The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is celebrated for its ability to transport passengers back to a time of luxurious, effortless travel. A symbol of elegant art deco style, The Orient Express allows passengers to rediscover the romance of travelling through Europe’s favourite cities.
In travelling from London Victoria to Venezia Santa Lucia, the magic begins in the waiting room at Victoria Station, where passengers are welcomed with coffee before boarding the British Pullman train for the first leg of the journey. The sense of nervous excitement is palpable, as couples of all ages, on anniversary, birthday and engagement trips, arrive alongside bustling groups of friends, ready for what is internationally considered to be a trip of a lifetime.
The exceptionally attentive and accommodating service begins as soon as the British Pullman arrives, as porters oblige in taking multiple photos before escorting passengers to their seats. By this point, the elation starts to settle and appetites begin to grow in perfect timing for brunch to be served.
Each carriage of the British Pullman has been restored to its original beauty, and each has an individual name, style and story. The carriages date from the 1920s, upholding traditional art deco artwork on the wood panelling, while the crockery, glassware and table settings maintain the quintessentially British element of the British Pullman train. Bellinis poured, coffee served and pastries offered, the British Pullman is well on its way. All that is left to do, is enjoy the caviar infused scrambled eggs, absorb the beautiful English countryside and perhaps do a crossword puzzle or two.
As the British Pullman pulls into Folksestone, the excitement reemerges as a brass band welcomes the carriages into the station, and once all passengers have disembarked and joined luxury shuttle buses, the band waves goodbye and the shuttles enter the euro tunnel with the anticipation of French air.
By the time the busses emerge onto French soil, each passenger is more than ready for the main event: The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. As the sun sets over Calais station, the iconic carriages uphold a luminous glow and as travellers board the epochal train, they are immediately transported to an era of sophisticated travel.
Once settled in the cabin with a glass of champagne, it is time to relax and prepare for the evening activities: a four course dinner followed by jazz music in the bar car. As the Orient Express speeds towards Paris, night closes in and guests make their way to the opulent dining cart for the first sitting of dinner. The corridors allude to the sounds of bygone journeys: tinkling jewels and bustling fabric as passengers walk in the footsteps of previous guests for a fine-dining experience not to be forgotten.
The ingredients for the seasonal set menus are locally sourced and artisanally prepared to provide flavours of the highest quality. On this particular journey, diners enjoyed lobster, caviar and cauliflower puree to start, followed by a tender piece of beef with roasted vegetables. The third course consisted of six professionally chosen cheeses, served with a selection of chutneys and crackers. And finally, dessert was composed of a chocolate-hazelnut filo parcel alongside a skilfully poached pear.
After finishing the meal with a cup of tea and a selection of petit-fours, the first-sitting of diners glide towards the bar cart and join the buzz of the second-sitting diners before they descend for their dinner. The cramped quarters of this single carriage demonstrated difficulty in manoeuvring, but once drinks were obtained and seats were gained it proved a most rememberable evening, as guests chatted, laughed and listened to the jazz piano into the early hours of the morning.
When it’s time to retire, passengers find that their cabin has been transformed into cosy bunkbeds with the washbasin prepared with miniature toiletries. Once snuggled under the blankets, it is not long until sleep approaches with the soothing rhythm of the tracks along with the quantities of wine consumed that evening. Awaking in the morning is magnificent. Lying in bed and watching the beautiful Swiss countryside gracefully unfold out the window is an experience that is incomparable to other modes of luxury travel. Breakfast is soon served in the room, and after a relaxing morning of scenery-gazing, card games and reading, The Orient Express rolls into Italy and it is time for lunch.
This three-course meal is no less indulgent than the night before, except now there is the added luxury of viewing the scenery in the dazzling Italian sunlight. After an afternoon drink in the bar cart, there is time for a brief siesta before the train pulls into Venice’s Santa Lucia’s station.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is an experience of gourmet dining, luxury travel and indulgent hedonism. It is undeniably a once in-a-lifetime journey, that should be taken more than once whenever feasible. It is impossible to leave the extravagance of The Orient Express without immediately wanting to travel on it again.
All pictures are my own unless otherwise credited. Permission must be obtained before any reproduction and credit must be issued in any reproduction.
Under The Cypress Tree 