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#1
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How bad is Amtrak?
I am looking at my options to get to a Celebrity departure port without
flying. The only practical option is to cruise from Cape Liberty in New Jersey. I can take Amtrak from Chicago to New York. How bad is cross country travel on Amtrak? I have only used it for trips of less than four hours. I thought it was tolerable as long as I go business class. For the Chicago New York trip, I will book a "Viewliner Roomette." My total train fare will be about $700. This is for a room that is less than half the size of my walk in closet. I generally choose first class accommodations when I travel. Princess is the at the low end of what I will select for a cruise line. Although, for a motel for only one night, I could go down to something like the Holiday Inn Express. I know one person who took Amtrak cross country. She said it was terrible. Her room was not clean and the service was bad. She also thought the background and behavior of her fellow passengers were not what she is accustomed to. Does anybody have any experiences with Amtrak to share? |
#2
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How bad is Amtrak?
Odysseus wrote: I am looking at my options to get to a Celebrity departure port without flying. The only practical option is to cruise from Cape Liberty in New Jersey. I can take Amtrak from Chicago to New York. Odysseus, I know that you have posted before and said that you can't/won't fly but you want to cruise. I have two relatives who don't fly. We live deep in the Midwest -- about as far from a coast as can be. But we've worked to find alternatives to get to the coast. To get my aunt and uncle to the west coast we actually rented an RV and hired a driver (the son of a friend). The two week rental wasn't hard to arrange during the "off season" (not summer). They took their time, stayed in good hotels on the way (not in the RV) and my friend's son used the RV for a little camping while he was waiting for the cruise to return. Yeah, a little pricey and a lot less convenient than flying, but between oxygen requirements and other medical needs, it was by far the best solution, comfort wise. In the second case, we did take Amtrak to New Orleans via Chicago. It wasn't posh, but it was ok. Have you looked into New Orleans departures? |
#3
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How bad is Amtrak?
Many many years ago, my husband and I took Amtrak from N.Y. to
California. It was wonderful. Amtours arranged everything for us.We would sit in the coach during the day, and then we had paid for the use of a sleeping compartment at night. Only had to pay for those nighttime hours. The trip from Chicago to the Rockies was kind of boring but then the scenery thereafter was spectacular - we actually saw the deer and the antelope play. We had stopovers in San Francisco, and from there went to Yosemite and then down to L.A. and San Diego - Going back, we took the Southern route abd stopped at Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. It was a most memorable trip- I wouldn't fly in those days but of course have overcome that since then so I could go cruising.(getting ready for my 34th) I know this is off-topic but I would encourage you to take the Amtrak if need be. Maybe it isn't as thrilling as those years ago but it is a great way to see the country. rosaly |
#4
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How bad is Amtrak?
The trip will be OK. Not POSH, but comfortable. Denny's food, adequate
service, comfortabel sleepers BUT, BUT, BUT it will be late. On the average some Amtrak long distance trains are late 95%+++ of the time. Alow an extra 24 hours for travel on Amtrack! LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE And I love trains! -- The modern world, Would be less snarled. If the most important Marx, Had been Groucho, instead of Karl. Willis Frick SYSOP, Sherlocktron http://members.cox.net/sherlock1/Sherlocktron.html "Odysseus" wrote in message m... I am looking at my options to get to a Celebrity departure port without flying. The only practical option is to cruise from Cape Liberty in New Jersey. I can take Amtrak from Chicago to New York. How bad is cross country travel on Amtrak? I have only used it for trips of less than four hours. I thought it was tolerable as long as I go business class. For the Chicago New York trip, I will book a "Viewliner Roomette." My total train fare will be about $700. This is for a room that is less than half the size of my walk in closet. I generally choose first class accommodations when I travel. Princess is the at the low end of what I will select for a cruise line. Although, for a motel for only one night, I could go down to something like the Holiday Inn Express. I know one person who took Amtrak cross country. She said it was terrible. Her room was not clean and the service was bad. She also thought the background and behavior of her fellow passengers were not what she is accustomed to. Does anybody have any experiences with Amtrak to share? |
#5
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How bad is Amtrak?
You can say that again!
