RAILforum: Anyone for Amtrak and a Wine Cruise?

This is topic Anyone for Amtrak and a Wine Cruise? in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.

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Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :

For anyone who can take advantage of a last minute deal I see Celebrity Cruises has for new bookings only its upcoming 1-day only Tuesday Sale April 19th for the Celebrity CENTURY's 8-night Coastal Wine Cruise departing out of San Diego on MAY 14, 2011 with 2-nights in San Francisco, Astoria (OR), Nanaimo (BC), Victoria (BC) ending in Vancouver. The prices start at $379pp inside, $599 oceanview, and $1199 for Deluxe balcony.

This is a great opportunity for those who can take this cruise and then ride AMTRAK back down the coast on the CASCADES and the COAST STARLIGHT.

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Exciting_Deals/XcitingDeals_cel_tues.pdf

Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :

Is the wine free?

Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Henry Kisor:
Is the wine free?

Nothing in life is free.. [Wink]

There are plenty of opportunities during the cruise to take side trips to vineyards and experience world-class vinyards along the way. Some of the best wine I have had in the last decade came from California and Oregon.

Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :

Thanks, dmwnc1959, for the information on Celebrity Cruises. I definitely want to take that one, sometime.

Or, as an alternative, how about a train cruise, some fine Calif. wine, and a great meal:

http://winetrain.com/

A very scenic trip, starting in Napa, Yountville, then on to St. Helena. The lounge cars are especially fun.

Richard

Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :

Looks like a nice excursion. It would be interesting to see what other wineries are accessible either by Amtrak or a day long excursion! Maybe a cross country or west coast wine tour on Amtrak? [Wink]

Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :

quote:
Originally posted by dmwnc1959:
Looks like a nice excursion. It would be interesting to see what other wineries are accessible either by Amtrak or a day long excursion! Maybe a cross country or west coast wine tour on Amtrak?

*************************************************

Unfortunately, the nearest you can get to the Northern Calif. wine country are the Amtrak stops in Martinez and Davis. If you wait, maybe, 3-5 years you will be able to take the new SMART passenger train from either Larkspur or San Rafael up to Santa Rosa (The ultimate plan is Larkspur (just north of the Golden Gate Bridge) to Cloverdale, in northern Sonoma County). If the train only goes to Santa Rosa you will still have access to the wineries in both Sonoma and Napa counties, as well as the Russian River wineries.

Richard