greenmeadie

Hi,

I'm thinking about booking a superliner roomette for my girlfriend and I, and I was wondering about a couple of things:

- Meals. When/how are they served? Is it in a dining car, and is it at certain times?

- Bunks. How does the lower bunk work? I've looked all over youtube but can't find anything to show me!

- How early can you board? We'll be starting in LA, so what time can you board from?

- Is it possible to select the roomette you want on the train at the time ok booking, or if not, can Amtrak change it if you don't like what is allocated?

Thanks so much for any help anyone can offer!!

James

AlanB

Meals are served in the dining car. Breakfast is always first come-first served and typically runs from 6:30 to 9:30. Lunch seems to depend on the crew and how busy the train is. Sometimes it's first come, sometimes it's by reservation. Dinner is always by reservation. Someone from the dining car will come by your room to take the reservations. They will make an announcement before they start so that you have time to return to your room if you're not already in it.

Lower bed is created by sliding the opposing seats towards each other; then dropping a ready made mattress with sheets & blankets on that base. The sleeping car attendant should handle this for you and will generally ask what time you want them to do it.

Boarding generally starts 10 to 15 minutes before departure. You should head to the Metropolitan Lounge when you reach the station. This is a special first class waiting area with cushy seats and limited refreshments. They'll board you directly from the lounge to the train.

Finally, it is not possible to select a particular room via the online booking system. However if you call the 800 number the agent there can indeed select a particular room for you, assuming it's not already sold. If you have already booked online, you can still call up and request a change.

Please note, not all agents know how to properly select a specific room. Some use the wrong procedure which can result in a price jump. If you get an agent who quotes you a new price, say "no thanks" and hang up and call back later to get a different agent who can do it properly.

greenmeadie

Hi Alan,

Thats great! Thanks so much for the answers! Really comprehensive.

Just one question, if I want to nap during the day, is it easy enough to put the bottom bunk together by yourself?

Actually, sorry one further - I presume a roomette upstairs would be better for views?

3Cforme

The seats slide together easily enough, yes. That yields an upholstered surface but not the mattress pad and other bedding referenced in Alan's post.

Maybe better views upstairs. Probably less track noise upstairs. Probably more noise from passengers walking by car-to-car, however.

Rare

Alan's reply is helpful and accurate as usual. Just wanted to add that since you're traveling on the Coast Starlight, you will also have the option of having lunch and/or dinner in the Pacific Parlor car, an option I personally prefer. The dining area is smaller (only 6 tables); in spite of that, you don't have to share a table with other passengers like you do in the dining car.

However, it is a different and limited menu, with only two or three options, so if you want something from the regular menu, you have to go to the dining car. If you have special dietary requirements, there may not be an appropriate option in the Parlor car; for example, there may be an option for lacto-ovo vegetarians at one meal but not another. If one of you has ordered a special meal (e.g. vegan), some Parlor car attendants may be willing to accommodate that.

When they make the announcement for lunch or dinner reservations, they will also announce the menu options in both the Parlor car and the dining car. When they come around to take your reservation, they will ask in which car you would like to dine.

Even if you choose to have your meals in the dining car, the lounge portion of the Parlor car is always available to you as a sleeping car passenger.

Note that the Metropolitan Lounge in LA is on the second floor of the station and not right next to the tracks like in Chicago, so there is of necessity a different boarding procedure. The lounge attendant will announce when it is time to board the train, and will escort the "walking" group downstairs and through the station to the appropriate track. If you are using Red Cap service, they will give you a ride from the back door of the lounge to the train.

greenmeadie

Thanks for all the replies. Very helpful!

Looking forward to the journey!

thegrailer

I took this trip about a year ago (the one that stopped due to the alleged bomb threat in Eugene - sorry I have never updated). Outside of the unplanned stop, this is a great trip. A couple of recommendations.

1). Get a bedroom, the roomettes are small. You'll be glad you did especially if the cost increase isn't too great.
2). Board relatively early. The agent in the lounge will announce boarding and you'll get a ride in a golf cart. Drop your stuff off in your room, head to the viewing car and sit on the left side (ask which way the train is going). Those are the coast side seats.
3) BYOB. The wine is just ok. Bring your own and enjoy as you watch the Pacific coastline pass by.
4) Have fun - I never thought a train ride could be so good. This trip really is that much fun.

Cheers.

greenmeadie

Hi!

Thanks for the advice! Some great tips.

I'm going to call Amtrak reservations to book the room, as i'd like to choose an upstairs one, but does anyone have any idea if they'll know which side of the train is which? I'm heading north from Los Angeles, and would like a room on the left hand side to get the views.

Thanks!

nerd

There is no way to know which way the sleeper car will be oriented, unless you are in the very first transition sleeper car.

But it shouldn't matter - you should be spending most of your time in the lounge car, where the best views are!

uaflr

Other amenities include a wine tasting in the Parlour car - $12 pp. Free movies in the cinema - bottom level of the Parlour car.

Armani

It is difficult to predict which way the car will be facing, therefore you will have about a 50/50 chance of being on the left side of the northbound train. However, I suggest you spend most of your trip in the parlour car or lounge car, where you can see both sides of the train. Since only sleeper passengers have access to the parlour car, you should be able to find seats unless the train is full (or some inconsiderate people spend two days there without moving).

I highly recommend dinner in the parlour car. We had excellent lamb shank there on our trip from Portland to LA in early May. The car attendant heated the rolls and chocolate cake, which enhanced the dining experience vs the dining car. I wish all LD Amtrak trains had a parlour car.

greenmeadie

Thanks for the information everyone. It's a shame there is no way to establish which side of the train will be facing the ocean, but it doesn't seem like there is much way around it.

Once onboard, if it transpires we are on the 'wrong' side of the train (i.e. non ocean view) and another roomette with an ocean view is free, would it be possible to swap to it?

Seat 2A

The Coast Starlight runs 1300 some odd miles between LA and Seattle but only about 115 of those are along the Pacific coast. Regardless, it's all good and as has been mentioned before, if your room isn't facing the western side of the tracks, just head on up to the lounge. Have a great ride!


The Coast Starlight north of Santa Barbara
Photo courtesy of Amtrak


Beachside view from the Pacific Parlour Car


There's more to great scenery than just ocean view
Oregon's Mt. McLoughlin as seen across Klamath Lake

KenHamer

It's been a while...

In the meantime Amtrak's web site seems to have lost a lot of useful information, such as does the Coast Starlight Parlour Car still show movies in the lower deck cinema?

Rare

They did when I rode it in June.