The luxury travel brand’s highly-anticipated arrival in Italy will see the train debut with a choice of eight itineraries, and the journey will allow guests to experience the train over the course of either one or two nights.
The majority of its routes depart from Rome, with destinations including Venice, Portofino, Montalcino, Monferrato and Palermo. There is also a Sicily to Rome option, with stopovers in Taormina and Maratea, as well as a Shores of Sicily route departing from Catania.
Its launch will coincide with the opening of Orient Express La Minerva, the brand’s first ever hotel. Located in Rome, the 17th-century property offers views of the Pantheon, 93 rooms and suites, and lavish interiors designed by Hugo Toro. The hotel will also work directly with La Dolce Vita Orient Express to provide complimentary limo service from the airport to the hotel for all of its passengers.
Cabins and suites
Each of the La Dolce Vita Orient Express trains will have 12 carriages (nine for passengers and three for staff) with 12 deluxe cabins and 18 suites, all of which will have private bathrooms. The trains will have a capacity for just 62 guests in total, creating an intimate setting that allows for high client-to-guest ratio.
The first train, due to be delivered in January, will have one suite specially designed for passengers with mobility issues. Meanwhile, its second train, scheduled to join the fleet by April, will have two accessible cabins.
The quality of the accommodation is integral to La Dolce Vita Orient Express, which has been inspired by the ‘joie de vivre’ fervour of 1960s Italy.
“The experience on board is the most important,” general manager Samy Ghachem told TTG Luxury. “You’ll have amazing volta linens, Broggi silverware and Michelin-star dining.”
The interiors are hallmarked by wood-beamed ceilings, plush carpeted floors and extravagant decor that transport guests back in time to the Golden Age of Italian design. The cabins’ sofas will be transformed into a double bed at nightfall, just a few hours before the train stops moving to allow passengers’ a restful sleep.
Each suite features its own bedroom (with the choice of either double bed or twin bed configuration), with a sofa, table, two armchairs, and a private bathroom. There will also be unique lighting fixtures by renowned 20th-century designers, and mirrored walls to create the illusion of extra space. All cabins will be kitted out with luxury toiletries, hair styling tools, branded slippers and bathrobes, as well as electrical outlets with multi-standard plugs.
Dining
The culinary offerings on La Dolce Vita Orient Express will be overseen by Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck, who has created a menu of traditional Italian cuisine using contemporary techniques.
Guests can expect ‘regionalised’ dishes, with each meal inspired by the local ingredients of the surrounding area. For example, passengers on the ‘Truffle Route’, which travels from Rome to Monferrato, will enjoy a truffle-based menu, while those heading towards the Amalfi Coast will experience dishes inspired by its famous lemons.
Beck will also be responsible for making cabin treats and snacks, including the pillow chocolates at turndown, as well as the gelato, which again, will be available in flavours from the local region.
“This takes Italian food to another level,” Ghachem said, adding that another signature element of La Dolce Vita Orient Express’ food will be its high nutritional value. Beck, has long been a proponent of food as medicine, ensuring that all his dishes are healthy while still being flavourful and satiating.
“The health aspect to his food is very important,” Ghachem explained. “It’s amazing artwork but it’s also very nutritious. He is devoted and committed to that.”
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served in La Dolce Vita Orient Express’ restaurant, which boasts a geometric design, lacquered walls and large windows. There will also be a Lounge Bar, where guests can order an Italian Aperitivo, and the option for in-room breakfast.
Experiences
Experiences on La Dolce Vita Orient Express vary based on the itinerary, so it’s crucial travel advisors are familiar with each route and its differing excursions.
The most popular journey is set to be Venice-Portofino, which begins in Rome and lasts three days and two nights. Guests will enjoy a guided tour of Venice’s historic landmarks, visit a famous Venetian palace and have a private dinner in an ancient palazzo. They will also explore Santa Margherita Ligure, eat a typical Ligurian lunch in Portofino, and enjoy scenic views of the Mediterranean along the way.
Another route with high bookings so far is the The Eternal Stones of Matera, which involves a trip to Basilicata, said to be the world’s third oldest city. There’s also an itinerary to Sicily that offers the world’s first passenger rail ferry, which involves decoupling the train at Calabria and loading it onto a ferry before it is reassembled and continued on the tracks in Messina.
Starting prices referring to a one-night itinerary are €3,500 per person in a deluxe cabin and €4,700 per person in a suite. The price includes food and drink.
