While luxury travel firm Navigate Express is best known for its train excursions, it’s now branching out into cruises … in a big way. The company has just unveiled what will reportedly be the world’s largest sailing ship, the Orient Express Silenseas.
The hybrid sailing yacht is the product of a partnership between two French firms – Navigate Express’ parent company Accor, and the particular Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipbuilding company. It’s scheduled to enter service in 2026.
Measuring 220 meters long (722 ft), the Orient Express Silenseas will utilize three rigid SolidSail sails. Each one will have a surface area of 1, 500 sq m (16, 146 sq ft), and will be mounted on its own 100-m (328-ft)-tall tilting mast. The idea is that when weather conditions are suitable, these sails will provide 100% associated with the vessel’s propulsion.
When the sails aren’t quite enough on their own, the liquefied natural gas engine will certainly kick in to make up the difference. Orient Express says that it plans on switching in order to green hydrogen, once the technology is approved for ocean passenger ships.
Orient Show
As far as accommodations go, the particular Silenseas may offer 54 suites, almost all of which can measure an average associated with 70 sq m (753 sq ft). The one big exception is the 1, 415-sq-m (15, 231-sq-ft) Presidential Suite, which will include a 530-sq-m (5, 705-sq-ft) private terrace.
Amongst the onboard attractions will be two swimming pools (including the lap pool), two restaurants, a speakeasy-type bar, a good amphitheater-cabaret with a private recording studio, and a spa. Like most cruise boats, it will also stop in at various ports, where passengers can disembark for land-based excursions.
That being said, it’s not immediately clear where the Silenseas will operate, although Navigate Express does state that the vessel was “inspired by the golden age of the French Riviera. ” It should also have a sister ship, as Chantiers sobre l’Atlantique reportedly has “a signed letter of intent to order 2 ships. ”
Source: Orient Express