The Festive Season With Orient Express: A Journey, Written To Last
This festive season, Orient Express unveils “A Journey, Written to Last”, a cinematic celebration of the journeys, encounters and gestures that become lasting memories. At the heart of the campaign, a film unfolds like a story told through letters, following a guest on an evocative journey across three extraordinary worlds: Orient Express La Minerva in Rome, Orient Express Venezia and La Dolce Vita Orient Express.
As the story unravels, each letter becomes a new chapter, revealing the journey through the guest’s perspective. A succession of destinations, intimate moments and unexpected gestures brings the Orient Express experience to life, connecting the timeless elegance of Rome, the captivating beauty of Venice and the romance of travelling aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express. Through a deeply personal narrative, the story places the guest at the centre of the experience, where every encounter is thoughtfully orchestrated and every detail carries meaning.
More than a journey through Italy, this evocative tale captures the emotional essence of Orient Express hospitality: making every guest feel part of something extraordinary. A festive story written through moments of wonder, connection and discovery, and destined to remain long after the journey comes to an end.
THE FESTIVE SEASON AT ORIENT EXPRESS LA MINERVA, ROME
A Festive Culinary Journey
At La Minerva Bar, the festive season unfolds through a collection of gastronomic experiences celebrating the pleasure of gathering around the table.
The ritual of the Afternoon Tea offers an elegant interlude throughout the holiday season, while Christmas Eve welcomes guests with a refined dinner inspired by seasonal ingredients. Highlights include warm blue lobster salad and brick-pressed turbot rib, alongside other delicate creations.
On Christmas Day, tradition meets contemporary creativity in a festive lunch featuring Italian classics and signature dishes, including the celebrated “40-Yolk” Tortellini.
As the year draws to a close, New Year’s Eve takes centre stage with the Gala Dinner at La Minerva Bar. The menu showcases outstanding ingredients, including Regal Gold oysters, Mazara del Vallo red prawns and San Massimo Riserva risotto, celebrating the finest expressions of Italian gastronomy.
The festivities continue on New Year’s Day with a leisurely brunch, where comfort food meets culinary creativity. Highlights include mini blue lobster rolls, Mantovana pumpkin soup and French toast with Cardoncelli mushrooms, offering a delightful start to the new year.
New Year’s Eve Above the Eternal City at Gigi Rigolatto
For an unforgettable entrance into the New Year, Gigi Rigolatto invites guests to celebrate from its spectacular rooftop terrace, overlooking the timeless beauty of Rome.
Just steps from the iconic Pantheon, the restaurant sets the stage for an evening of refined conviviality, accompanied by an exceptional tasting menu.
The culinary journey features Gillardeau oysters paired with Champagne and Oscietra caviar, Bluefin tuna carpaccio, blue lobster raviolo and other creations showcasing the restaurant’s distinctive approach to contemporary Italian dining.
An extraordinary setting where exceptional dining and the timeless beauty of Rome come together to welcome the New Year.
The Spirit of Celebration, Beyond the Table
Throughout the festive season, guests are invited to discover the many facets of the Orient Express experience.
At the exclusive Wagon Bar, signature drinks evoke the romance and glamour of the golden age of travel, creating an intimate setting for festive encounters and after-dinner moments.
Beyond bespoke gatherings, Orient Express La Minerva celebrates the season through cultural experiences. On December 7th, La Minerva Series, the ongoing year-round programme of classical concerts in partnership with Fondazione Nicola Bulgari, is presented to the festively adorned Olimpo Ballroom. Accompanied by dedicated culinary menus, the evening offers an inspired experience and a distinctive seasonal gift.
The SPA provides a sanctuary of tranquillity, with specially curated treatments designed to restore balance throughout the winter season.
For those wishing to discover Rome beyond its iconic landmarks, the hotel’s Concierge team creates personalised itineraries, revealing the city’s hidden treasures, captivating addresses and seasonal traditions.
A Gift of Extraordinary Experiences
. For an especially memorable festive escape, Orient Express La Minerva presents an exclusive programme for the Signature Suites, complemented by a collection of bespoke experiences powered by IFEXPERIENCE
Extending the art of hospitality beyond the hotel, these exceptional encounters offer guests privileged access to some of Rome’s most captivating hidden treasures, from a private visit to Villa Ludovisi, home to the only mural ever painted by Caravaggio, to an exclusive entrance to the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli, and many more extraordinary discoveries.
Thoughtfully conceived to reveal the city from a more intimate and unexpected perspective, each experience is an invitation to immerse oneself in the timeless beauty, history and allure of Rome, transforming every stay into an unforgettable journey.
THE MAGIC OF THE FESTIVE SEASON ON BOARD LA DOLCE VITA ORIENT EXPRESS
This festive season, La Dolce Vita Orient Express invites guests to discover the magic of Italy aboard two exceptional journeys: Jingle Route and Whispers at Midnight. Blending the romance of rail travel with the spirit of the holidays, these itineraries offer a unique perspective on the country’s most enchanting destinations during one of the most atmospheric times of the year.
From the evocative landscapes of Bolgheri to the art, culture and festive traditions of Florence and Venice, each journey unfolds through memorable discoveries ashore and specially curated experiences on board, capturing the essence of the Italian holiday season.
On board, exceptional hospitality, refined gastronomy and moments of conviviality set the tone for an unforgettable celebration. Guests may also host private gatherings in the train’s exclusive lounge, an intimate setting designed by artist-architect Hugo Toro, where the glamour of rail travel meets the pleasure of festive occasions.
