Imagine a wedding that refuses to stay in one place. The welcome dinner overlooking the port of Saint-Tropez, the ceremony at anchor before the cliffs of Bonifacio, the party under the stars off Portofino. And between each chapter, the sea. Starting in 2026, a vessel makes this dream possible with unparalleled elegance: the Orient Express Corinthian, presented as the world’s largest sailing yacht. Here is everything you need to know to celebrate your wedding on board.
At a Glance
- The vessel: the Orient Express Corinthian, approximately 220 meters, three masts, presented as the world’s largest sailing ship.
- On board: 54 suites for around a hundred guests, five restaurants under the direction of Chef Yannick Alléno, eight bars, a cabaret, a spa, swimming pools, and a marina.
- Where: in the Mediterranean from April to autumn (Côte d'Azur, Italy, Corsica, Greece, the Adriatic), in the Caribbean in winter (Saint-Barth, Saint-Martin, the Grenadines).
- For a wedding: exclusive charter of the vessel during select periods, or a collection of six suites for a circle of around twenty guests.
- Recommended lead time: twelve to eighteen months.
A palace beneath the sails
There are names that, all on their own, carry a century of imagination. Orient Express evokes lacquered carriages, long-distance journeys, the art of taking one's time. With the Corinthian, the legend leaves the rails for the sea. Built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint Nazaire and christened in the spring of 2026, the vessel measures approximately 220 meters. She carries three rigid sails of a new technology, developed alongside the shipyard, hoisted on masts a hundred meters high. The wind provides most of her propulsion. A vessel of this size, powered by sail, did not yet exist. Yet this grand scale is at the service of intimacy. The Corinthian features only fifty-four suites, from 45 to 230 square meters, all facing the sea. It is this paradox that makes it an exceptional wedding venue: the space of a grand palace, the atmosphere of a private home.
An architecture born of the train
Architect Maxime d'Angeac, Artistic Director of the house of Orient Express, has conceived a setting that extends the golden age of grand travel: woodwork, leather, veined marble, lacquer, slender columns, and Greek key motifs—reminiscences of Art Deco. Each salon feels as though it has always existed. For a wedding, this setting changes everything. There is no room to dress, no neutral venue to transform. The scenography dialogues with an already powerful architecture: a few floral arrangements, thoughtfully curated lighting, stationery infused with the spirit of the house, and the venue tells the rest.
Yannick Alléno’s table
Onboard gastronomy is under the direction of Chef Yannick Alléno, one of the most Michelin-starred French chefs. Five restaurants make up the vessel’s culinary offering, ranging from fine dining to more relaxed venues. For a wedding, it is a rare opportunity: a haute gastronomie dinner, served at sea by a culinary team accustomed to excellence, free from the constraints of a temporary kitchen. The menu is crafted alongside the onboard team, tailored around your tastes, local produce from the ports of call, and your guests’ dietary requirements. The food and wine pairing draws upon a wine cellar worthy of the setting.
Each space, a moment of the wedding
The Corinthian is not merely a vessel. It is a succession of spaces, each able to host a chapter of the celebration.
- The upper deck: the ceremony, facing the sea, at anchor, in the golden light of late afternoon.
- The 115-seat cabaret: speeches, a private concert, a performance, or the ceremony itself should the wind pick up.
- The restaurants: the wedding dinner, and the welcome and farewell dinners.
- The Art Deco speakeasy: the party after midnight, in a 1930s club atmosphere.
- The eight bars: the cocktails, the reunions, the conversations that linger.
- The spa: preparations for the bride and her loved ones, and next-day recovery.
- The swimming pools and the marina: a leisurely lunch, a swim at anchor, water sports.
- The recording studio: an unexpected idea, recording a song for the first dance, or the vows, as a keepsake.
The wedding that travels
A wedding aboard a yacht is nothing new. A wedding that becomes a journey, however, is. The strength of the Corinthian lies in transforming a multi-day celebration into an itinerary, with each port of call becoming a chapter.
- Day One: Embarkation. Guests join the ship in the late afternoon. In the evening, a welcome dinner on deck, facing the harbor.
- Day two: the ceremony. At anchor off a wild coastline, a symbolic ceremony on the upper deck. Then, a dinner crafted by the chef, speeches in the cabaret, and partying until dawn in the speakeasy.
- Day Three: the stopover. A lunch ashore in a privatized setting: a villa, a garden, a beach club. Or a day at leisure, between the spa, the pool, and swimming from the marina.
Three dream itineraries for a wedding
The ship’s itineraries change with every season and are published about a year in advance. Those for 2027 are already shaping exquisite wedding scenarios.
