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My two daughters and I are going on a cruise from Orlando in February 2006. I am terrified of flying-- I have flown when I had to, but I will never fly for "pleasure." However, I got major sticker shock when pricing Amtrak first class tickets for the three of us from our home in Wisconsin to Orlando. Everything is reasonable until I come to the leg between D.C. and Orlando, for which the add-on fare for a bedroom is $797 each way. The total fare for the three of us at this time will be $2600.
My question is, is there any sense to waiting to purchase our tickets? I understand that fares generally will go up as the travel date approaches. Is there any chance Amtrak will have a special fare advertised later in the year? Is there any chance, realistically, that Amtrak will no longer exist by next February? I know that when I plugged in one set of travel dates, my request was rejected on the grounds that no same-day connections were available, which I believe would not be the case currently (LSE-CHI-Washington-ORL).
HeartlandExpress Member # 3386
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Have you looked into CHI - NOL - JAX - ORL? Of course this itinerary involves the Sunset Limited but it looks much cheaper.
Mr. Toy Member # 311
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In a recent perusal of Coast Starlight fares, it appears that some significant changes have been made in the pricing structure.
First, I noticed that prices for trains were pretty consistent from one month to the next, even several months out. Summer months were priced higher, but spring and fall were priced the same. This suggests that advance booking is no longer that advantageous.
Second, the price difference between a roomette and a bedroom is substantially greater than before. It used to be that a bedroom was about twice the price of a roomette, but now the bedroom is almost three times as much.
notelvis Member # 3071
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I'd second taking a look at going to Orlando via New Orleans.
One other possibility would be to look at booking two roomettes instead of one bedroom on the DC Florida segment.
Finally, if time permits you might want to look at spending a couple of nights off the train enroute....
For instance, in DC change to a regional train to Ashland, VA and spend the night across the street in the Henry Clay Inn. The next morning catch a regional train into Richmond and then the 'Palmetto' to Savannah.
Do the hotel thing in Savannah and then early (but hopefully a couple of hours less early than now) the next morning catch the Silver Meteor on to Orlando.
Essentially, two nights in hotels and taking coach on the Palmetto and Silver Meteor will run about half the cost of that Bedroom accomodation...
Just a thought.
David Pressley
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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As Mr. Toy said, there seems to be a new pricing structure.
I started browsing 1st class fares on the SWC and Empire Builder in early February. When I checked way into the future all prices were the same, but they varied widely in the short term both by week and day of week. Some days the price would rise each day I looked. I suspect this had to do with how fast they were selling, and proximity to holidays and spring breaks. Some prices were unbelievably low in the short term, but this may have been just because it was a slow season when I started looking.
I ended up purchasing a full bedroom 26 hours before a Saturday departure on the EB, 2 nights for $224 plus railfare (the last vacancy). A month later the same room was around $800. Roomettes were $101, but sold out. Strange.
clwood Member # 3297
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I appreciate the suggestions. However, changing trains repeatedly and going back and forth between long distance and regionals would be a nightmare with two little children and all the luggage needed to clothe three females on a seven day cruise. I don't consider two roomettes an option, either, due to the young ages of both of my daughters. Anyway, on the Washington to Orlando leg, two roomettes would equal the price of one bedroom. On the Chicago to Washington leg either way either a family bedroom or a bedroom is less than $200 added fare. I am not sure what to do-- the connection times are lousy, too-- long, long layovers-- although I know they are likely to be shorter due to late running trains.
sojourner Member # 3134
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I think the sleepers to FL are very popular, as many families "train it" to Orlando/Disneyworld et al; that is likely the reason for the high price. In my experience, discounts usually don't apply to sleepers, except for the discounts for Guest Rewards members where you are charged fewer points sometimes. However, I don't have as much experience as many others here, so take this comment with a grain of salt.
Have you considered going sleeper just to Washington DC and then coach from Washington to Orlando? True, it's overnight, but in my experience, many children sleep better in the long-distance coach seats than most adults do! Depends on their temperament, how restless they are, whether they will consider it an adventure. If you consider it, you will want to bring extra comfy pillows, layers of clothing, all the things we usually advise. Of course, if you are three, there is the problem of there being a fourth person sitting next to one of you. But usually conductors are more accommodating to groups traveling together; and like I said, if you consider it an "adventure," it could work out.
You might also try going coach just one way, on the trip home. That would save you something, anyway.
