I'll be travelling on the Empire Builder next month in a sleeper with my elderly mother. Depending on how rough the ride is, she may not feel comfortable walking to the dining car. May I bring her meals from the dining car, or would the car attendant bring them, even though she is not in a handicapped room? If the car attendant brings them, what would be an appropriate tip? Does she tip him when he brings the meal, or do I just add something extra at the end of our trip? BTW, what is an appropriate tip for two adults and two children travellign the Entire route of the Empire Builder?
You will not be able to take a meal from the diner - the car attendant must do that. I saw the attendants do this for several passengers on our trip - including us (my wife had knee surgery recently). On our recent trip one meal was brought by the attendant from another sleeper so I tipped him on the spot - it was $2. The other meal was brought by our regular attendant and I added to the tip when we left the train. I tipped the attendant on the Capitol, overnight from DC to Chicago $10 for the two of us. The attendant on the SW Chief received $20 since we were with her almost 2 days, and she brough a meal. I also included a tip with each meal when we ate in the dining car. And that's my two cents on the subject.
[This message has been edited by dcfan (edited 05-17-2003).]
Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :
Yes, the car attendant will bring meals back to your sleeping car.
But on several occasions, I've ordered "take out" from the dining car and carried it back to my room.
Either way, be prepared to wait a bit for your order if the diner is extremely busy.
