The Corinthian Hosts LVMH Guests at the Monaco Grand Prix

By: Alex Lefebvre | Published: 06/10/2026

Our favorite event on the F1 calendar, the Monaco Grand Prix, now known as the Louis Vuitton Grand Prix de Monaco (at least for 2026), has come and gone, but an interesting guest made an almost under-the-radar appearance.

Accor’s Orient Express Corinthian is the largest sailing yacht in the world, so as you would expect, it’s hard to miss.

Quietly hosting guests of the title sponsor of the event, LVMH, the gigantic yacht caught our eye as the cameras scanned the waters of Côte d’Azur, revealing the mega yachts in Port Hercules and beyond. While LVMH also hosted guests at the Automobile Club de Monaco, it needed to make a major statement with hospitality on board the Corinthian.

It’s practically impossible to miss this behemoth anywhere it appears. It almost stole the show during the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, and it is likely to keep turning heads everywhere it appears as it begins operations.

The Corinthian is a 220-meter sailing yacht built to redefine luxury cruising. Its massive masts are anchored to the ship with what appear to be three independent boats. However, that’s just part of the spectacle the designers and builders hope to trigger. These titling masts are the key feature of the ‘SolidSail’ propulsion system built for efficient use of wind energy with the aim of minimizing the vessel’s reliance on conventional fuel.

The Maxime d'Angeac-designed yacht is the brainchild of a collaboration between Orient Express and Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Naturally, the ‘floating palace’ as described by the owners, draws inspiration from the original Orient Express train for its interior.

That name isn’t just hyperbole, though. Looking at the interior of the vessel, you can easily conclude that it is worthy of that description. It took about 2,000 craftsmen, ateliers, and artists to meet bespoke specifications sure to wow those who cruise aboard the massive vessel.

Below the masts, you have 54 suites ranging in size from 45 to 230 sq m, spread across four decks. All the suites offer a panoramic window and deckhead heights 25cm above the industry standard. Leather, wood veneers, and marble are generously used throughout the interior to give guests the assurance that they’re experiencing the very best.

Top-of-the-line penthouse suites have eye-catching names like Agatha Christie, Zephyr, Meltem, and Libeccio. Each of these can comfortably accommodate four guests.

Following appearances on the French Riviera, the yacht will embark on its first season, sailing in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. It’ll cross the Atlantic sometime during the fall and spend winter in the Caribbean.

2027 will usher in a collection of itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, with stops at choice ports, alongside the massive cruise ship, on what Orient Express promises will be bespoke voyages that are difficult to match by any other luxury cruising experience.

2027 will also see the addition of a second yacht, the Orient Express Olympian. Both yachts will share the load of itineraries across the Mediterranean, the United Kingdom, and Northern Europe. Perhaps we'll see both yachts during race weekend in Monaco next year. We can only wonder what the official title of the event will be.