With life constantly moving at what feels like breakneck speed, the most valuable commodities today are the intangible ones. Time. Space. Quiet. These have coloured how we classify luxury. Take travel, for example. Now more than ever, the emphasis is on the conscious and contextual. But what about the many ‘lost’ hours (on the journey itself, waiting in airports…)? What if the trip was as artful, enjoyable and immersive as the end destination? Smart luxury travel brands, recognising that time is a valuable resource, are weaving services and design details usually found at the destination, into the journey itself, with boats and trains, as well as the elevation of air cabins, creating an art out of transit.
By sea
The epitome of adventure, yachts symbolise freedom in a way that other modes of travel can’t. On the open water, with nothing but ocean ahead, this is as close to an escape as it gets. And the luxury hospitality decision-makers clearly agree. With Ritz-Carlton and Aman already in the game, and Orient Express and Four Seasons setting sail next year, the sea is the place to be.
Rail icon Orient Express’s entry into the maritime realm is inspired by the Golden Age of travel. Merging innovation and artistry, Orient Express Sailing Yachts is the product of the partnership between Accor and leading builder of cruise liners Chantiers de l’Atlantique. And in June 2026, 140 years after the launch of its first luxury trains, the maiden voyage of the Orient Express Corinthian, the world’s largest yacht, commences. The first of two Orient Express yachts, it will set sail to cruise the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Caribbean seas.
Designed by architect Maxime d’Angeac, Artistic Director of Orient Express, the yacht will boast refi ned décor and offer exclusive anchorages. Onboard, Michelin-star restaurants, a spa and all kinds of entertainment will keep even the most discerning guest busy. (You can even record music in the onboard studio.)
Four Seasons is also branching into new territory. Together with yachting company Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, Four Seasons Yachts launches in 2026. Ten voyages in the Caribbean (launching in January) and the Mediterranean (launching in March) will explore 130 destinations covering 30 countries.
President and Chief Executive Officer of Four Seasons Alejandro Reynal says that the routes will be defi ned by comfort, elegance and personalisation. Itineraries will be customisable with pre- and post-cruise hotel and overland programmes offered at Four Seasons hotels and resorts. In collaboration with Tillberg Design of Sweden and Four Seasons Yacht’s Creative Director, Prosper Assouline, the goal is to ‘craft an environment that feels both familiar and extraordinary – a home at sea with 50% more living space per guest than currently available from any competitor’.
By air
Air may be the most direct and seamless way to travel, but that needn’t mean you can’t savour the experience. Increasingly, the top carriers are crafting unique experiences onboard that mitigate the cramped spaces and compromises of standard air travel. With the focus here firmly on comfort, every element is designed so that clients pass the time in superb style.
Aviation pioneers Emirates has a strong track record of innovation and service. Winning the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for Best First Class for several years running, Emirates First Class continues to pioneer in the space. It was the first airline globally to introduce an onboard lounge for First Class passengers in 2008, and was also the first airline to equip its entire fleet with mobile phone connectivity.
Currently, a host of services while still on the ground gives way to an experience in flight that’s equivalent to a hotel room in the sky. Offering First Class on its A380s and 777s (with private suites and sleeping quarters in varying permutations – some with controlled privacy doors, personal temperature controls and adjustable mood lighting), they all have every tech, comfort and entertainment amenity imaginable.
Standout features include a full-length wardrobe; a video call feature on Gamechanger aircraft, enabling customers to order room service from the comfort of their suite; an electronically controlled personal mini-bar featuring refreshing snacks and drinks on most aircraft; a work space with a keepsake leather notebook and pen; Byredo skincare; and, naturally, an array of superior food and beverage options. Window-seat passengers are given binoculars to take in the view. Miles off the daily commute.
By rail
Leisurely and elegant, the train journey encapsulates the glamour of a bygone era and the current infatuation with slow travel. Hospitality veteran Belmond knows its way around luxury. With a stake in hotels, safaris and river cruises, it’s constantly finding ways to set its experiences apart. By centering its train trips on the tradition and romance of rail, they’ve created unique journeys. Each train has a distinct identity, design, and culinary and cultural heritage (from the recently reopened Eastern & Oriental Express to the iconic Venice-Simplon Orient Express).
The latest addition to Belmond’s portfolio is the Britannic Explorer, the first luxury sleeper train to travel England and Wales. Debuting in July 2025, it fuses a celebration of timeless rail heritage with contemporary British gastronomy, culture and style. With an onboard wellness suite, and considered cultural programming, the Britannic Explorer departs from London, offering three-night journeys with a choice of three routes through the spectacular natural landscapes of Cornwall, The Lake District and Wales.
Belmond’s iconic Venice Simplon-Orient Express too, has found ways to up the ante with the addition of L’Observatoire, the first carriage to be designed by an artist (world-renowned JR). Described as an ‘artwork in motion’, it pays tribute to the train’s rich legacy, drawing inspiration from astronomical observatories and Renaissance Europe’s cabinets of curiosity, embodying a sense of exploration.
Belmond has even created a way to give back while watching the world go by. In collaboration with Save Wild Tigers, The Tiger Express takes you from Singapore up through the peninsula’s jungles, and into the rainforest of Taman Negara to learn about conservation efforts to protect the Malayan tiger. Followed by a cultural adventure in Penang and culminating in the tropical escape of The Datai Langkawi, it’s a voyage of a lifetime that goes deeper.
by Julia Freemantle
