Amtrak From Seattle to Vancouver for our Alaska sailing..Coach vs Business Class

[Seamama]

Ok, I see... there's barely a dollar difference from "Flexible" and "Premium" but there's over a $25 difference between "Saver" and "Premium". For our family, "Saver" worked fine last time and we plan to do it again next time. Here's some other helpful info: (some have already been mentioned):

(1) Make sure you're booking "VAC" (for Vancouver, BC- Pacific Central Station), not "VAN" (for Vancouver, Washington). Your starting point in Seattle is "SEA" (for King Street Station).
(2) In case you're wondering, I don't remember seeing any coffee stands at the station or really anything to eat other than vending machines at the Seattle station.
(3) The Seattle station's sound system is terrible. The best advice I can give is just to pay attention. If you start seeing people line up anywhere/at all, just go to the line and nicely ask the folks there if they're waiting for Vancouver BC's train. You'll get on the train even if you're last in line but you kind of want to be at the front-ish of the line if you're traveling w/ a group and using "Saver" tickets, since the seats aren't assigned till you get through that part.
(4) The views while on the train are fabulous! Enjoy!
(5) The train can be late. Ours arrived on time to pick up us in Seattle, but got us to Vancouver 1 hr later than the schedule said. I was REALLY GLAD we'd come in the day before. I'm generally pretty cheap and didn't want to pay for a night in a hotel when "Vancouver is really only 3 hrs from Seattle" but I'm glad we did. Being "only" an hour late on the date of ship departure would've been ok, but I would've been a stress case the entire time. PLUS, we had the great joy of watching the ship come in on Monday morning. That was a treasure in and of itself. I had no idea how magical that was- especially being there w/ just a small group of early-birds to share the joy. Several years before this last cruise, we came in the day of departure and missed that magic- I will never do that again.
(6) When you get to Pacific Central Station (Vancouver), there are plenty of taxis outside and it's pretty nicely organized. We were starving, though, and thrilled to find an A&W Rootbeer (and burger) place right inside the station. They took our Visa, no problem. (There's also a money changing place in the station and we were going to get cash after lunch but it was closed when we were done w/ lunch! I'd specifically checked their business hours as we walked by and it said nothing about being closed soon.)
(7) Also in the Vancouver Station, is a coffee shop. They took our US dollars at face value (so yes, we waaaay overpaid for coffee). Also there is a convenience store w/ water, snacks, and souvenirs.

I have to run for now, but I do have some tips for taking Amtrak's "Thruway Bus" back to Seattle. I'll post more later today or tomorrow...

 

[Judyat]

Another option is the Bolt bus which runs often from the Amtrak station and is very nice and cheap. You can check times and rates at www.boltbus.com . We took it in June from Vancouver BC to Seattle and then a week later from Seattle to Portland. We had looked at Amtrak and found that it had more times than Amtrak. Also some of the Amtraks are buses along the Seattle to Vancouver route. We liked the bus also because there was only one stop between Vancouver and Seattle and stopping at the border was fast and easy. Also they keep the luggage in one spot below the bus. So when you get off there is a special compartment for that city's luggage. Seats on bus are spacious and comfortable.

 

[xlxo]

Quick shuttle is another option... I find Amtrak's 2 daily train schedule to be impractical.... the buses offer more flexibility.
http://www.quickcoach.com/schedule.htm

Another reason for Quick Shuttle is airport pick up to hotel/cruise terminal.

 

[divabydisney]

I just did this when sailing a few weeks ago. Here's my input.... Business vs coach did not matter. I initially wanted business class, but after looking at it, couldn't justify the price difference. I felt the seats in coach were more than adequate, leather seats, with extra leg room. More than you get on an airplane seat. Boarding was not a big deal either. It's assigned seating so you might get on a few minutes earlier but that's it. The only complaint I had about the train was that it was supposed to be 4 hours long. Our trip was just at 5 hours. The last hour was us going at a snail's pace in Vancouver. It was odd. Another passenger I talked to about the train had the same issue. It's an easy ride and for the cost, it's a steal. I'd do it again but still not pay for business class. If you really want to see the difference there is a youtube vid walking down the cars.

