There will be 54 suites in the 721 square feet Orient Express Silenseas, including a sprawling 15,230 square foot Presidential Suite that covers the entire top floor.

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The Orient Express group of companies is shaking up the travel world once again with the announcement of the launch of its first ship, Orient Express Silenseas, taking on the title as the world's largest sailing vessel following the announcement of the relaunch of its iconic train. The Orient Express Group is owned by the French luxury group Accor Group.

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It is expected that the 721-ft Orient Express Silenseas will depart for its maiden voyage in 2026. The vessel will have 54 suites, including a large 15,230 square foot Presidential Suite that will cover the entire top deck of the vessel. Despite this, there is never a shortage of space in the rooms, as they are on average 753 square feet in size.

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Among the other facilities on board the ship are two swimming pools, a cabaret lounge, two restaurants, a speakeasy bar, a spa and even a recording studio, just in case musical inspiration strikes you at sea while you are on your vacation.

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 “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,” Sébastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of Accor.

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In addition to being built by leading luxury shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Orient Express Silenseas will be a showcase of French talent of the highest level, with the naval architecture being handled by Nantes-based Stirling Design International, one of the leading shipping companies in the world.

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There are rumors that Maxime d'Angeac, who was also responsible for the refurbishment of the Orient Express train, will design the interiors of the new train, according to Rich Report. In keeping with the iconic glory days of the French Riviera, a lot of care has been taken to give each guest suite and communal area of the vessel an air of personalization.

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“This exceptional boat, with roots in Orient Express’ history, will offer unparalleled service and refined design spaces, reminiscent of the golden age of mythical cruises,” Bazin says. 

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“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.”

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In spite of the fact that Orient Express Silenseas' exact itinerary has yet to be revealed, Accor have revealed plans for the ship to be in the Mediterranean seas during the summer months, before heading to the Caribbean during the winter months. A great deal of attention will be paid to art, culture, and nature during both the onboard experiences and on-shore excursions.

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As part of its hybrid propulsion system, the mammoth sailing ship will utilize more eco-friendly liquefied natural gas and, once approved, hydrogen fuel cells.

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“Chantiers de l’Atlantique is proud to herald a new era in the shipbuilding industry with Silenseas,” stated Laurent Castaing, managing director of Chantiers de l'Atlantique. “This concept, born in our design offices in 2018, is the quintessence of our savoir-faire in the fields of naval architecture, the construction of sophisticated hulls, as well as the design of luxurious spaces.”

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Moreover, the installation of three SolidSail rigs, which are a revolutionary 16,146-square-foot unit wind propulsion system, for which a first prototype has been developed and tested, will have a powerful impact on the propulsion of the ship, since they will provide significant thrust. 

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As a result, Silenseas will become a ship of reference for environmentally friendly operation and design, due to the combination of a hybrid propulsion system with liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel.

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Accor and Chantiers de l'Atlantique's partnership lays out plans for a second vessel, scheduled for delivery in 2027, in addition to Silenseas, the only Orient Express sailing ship currently on order.