The World’s Largest Sailing Cruise Ship Sets a Speed Record
The future flagship of the Orient Express cruise fleet, Corinthian, has completed its first sea trials — and immediately set a record for vessels of its class. This impressive liner, set to become the largest sailing cruise ship in the world, has already delivered outstanding results during the testing phase.
The vessel stretches approximately 220 metres in length and displaces around 25,200 gross tons. Despite its considerable size, it accommodates just 110 passengers across 54 luxury cabins — a deliberately intimate scale for an ultra-luxury experience.
The project’s defining feature is the Solid Sail system, developed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Three carbon-fibre masts, each standing approximately 69 metres tall, support nearly 4,500 square metres of sails.
During trials, the liner reached a speed of approximately 22.5 km/h in winds of 37 km/h. The masts can rotate 360 degrees and tilt up to 70 degrees to find the optimal angle to the wind. When needed, they can also be lowered entirely, allowing the vessel to pass beneath bridges.
Under normal operating conditions, the ship is expected to reach speeds of up to 32 km/h. The second vessel in the series, Orient Express Olympian, is scheduled to enter service in spring 2027.
