Now there’s a less expensive option to travel overnight to and from Florida.
If you’ve never taken an overnight sleeper aboard Amtrak between New York and Miami, you are missing one of the most interesting, fun and relaxing ways to travel along the eastern seaboard. But for many, the price of a compartment on Amtrak sleeping cars to Florida is too steep. To make it more affordable, Amtrak has initiated a pilot program to address that issue. How?
Say “Goodbye” to the dining car on the Silver Star.
Starting July 1, 2015 through the end of January 2016, the Amtrak Silver Star (Trains 91 and 92) which runs between Miami and New York City via Tampa, Orlando, Washington DC and Columbia SC, will lose the dining car. Because the complimentary meals for first class sleeping car passengers was included into the fare, prices for a sleeper were usually high. Cost prohibitive for many.
Instead of the full service dining car, the Silver Star will continue to have their traditional Café/Lounge car, available to all passengers whether in coach or sleeping cars.
Café/Lounge Car Menu.
The savings for a sleeper on the Silver Star without the dining car runs about 25% to 28% of the original cost. This translates to about $140 lower for a deluxe bedroom and $65 less for a roomette. I did a few random price checks and it seemed even lower than those numbers. But you will have to pay for your meals.
Passengers who choose a bedroom or roomette aboard the Silver Star will continue to receive complimentary bottled water, coffee, juice and of course, turn-down service at bedtime. Silver Star guests can also ask their car attendant for room service (from the Café/Lounge Car) free of charge.
Silver Meteor will keep the Dining Car
For those who choose to spend a little more for their accommodations, the Silver Meteor will continue to operate the dining car as always and meals will still be included in the cost of the accommodation fare. The Silver Meteor follows much of the same track as the Silver Star, but doesn’t veer west between Miami and Tampa. Instead, the train travels up the east side of Florida until the tracks slowly head westward towards Orlando and onto Jacksonville, Savannah and Washington, DC to New York City.
Only passengers on the Silver Star are affected by this pilot program. If this new concept enables more people to stretch out and sleep in comfort on their journey, then it’s a good thing. As long as the Silver Meteor keeps the dining car, the tradition of dinner in the diner (plus breakfast and lunch, too) will attract those who love the experience and don’t mind paying a little more for it.
There’s something special about full-service dining aboard Amtrak. You meet new people at a community-seating table, watch America’s spectacular scenery roll by or simply pass the time until you reach your destination. For me, Amtrak sleeping cars to Florida, with or without a dining car, sure beats flying any day. It’s 20-ish hours to decompress from the workaday world.
I’m the editor and creator of CruiseMaven.com, a solo traveler cruising the world on waves and wheels, collecting recipes along the way. I hope my articles and photos entertain, advise and inspire you to travel the world without flying. Take a breath…stop for a local meal and a glass of wine along the way.
Sherry Kennedy says
Hi Debra,
Thank you for reading my article. I hope I can put your mind at ease. From your comment, I think you are trying to book your Amtrak reservation online. There is an option to request “Round-trip” and the button to check for that is located in two places. The first is on the Amtrak.com home page and the Round-trip button is located right next to the One Way button, in the gray colored bar in the middle of the page. But it is not always easy to see so please look carefully. The request for Round-trip is also located on the second page that you are taken to, after you input your travel information on the home page and click Find Trains.
If you are still having a problem, you can phone Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245). When the recording begins and you hear, “Hi This is Julie” simply start repeating “Agent” – give Julie a chance to question what you’ve said and repeat “Agent”. Julie will say, “I think you want to speak with an Agent. Is that correct?” Repeat “Agent” or say yes. Either way you will soon be connected to an Amtrak agent and then you can make your reservation over the phone. You will also have the opportunity to reserve your sleeping compartment, if you want.
When you arrive at Penn Station, you can ask your train conductor or sleeping car attendant to request Red Cap assistance (please tip the Red Cap man), and he will take you and your luggage upstairs to the taxi queue. Well worth the $5 or so to get you to the taxis, especially at a train station that is unfamiliar to you.
I hope this is helpful. Have a wonderful trip with your daughter.
Sherry
Debra Crum says
This will be my first Amtrak trip from Florida to New York. However, I don’t understand the scheduling. I click on round trip…it shows the departure time and day, but doesn’t show the return trip? Also the price of the one way is the same for the round trip…is this accurate?
This will be a trip with my 16 year old daughter for her birthday. I hate to fly…just so scared..I can’t do it. But I love trains. But I am scared I will get to New York City (only been there one time in my teens) and get scared I am going to be stranded in New York because there is no departure times for this train trip.
Sherry Kennedy says
Hi Sylvia,
So nice to read your positive email about train travel! I totally agree…and I haven’t been on a plane in 25 years! Thanks for reading and leaving your comment! Sherry
Sylvia Marlow says
Son and family in NJ and us in FL. Just drove back – 20 exhausting hours, so next time (even if husband’s arm needs twisting) it’s the train. We already crossed Australia and Canada by train and even though he won’t admit it, we loved it.) We live in Europe in the summer and the French TGV bullet train is brilliant. Flying has become horrendous, with all the hours wasted by security checks and the cramped conditions on board so give me a train any day.
Sherry Kennedy says
Hi Laverne,
Thank you for your comment and kind words. Lucky you to be able to have traveled the IC with your great grandfather. Enjoy your next train journey!
Laverne Morrow Carter says
Thanks. Just started reading your blog. Love it. I have been riding trains since I was 3 years old (61 now). My great grandfather worked for the Illinois Central Railroad and we had rail passes for regular journeys from Illinois to Mississippi on the passenger train. So for me, it is nostalgic. Thanks for the update on the dining car. I plan to travel from Virginia to Florida (en sleeper of course) in late August.
Sherry Kennedy says
Thanks, Joan. Glad the info was helpful and have a great Amtrak trip!
Joan Melim says
I am planning my first Amtrak trip this summer and all the information was extremely helpful. Thanks!