Roomette 2 adults and 1 child?

[Guest_Amy_*]

As a change of pace, instead of flying down to Orlando this time around, we are going to be taking the train. I like the idea of having a Roomette, especially with my son.

I tried to book on Amtrak's website, but was unable to book with my husband and I along with our 2 yr old.

Is this allowed, or do we need to book 2 rooms? Even the regular bedroom is not allowing the three of us to travel together, and with an autistic son, we NEED to be together for my sanity!

Thanks in advance, and I apologize if this topic has been beaten to death in the past.

 

[access bob]

As a change of pace, instead of flying down to Orlando this time around, we are going to be taking the train. I like the idea of having a Roomette, especially with my son. I tried to book on Amtrak's website, but was unable to book with my husband and I along with our 2 yr old.

Is this allowed, or do we need to book 2 rooms? Even the regular bedroom is not allowing the three of us to travel together, and with an autistic son, we NEED to be together for my sanity!

Thanks in advance, and I apologize if this topic has been beaten to death in the past.

your son is Autistic, get the accessible bedroom it is rated for three people.

Bob

 

[user 1215]

I don't think that you can book it online. BUT with the child under three, you should be able to talk to a reservations agent by phone who might could override the system and allow you to book it.

 

[the_traveler]

Call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL. When "Julie" (the automated agent) answers, say "AGENT" and you will be connected to a live agent. Explain the situation and they may book you as you wish.

Keep in mind that a roomette has only 2 berths (1 upper and 1 lower) and they are small(ish). (Think single bed sized.) It's one thing if your child is 6 months old or 2 feet tall, and another story if your child is 17 years old or 6 feet tall!

Good luck!

 

[Guest_Amy_*]

Thank you so much for all the replies.

In regards to the accessible room, his disabilities aren't severe enough that I would have the desire to book that, I would feel badly if someone more inclined needed it and we were using it.

And bed size doesn't bother me much, we would probably wind up having the upper berth brought down for my husband and chairs kept in seating position underneath. (Do they do this?) Many nights have been spent in hard, un-reclining chairs while holding him so he will sleep, a cushioned chair would work just as well

Also.. Can my husband bring our meals back to our room from the diner car? Not sure how my son would react to eating with that many other people in close proximity. I have read that many times you share your table, which I wouldn't have a problem with (I love meeting new people while cruising, so I feel this would be the same) but my son may 'shut down' and that creates a tantrum I wouldn't want anyone else to need to deal with.

 

[yarrow]

good luck but i don't think they will book 2 adults and a child in a roomette. we often have gotten a family bedroom or a regular bedroom either of which have no problem with 2 adults and a child. generally they are more expensive as i would guess you know. the sleeping car attendant will deliver meals to you in the sleeper and would deserve a nice tip for so doing. usually you can't take meals back to your room yourself but it might depend on explaining your situation to the particular staff in your diner

 

[Guest_Amy_*]

I don't mind booking a regular bedroom, I wish the family bedroom was available on this train. When I had tried to book the regular bedroom it still wouldn't let me with 2 adults and my 2 yr old, so I guess I will have to call. I'm a big time net user so I was hoping I could do everything online That's fine though, I can call. Thank you all!

 

[MrFSS]

Also.. Can my husband bring our meals back to our room from the diner car? Not sure how my son would react to eating with that many other people in close proximity. I have read that many times you share your table, which I wouldn't have a problem with (I love meeting new people while cruising, so I feel this would be the same) but my son may 'shut down' and that creates a tantrum I wouldn't want anyone else to need to deal with.

Normally the procedure is to have your sleeping car attendant bring the meals to you. We have heard that sometimes the dining car staff will allow folks to take meals back to the rooms, but sometimes they won't allow it. As I understand it the correct policy is to have the car attendant bring them to you.

 

[Walt]

In regards to the accessible room, his disabilities aren't severe enough that I would have the desire to book that, I would feel badly if someone more inclined needed it and we were using it.

Glad to read you feel that way. Also, the Amtrak website is pretty specific that the accessible room is only for a passenger with a severe mobility disability (not just any old disability).

And bed size doesn't bother me much, we would probably wind up having the upper berth brought down for my husband and chairs kept in seating position underneath. (Do they do this?) Many nights have been spent in hard, un-reclining chairs while holding him so he will sleep, a cushioned chair would work just as well

We do the Orlando run quite often. As soon as we board, I pull the upper bunk down. My kid uses it as a play area (tree fort?). Two people can still easily sit in both chairs with the upper bunk down; there is still plenty of head room. At night, if you want to still leave your child in the upper bunk alone, you and your husband can semi-recline both chairs and put your feet up.