With Jingle Route and Whispers at Midnight, the festive season becomes more than a destination: it is an invitation to embrace the pleasure of travelling, discovering and celebrating, in true La Dolce Vita style.
ORIENT EXPRESS VENEZIA: THE FESTIVE SEASON IN THE HEART OF VENICE
A Festive Culinary Journey
Throughout the festive season, Orient Express Venezia invites guests to celebrate the pleasures of the table through refined gastronomic experiences inspired by seasonal flavours and Venetian traditions.
On December weekends, the Afternoon Tea becomes an invitation to embrace the magic of the holidays, with an elegant selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones
served with cranberry preserve and clotted cream, traditional panettone and pandoro, and festive pastries offering a delightful moment of seasonal indulgence. As the year draws to a close, the Ballroom sets the scene for an exceptional New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner.
A journey through culinary artistry unfolds with Goro oysters with Sant’Erasmo artichoke mojito, langoustine with root vegetables, chestnuts and white truffle, scallops with celeriac and raspberry, and capon tortellini with Parmesan foam and white truffle.
The experience continues with salt cod, herb-crusted beef with beetroot, hazelnuts and black truffle, and an elegant selection of festive creations, culminating in the traditional St. Sylvester’s dessert, accompanied by lentils and cotechino.
An extraordinary culinary journey to welcome the New Year in unmistakable Orient Express style.
For those wishing to celebrate in a more intimate and convivial atmosphere, a selection of festive-inspired delicacies offers an elegant introduction to the evening, featuring Gold Selection caviar blinis, red prawns with guacamole and passion fruit, delicate capon and black truffle tartlets, and other seasonal creations.
A New Year’s Eve on the Venetian Lagoon
As midnight approaches, the magic of Venice unfolds from the water. Guests are invited to welcome the New Year aboard the Orient Express boat, sailing across the Venetian Lagoon towards the spectacular fireworks illuminating the Bacino di San Marco.
Accompanied by a selection of traditional Venetian cicchetti and Champagne, this exclusive experience offers a truly unforgettable perspective on one of the world’s most enchanting cities, where the beauty of the lagoon becomes the setting for an extraordinary celebration.
The Essence of Wellbeing: A Festive Spa Journey
Throughout the festive season, the Spa offers a sanctuary of tranquillity, with exclusive treatments inspired by nature and beauty rituals designed to restore balance and serenity.
Golden Winter Glow is a sensory experience combining precious Furtuna Skin olive oils and the Gratitude Ritual, leaving the face and body deeply nourished and radiant.
A Venetian Winter Tale invites guests on an exclusive journey of beauty and renewal, featuring aromatic rituals, an indulgent Furtuna Skin facial and innovative LYMA Laser technology.
Completing the collection, The Christmas Journey is an enveloping body ritual combining gentle exfoliation, nourishing treatments and a personalised massage for a profound sense of relaxation and wellbeing.
Discover the Magic of Venice Beyond the Hotel
Beyond the hotel’s doors, Venice reveals its festive spirit through extraordinary traditions, artistic treasures and bespoke experiences. Guests can discover the city through curated itineraries, from ice skating at Campo San Polo to exploring its artistic heritage with an exclusive guided tour.
The festive season comes alive with the lighting of Venice’s Christmas tree on 8 December, alongside Christmas and New Year’s concerts at Teatro La Fenice and St. Mark’s Basilica, subject to availability.
For more personal experience, guests can discover the craft of Murano glassmaking with a master glassmaker, creating their own Christmas ornament, or take part in a festive candle-making workshop at Relight, bringing home a unique Venetian keepsake.
A Venetian Winter Tale: An Exceptional Stay
This festive season, Orient Express Venezia presents A Winter Tale, an invitation to experience the city through exclusive privileges and thoughtful details. Designed to make every stay memorable, the experience includes daily breakfast, a festive welcome amenity and a complimentary upgrade to the next room category, subject to availability.
Guests can also enjoy a dedicated dining and bar credit to discover the hotel’s culinary offerings throughout the festive season. From leisurely mornings overlooking the city to indulgent moments at the Spa, every detail celebrates the beauty of the season and the timeless elegance of Orient Express hospitality.
A Venetian Stay, Beyond the Ordinary
This festive season, Orient Express Venezia invites guests staying in its Signature Suites to discover the city through a collection of bespoke offerings, curated in collaboration with IFEXPERIENCE.
From stepping inside the magnificent private residences that tell the story of Venice’s noble past to admiring the luminous golden mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica, each opportunity reveals a different expression of the city’s extraordinary heritage. Further privileges unveil its artistic treasures, hidden corners and enduring traditions, offering a deeper connection with the spirit of the Serenissima.
An invitation to explore Venice beyond the familiar, where culture, history and timeless beauty come together to create a truly memorable stay.
ORIENT EXPRESS CORINTHIAN: THE MAGIC OF THE FESTIVE SEASON ON BOARD
This festive season, Orient Express Corinthian brings the pleasure of gathering around the table to the Caribbean, with two voyages celebrating Christmas and New Year at sea. On Christmas at Sea (21–27 December 2026), guests sail from Barbados to Saint Martin via Canouan and Les Saintes, spending Christmas Day at anchor off Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy. The same harbour sets the scene for the turn of the year on New Year’s Eve, The Odyssey (27 December 2026–4 January 2027), a voyage from Saint Martin to Barbados taking in Virgin Gorda, Antigua, Martinique and Saint Lucia. On both voyages, guests come together for a gala dinner on board, with menus created by Chef Yannick Alléno for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.