is also designed to be hydrogen-ready so that it can incorporate this green capability as well in the future.
Although remarkably green, the OE Corinthian will also be just as lavish and spectacular as you'd expect from an Orient Express ship. To give you an idea, know that the Presidential Suite onboard will offer 1,415 square meters (15,230 square feet) of floor space, accompanied by a magnificent terrace that boasts 530 square meters (5,704 square feet). This is about as close as you can get to the ultimate superyacht experience without owning or chartering one of the world's top pleasure craft.
You can already start saving for your first trip onboard this futuristic masterpiece, as the OE Corinthian is expected to set sail in 2026.
Google News