Orient Express says it is keen to host its trade partners its debut ship after being left “surprised” by early bookings trends.
The brand welcomed TTG Luxury aboard its 54-suite vessel on Tuesday for an exclusive first look at the product, along with a press conference with its executive leadership.
Currently docked in Saint-Nazaire outside Nantes, Orient Express Corinthian will make its maiden voyage in June, heading from Marseille and stopping in ports like Monaco, Saint-Tropez, Cannes, and Portofino.
A full tour of the sailing ship’s interior – designed by French architect Maxime d’Angeac – revealed luxury to be the default; the throw blankets are Hermes, the washbasins are marble.
Notably, there’s no reception area – instead, the lobby consists of a wood-paneled library and a suite of curvy, Art Deco-style furniture.
At the heart of the yacht is a 17-metre lap pool, buried beneath mast sails like a sheltered oasis.
On Deck Four, you’ll find a professional-grade recording studio, complete with a grand piano, drums, and a collection of acoustic and electric guitars. The vibe is billionaire’s lair rather than floating hotel.
Charter ambitions
With an opulence uncontested, it’s hardly surprising that Orient Express Corinthian has attracted a high-net-worth clientele. A three-night voyage for two guests starts at €16,500, while the standard seven-night Mediterranean itineraries begin at €36,000.
Significantly steeper than those for Four Seasons Yachts and Aman at Sea, these rates place Corinthian at the highest price end of the luxury cruise industry.
What has been unexpected, however, has been the demographic of these clients. Rather than pulling in wealthy couples and retired travellers, the brand has seen a strong demand for short-length buyouts.
“We were surprised to see the enthusiasm from people who want to charter it,” said Sebastien Bazin, chairman and chief executive officer of Accor.
These groups fall into two categories: large, intergenerational families celebrating milestones and companies who wish to host clients in a private setting.
As such, the average stay is four nights – suggesting the yacht will be mostly utilised for exclusive events rather than traditional long-form cruising.
Staff also told the press that there haven’t been many families with young children booking, and that children will only be welcome during designated seasons.
Travel advisors key
The appeal of Orient Express Corinthian for large groups makes sense. The vessel offers everything you’d want from a yacht – or villa – without the tightly limited guest counts.
“When you go on a yacht, you have the best of everything onboard – but we’re also giving you that ashore,” Philippe Hetland Brault, president and chief executive of Orient Express Sailing Yachts, told TTG Luxury.
In an effort to upgrade the traditional yachting experience, one signature experience is included in every Orient Express Corinthian sailing.
Guests can expect VIP access to houses of couture, themed galas in palaces, and truffle-infused lunches held in private estates.
Luxury travel advisors will play a major role in selling the product, which will be the world’s largest sailing yacht when it officially debuts.
“We know 90% of clients won’t book unless their travel advisor has experienced it first-hand,” said Bazin, when asked about the value of hosting agents onboard. “We also know it’s a matter of commission!”
The importance of travel advisors to the success of Corinthian was echoed by Brault, who was responsible for negotiating contracts with trade partners. He told TTG Luxury he “can't wait for the delivery so the agents see how noble and elegant she is.”
