The shift to the slipway marks the formal transition from design engineering to large-scale industrial assembly, following the initial steel cutting completed on 30 January 2025.
The operation — which involved placing the first of 17 steel blocks on the tins — confirms both the technical validation and the long-term capital commitment underpinning Orient Express Olympian. Extending 220 metres, the vessel will rank, together with its sister ship Orient Express Corinthian, among the largest sailing yachts ever constructed.
This engineering approach reflects a clear evolution toward high-spec maritime assets that align environmental performance with technological sophistication in the ultra-luxury segment.
Construction Roadmap and Sister Ship Timeline
Olympian will follow a defined construction roadmap, with keel laying scheduled for November 2025, launch in April 2026, sea trials in early 2027, and final delivery planned for April 2027.
Its sister ship, Orient Express Corinthian, will advance on a parallel trajectory, entering sea trials in December 2025 ahead of its inaugural Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries beginning in May 2026.
These sequential deployments illustrate a coordinated expansion strategy designed to position Orient Express Sailing Yachts as a new high-value pillar within Accor’s ultra-luxury ecosystem.
This direction mirrors the wider diversification strategy outlined by Agnès Roquefort, Chief Development Officer Luxury & Lifestyle at Accor, who emphasises the need for continuous multi-format expansion to sustain long-term growth. The progression of Olympian demonstrates how this principle now extends to maritime assets.
A new chapter in the Orient Express brand’s global expansion
Olympian’s development is part of a broader acceleration of the Orient Express brand across high-end hospitality and experiential travel.
In Venice, the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli—a fifteenth-century palazzo featuring frescoed halls, grand salons and a curated suite collection—will open in April 2026, with reservations already accessible.
In Rome, the Orient Express Minerva will debut in 2025 within a historic building near the Pantheon, combining architectural heritage with contemporary ultra-luxury design. These openings highlight a deployment strategy focused on culturally significant destinations, architectural icons and high-impact experiential assets.
The expansion into maritime experiences also reflects broader market dynamics, as more global hotel groups explore luxury cruising to diversify their portfolios and extend their presence into high-value experiential travel. Orient Express Sailing Yachts represents one of the most ambitious expressions of this shift, blending mobility, exclusivity and immersive storytelling into a single experiential platform.
For Accor, extending Orient Express through both hotels and sailing yachts strengthens the brand’s positioning in the uppermost tier of the luxury landscape. The maritime programme—built on large-scale investment, hybrid propulsion and long-range itinerary potential—creates diversified revenue opportunities, from private charters to seasonal voyages.
