- Joined
- Aug 8, 2014
- Messages
- 218
Trip Report
Amtrak Silver Star and Silver Meteor
New York Penn to Kissimmee, FL
9/12/21 and 9/19/21
September 7th was my 30th wedding anniversary. To celebrate we booked a six-night stay at Walt Disney World. We are big kids at heart!
Rather than deal with all the drama associated with flying these days, we opted to take Amtrak. We always wanted to try taking the train to Florida instead of flying. We booked a bedroom on each leg of the trip. We took the Silver Star to Florida and the Silver Meteor on the return trip.
When we arrived at Penn Station, we were really impressed by Moynihan Hall. Very bright and airy. Nothing like the claustrophobic
Hole-in-the-ground across the street!
We were even more impressed with the Metropolitan Lounge. It was beautiful. Most of the staff were friendly. The surly woman at the entrance did her job in a matter-of-fact manner. More about her in a minute.
We were about 2 hours early for our 11 AM departure on the Silver Star. So, we got ourselves a nice hot breakfast sandwich and coffee from the lounge food service area which was delicious. We also helped ourselves to some other snacks and goodies to take with us on the train. We chatted with the lounge staff who loved our custom made Silver Star T-shirts.
When it was time to board the train, the surly woman at the front desk neglected to direct my wife, who has knee issues to the elevator. In trying to navigate her suitcase, she fell on the escalator. I was ahead of her (my mistake)! Thankfully fellow passengers and lounge staff rushed to her aid. Thankfully she was okay - no scratches or bruises. I gave the surly woman a sharp look when I got back upstairs!
After taking the elevator, we arrived at track level where it was a little chaotic getting to the position of the sleepers. This specific consist had two Viewliner 1 sleepers instead of a VL1 and a VL2. Kumar, the SCA welcomed us onboard and assisted with our luggage to our room - Bedroom B on 9110. The Viewliner 1 rooms need urgent TLC. Although clean, the cars are worn from 2 plus decades of use. The table in our room had visible damage on the tabletop. The vanity where the sink is had scuff marks on it. The air conditioning was not as good as it could have been. But, having a private room was our goal so goal met!
Kumar was the only SCA for the two sleepers. He also reheated the Flex meals in the dining car. Despite being super busy, he provided each passenger with personalized service! My wife has tomato allergies. Nearly every dish had tomato in it. We asked if she could get a burger from the Cafe car, which he was glad to do. I had the Creole Shrimp & Andouille dish which was okay. For dinner I had the Chicken Marsala which was also okay. I opted for a Barcardi rum with dinner which I paired with a coke.
In the morning, we opted for the “Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwich”. This was NOT a Jimmy Dean sandwich. It was served in foil wrap instead of the branded packaging - and it was terrible! So was the coffee. There was no coffee service in either sleeper.
We were an hour and 13 minutes late arriving in Kissimmee. I would rate this leg of our trip a solid B.
On Sunday 9/19 we boarded the northbound Silver Meteor at Kissimmee Station. Since it was a Sunday none of the restaurants near the station were open. We used Door Dash to deliver some fast food fried chicken to have more dining options onboard. The train arrived 5 minutes early. This consist had three sleepers: two VL2 and one VL1. Once again we were in the VL1 sleeper in Bedroom B. Unfortunately we did not get to experience traveling in the new sleeper. Since I was in the middle sleeper (9811) we had to walk through 9810 to get to the dining car. Boy, was I jealous. Even the air in the new cars seemed fresher!
Our bedroom on the Meteor was not as clean as it could have been. On the single seat next to the bathroom/shower, there was what appeared to be dried chewing gum on the seat cushions. My wife and I used Purell hand sanitizer, paper towels, the edge of coins and elbow grease to get the gum off the seat cushions. The pull-out table was damaged and you had to struggle to get the table out of its stowed position. We reported this all to the SCA, who was not as accommodating as Kumar on the Star. I think this SCA’s name was Dean. He gave some pushback on ordering a burger from the cafe car for my wife. I guess he went to check with his superior since he did acquiesce and grant her request.
Like our bedroom on the Star, the air conditioning in this bedroom was not very good. My wife, who is not a fan of air conditioning said it was too warm in the room, especially during the night.
We were 38 minutes late arriving into Penn Station. I would rate the return portion of the trip a solid C.
Despite the challenges we encountered, we had a relaxing trip to and from Florida. Would I do this again? Well, I have another round-trip on the same trains for early May of next year! I’m hoping I get to experience the VL2 sleeper next time.
I sincerely hope that traditional dining returns to the Eastern LD trains by next year. If not then I hope the recent changes in the Flex menu will improve the current situation with meals onboard.
By the way, I complained to Amtrak regarding the dirty seat in the sleeper on the return trip. They compensated me with a $350 travel voucher for future travel. It was much appreciated.
