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

[Steania]

Started looking around for our trip we are planning on flying to Seattle then taking the train to Vancouver via Amtrak. Has anyone else done this here? I was also looking at coach class vs business class. Any recommendations? What is weird and I don't understand why some business seats were less then reserved coach seats... Also which one is better 11 Coast Starlight or Amtrak Cascade? What is the difference? TIA

I have a picture to attached I have no idea how to do this here? New to Disboards. Thanks.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Started looking around for our trip we are planning on flying to Seattle then taking the train to Vancouver via Amtrak. Has anyone else done this here? I was also looking at coach class vs business class. Any recommendations? What is weird and I don't understand why some business seats were less then reserved coach seats... Also which one is better 11 Coast Starlight or Amtrak Cascade? What is the difference? TIA

I have a picture to attached I have no idea how to do this here? New to Disboards. Thanks.

I believe in order to post photos, you must have 10 posts. But, to post a photo, first make sure the photo is smaller than 1MB, then you can drag and drop, copy and paste, or use the "upload a file" button on the lower right of the reply window.

 

[Steania]

Thank you for the information!

 

[anricat]

We're planning to do this next August (just on the way there, we'll fly Vancouver to Austin via Dallas on the way back). There's a lot of good information on this at cruise critic if someone here doesn't pipe in you can search over there.

 

[Steania]

I would definitely have to check that out. Should I just search amrtak to Vancouver on their site? Let me know if you have a link if not I will search for it tonight. Are you cursing DCL to Alaska in August?

 

[linetbo]

We did it this summer. We did the Business class seat were more comfortable. Amtrak cascade. Lovely view.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

We did this last June. We booked business class. The benefits were that you loaded first in Seattle (assigned seats) and got off first in Vancouver (which put you through customs first). Business class also gives you more room than the other cars. Also you get a voucher for the dining car. In business class there are two seats on one side on one seat on the other. You want to be on the side with the two seats when you get your seats which will be in Seattle.

 

[LinderInWonderland]

I live in Seattle and we LOVE the Coast Starlight, but have only ever taken it south. However, it only goes to Vancouver, WA (south) and not Vancouver, BC. You need the Cascade if you want to take the train the whole way. (Don't worry, the Cascade is very nice as well.)

 

[sharksfinatic17]

I live in Seattle and we LOVE the Coast Starlight, but have only ever taken it south. However, it only goes to Vancouver, WA (south) and not Vancouver, BC. You need the Cascade if you want to take the train the whole way. (Don't worry, the Cascade is very nice as well.)

Yes, make sure you have the right Vancouver selected when making your reservation. I ALMOST made that mistake.

 

[bumbershoot]

I live in Seattle and we LOVE the Coast Starlight, but have only ever taken it south. However, it only goes to Vancouver, WA (south) and not Vancouver, BC. You need the Cascade if you want to take the train the whole way. (Don't worry, the Cascade is very nice as well.)

Really really REALLY good call there.



Use "VAC" not "VAN" to search for Vancouver BC. (or just type in the city but pay close attention to the city/country you're choosing!)

 

[anricat]

I would definitely have to check that out. Should I just search amrtak to Vancouver on their site? Let me know if you have a link if not I will search for it tonight. Are you cursing DCL to Alaska in August?

Looks like you've already gotten some great information. (I just google and use the search to limit it to cruise critic.)

Yes, we are on the August 8 sailing. We live in Austin and Southwest just began non-stop service to Seattle so it's almost a no-brainer. Also my brother in law lives in Seattle so we've invited him to join us for a couple of days in Vancouver before we embark on our cruise. He hasn't decided yet, but we're hoping he'll join us! Even if he doesn't, spending a day in Seattle with him will be nice. We plan to fly into Seattle Friday, stay the night and then take the train to Vancouver the next morning. Then we'll spend Saturday and Sunday in Vancouver before embarking Monday.

 

[Steania]

We did this last June. We booked business class. The benefits were that you loaded first in Seattle (assigned seats) and got off first in Vancouver (which put you through customs first). Business class also gives you more room than the other cars. Also you get a voucher for the dining car. In business class there are two seats on one side on one seat on the other. You want to be on the side with the two seats when you get your seats which will be in Seattle.

Thanks for the information. Do you remember how much the voucher was for and was it for each person. I assume kids get one too? I also noticed that when I try to pick business class it does not say reserved and it cheaper then coach reserved.
1. Do we get seats assigned right as we book?
2. Or do we need to stand in line to get seat assignment for the business class as well. Sorry it is kind of confusing.
3. How do we make sure we get the side with the two seats? Is that the sides that has better views?

THANK YOU!

 

[~Dani~]

We did this a few years ago when we did the repositioning cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles. The cost between coach and business class on the Cascade was negligible. We were able to book the seats online, so knew exactly where we were going to be and were able to choose the 2 seats together. The view is lovely, I would definitely do this again.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

Thanks for the information. Do you remember how much the voucher was for and was it for each person. I assume kids get one too? I also noticed that when I try to pick business class it does not say reserved and it cheaper then coach reserved.
1. Do we get seats assigned right as we book?
2. Or do we need to stand in line to get seat assignment for the business class as well. Sorry it is kind of confusing.
3. How do we make sure we get the side with the two seats? Is that the sides that has better views?

THANK YOU!

We had the seats assigned when we got to the train station. Make sure you stand in the business class line it is so much shorter. When you get up to the porter, the seating chart will be in front of you and just ask for the side with two seats. That is the ocean side. Every paying passenger gets a voucher. It was for less than $5. I just can't remember the amount.

 

[Steania]

We had the seats assigned when we got to the train station. Make sure you stand in the business class line it is so much shorter. When you get up to the porter, the seating chart will be in front of you and just ask for the side with two seats. That is the ocean side. Every paying passenger gets a voucher. It was for less than $5. I just can't remember the amount.

Thanks this helps a lot. Did you take the train back as well?

 

[jlmarr]

We booked business class. The benefits were that you loaded first in Seattle (assigned seats) and got off first in Vancouver (which put you through customs first).

That's the biggie for us - first off the train in Vancouver so first through Customs and first to get to the taxis. We had no wait for a taxi.

 

[anricat]

I see "Saver" "Value" "Flexible" and "Premium" Which of those are the same as "business"?

 

[anricat]

Never mind, it looks as if "Premium" is the same as business class. For my family of three, the business class is an extra $80 total. That's a lot of extra money to spend. All the seats say "reserved" so I'm not sure that over $25 per person is really worth the upgrade just to get off first and get a $5 voucher. I think we're going to go "Saver."

 

[anricat]

We had the seats assigned when we got to the train station. Make sure you stand in the business class line it is so much shorter. When you get up to the porter, the seating chart will be in front of you and just ask for the side with two seats. That is the ocean side. Every paying passenger gets a voucher. It was for less than $5. I just can't remember the amount.

The website says two bottles of water and a $6 voucher.

 

[bumbershoot]

The website says two bottles of water and a $6 voucher.

I saw that for starlight but not cascades. The specific Amtrak cascades website says a $3 voucher.

This is just my opinion , but I like the view from the land side; you look to the ocean side and you get a broader view than when you're sitting on the ocean side. I like sitting backwards, too, because you get a longer view of where you've been rather than a quick view of where you're going.