Dinner in your room, or "Room Service!"

[George K]

So as not to hijack the other thread...

...how often do people request dinner in their roomette/bedrooms?

I understand that some people with handicaps might not want to wander through railroad car after railroad car for a meal; on my last trip, I saw an elderly gentleman, barely able to walk, being escorted down the aisle of the Dining Car. But for the able-bodied, how many take advantage of this service?

Do the SCAs see it as an imposition on their service to request a meal to be brought to your sleeping room?

 

[pennyk]

In over 40 years of riding Amtrak, I have never requested a meal in my room. I am able bodied and enjoy eating in the diner (even at times when everything on the menu contains something to which I am allergic).

I do not think a good SCA would see it as an imposition to bring a meal to your room, assuming that they were "tipped."

 

[jis]

There are three occasions when I had food served in my room. All three were because of arrival at destination issues, when the SCA suggested that if I got food in my room, he could arrange to serve earlier than official opening of the Diner, so that I could finish my meal before I arrive at my destination. Needless to say each time they got an enhanced tip for their consideration.

 

[Guest]

On a recent trip, I only ate breakfast in the diner, and the rest of my meals in my room. I very much enjoyed eating my dinner at my own pace, while watching the scenery go by without having to engage in small chitchat.

 

[George K]

My bride is the kind of person who would enjoy eating alone (with me, of course) in our bedroom. However, some of my fondest memories have been meeting people on the train - from England, Scotland, Australia and ...Montana.

I don't think I'll mention the "Room Service" option to her. h34r:

 

[desertflyer]

I think it's weird that this has become controversial. I do about 4/5 meals I eat on the train in the dining car. Every so often it's nice to eat in my room. It's a great perk of getting a room.

 

[MiRider]

I'm absolutely able bodied and extremely low maintenance but lately I haven't been in the mood to deal with the dining partner crap-shoot.

When we meet after boarding, I let the SCA know that I'll be hanging out in my roomette and they can deliver whenever it's convenient for them - no rush.

I write my order on paper I carry with me and always tip very well.

 

[Blackwolf]

When traveling with my wife, we've occasionally requested to have dinner in our room as opposed to the dining car. It makes for a nice and private meal, and only once has the SCA shown visible annoyance (and that same SCA was also annoyed with a great many other portions of providing customer service; fortunately for Amtrak passengers she is no longer employed by the company, having been fired shortly after our experience with her.)

If you want to have room service, it is openly available and should be used. Just remember to tip accordingly.

 

[George K]

Just remember to tip accordingly.

OK. I know *this* has been discussed a lot. But what, in this situation, would be appropriate?

I've always been generous with the SCAs. Should I just add what I'd tip the Dining Car Staff? If the meal is $50 (the steak for two, for example), would 20% be appropriate?

 

[amamba]

I have personally never used room service and always eat in my diner. However, I can understand why people like it, and I have had my share of duds in the diner as dining companions.

 

[amamba]

Just remember to tip accordingly.

OK. I know *this* has been discussed a lot. But what, in this situation, would be appropriate?

I've always been generous with the SCAs. Should I just add what I'd tip the Dining Car Staff? If the meal is $50 (the steak for two, for example), would 20% be appropriate?

While i have never utilized room service, I would tip at the time of service, and I would tip what I would for dinner at the table in the dining car. So yes, for the steak dinner for two I would give $10. I normally give $5 for dinner for one person as a tip.

 

[tonys96]

The only in room meal I have ever had was the box dinner leaving Portland on the eastbound Builder.

And I have never had a bad experience with dining companions. Once, on the Southbound Eagle, I am sure the others thought I was the bad companion, though.

 

[TVRM610]

I'm a fan of the dining car experience so for me I always do that. Sometimes I'll ask for my dessert to go and will take that to my room.

Was it common to offer room service "back in the day" (pre-amtrak). - I don't think it was but I'm not sure. I know on VIA Rail this is not offered and even if it were in the Roomettes there is no table... would be difficult.

 

[George K]

I have had my share of duds in the diner as dining companions.

Though not as well-traveled as most here, there was one couple we had on the EB in September that was just, uh, a dud. Not obnoxious, not offensive, but just .... nothing. We were shocked, after our two day stay in Portland, to find them ACROSS THE AISLE on the CS! My daughter almost got off the train!

And then...they are on the bus to EMY with us!

 

[SarahZ]

We've considered it, as we both have social anxiety, but we'd feel like we were inconveniencing the SCA, even though it's part of their job description. Plus, we don't want to try balancing two meals on that tiny table in the roomette.

I can usually smile and force my way through a 30-minute conversation with strangers, as I've learned several coping techniques, but the relief is palpable when I get to escape back to the roomette. Brent stays quiet, as he knows I can pretty much steer the conversation away from him. His anxiety tends to be much worse than mine, especially since he can't smoke on the train.

The next time I travel alone, I might consider it. With Brent there, I have a bit of a buffer for my nerves, but when I'm by myself, even the wine doesn't help.

We've had some pretty nice dining companions, but it has nothing to do with how nice people are. It's just people in general.

People from the Gathering (2013) always say they couldn't tell and that I was really chatty, but that's because of those coping mechanisms I've learned. I did have a great time, and it was fun talking to everyone, but I was also very, very happy to get back to my quiet hotel room every night. I got pretty shaky a few times; I just hid it well.

 

[George K]

I'm pretty easy with strangers. I always can find something to BS about. However, Sarah, you sound like my bride. She is uncomfortable with strangers, and will leave a situation rather than engage. Maybe that's why, for a month after we met, she wouldn't talk to me!

Like I said, I'll keep that option to myself for our first trip and then, when we do it again, I'll discuss it with Mrs. George.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

The only in room meal I have ever had was the box dinner leaving Portland on the eastbound Builder.

