67 Venues onboard Corinthian include a library with over 1,500 books and a fully equipped spa Bolidt finish that resembles teak – it’s a lovely touch,” says d’Angeac. The result is a vessel where spatial planning and guest experience are tightly interlinked. Accommodation is entirely suite-based, with even the ship’s lowest room category offering 506 square feet of space and panoramic ocean views. Meanwhile, the most luxurious accommodation, the penthouse suites, are located on deck seven. There are six two-bedroom suites, including the Agatha Christie suite, which spans the width of the ship and offers a personal fitness room and a marble bathroom, as well as literary-inspired artwork. Meanwhile, the five Zephyr suites each feature an Orient Express Heritage cabin – a replica of the sleeping compartment on the 1927 Orient Express train. Deck seven stands out to d’Angeac as the best example of the philosophy behind the ship’s design. “For me, deck seven defies belief, pushes the boundaries as far as possible and brings us face to face with the world of yachting – it’s a free-flowing, meticulously crafted and innovative design,” he says. “Anyone lucky enough to spend time there will remember the experience for a long time to come. I could say that about the whole of Corinthian, but I particularly love the freedom of deck seven’s design.” The Heritage Cabins are just one example of the way in which d’Angeac drew heavily on Orient Express’s cultural and historical foundations for the creation of the interiors. “The core inspiration lies in the brand’s DNA – the pursuit of comfort, innovation and the application of French craftsmanship – culture and history then do the rest,” says d’Angeac, referencing precedents set by the luxury French ocean liners, Normandie and Île de France, in the early 20th century. “The design draws on historical references without becoming nostalgic, combining a contemporary interpretation of tradition with seamlessly integrated engineering. It therefore delivers on the aesthetic vision while providing the durability required for a marine environment. The ship is a major industrial project as well as a major decorative one, but ultimately, it is a representation of Orient Express.” Among the onboard venues is La Table de l’Orient-Express by Yannick Alléno, which offers fine dining in a room featuring a pillared alcove, luxury wooden furnishings and moonlit glasswork. Meanwhile, Le Speakeasy is inspired by the secretive illegal bars found in America during the Roaring Twenties and offers an intimate setting for a classic cocktail. Entertainment and cultural spaces are similarly varied and include a 20-seat cinema, a library with approximately 1,500 books, a music salon hosting live performances, and a cabaret-style theatre inspired by Parisian venues. Ultimately, Corinthian is an expression of the reputation Orient Express has built over more than a century – its pursuit of craftsmanship, its reverence for history and its belief that travel can be genuinely transformative. With just 110 guests onboard at any one time, the ship will offer luxury in its rarest form. As d’Angeac himself puts it: “Our experience thrives on exclusivity – you have to be lucky enough to be part of it.” “ What sets marine design apart from other forms of design is simple: the sea”
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