Superliner vs. Viewliner Bedroom
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I prefer the Viewliner Roomette as I usually travel alone. If Mrs Shanghai is with me, we get a bedroom. I didn't realize that with the exception of Bedroom A on the Superliner, there is any difference in the Viewliner or Superliner bedrooms.
Viewliners are nice because of the higher ceilings and upper bunk windows. However, the single level design means fewer bedrooms per car thus they're harder to get.
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printman2000
Engineer
Not sure I understand how anyone would say they prefer a roomette over a bedroom. Even if alone, why would you not prefer a bedroom if cost is not a consideration.
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i know the viewliners are nice, have ridden in Bedroom B and a suite a & b on the Meteor (97-98-PHL-ORLANDO) and 91-92 PHL-ORLANDO
never been on a superliner, excited to see what its like, ive heard that they ride better than viewliners is this true?
never been on a superliner, excited to see what its like, ive heard that they ride better than viewliners is this true?
the_traveler
Engineer
I like the Viewliner (either bedroom or roomette) for the upper level window, but I thing overall, I like the Superliner bedroom best, (except for Bedroom A)!
Yes!
Because not everyone can afford bedrooms? Hell, not everyone can even afford any sort of sleeping car accommodation.
printman2000
Engineer
I assumed the poll was asking which you PREFER. It does not say which you normally travel in or which you can afford.
Surely the one you prefer to travel in is the one you can afford to travel in...I mean, if it's a matter of bedroom/roomette, than all things being equal, you'd prefer the bedroom (I assume, I've never actually been able to afford one), but if that's beyond your financial means, than you're left to choose between not traveling and traveling in a roomette, and I think everyone here would choose the latter.
printman2000
Engineer
I disagree. I PREFER to drive a Ferrari, but all I can afford is a pickup. Does that mean I prefer a truck?
I PREFER to be in a bedroom, but all I can afford is a roomette. I would PREFER to be in a bedroom everytime, but cannot afford it.
had8ley
Engineer
I'm going to have to vote for the H room on Viewliners...it's probably the worse room on Superliners (the upper bunk was designed for Twiggy) but the best on V'liners; the room can easily hold three people on the couch and one in a folding chair (which you must now supply) and the bathroom has its own shower that you can actually move around in. The room is accessible to revenue pax 15 days out from train day and the room can only be reserved through Amtrak reservation agents. I personally like it because the vestibule is right in front of the door and I'm usually right next to the diner. You have to go the length of the car to reach coffee and juice though.
hhswami
Train Attendant
I specifically would, if cost and availability were never an issue, choose either lower level bedroom on a Superliner, simply because there are windows on both sides of the room.
had8ley
Engineer
The only rooms that have windows on both sides of a Superliner, downstairs or upstairs, are the Family Room (enormously expensive at times) and the Accessible Room (only available 15 days out if unreserved).There are four roomettes downstairs with one sided window access.The Viewliner has no double sided window rooms.
That's not quite correct. If all the Bedrooms are sold out and you're within the 15 day window, the H room will show up on the online system as a Bedroom. There is no easy indication to the user that you're actually booking the H room however. Back under the old website there was a subtle clue, if you knew what to look for, that you were booking the H room. But the new site no longer provides that clue.
had8ley
Engineer
You're absolutely correct Alan, but with the way sleepers are selling out these days the chances are fairly good that the H might be open while the rest of the bedrooms(all two in the case of the Viewliners) are gone. A call to Riverside or Chicago should clarify exactly what bedroom you're booking I would think...which brings up another question...does it have to be all sleeping rooms that are sold out or just the bedrooms (including the family room on the Superliners) ???
TransitGeek
Service Attendant
I'm kind of with everyone else here. I'd prefer, if cost weren't an issue, a bedroom- hell, I'd prefer a private car with a dome and a chef!- but usually I travel in coach. And I'd rather spend $1000 on a rail pass and ride around for a month than a bedroom one-way from here to Chicago. (Looking forward to my first sleeper this summer on the Crescent!)
