The seats onboard are able to turn to face each other in a pod of four. While this can be convenient when travelling with small children, it does have a substantial impact on the amount of leg room available to share, and it inhibits you from using the seat back table trays. If you would like to know more about this, please enquire with your Guest Service Manager while travelling with us.
FAQ: In-travel
We do have wheelchair facilities for all services. Wheelchair lifters are available at all stations and the GoldLeaf Service dome coaches are equipped with interior ADA-style elevators. For further details please refer to our Mobility and Accessibility section.
In order to ensure we’re able to accommodate all of your guest's mobility requirements, we ask that you advise us of these concerns at time of booking. Please note that reservations for guests using wheelchairs cannot be completed online. You will need to speak with a Rocky Mountaineer Vacation Consultant to ensure everything can be accommodated for a smooth and a comfortable journey.
In North America, gratuities are often given in recognition of service excellence. Depending on your rail route and package, gratuities may or may not be included for sightseeing tour and motorcoach drivers. Gratuities are entirely at your own discretion.
For our Canadian rail routes, gratuities for sightseeing tour drivers are not included. We suggest a gratuity of $5 CAD per person, per day.
For our US rail route, gratuities for sightseeing tour drivers are included in your package. However, gratuities are not included for motorcoach drivers providing transfers to/from Las Vegas or Salt Lake City and Moab, or to/from Moab and the train siding. We suggest the following:
Train siding transfer to/from Moab: $2 USD per person
Salt Lake City to/from Moab: $10 USD per person
Las Vegas to/from Moab: $15 USD per person
One of the advantages of train travel is the spacious room afforded to all guests. GoldLeaf Service and SilverLeaf Service guests can enjoy fresh air outside their coaches. Access to the GoldLeaf Dome coach and adjacent vestibule is limited to guests reserving this service. Likewise for guests who reserve SilverLeaf Service.
There is no Wi-Fi internet access onboard and much of the train route is out of cell phone range due to the train travelling through remote areas. There is cell service in major urban centers such as Kamloops, Quesnel and Whistler. We recommend guests use the outdoor viewing area for phone calls.
It is strongly recommended that guests disable data roaming or switch their device into airplane mode. Rocky Mountaineer will not be liable for any roaming charges incurred.
Pre-boarding and detraining for guests requiring special assistance is provided at all stations. Please advise Rocky Mountaineer at the time of booking if you require this service and additional assistance while onboard the train, and also notify the Station Team at check-in.
Please note that all pets or animals (excluding qualified service animals for guests with disabilities) are prohibited from travelling onboard the train.
While our onboard menus will have a selection of options to cater to various tastes and dietary requirements such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free etc., we ask that all guests notify us of any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance of travel.
Please advise us of your special dietary needs or allergies, at least 60 days prior to travel. If you have a food allergy, please fill out our Food Allergy Form (www.rockymountaineer.com/food-allergy-form) and send it to your travel professional or to us at reservations@rockymountaineer.com
No, the train only stops in Whistler, or Kamloops, or Quesnel, or Glenwood Springs for an overnight stay; however, the train slows to a very slow speed at particularly scenic locations.
Each row of seats onboard the train contains four seats divided by a central aisle. Multiple couples and families are typically seated across the aisle from each other in pairs of two seats. If you would prefer to be on the same side of the aisle, please let your booking agent or Rocky Mountaineer, Vacation Consultant know at the time of booking.
At check-in, you will receive a boarding pass with your pre-assigned seat and overnight accommodation for Kamloops, or Whistler and Quesnel. If you have special seating requests, such as sitting near a friend who has booked separately, please advise Rocky Mountaineer at least 30 days in advance. We are unable to accommodate specific seats, train coach location or first or second meal seating requests.
No. Each direction will offer its own opportunities for unique views and vistas. On many of our routes where the train follows a river, the tracks will cross over a bridge to give all guests the opportunity to be water-side. Socialization is a huge part of the Rocky Mountaineer experience and we always encourage our guests to get up from their seats and move about the railcar to meet their fellow guests and to experience the views from various vantage points. Don’t forget to spend some time outdoors in the fresh mountain air on the open air vestibule.
In the morning when you board your GoldLeaf Service carriage, your onboard Host team will separate all guests into two groups. On day 1 of the rail journey, the first group will go down to breakfast and lunch first while the second group enjoys beverage service along with fresh baked pastries or canapes until it is their turn. On day 2 of the rail journey, the groups will switch and the second group will go down first for breakfast and lunch.
Note: If you are taking medication or are on a dietary schedule that requires you take meals at a particular time of day, please advise your booking agent or Rocky Mountaineer, Vacation Consultant at the time of booking so it can be noted on your reservation.
In North America, gratuities are often given in recognition of service excellence. Gratuities are not included in prices for Rocky Mountaineer Hosts, driver guides, tour escorts or hotel porters. If you are travelling on an escorted tour, we recommend checking with your Tour Director to confirm the amount of gratuity that may have been included in your tour package.
The following is provided to assist our guests, but we leave the decision to provide a gratuity for Rocky Mountaineer Hosts entirely at their discretion.
Gratuities may be paid by cash or credit card.
For our Canadian rail routes:
All gratuity figures below are in Canadian dollars (CAD).
