You may be curious why I’m discussing the news surrounding the construction of the Orient Express Olympian and its connection to the luxury golf club business.
Allow me to briefly emphasize the inspiring matches for you.
Luxury golf resorts and luxury cruises target similar types of travelers share a number of important characteristicseven though the settings differ (land vs. sea).
Here are their main similarities:
- Both offer extensive packages that bundle accommodation, dining, recreation and personal services, creating a seamless, worry-free vacation.
- By concierge services for attentive staffguests receive highly personalized care, whether it is a caddy at a golf resort or a butler in a cruise suite.
- Luxury golf resorts present beautiful landscapes; luxury cruises offer ocean views and scenic harbors. Both emphasize being immersed in beautiful surroundings.
- Expect multiple restaurants, gourmet cuisine, chef-led experiencesand high-quality wine selections in both environments.
- Both feature spa facilities, fitness centers, swimming pools and wellness programs (yoga, massage, meditation), catering for travelers who prioritizing self-care and rejuvenation.
- Even though golf resorts focus on golf, they still offer tennis, hiking, culinary lessons, etc. Luxury cruises offer shows, excursions, spas and more. Both strive for variation outside their core theme.
- …and much more.
Since 2022, Orient Express is one part of Accor Group’s esteemed collection of luxury brandsbuilding on a remarkable centuries-old legacy of hospitality and fine dining.
In 2024, Orient Express founded a strategic partnership with LVMH to accelerate its growth. This collaboration represents an innovative alliance between Accor, a global leader in hospitality, and… Atlantic shipyardsknown for its expertise in cruise ship construction.
As a result, the Orient Express Corinthian and Orient Express Olympian were created: two groundbreaking sailing yachts with an advanced design and a beautiful interior.
The first block of Orient Express Olympian, the second sailing yacht of Orient Express Sailing Yachts, part of Accor Group, was laid down at Chantiers de l’Atlantique yesterday.
Orient Express Olympian – Construction
In keeping with proud maritime tradition, the laying of the keel marks the true beginning of a ship’s life: the moment when it happens structure begins to rise from the shipyard floor.
Although the first steel sheet had already been cut ten months earlier, on January 30, 2025it is this ceremony that marks the beginning of the physical assembly of the yacht.
The honor of this maneuver falls to one of the shipyard’s two iconic gantry cranes.
With slow, deliberate precision, he positions himself on his keel blocks very first of the 17 steel profiles that will ultimately form the hull of the yacht.
It is a crucial step: from here the contours of the future ship will steadily take shape.
Once the keel has been set, construction will progress to the outfitting phase, where the yacht’s refined interior features will be installed along a dedicated quay.
This painstaking work shall continue until the delivery of the ship, scheduled for spring 2027 – exactly one years after the launch of the Orient Express Corinthian.
Interesting facts
- Orient Express Olympian will measure 220 meters long and, together with Orient Express Corinthian, will develop the largest sailing yacht in the world.
- 3 self-supporting and tilting masts equipped with a total sail area of 4,500m2 -1,500 m² per sail — will allow, depending on wind conditions, full wind-powered propulsion, or a hybrid mode combining sails with running engines liquefied natural gas (LNG). The rigging is fully automated and controlled from the wheelhouse.
Leveraging integrated experiences to increase the value of premium golf resorts
Here are the the most strategic synergies between a luxury golf resort and the Orient Express sailing yachts– from brand positioning to guest experience, business operations and turnover:
- Make one shared customer ecosystem: private invitations, loyalty link, joint membership levels.
- Experience before and after sailing: What guests of a sailing yacht are often looking for destination extensionsmaking golf resorts a natural partner.
- Golf themed travel: Manage routes where yacht passengers:
- Stop at coastal destinations with iconic golf courses
- Play curated rounds hosted by the luxury resort brand
- Enjoy golf-focused programming onboard (celebrity pros, masterclasses, club fittings).
- Design one co-branded suite, loungeor “Orient Express Terrace” in the resort. Or host one pop-up La Table Orient Express dining experience at the golf resort.
- Loyalty and Concierge Ecosystem: Creating VIP benefits for multiple properties!
- Increased storytelling: With a resort and yacht combination, marketing teams can create:
- Destination-driven stories
- Travel Arches (“From sea to green”)
- Cinematic branded content
- Joint PR initiatives
- Operational synergies if they are both under the same parent company (e.g. Accor)
Strongest chance
A luxury golf resort and Orient Express Sailing Yachts can create together a seamless ultra-luxury travel circuit– a combination of world-class hospitality, heritage, gastronomy, wellness and lifestyle experiences across land and sea.
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