We took the Amtrak from Santa Ana CA to Tacoma WA after our cruise on the Mercury last spring. They were scheduled to arrive at Tacoma at about 5:30 PM and the train finally pulled into the station around midnight. PS Barb travels with an electric scooter because she can't do stairs. They had told us that she could move up to the sightseeing level after Los Angeles. This was impossible!!! They stuck us in the Handicap car with all the seats facing backwards. Although it was a somewhat interresting trip for my 10 year old Grandson and myself (we could move around the train), it was absolutely dreadful for Barb. I would truly hate to be stuck in a train car (lower level) and facing backward for over 40 hours, especially after their customer service people assured us that I would be able to move around the train. %$&(*(*@##! They damaged two of our bags, and instead of paying for the repairs, they were kind enough to offer us a $75.00 credit certificate (non-transferable) for a future trip on AMTRAK. We wouldn't take another trip like that if it was FREE. :-( Tobieon an Island in the Pacific "sherlock1" wrote in message ... The trip will be OK. Not POSH, but comfortable. Denny's food, adequate service, comfortabel sleepers BUT, BUT, BUT it will be late. On the average some Amtrak long distance trains are late 95%+++ of the time. Alow an extra 24 hours for travel on Amtrack! LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE LATE, LATE, LATE And I love trains! |
#6
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How bad is Amtrak?
On Sun, 10 Dec 2006 21:42:14 -0500, Odysseus wrote
(in article ): I am looking at my options to get to a Celebrity departure port without flying. The only practical option is to cruise from Cape Liberty in New Jersey. I can take Amtrak from Chicago to New York. I did the Sunset Limited from Orlando to New Orleans connecting to the City of New Orleans to Jackson Ms. I loved it. I had one of the small sleepers on the overnight part of the trip and that was OK. You meals come with the sleepers and I found the food better than airline food but not cruise food ROFL. Check out http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/?s=9...a465a7dd8ea66e They have trip reports and can answer questions on Amtrak. -- Turkey Day Cruise on Seabourn Pride - Nov 18 2006 In Search of Lost Hobbits cruise on Celebrity Mercury Dec 12, 2007 |
#7
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How bad is Amtrak?
Odysseus wrote: For the Chicago New York trip, I will book a "Viewliner Roomette." My total train fare will be about $700. This is for a room that is less than half the size of my walk in closet. My sister & neice took the Chicago to NY train in 2001, shortly after 9/11 (they just weren't ready to fly yet). I think they paid around $500 each. Overall, they viewed it as an adventure, but not necessarily one that they'd want to repeat. They also booked a "roomette". When I dropped them off for their return trip, I was allowed on the train to see their accomodations. These things are tiny - unbelievably cramped - but very cozy and cute. But, comparing it to the overnight train I took from Stockholm to Hamburg - now that was luxury train travel. I believe, at the time, their fare included all meals, which they enjoyed. I think they were surprised at how rough the ride was. Sleep was a challenge, even with having beds. And, the trip was long - probably about 16 hours. Amtrak is not known for being very punctual, so I'd allow at least 24 hours cushion in your schedule to meet your ship - 48 hours might be even wiser. Lee |
#8
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How bad is Amtrak?
LeeNY wrote: Amtrak is not known for being very punctual, so I'd allow at least 24 hours cushion in your schedule to meet your ship - 48 hours might be even wiser. I would say at least 48 hours, maybe longer depending on the time of year. My son took Amtrak a couple of times from Montana to New York, all quite a few years ago. One time there was a snow drift blocking the tracks, another time some kind of garbage blocking the tracks. I remember one of these trips he missed his connection in Chicago and was delayed a day getting home. sue |
#9
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How bad is Amtrak?
At least you don't puke for five days!haha
"LeeNY" wrote in message ups.com... Odysseus wrote: For the Chicago New York trip, I will book a "Viewliner Roomette." My total train fare will be about $700. This is for a room that is less than half the size of my walk in closet. My sister & neice took the Chicago to NY train in 2001, shortly after 9/11 (they just weren't ready to fly yet). I think they paid around $500 each. Overall, they viewed it as an adventure, but not necessarily one that they'd want to repeat. They also booked a "roomette". When I dropped them off for their return trip, I was allowed on the train to see their accomodations. These things are tiny - unbelievably cramped - but very cozy and cute. But, comparing it to the overnight train I took from Stockholm to Hamburg - now that was luxury train travel. I believe, at the time, their fare included all meals, which they enjoyed. I think they were surprised at how rough the ride was. Sleep was a challenge, even with having beds. And, the trip was long - probably about 16 hours. Amtrak is not known for being very punctual, so I'd allow at least 24 hours cushion in your schedule to meet your ship - 48 hours might be even wiser. Lee |
#10
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How bad is Amtrak?
if your objective is just to get from Point A to B quickly, then forget
about Amtrak. Amtrak is an adventure and the joy is in the journey, not the destinations... You will experience sights that you willl never see flying or driving. The dining car is a nice experience . |
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