And I have never had a bad experience with dining companions.

Good observations and I agree 100% with the Box Meal though we were invited to take it up to the Lounge if we wanted more room; since I was alone I enjoyed it in the room and knocked back a couple of those little Champagnes to keep everything honest.

As for the Big Diner, I always try to at least introduce myself and ask everyone at the table how they are doing. Since I usually have a Railroad Theme Shirt of some kind and my Red Beret, that often gets the conversation going as well. I think the scariest experience I had was being seated across from a very hung over college lad who was very Green in the Muzzle and since I was on the window I was trapped if he let go. He ended up taking 2 bites of his meal and fled to the Sleeper. The Server was joking we chased the poor guy off but could sense my relief from coming out of the line of fire!

 

[seat38a]

Last year we had one "ODD" gentleman for lunch. On our trip this year on the CS and EB PDX in May we have four in our party so sitting with the "ODD" person should not be a problem.

 

[StriderGDM]

Only once that I can recall have I asked the SCA to bring me my meal and that was for lunch before getting into Orlando.

Let's just say he did an exceptional job, even made sure we were provided with dessert and everything, despite not being asked.

He was one of the best SCA's I've had. I made a point of contacting Amtrak to let them know how much I appreciated his level of service.

 

[Tennessee Traveler]

Well, I am the odd person since all but two of my Amtrak and pre Amtrak trips, I traveled as a single. I am single and enjoy traveling solo. Like others, my only in room meal was the Portland boxed dinner leaving Portland. My personality is to be "shy". I do have to warm up to others before talking very much. But, oh, once I am comfortable with new people, I love to talk. Yes, I have sat awkwardly with quiet individuals but I can count the number of times on one hand and that was early breakfasts and usually just one other person at the table. This past July/August I rode the SL, CONO, CZ, CS, and Surfliners. On everyone of those trips, I developed friendships--enough so that on each train several of us began to make diner reservations together. It was the best of times.

Having ridden Via Canadian and the original Great Northern Empire Builder and Illinois Central Panama Limited where room service did not exist unless someone was truly handicapped and could not navigate through all the cars, I still believe that room service should be limited only to handicapped persons. Honestly, I believe at one time, room service on Amtrak was intended only for those similarly handicapped persons. I do, however, accept that in this day and generation, we as travelers are less "communal" than say in the 1950's to 1970's. So, live and let live.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I generally enjoy the company of other diners and some of my discussions have been extremely enjoyable and thought provoking. A few discussions have been rather odd or unwelcome. And sometimes the folks are friendly but simply don't have much of anything to say. Lately I've found myself seated next to a growing number of technoverts who seem to have difficulty looking up from their various electronic gadgetry long enough to recognize anyone else is seated at their table. People who are mesmerized by a phone or tablet are becoming rather common and in a couple of cases I've had to be careful with my food so that a seatmate could continue watching movies on their laptop as we ate.

As a result of these and other experiences I became more and more inclined to test the waters on room service. So far I've actually found it to be even more satisfying than I originally anticipated. Both the speed and the accuracy of the orders has increased dramatically and if you prefer to chat while you eat you can always take your meal to the lounge car and talk with whoever you please. I'm not saying every meal needs to be in your room but I would recommend everyone try it at least once and see how they like it. You might find that you actually prefer it over the dining car, even when you're not feeling like a recluse.

 

[TinCan782]

Although we enjoy eating in the diner with other travelers, if the diner is more than one or two cars or so from our sleeper, my wife can't make the walk. Last year on the Coast Starlight we ate in the diner and thoroughly enjoyed the company. Our last two trips in the Texas Eagle sleeper on the Sunset Limited, we ate in our bedroom. We enjoyed that too but, we did let the SCAs know they could deliver our meal when they could. They can get busy during those times. The tip reflected the extra service!

 

[Chey]

If I could, I'd have all my meals in the roomette, but I usually go to the diner. I share Sarah's discomfort and yet I've had some great conversations in the diner. But I too am always relieved to get back to the roomette.

 

[Orangesaint]

My problem with eating in the diner isn't as much socializing, it's the amount of time it takes away from when I can be enjoying the sights of the ride, or in less scenic areas, getting in a little work (since my job requires a lot of time in excel, the lack of wifi on LD trains isn't usually a hindrance). Part of this is my general attitude towards meals of just wanting to "eat and go". If the meal period is during an area I expect to scenic, then I expect the meal in the roomette; whether the SCA finds it a hassle is his or her own problem, I have the right to ask for this in accordance to Amtrak policy. When I do, I tell them at the beginning of the day that I will be having dinner in the roomette today, and they can just get it to me whenever they have time, and there is no rush. I also will tip very, very well when I do. Normally though, I usually only request dinner in the roomette. Breakfast and lunch (when a 1:00 reservation, I noticed that's always the less busy time) is when I go to the diner and meet people. But dinner? That's expected in the roomette.

Most recently, on the Capitol Limited and Southwest Chief, the SCA was very pleasant to do this. (On the Coast Starlight I took advantage of the Parlour Car). On the California Zephyr, I got an attitude, but I still asked for it. It was pretty aggravating to me, because there was a SCA and a SCA-trainee in my car. The "trainer", whenever I walked by room 1 (I was in 4, so I was close), seemed to be on his phone, and having the trainee do everything. I was on the ideal side of the Zephyr, and I made the most of it. It was the trainer that copped me the attitude though, not the trainee. Both times I started talking to trainee, in a friendly manner, the trainer interrupted us. But anyway, I am getting sidetracked now!

 

[tonys96]

For those who say they would rather "enjoy the sights" in a room than in the diner.......the diner has windows, too, and you can see out to both sides of the train!