 

[xlxo]

The only complaint I had about the train was that it was supposed to be 4 hours long. Our trip was just at 5 hours. The last hour was us going at a snail's pace in Vancouver. It was odd. Another passenger I talked to about the train had the same issue.

Yep... the bus is generally faster than the train. Main bus delay is the border crossing at certain times.

The Washington segment is designed for speed. The Canadian segment is likely slower because of the curves, residential noise, more crossings and they haven't upgraded the tracks from general freight which travels slower. There's been a few collisions around White Rock that has likely put the lower speeds.

 

[anricat]

Ugh. We weren't thinking about doing the same thing in reverse but the prices just came out today for our trip back after the cruise and the flights are WAY WAY more than I had budgeted. Yuck. I could have practically gone to Europe for the same prices as these flights going from Vancouver to Austin.

Has anyone done this in reverse? Did you spend the night in Seattle on the way back or did you just catch the bus or train as early as possible and hope it makes it back in time?

 

[dvc cruiser]

we did this trip this past June and took the early train out of Seattle. One of the best things I did was get the business class upgrade for the train. We got to the station in Seattle plenty early for the train and were met with a very long line . Then I noticed it was the coach line and the business class was to the right . We where 2nd in that line and 2nd family to board the train. All of business in on first then off first. The ride was fantastic and could not have gone any better. The best part though was we where also the 2nd family off the train and I am sure we had gone thru customs and gotten into our cab before anyone in coach had gotten off the train. One of the many things I would recommend for an Alaskan cruise is that if you are going from Seattle to Vancouver take the cascades and get business class if it is at all possible within your budget.
Any other question feel free to ask.

 

[bumbershoot]

In case you're wondering, I don't remember seeing any coffee stands at the station or really anything to eat other than vending machines at the Seattle station.

Maybe not at the station, but there are coffee shops in easy walking distance, in case anyone wants to venture out.

Ugh. We weren't thinking about doing the same thing in reverse but the prices just came out today for our trip back after the cruise and the flights are WAY WAY more than I had budgeted. Yuck. I could have practically gone to Europe for the same prices as these flights going from Vancouver to Austin.

Has anyone done this in reverse? Did you spend the night in Seattle on the way back or did you just catch the bus or train as early as possible and hope it makes it back in time?

I'd stay overnight, personally, just to make sure.

So...Amtrak is an American train company, and America isn't made for passenger rail. Amtrak doesn't own the rail and has no priority over freight. We slow down everywhere. The train stops several times, and with Amtrak, it slows down with every stop.

Friends who were going from San Francisco to Seattle ended up 24 HOURS late one time. 24!


Amtrak isn't the quickest option, and once you include the "just to make sure" hotel nights in Vancouver and/or Seattle, it's not the budget option one hopes for, either.


And...if there's a mudslide on the tracks at any point in the 72 hours before your scheduled train, you'll be taking a bus.

 

[Quellman]

In 2010 we did a similar trip and took the early train up to Vancouver a day in advance. Wanted the thrill of riding a train and not the bus. Was not disappointed in the views. Others have already commented on how to check in for the trip and where to go etc. We flew red eye from the East coast to Seattle, spent the night in the airport, and then transferred down town to the train station. Took the 510 cascade coach to vancouver and spent a few days there before embarking the ship. Cost of train for 2 people 1 way was $63. Had no issues getting seats next to each other. Visited the dining car just to see what was what and bought a few sodas. Easy to view things outside the train cars as well. The seats then were certainly big enough and had lots of leg room. Didn't feel the need to have to have the extra business class amenities. Cost wasn't the ultimate decision factor, as taking a bus would have been cheaper. However, you miss some of the coastline views and well, the thrill of riding a train. It makes a few stops at stations along the way, and once you get to Canada it doesn't stop until you reach Vancouver. We did have a brief unscheduled stop to let a guy off who missed his stop and lacked proper documentation to enter Canada. He slept through the announcements. Poor guy. I like to think he isn't still wandering the Washington forests.