I went coach from Jacksonville to New York City this past January, and it wasn't too bad. Of course, it was nothing like the wonderful sleeper I took down, but I just couldn't afford it after I decided to stop and see Jacksonville too.
Other times when I've gone coach to Florida, I've stopped in Charleston or Savannah. In both cases, I took a taxi from the train station and stayed in the historic part.
Also, if your children are really small, they might both fit in the bottom of the roomette on the Florida train--I've seen other people with young children do it, esp two small girls, on the very FL train you will be taking. Again, depends on how restless they are, whether they get along well, etc etc.
Are you a Guest Rewards member? That would save you money at some point, if Amtrak continues, even if not for this trip.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Oh, I forgot to say--I don't know if you have taken cruises before, but one thing everyone in the know tells me that one absolutely should do, whether going by plane, train, or even car, is to get to the place from where the cruise leaves the day before. You never know when weather or other conditions will prevent your timely arrival, and if you don't show up for the cruise, you lose your money!!!
(This would be triply important if you take the Sunset Limited hahaha)
clwood Member # 3297
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Absolutely, we are planning to arrive in Orlando a day early, as I don't trust Amtrak for one minute to arrive on time. Even many people who fly into the port, especially in winter, plan to arrive early. If you use the cruiseline's air arrangements and don't make it to the port on time, you don't lose your money, BTW. I believe they usually fly you to the next port. I have to admit, I'm thinking of flying-- economy fare on Northwest for the three of us would be less than half of what Amtrak is charging, and if we really have layovers up to 8 hours on the way, it's almost a lock my children's behavior will become less than perfect. OTOH, if we fly, I will have a miserable time, and it's my vacation, too.
sojourner Member # 3134
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I know just what you mean about flying spoiling your vacation--to me, it's like going to the dentist as part of my vacation. If I absolutely had to do it, I would, but I never elect to do it any more!
The cost is definitely problematic, but I personally don't know that the 8-hour layover is a problem. In fact, when the time between trains is SHORTER, that is when a lot of people here have said that they worry--because you never know if you will make those connections! But your layover is in Chicago or Washington DC, right? If you have any sort of sleeper (first class), Amtrak has comfy waiting rooms in both places, and they will take your luggage to hold for you so that you can go out and explore. And your layover is in the daytime, right? I don't know Chicago's Union Station (yet) but I gather there is plenty to do and see nearby; and Union Station in DC is really lovely. Plus, there is a little Post Office Museum right across the street that kids usually like (there are a couple of interactive things there, i.e., they can send themselves a post card etc etc) and you can also walk over to the Capitol, which isn't that far, or if for some reason you don't want to walk all the way, you could take a taxi to there, the Tidal Pool, etc. Just be careful to leave enough time to get back!!!
I didn't mean to make it seem like I was maligning trains only re the potential for being late and missing the cruise--plenty of people I know have had flight trouble too, so they also arrive a day early for their cruises. I didn't know that the cruises arranged flights, though.
BTW, is your cruise Holland American or Carnival? If so, Amtrak has a deal with 25 percent off your fare on the Silver Service portion of your trip (DC to FL, the expensive portion as you describe it). I believe this includes 25 percent off your accommodations cost, which is unusual--many of Amtrak's other deals just apply to the coach fare, not the accommodations--but check that I'm right on that. Hopefully that includes using Amtrak when you are arriving a day early for the cruise--you need to check about that too, but my guess is that it does, since I know Amtrak won't guarantee the connection and likely encourages your coming a day early. You can find out about this if you go to the website and click Hot Deals, then scroll to the "Rail and Cruise Fare Discounts." There may be some arrangement with a hotel for your overnight too, I'm not sure, you can check. I would talk with an agent after you check the website, just to be sure you have all the info.
gregbkc Member # 3726
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clwood, I sent you a private message in regards to flying dilima. I think it might help you out if you have to fly. You also might want to consider flying to Florida and then taking the train back home. That way you could save a little money and have a train ride to look forward to while on your cruise!
clwood Member # 3297
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Perhaps I should be making that reservation. I just checked, and the fare has risen $235 from a few days ago. All of the increase is from a change in the suplement for a family bedroom from D.C. to Chicago-- it went up more than $100 each way, and we are talking about travel more than 10 months from now.
Vicki Member # 3410
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It's been my experience the price just keeps going up. The trip we paid about $1100 for is now selling for $2500.
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