Empire Builder questions

[RailFanLNK]

Astrocat, everyone's opinions are different but I have really gotten to liking roomettes in the lower level. If stairs aren't challenging, one of the aspects of getting a roomette is privacy and there's so much less foot traffic in the lower level. You also have the baggage area just outside your room, bathroom(s) just outside your door and if a stop comes along, you just walk out the lower level door and chit-chat while the passengers de-train or get onboard. I never leave the train very far because some of the stops are so quick. But I am really beginnnig to like the lower level over the upper level.

 

[AstroCat]

Astrocat, everyone's opinions are different but I have really gotten to liking roomettes in the lower level. If stairs aren't challenging, one of the aspects of getting a roomette is privacy and there's so much less foot traffic in the lower level. You also have the baggage area just outside your room, bathroom(s) just outside your door and if a stop comes along, you just walk out the lower level door and chit-chat while the passengers de-train or get onboard. I never leave the train very far because some of the stops are so quick. But I am really beginnnig to like the lower level over the upper level.

I will keep that recommendation in mind. On this trip, we will be upper level people. However, I plan to observe as much of the train as possible so I have better idea about the type of seats and the desired location for future trips.

Last night I went ahead and purchased the tickets. I did this online, and based on input from Mrs. AstroCat, we did get the roomette. When we looked at the total price (which included the AAA discount) and the meals and the privacy, we decided it was worth it. On this trip, we think of the roomette as more of a first class upgrade than a sleeper.

Again, I want to thank the people here regarding the advice about buying tickets as soon as possible. That caused me to check prices last night, and I'm glad I did. The cost of the roomette on train #7 had already gone up, but it was still at the lower price on train #27 (and on this leg of the route, 7 and 27 are combined). That caused me to go ahead and order the tickets. Any more waiting might have been costly.

 

[the_traveler]

Last night I went ahead and purchased the tickets. I did this online, and based on input from Mrs. AstroCat, we did get the roomette. When we looked at the total price (which included the AAA discount) and the meals and the privacy, we decided it was worth it. On this trip, we think of the roomette as more of a first class upgrade than a sleeper.
Again, I want to thank the people here regarding the advice about buying tickets as soon as possible. That caused me to check prices last night, and I'm glad I did. The cost of the roomette on train #7 had already gone up, but it was still at the lower price on train #27 (and on this leg of the route, 7 and 27 are combined). That caused me to go ahead and order the tickets. Any more waiting might have been costly.

That's the attitude to use - thinking it is a first class upgrade. When I went to ATL from NYP a few years back, I had the accessible sleeper. Just before we arrived in ATL, The SA requested that he be allowed to reset the room. The reason - 3 people reserved it for the ATL-NOL trip! It was cheaper for all 3 of them (with the meals included) to go that way than coach - even though it was a day trip! (Besides - coach was sold out - it was during Mardis Gras (sp?)!)

Also remember that with Amtrak's VERY liberal cancellation policy, you can cancel at anytime and get a 90% cash refund (if the tickets were printed) or a 100% voucher for future travel! (The roomette must be cancelled 7 days in advance to get a refund.)

 

[Green Maned Lion]

The attendant (not you) will convert your roomette, and they COULD just let down the upper berth- I think.

I don't know where Alan got the idea that there was a hoot of difficulty in assembling Superliner Roomette beds, but their ain't. You kick two peddles, and unroll a mattress. There is no reason to have your attendant do it, although there is no reason not to, either.

Secondly, I walk around the Superliner barefoot at night and it doesn't bother me. I mean to the bathroom and such. I don't want to go through the acrobatics of trying to put shoes on my feet. The PVC flooring in the center of the car is a bit uncomfortable to walk on, but other than that... I don't know what the policy is, but it isn't particularly dangerous or anything. Do NOT under ANY circumstances walk barefoot between cars, though.

 

[AlanB]

The attendant (not you) will convert your roomette, and they COULD just let down the upper berth- I think.

I don't know where Alan got the idea that there was a hoot of difficulty in assembling Superliner Roomette beds, but their ain't. You kick two peddles, and unroll a mattress. There is no reason to have your attendant do it, although there is no reason not to, either.

Where did I say that it was hard to put the beds together? :unsure:

I said:

I'm not sure that there is any hard and fast rule that says you can't do the beds yourself, but it may not be as easy as you think to set them up. It's not supper hard, but it's not incredibly easy either.

I define incredibly easy as being in a hotel and having to pull down the blanket/comforter and sheets to climb in.

And not all attendants put the mattress up in the same manor. I've seen some that fold it in thirds, I've seen some that fold in in half length wise, and a few other oddities. If you're not careful bringing it down, you can make a mess of it. And I have seen an attendant drop a mattress and have to basically remake things.

 

[wayman]

I define incredibly easy as being in a hotel and having to pull down the blanket/comforter and sheets to climb in.

I define incredibly easy as waking up on the couch with a book on my face hours after I sat down :lol:

 

[Guest]

Go for the Roomette! I have just completed a circle tour on the EB/CONY/SL. Granted, that was five days and five nights. The privacy afforded and the free meals were great, but the real seller was the good luck that, except for one small segment, the roomette across form me was not occupied, so I was able to flop over to the other side of the train for those extra photo opportunities. I was in a trans/dorm on the EB and SL, and I think this is why the opposite roomette wasn't occupied.