- The Riviera, from Saint-Tropez to Monte-Carlo. Marseille, Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Portofino, then Monte-Carlo: the Côte d'Azur and the Italian Riviera in a few days. A welcome dinner facing the citadel of Saint-Tropez, a ceremony off the Lérins Islands, a celebration in Portofino, a farewell in Monaco. For guests from all over the world, it is the entire legendary Mediterranean in a single celebration.
- Corsica and Italy, the wild Mediterranean. Portofino, Portovenere, Bonifacio, Saint-Florent, Calvi: limestone cliffs, turquoise coves, villages clinging to the rock. The ideal backdrop for a ceremony at anchor, away from it all.
- Saint-Barth and the West Indies, in winter. From November to March, the Corinthian sails between Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, the Virgin Islands, the Grenadines, and Barbados. A December or February wedding, set between lagoons and private islands, while Europe is in the depths of winter. Gustavia for the welcome dinner, a ceremony at anchor off the Tobago Cays, a celebration beneath the Caribbean stars.
The vessel also sails through Andalusia, Greece, Sicily, and the Adriatic, from Venice to Split: so many possible variations.
Charter the vessel, or experience an intimate wedding on board
- Full privatization. The vessel can be fully privatized for a private event during select periods of its season. This is the most exclusive option: the entire vessel, the full crew, and an itinerary crafted around your wedding. These periods are rare, and they set the date: it is the very first question to ask.
- The intimate wedding. For a more select circle, Orient Express offers a collection of six suites on the top deck, reservable for around twenty guests. It is an elegant way to experience an elopement or a confidential wedding, aboard a cruising vessel, with a ceremony at a port of call or at anchor.
- The proposal. A suite, a dinner, a deserted deck at sunset: the Corinthian is also a rare setting for a marriage proposal, which we organize with complete discretion.
How many guests?
The vessel accommodates around 110 guests across its fifty-four suites. It is the ideal scale for an exceptional, grand wedding, where every guest is a cherished loved one. For a larger celebration, guests not staying on board can join the festivities during a port of call, at a private venue ashore, via a boat transfer.
Our role
The vessel provides the backdrop, the table, and the service. We curate everything else, working alongside its teams.
- Artistic direction: floral scenography, lighting, stationery, the guiding thread of each day.
- The ceremony: the officiant, the ritual, the music, the plan B in the event of wind or swell.
- Stopovers: exclusive venue buyouts on land, transfers, and permits.
- The guests: flights, arrivals at the embarkation port, accommodation before and after, recommended attire for each day, a personal welcome for each guest.
- The artists: orchestra, singers, performers, DJs, in harmony with the vessel's spaces.
- The imagery: a photographer and a videographer who tell the story of the journey as much as the wedding.
- Confidentiality: non-disclosure agreements, photography guidelines, absolute discretion.
What you need to know before embarking
- Civil marriage: an onboard ceremony is symbolic. The civil marriage is celebrated beforehand, at the town hall, in France if the conditions are met, or in your home country.
- The date: it depends on the vessel's schedule and itineraries, and the available periods for exclusive charter.
- Weather: every ceremony at sea includes a sheltered alternative, in the cabaret or in an onboard lounge.
- Ports: embarkation and disembarkation take place at the ports along the chosen itinerary. Guest flights are arranged accordingly.
- Budget: a wedding on board is envisioned as a multi-day journey for all guests. We establish a detailed estimate from our very first exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can the Orient Express Corinthian be chartered for a wedding? Yes. The vessel can be fully chartered for a private event during select times of the year, subject to availability.
- How many guests can be welcomed on board? The vessel features fifty-four suites for approximately 110 travelers. For an intimate circle, a collection of six suites accommodates around twenty guests.
- Where does the Corinthian sail? In the Mediterranean from spring to autumn (Côte d'Azur, Italy, Corsica, Greece, the Adriatic, Andalusia), and in the Caribbean in winter (Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, the Grenadines, Barbados).
- Does *Le Corinthian* call at Saint-Tropez, Cannes, and Monaco? Yes, select summer itineraries connect Marseille, Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Portofino, and Monte-Carlo.
- Can you get legally married on board? The ceremony on board is symbolic. The civil ceremony is celebrated beforehand, at the town hall.
- Who cooks for the wedding dinner? The vessel’s gastronomy is helmed by Chef Yannick Alléno. The menu is crafted in collaboration with the onboard team.
- How far in advance should you plan a wedding on board? Allow twelve to eighteen months, as exclusive charter periods are extremely limited.
The most beautiful of journeys
A wedding is already a departure. Aboard the Corinthian, it becomes a true voyage, undertaken together, from which one returns changed. Guests will not merely remember a ceremony or a dinner, but a crossing, ports drifting by, a shared sea. It is perhaps the most beautiful way to begin a life together: by setting sail. With all my elegance, Sandrine Arnould — Founder, Luxury Events Agency