What To Expect? Roomette Trip 2 weeks...

[city blocks]

I really liked the all day coffee and juice and water and our attendant had ice, although I think there is some issues with ice and some say it's ok and some say they aren't supposed to provide it.

There are indeed health issues with ice being left accessible to the passengers, since too many passengers just drop the scoop back into the ice, instead of ensuring that the handle of the scoop stays out of the ice so as to prevent spreading germs. Therefore the recent policy change dictates that the attendant is to secure the ice in their room and provide it to the passengers upon request.

Any attendant telling you that they aren't supposed to provide ice is incorrect. Is it possible that they've run out of ice? Sure. It can happen. But they do get restocked during the trip, and again anyone telling you that they aren't supposed to provide ice is wrong.

I am guessing the attendant has wine to serve the passengers? I didn't know they did that. But you can also have your own wine in your compartment, so don't worry about bringing it along.

The attendants do no have wine to serve to the passengers as a general rule. If you are riding either the Coast Starlight or the Empire Builder, those two trains offer a wine tasting to sleeping car passengers which the attendants help to run. Additionally both trains provide a complimentary bottle of champagne upon boarding. Sparkling cider is also available as an alternative to those who don't want and can't have champagne.

Finally, the LSL out of Chicago has a wine and cheese party in the Diner-Lite car prior to the departure from Chicago. That however is run by the dining car attendants, not the sleeping car attendants.

Beyond the above, sleeping car attendants don't serve wine to their passengers unless you are buying it and have requested room service from the dining car.

ooww!!!! what is this, we are taking the LSL out of chicago in a roomette, a wine and cheese party!!! tell me more, is this complimentrery or to be paid for

 

[MrFSS]

ooww!!!! what is this, we are taking the LSL out of chicago in a roomette, a wine and cheese party!!! tell me more, is this complimentrery or to be paid for

It is free to sleeper passengers. They will board you about an hour early from the lounge and you will be at the tasting before leaving the station!

 

[AlanB]

ooww!!!! what is this, we are taking the LSL out of chicago in a roomette, a wine and cheese party!!! tell me more, is this complimentrery or to be paid for

It is free to sleeper passengers. They will board you about an hour early from the lounge and you will be at the tasting before leaving the station!

Correct, but you must be in the Metropolitan Lounge to get the early boarding. If you are in the regular waiting room, you'll miss the entire party and the early boarding.

They also have non-alcoholic sparkling cider for the kids and the adults who don't wish to drink.

 

[rosemary kay]

i don't surpose they have this party going in the other directiom, from Penn to chicago do they?

 

[Steve4031]

i don't surpose they have this party going in the other directiom, from Penn to chicago do they?

No, they do not. Dinner and Breakfast is served on that the westbound run. I am not to excited about dinner on the LSL anyway. And I don't like the layout of the food service cars on that train either.

As far as what to expect on the train to New Orleans and on most other overnight trains:

The attendants usually put the beds down around 9 p.m. This seems to the time most people are ready for bed anyway. If you want the bed down earlier, you can ask. After you get on, most attendants go to each room and introduce themselves, and explain how things operate. Other might make an announcement. A good attendant who is on the ball will make the bed why you are at breakfast. If you want to keep the bed down after breakfast, let the attendant know.

If you are traveling solo, you can use the second seat as a leg rest. There is a pedal that you can push with your foot, that will cause the seat to slide down. The pedal is on the part of the seat closest to the corridor.

Interesting points of interesting along the route: You pass through Memphis early in the morning. You can see Beale street from the train. In Jackson, Ms, you can see the state capitol. Between Hammond and New Orleans, you pass through the swamps and run along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. This is the scenic highlight. If you are not on the left side of the train, move to that side and enjoy. You can also see the above ground cemeteries as you get closer to New Orleans.