Amtrak Dining and Cafe Service discussion 2024 H2

[MccfamschoolMom]

Are you referring to each diner meal or each dinner meal. Personally I usually abstain at breakfast.

Dinner meals only, as those are the only ones specifically mentioning alcoholic beverages.

 

[Gary Moline]

Unless they've changed their policy, it's only one free alcoholic beverage for the entire trip.

The last several trips I've taken on the CZ, SSL SWC, with Traditional Dining, there has been one free alcoholic beverage with each dinner. On the Amtrak site you can view route menus. Under the Dinner Menu, it states, "Served with a complimentary alcoholic beverage; soft beverages are complimentary during all meal periods." It does not state only one alcoholic beverage per trip.

 

[Brian Battuello]

Jeeze, you'd think that since sleepers are "first class" service, they could at least train employees to be consistent on drink per meal vs drink per ride. I know Amtrak has a long tradition of onboard staff doing whatever they want, but this should be a no-brainer.

I'd almost rather just go back to paying for the drink than wonder if I'm going to get an argument every time I order one.

At least I can still bring a bottle into my room...

 

[zephyr17]

Jeeze, you'd think that since sleepers are "first class" service, they could at least train employees to be consistent on drink per meal vs drink per ride.

Amtrak consistent?

Tell us another.

 

[Steve4031]

When the sleeper on 449 was bad ordered last summer, I had difficulty redeeming an alcohol voucher for a soft drink. I did not understand that the voucher was only for alcohol. The conductor and assistant conductor had harassed the new LSA to the point that she was confused enough not to just issue me a free soft drink, which I was entitled to.

 

[jiml]

Jeeze, you'd think that since sleepers are "first class" service, they could at least train employees to be consistent on drink per meal vs drink per ride. I know Amtrak has a long tradition of onboard staff doing whatever they want, but this should be a no-brainer.

I'd almost rather just go back to paying for the drink than wonder if I'm going to get an argument every time I order one.

At least I can still bring a bottle into my room...

In fairness though, it's not limited to Amtrak. There are literally hundreds of pages of reviews and similar complaints about most airlines. People pay big bucks for Business/First Class only to experience food and beverage shortfalls, both on the part of the airline and staff making up their own rules.

 

[John Bredin]

When the sleeper on 449 was bad ordered last summer, I had difficulty redeeming an alcohol voucher for a soft drink. I did not understand that the voucher was only for alcohol. The conductor and assistant conductor had harassed the new LSA to the point that she was confused enough not to just issue me a free soft drink, which I was entitled to.

Sounds like you needed to do a modern version of the old "chicken sandwich, hold the chicken" movie scene. "Rum and Coke, hold the rum."

 

[drdumont]

I don’t understand all the hand wringing about coffee. Free and hot seems like a pretty good deal.

Unless it tastes like ground up pecan shells (MdDonald's) or burnt floor sweeping compound (Starbucks).

 

[blueman271]

Unless it tastes like ground up pecan shells (MdDonald's) or burnt floor sweeping compound (Starbucks).

I find coffee from both those establishments to be perfectly acceptable.

To be clear my original comment was tongue-in-cheek. I started drinking coffee on my first boat, some 17 years ago, and I fully understand that my coffee preferences are well outside the mainstream.

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

I find coffee from both those establishments to be perfectly acceptable.

To be clear my original comment was tongue-in-cheek. I started drinking coffee on my first boat, some 17 years ago, and I fully understand that my coffee preferences are well outside the mainstream.

I tend to order heavily sweetened coffee drinks from both McDonald's and Starbucks, so I probably have never tasted the "ground-up pecan shells" or the "burnt floor-sweeping compound". The coffee from the urn in the sleeping car on the Texas Eagle was close, though -- when it was available. On our southbound trip from IL it was only available for about an hour after "quiet hours" ended, and on the northbound return journey, I initially got the dregs of one potful, which certainly would have qualified as paint stripper. The SCA made up another urnful shortly afterwards, though, and that one was at least up to Super 8's level (not great, but palatable).

 

[railiner]

I think they should replace the traditional urns in the sleepers with modern Keurig type pre-measured pod machines. They offer a fairly good and consistent fresh brew for each cup, and are easy to maintain. No more old, burnt coffee, sitting too long, or improperly measured.