Amtrak Silver Star and Silver Meteor
New York Penn to Kissimmee, FL
9/12/21 and 9/19/21
September 7th was my 30th wedding anniversary. To celebrate we booked a six-night stay at Walt Disney World. We are big kids at heart!
Rather than deal with all the drama associated with flying these days, we opted to take Amtrak. We always wanted to try taking the train to Florida instead of flying. We booked a bedroom on each leg of the trip. We took the Silver Star to Florida and the Silver Meteor on the return trip.
When we arrived at Penn Station, we were really impressed by Moynihan Hall. Very bright and airy. Nothing like the claustrophobic
Hole-in-the-ground across the street!
We were even more impressed with the Metropolitan Lounge. It was beautiful. Most of the staff were friendly. The surly woman at the entrance did her job in a matter-of-fact manner. More about her in a minute.
We were about 2 hours early for our 11 AM departure on the Silver Star. So, we got ourselves a nice hot breakfast sandwich and coffee from the lounge food service area which was delicious. We also helped ourselves to some other snacks and goodies to take with us on the train. We chatted with the lounge staff who loved our custom made Silver Star T-shirts.
When it was time to board the train, the surly woman at the front desk neglected to direct my wife, who has knee issues to the elevator. In trying to navigate her suitcase, she fell on the escalator. I was ahead of her (my mistake)! Thankfully fellow passengers and lounge staff rushed to her aid. Thankfully she was okay - no scratches or bruises. I gave the surly woman a sharp look when I got back upstairs!
After taking the elevator, we arrived at track level where it was a little chaotic getting to the position of the sleepers. This specific consist had two Viewliner 1 sleepers instead of a VL1 and a VL2. Kumar, the SCA welcomed us onboard and assisted with our luggage to our room - Bedroom B on 9110. The Viewliner 1 rooms need urgent TLC. Although clean, the cars are worn from 2 plus decades of use. The table in our room had visible damage on the tabletop. The vanity where the sink is had scuff marks on it. The air conditioning was not as good as it could have been. But, having a private room was our goal so goal met!
Kumar was the only SCA for the two sleepers. He also reheated the Flex meals in the dining car. Despite being super busy, he provided each passenger with personalized service! My wife has tomato allergies. Nearly every dish had tomato in it. We asked if she could get a burger from the Cafe car, which he was glad to do. I had the Creole Shrimp & Andouille dish which was okay. For dinner I had the Chicken Marsala which was also okay. I opted for a Barcardi rum with dinner which I paired with a coke.
In the morning, we opted for the “Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwich”. This was NOT a Jimmy Dean sandwich. It was served in foil wrap instead of the branded packaging - and it was terrible! So was the coffee. There was no coffee service in either sleeper.
We were an hour and 13 minutes late arriving in Kissimmee. I would rate this leg of our trip a solid B.
On Sunday 9/19 we boarded the northbound Silver Meteor at Kissimmee Station. Since it was a Sunday none of the restaurants near the station were open. We used Door Dash to deliver some fast food fried chicken to have more dining options onboard. The train arrived 5 minutes early. This consist had three sleepers: two VL2 and one VL1. Once again we were in the VL1 sleeper in Bedroom B. Unfortunately we did not get to experience traveling in the new sleeper. Since I was in the middle sleeper (9811) we had to walk through 9810 to get to the dining car. Boy, was I jealous. Even the air in the new cars seemed fresher!
Our bedroom on the Meteor was not as clean as it could have been. On the single seat next to the bathroom/shower, there was what appeared to be dried chewing gum on the seat cushions. My wife and I used Purell hand sanitizer, paper towels, the edge of coins and elbow grease to get the gum off the seat cushions. The pull-out table was damaged and you had to struggle to get the table out of its stowed position. We reported this all to the SCA, who was not as accommodating as Kumar on the Star. I think this SCA’s name was Dean. He gave some pushback on ordering a burger from the cafe car for my wife. I guess he went to check with his superior since he did acquiesce and grant her request.
Like our bedroom on the Star, the air conditioning in this bedroom was not very good. My wife, who is not a fan of air conditioning said it was too warm in the room, especially during the night.
We were 38 minutes late arriving into Penn Station. I would rate the return portion of the trip a solid C.
Despite the challenges we encountered, we had a relaxing trip to and from Florida. Would I do this again? Well, I have another round-trip on the same trains for early May of next year! I’m hoping I get to experience the VL2 sleeper next time.
I sincerely hope that traditional dining returns to the Eastern LD trains by next year. If not then I hope the recent changes in the Flex menu will improve the current situation with meals onboard.
By the way, I complained to Amtrak regarding the dirty seat in the sleeper on the return trip. They compensated me with a $350 travel voucher for future travel. It was much appreciated.