GoldLeaf Service: Our past guests have left gratuities based on their overall service experience ranging from $80 to $100 per couple ($40 to $50 per guest) for a two-day onboard experience, which is shared between the Hosts and Culinary Team in your coach.
SilverLeaf Service: Our past guests have left gratuities based on their overall service experience ranging from $70 to $90 per couple ($35 to $45 per guest) for a two-day onboard experience, which is shared between the Hosts in your coach.
SilverLeaf Service on Rainforest to Gold Rush route: Our past guests have left gratuities based on their overall service experience ranging from $80 to $110 per couple ($40 to $55 per guest) for a three-day onboard experience, which is shared between the Hosts in your coach.
GoldLeaf Service on Rainforest to Gold Rush route: Our past guests have left gratuities based on their overall service experience ranging from $100 to $130 per couple ($50 to $65 per guest) for a three-day onboard experience, which is shared between the Hosts and Culinary Team in your coach.
For our Rockies to the Red Rocks rail route:
All gratuity figures below are in American dollars (USD).
SilverLeaf Service: Gratuities are at the guest’s discretion, but suggested gratuities range from $50-$70 per couple ($25-$35 per guest) for a two-day onboard experience, which is shared between the Hosts.
SilverLeaf Plus Service: Gratuities are at the guest’s discretion, but suggested gratuities range from $70-$90 per couple ($35-$45 per guest) for a two-day onboard experience, which is shared between the Hosts.
Gratuities are not a requirement and are completely at your discretion.
All onboard services and written materials will be presented in English. While some of our onboard Hosts may speak additional languages, we cannot guarantee that any language other than English will be available.
Rocky Mountaineer does offer predetermined departure dates where select onboard services are available in either French or German. For more information on pre-determined French and German departure dates, please contact us.
Breakfasts and lunches are included onboard Rocky Mountaineer. If breakfast, lunch and/or dinner are included, it will be indicated in the itinerary of your package. Additional breakfasts and dinner for the entire vacation are available for pre-purchase through a meal plan. For more information on the meals served onboard Rocky Mountaineer, please visit the dining page.
The advantage of our train is that we are able to slow down at the most scenic areas to offer guests the best viewing and camera opportunities. We call it "picture-perfect speed" and the best camera photographic opportunities! While there are areas the train reaches up to 90 kph (60 mph), our average speed is approximately 50 kph (30 mph).
Arrival Schedule
Depending on the route and direction in which you travel, arrival in your destination ranges from late afternoon to early evening. Passenger rail travel in Canada is subject to unforeseen delays. While Rocky Mountaineer is treated as a priority by the railways it uses, occasional delays do occur. You can find information about your train schedule here.
For that reason, we recommend that you book a night’s accommodation in the arrival destination, and ask that you please do not arrange connecting transportation, including flights, on this day. Rocky Mountaineer can arrange for airport transfers and additional hotel nights and tour options at the start or end of your rail journey with advance notice.
Transportation
For all guests in Vancouver, Jasper, and Banff: Transfers between train stations and hotels need to be pre-booked. Please refer to your travel documents to see if train station transfers and luggage delivery to your hotel are included in your Rocky Mountaineer package.
For all First Passage to the West guests in Lake Louise: For guests travelling on the First Passage to the West route, we are pleased to offer complimentary motorcoach transfers between the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise Inn, Post Hotel and Spa, and the Lake Louise train station. Guest check-in is not available at the station.
For Rainforest to Gold Rush guests:
North Vancouver — Complimentary motorcoach transfers for Rainforest to Gold Rush guests are provided between select downtown Vancouver hotels and the North Vancouver Station. A specific pick-up time has been assigned based on your pick-up location. Please refer to your travel documents. Guest check-in is not available at the station.
Jasper — For guests travelling on the Rainforest to Gold Rush route, we are pleased to offer complimentary motorcoach transfers between the Jasper Station and select Jasper hotels for all of our guests.
For all guests in Kamloops, Whistler and Quesnel while travelling onboard the train: All Rocky Mountaineer guests have a complimentary motorcoach transfer booked between the train station and hotel in Kamloops and/or Whistler and Quesnel. A Rocky Mountaineer representative will provide details on pick-up times for the next morning on the way to your overnight hotel.
At the End of your Rail Journey
Depending on the route and direction in which you travel, arrival in your destination ranges from late afternoon to evening. Passenger rail travel in Canada is occasionally subject to unforeseen delays. While Rocky Mountaineer is treated as a priority on the train tracks it uses, occasional delays do occur. For that reason, please book accommodation in your arrival destination, and do not arrange connecting transportation, including flights, on this day. Rocky Mountaineer can arrange for airport transfers and additional hotel nights and tour options at the start or end of your rail journey with advance notice.
At the conclusion of your rail journey there can be long waits for taxi service. There are motorcoach transfers available for select Rocky Mountaineer partner hotels and we strongly recommend pre-purchasing your transfers at the time of booking, or 30 days prior to travel.
There are wonderful opportunities for viewing wildlife from the train and during your stay in Canada's West, including bear, elk, deer, moose, bald eagles, osprey, salmon, mountain goats and bighorn sheep. However, “wildlife are wild” and as such, sightings are never guaranteed. If you do come into contact with animals please act responsibly, maintain a safe distance and never feed any wild animals.