Also.. Can my husband bring our meals back to our room from the diner car? Not sure how my son would react to eating with that many other people in close proximity. I have read that many times you share your table, which I wouldn't have a problem with (I love meeting new people while cruising, so I feel this would be the same) but my son may 'shut down' and that creates a tantrum I wouldn't want anyone else to need to deal with.

The tables hold only four people. It would be quite rare that they will try to sit a forth person at your table. You could always discretely ask the attendant to not seat anyone with you. I am sure they would be glad to comply.

There have been lots of chat here about passengers being allowed to take meals back to their rooms. From my personal experience, I have seen many passengers ask for an extra meal to take back, and the attendants always seem to be happy to provide it.

BTW, your room only includes the meals for two passengers. I would suggest that those be for you and your husband, and you then buy an inexpensive Kids Meal for your kid.

 

[Guest_Amy_*]

We do the Orlando run quite often. As soon as we board, I pull the upper bunk down. My kid uses it as a play area (tree fort?). Two people can still easily sit in both chairs with the upper bunk down; there is still plenty of head room. At night, if you want to still leave your child in the upper bunk alone, you and your husband can semi-recline both chairs and put your feet up.

BTW, your room only includes the meals for two passengers. I would suggest that those be for you and your husband, and you then buy an inexpensive Kids Meal for your kid.

Does the upper bunk have high rails (do you have an inch estimate by any chance?) silly question, I know haha sorry!

Also, the meal thing his fine as he's pretty picky about what he eats. I was looking at sample menus and it looks like it'll be macaroni and cheese, or we'll bring enough 'meal' goodies from home for him.

I'm so excited to try this new way of 'family travel' as I'm not the flyer I once was, and I have great memories of when I was young and heading to Boston with my best friend and our families.

I'm already looking at short little trips we can do just to get our 'train legs' back :lol:

 

[yarrow]

the upper berth has netted strapping you attach to prevent rolling out

 

[Tony]

the upper berth has netted strapping you attach to prevent rolling out

Just to expand a bit... the "netted straps" are made out of the same stuff as seat belts, and extend from the bunk all the way to the ceiling. They are optional in that when you pull the bunk down, you will find them loose, and you will need to hook them up onto the ceiling.

The upper bunk has its own windows with its own window curtains. It has its own lights and light controls. It has a small "bag" for trash. It has its own vent fan with speed control. Plus it has a storage "cubby" large enough for two carry-on size suit cases.

 

[Guest_Amy_*]

Thank you all! I really appreciate everyone's responses and I can't wait to travel now!

 

[sky12065]

Thank you all! I really appreciate everyone's responses and I can't wait to travel now!

With your son's young age, I would suggest you consider the safety of leaving him in an upper bunk. I would think that the straps are not really suitable for a child that young! You'll need to be the judge when you get into your room!

 

[access bob]

[. Plus it has a storage "cubby" large enough for two carry-on size suit cases.

many smaller children love that cubby it is nicely carpeted and they will crawl in there and sleep, it is easy to get into from the upper bunk.

FYI not a recomendation

Bob

 

[AlanB]

Thank you all! I really appreciate everyone's responses and I can't wait to travel now!

With your son's young age, I would suggest you consider the safety of leaving him in an upper bunk. I would think that the straps are not really suitable for a child that young! You'll need to be the judge when you get into your room!

Agreed, 2 is probably a bit too young to leave him in the upper bunk alone. The straps are designed to stop an adult to moderate sized child who is lying down and asleep from rolling over and falling to the floor. They won't stop a two-year-old whose sitting up and playing from toppling over on a big bump and falling to the floor.

 

[sky12065]

[. Plus it has a storage "cubby" large enough for two carry-on size suit cases.

many smaller children love that cubby it is nicely carpeted and they will crawl in there and sleep, it is easy to get into from the upper bunk.

FYI not a recomendation

Bob

I can't help but wonder just how clean they keep that cubby? Aside from the cleanliness issue, when my son was 2, I wouldn't have allowed him to get into or sleep in the cubby unless I or my wife were in the upper bunk to prevent him from getting out without our knowledge. Now, if we were stopped in a station long enough, I would have allowed him to play in the upper bunk until the train got underway again... that is unless I wanted to get up there and play myself! :lol:

 

[Joel N. Weber II]

I can't help but wonder just how clean they keep that cubby? Aside from the cleanliness issue, when my son was 2, I wouldn't have allowed him to get into or sleep in the cubby unless I or my wife were in the upper bunk to prevent him from getting out without our knowledge. Now, if we were stopped in a station long enough, I would have allowed him to play in the upper bunk until the train got underway again... that is unless I wanted to get up there and play myself! :lol:

When I boarded the westbound Lake Shore Limited at ALB in May 2008, I certainly saw some evidence that the cubby had not been recently vacuumed.

