Part of the charm of travelling on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is that no two carriages on the train are identical. The original Orient Express was a service rather than a specific train and used different rolling stock throughout its lifetime from 1883. By the 1920s the Orient Express left Paris daily on a three-night journey to Istanbul, so there were at least six Orient Express trains in operation at any one time. By the 1930s the service expanded with a further five European routes in operation including services to Budapest, Bucharest, Athens, Zurich, Vienna and Brussels to name but a few.
When the train was lovingly brought back to life in the 1980s, from two original Orient Express carriages which the owner at the time, James Sherwood, had tracked down in an auction in 1977 – it took a further six years to find another 25 original cars and create the train we know as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express today.
Given the vintage of different carriages, each has a history of its own, which makes for a rather enjoyable meander down the train when you are en route to, or back from, the restaurant and bar cars. Every carriage displays a plaque with its history – from carriage 3309 believed to have been the original inspiration for Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ to carriage 3544 used as a brothel during World War II, and of course carriage 3674, otherwise known as the Bar Car. Each carriage has its own marquetry design, upholstery and fittings and finishings – many modelled on original vintage designs.
Carriage '3674' – the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express bar car
Looking down the grand suites carriage no. 3425.
Officially it’s not possible to pre-select which carriage your cabin will be in, unless you’re travelling in one of the three grand suites – Venice, Paris and Istanbul – with a particular suite reserved in your name at time of booking. However, if you’re travelling for a special occasion and have your heart set on a particular carriage, please mention this to your Luxury Holiday Company specialist who will certainly ask for a note to be added your reservation (which should increase your chances of being in the carriage of your dreams, but there’s no firm guarantee). That said, there’s no such thing as a bad carriage on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
There are three cabin types on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, namely historic cabins, suites (new from 2023) and of course the most luxurious of all – the grand suites.
The popular cabin choice is the historic cabin. When you board the train your historic cabin will be set as a daytime lounge, with a comfy banquette seat running the full length of your cabin with plenty of space for two with a small table and lamp next to the window. Both travellers can relax and enjoy the many and varied views whizzing by as the train wends its way across Europe. There’s a good sized wash basin and mirror concealed inside a vanity unit, complete with plug sockets (pack a European plug adaptor) and razor point. Every cabin comes with a complimentary leather amenity kit, packed full of Temple Spa goodies and this is yours to take away with you when your journey on board comes to an end as well as an endless supply of complimentary bottled water. There’s also a brass luggage rack and faded velvet hangers to pop your overnight bag on and hang your black tie and dress up on so any creases have hung out well ahead of dinner time.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Historic cabin daytime layout
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Historic cabin in the daytime
With a historic cabin, when you return after dinner and perhaps a night-cap in the Bar Car, your cabin will have been turned into upper and lower berth bunk beds, with a nifty wooden ladder for the upper berth occupant. Bedding is soft and luxurious, though with the cabins being heated by coal-fired radiators you may find little need for the VSOE monogrammed fluffy blanket. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express thoughtfully provides all guests with a fetching blue and white cotton kimono and matching blue slippers, so if you do need to pop to the loo at the end of each carriage in the middle of the night you’ll look suitably glamorous as you do. That said we do advise clients pack pyjamas for the modesty of your fellow travellers.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Historic cabin by night
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Historic cabin nighttime layout
Pairing elegant designs inspired by the train’s routes with those classic Art Deco flourishes for which the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is known, the all-new Suites – launching in 2023 – will bridge the gap between the train’s historic cabins and the illustrious Grand Suites, detailed below. Each one of these new accommodations will feature a private marble en-suite bathroom and a bedroom with a choice of double or twin beds, which will convert to a lounge by day.
The new Suite aboard Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Champagne table in a new Suite aboard Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Suite bathroom aboard Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
If you are celebrating a big birthday or anniversary, a grand suite is the ultimate way to travel in style. Introduced in March 2018, when one of the original carriages was completely stripped down and redesigned to house just six grand suites. And grand they are indeed with double queen-sized bed, separate sitting area complete with private bar and an Orient Express first – en-suite shower room with brass piped shower, Murano glass sink and wooden seated toilet. It would be tempting to never leave your grand suite, with a private steward shared between the three suites at your beck and call. It’s also possible to private dine in your grand suite and every amenity has been provided – from the plush white waffle dressing gowns, exclusively designed for the grand suites and yours to keep as a souvenir as you disembark the train – through to Dyson hairdryers and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express branded cut-crystal glassware.
The Venice Grand Suite shower room
The Venice Grand Suite
Each of the six grand suites takes its unique design from its city name – the originals of Paris, Venice, Istanbul as well as the three more recent additions of Vienna, Prague and Budapest – so while identical in layout, furniture and amenities – each has a very different feel. In Venice Italian blues dominate from the headboard to the Murano glass sink. While in Istanbul, Moorish fretwork and lamps recreate the mystery of the Ottoman period and Paris echoes art-deco design in every feature from the fans carved into the wooden bedstead to the original 1930s Lalique lamps lovingly found and restored from a Parisian flea market.