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ColdRain&Snow
Lead Service Attendant
When traveling alone, I definitely prefer a roomette for the sole reason that I am not left wondering if I will be stuck sitting in a rather uncomfortable chair to face forward should the car be oriented that way. With a roomette, you're guaranteed to have a nice large seat facing forward every time. The bedroom chairs are not horrible, but they also leave a lot to be desired, especially on a long trip such as taking 5/6 origin to terminus.
I have never had a roomette in a viewliner. I do prefer a roomette in a superliner because of he bed orientation. I prefer lying alongside the window and looking out as I drift out to sleep. I also find the side to side over the head to toe swaying.
Bierboy
OBS Chief
Roomettes on the Viewliners also have the beds oriented that way...plus there's a window above and below...
printman2000
Engineer
So you are willing to give up a lot of extra space and your own bathroom just for bed orientation? Not saying it is not true, I just find that surprising.
I too prefer the bed orientation in a roomette, but I would gladly give that up for the space of a bedroom.
printman2000
Engineer
I hear ya on that one. The chair is bad. However, personally, I could live sitting on the couch riding backwards to have all that extra space and my own bathroom.
This is my position as well. I also find that I can arrange my computer
and devices better in the roomette layout than in the bedroom. I don't
like riding backwards for long periods of time.
VentureForth
Engineer
Having been in both a Viewliner and Superliner roomette on the same trip this past weekend, here are my observations:
1) I really prefer a community restroom as opposed to an in-room toilet. Just not enough room to maneuver, and really annoying if you're travelling with someone. Superliner +1
2) Upper window is a huge plus and the additional baggage storage bin large enough to stow away a small child is great. Viewliner +1
3) TWO power outlets are always better than one. Especially when they are more convenient to the work table. Superliner +1
4) Closet has the appearance of being more secure than an open hook. But at barely 4" wide, it really can't hold much. The additional bulkhead and closet door are really unncecessary. Viewliner +1
5) In the whole car itself, the Superliner has 14 roomettes, 5 bedrooms, a Family bedroom, and an "H" room. The Viewliner has 12 roomettes, 2 bedrooms, no additional family bedroom and an "H" room. Superliner +1 (actually can accomodate up to 14 more revenue passengers)
6) Showers were comparable.
Adding up the above points, I get Superliner: 3, Viewliner: 2. Overall, despite the larger headroom and extra storage capacity, I felt that the seats on the Superliner were a bit (if only by inches) larger than the Viewliner roomette. But no complaints on either, really. They both fit the bill. Frankly, I didn't see where the Viewliners were in such desparate need of replacement. If they want to ADD to the numbers, by all means do so, but it's not time to start scrapping these guys. They seem to have a lot of life left.
1) I really prefer a community restroom as opposed to an in-room toilet. Just not enough room to maneuver, and really annoying if you're travelling with someone. Superliner +1
2) Upper window is a huge plus and the additional baggage storage bin large enough to stow away a small child is great. Viewliner +1
3) TWO power outlets are always better than one. Especially when they are more convenient to the work table. Superliner +1
4) Closet has the appearance of being more secure than an open hook. But at barely 4" wide, it really can't hold much. The additional bulkhead and closet door are really unncecessary. Viewliner +1
5) In the whole car itself, the Superliner has 14 roomettes, 5 bedrooms, a Family bedroom, and an "H" room. The Viewliner has 12 roomettes, 2 bedrooms, no additional family bedroom and an "H" room. Superliner +1 (actually can accomodate up to 14 more revenue passengers)
6) Showers were comparable.
Adding up the above points, I get Superliner: 3, Viewliner: 2. Overall, despite the larger headroom and extra storage capacity, I felt that the seats on the Superliner were a bit (if only by inches) larger than the Viewliner roomette. But no complaints on either, really. They both fit the bill. Frankly, I didn't see where the Viewliners were in such desparate need of replacement. If they want to ADD to the numbers, by all means do so, but it's not time to start scrapping these guys. They seem to have a lot of life left.
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