Now, maybe someone had had my roomette between NYP and ALB, but I'm more inclined to suspect that Sunnyside had not vaccuumed the cubby the last time they ``cleaned'' the car.

 

[AAARGH!]

I can't help but wonder just how clean they keep that cubby? Aside from the cleanliness issue, when my son was 2, I wouldn't have allowed him to get into or sleep in the cubby unless I or my wife were in the upper bunk to prevent him from getting out without our knowledge. Now, if we were stopped in a station long enough, I would have allowed him to play in the upper bunk until the train got underway again... that is unless I wanted to get up there and play myself! :lol:

On my recent trip on the Lake Shore Limited, the 'cubby hole' was filthy. I could name the dust bunnies they were so large. :huh: The outer ledge had a 1/4" of dust/dirt. It had obviously not been cleaned in quite a while. I would never put a two year old in there.

 

[Tony]

On my recent trip on the Lake Shore Limited, the 'cubby hole' was filthy. I could name the dust bunnies they were so large. :huh: The outer ledge had a 1/4" of dust/dirt. It had obviously not been cleaned in quite a while. I would never put a two year old in there.

I don't think the Lake Shore Limited stops in Orlando. At least not on purpose.

In all my years, I have never, ever, found the cubby in my roomette on the Silvers to be any where close to being that dirty.

However, when I mentioned there was cubby up there, I didn't mean as a kid's play area. I specifically said for two carry-on suitcases (not two carry-on children :lol: ). It was just to note what the OP will find up there in their roomette.

 

[Guest_Amy_*]

Him being up there isn't a possibility anyways, especially if I'm not up there with him. With my son, you need to basically throw away the idea that children with autism like to play alone and aren't social. This boy won't leave my lap or my side. Which is the main reason I mentioned in a previous post him sleeping with me in one of the chairs. Isn't the comfiest of possibilities, but my son cuddled up with me more than makes up for it. One day he won't want to do that anymore and I'll be lost!

And double gross about the dirty cubby

 

[colobok]

We travelled with our 4 years daughter in May 2008 on Silver Meteor and Lake Shore Ltd.

On both trains we got a bedroom for 2 adults and 1 child. I was sleeping with a child on the lower berth

and it was very confortable (more than enough space).

We made reservation by phone.

Now we have a newborn child and if we decide to go by train then I believe all 4 of us could fit into one bedroom

(me and 2 small kids can also fit the lower berth, kids will sleep in opposite corners),

but I don't know if Amtrak allows that.

Theoretically I could buy 3 tickets (kids under 2 don't need tickets) and don't tell that we will take one more

child.

 

[AlanB]

Him being up there isn't a possibility anyways, especially if I'm not up there with him. With my son, you need to basically throw away the idea that children with autism like to play alone and aren't social. This boy won't leave my lap or my side. Which is the main reason I mentioned in a previous post him sleeping with me in one of the chairs. Isn't the comfiest of possibilities, but my son cuddled up with me more than makes up for it. One day he won't want to do that anymore and I'll be lost!

I'd still try having the attendant put down the lower bed, odds are that you can both squeeze in there and be more comfortable than sleeping in the seats. Then just send dad up to the other bunk.

 

[Guest_Amy_*]

Him being up there isn't a possibility anyways, especially if I'm not up there with him. With my son, you need to basically throw away the idea that children with autism like to play alone and aren't social. This boy won't leave my lap or my side. Which is the main reason I mentioned in a previous post him sleeping with me in one of the chairs. Isn't the comfiest of possibilities, but my son cuddled up with me more than makes up for it. One day he won't want to do that anymore and I'll be lost!

I'd still try having the attendant put down the lower bed, odds are that you can both squeeze in there and be more comfortable than sleeping in the seats. Then just send dad up to the other bunk.

Sounds good to me!

 

[sky12065]

Him being up there isn't a possibility anyways, especially if I'm not up there with him. With my son, you need to basically throw away the idea that children with autism like to play alone and aren't social. This boy won't leave my lap or my side. Which is the main reason I mentioned in a previous post him sleeping with me in one of the chairs. Isn't the comfiest of possibilities, but my son cuddled up with me more than makes up for it. One day he won't want to do that anymore and I'll be lost!

I'd still try having the attendant put down the lower bed, odds are that you can both squeeze in there and be more comfortable than sleeping in the seats. Then just send dad up to the other bunk.

Sounds good to me!

Which sounds good to you, pulling down the lower bed or sending dad to the other bunk?