Historic, sumptuous and impossible to match, the magnificent Venice Simplon-Orient-Express just gets better and better. And now it’s just got even more luxurious. Baroque Travel has all the details
Luxury train travel has always been a sought-after experience, and as a result there are numerous trainsworld-wide you can travel on to enjoy this exclusive journey. Passengers enjoy the opportunity to step back in time to a more gentle era, where good old-fashioned service is paramount and the locomotive’s special rhythm lulls you to sleep after you’ve enjoyed a superb fine dining experience.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express remains at the top of the list when it comes to luxury and an exclusive experience. Since it started taking passengers in the 19th Century, this luxury train has always offered a journey that is a cut above the rest. No wonder so many rich and famous people, including kings and presidents, have preferred to travel on this magnificent locomotive.
Interestingly enough, the Orient Express’s original route in the late 19th was from Paris to Istanbul (which used to be called Constantinople). This journey is so well-known because it has been featured in many famous movies and books, including one of Agatha Christie’s novels featuring the renowned Hercules Poirot and one of the ever-popular James Bond movies.
The Orient Express has always been synonymous with superb dining, and in this sphere, very little has changed. From the start, guests enjoyed an opulent fine dining experience and this luxurious offering, still reminiscent of the Golden Age, continues into the 21st Century. The Orient Express is now the flagship for luxury travel group Belmond, famous for their luxury trains, plush cruise ships and superlative hotels. The train, which has been impeccably restored to its former glory, continues to remain at the forefront when it comes to dining options.
In 2015, the Orient Express introduced a brand new champagne bar that was dedicated to its heyday, which was during the 1920s. Guests enjoy every possible champagne worth its bubbles, including Taittinger, Laurent Perrier Rose and Louis Roederer Cristal, all served in crystal Lalique ice buckets with luxurious glasses.
Nowadays, those traveling on the Orient Express from London to Venice can reserve a special champagne celebration breakfast, including sumptuous smoked salmon, freshly baked pastries, scrambled eggs and the finest champagne as they enjoy breathtaking scenery from the dining car.
The champagne bar was such a success that Belmond has now gone one step further, and created a luxurious bar car, called 3674. This meticulously restored rail car from the 1920s features the Orient Express colors of blue and gold, and offers guests brand new cocktail and Petrossian caviar menus.
There are numerous different journeys you can enjoy on the Orient Express, although the most popular remains the one-night rail trip between London, Paris and Venice. Another very popular route is the historic train’s 5-night journey from Paris to Istanbul, and the 5-night trip from Istanbul to Venice.
For 2016, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express have added a series of one-night rail journeys, from Paris and London to Berlin or vice-versa. The brand new 3674 bar car will make its debut journey to Berlin on 2 June this year.