First Time Crescent Trip

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Etw1701

Joined
Nov 24, 2004
Messages
1
Hi,

First off, what a great forum!! I have been sitting here for two hours looking through old posts and found a lot of information. Was not able to find some info and was wondering if anybody could help me.

We are planning to take the Crescent Route from New Orleans to New York and back again next year during the Christmas Season to experience Christmas is New York. We are going to invest in the Deluxe Bedroom or as it is now called (I think) the Viewliner Bedroom. My concern is, is that my girlfriend and I are not the smallest people in the world and we were wondering how comfortable this would be for larger people. From the pictures I have seen on the net and in forums everything looks like it will be ok but I am concerned about one of us getting in the top bunk. Are the easy to get up into for larger people? Will it hold?

Thanks for any info in advance!!!

Eric
 
I am not sure of whether you can do this or not, but seemingly because you are boarding in NOL, and that is a terminal point for that train. You could try going down to the station in NOL prior to booking your trip, and request someone to escort you out to the train (prior to its boarding call that is) and have a "looksie" for yourself. Usually they spot the train in the terminal station at least 30 minutes prior to departure. I have had folks in MIA and NYC who were escorted down to have a look at the train in the past, though not in a while. However, I am not not sure now due to security concerns we face these days. But it may be worth the try to call NOL station and ask.

As for my opinion (being I work these sleepers some) you should be fine in the larger Viewliner bedroom. It can sleep 'comfortably" two average size adults with two smaller children. If just the two of you are going you should have plenty of room. Just watch you carry on baggage size closely. There isn't much room to store your stuff! You do have an enclosed bathroom with a combined shower, but it might be quite tight if y'all are larger than average. Also, you will get your meals in the dining car included in the fare as well as other small amenities in the car itself. My advice is to ask a questions, and become familar with the situation as the travel industry can be/and is a complex industry as a whole. Good luck and hope you have a good trip (should you decide to go)! You are chosing a fine train for your trip to NYC! OBS..........
 
As to the possibility of the upper bed not holding one of you: one of the first things I noticed when I started riding around on passenger trains in the U.S. (I’m recently from Europe) is how stout and over-built everything is on the trains. Nothing will collapse under you.

I suppose the only source is discomfort for large people may be the showers in the Deluxe Bedroom (now called simply the “bedroom” as distinguished from the “roomette”) on the Viewliner. I suppose your discomfort depends on how large you folks really are. Someone in this forum may have the exact dimensions of the shower/toilet (it’s all one contraption) from which you could construct a cardboard replica for testing in the privacy of your home. Sadly, I can’t offer anything to say to visitors to your home who may inquire about the purpose of the cardboard replica.
 
I think you will be fine in what used to be called a deluxe bedroom, guess it is just "bedroom" now. You definately do not want a "roomette" or what until Nov. 1 was called a "standard bedroom."

Getting into the shower and toilet can be a tight squeeze(I am not the smallest person in the world either) but you will find that the chair is moveable and that will help to open the door into the shower/toilet all the way.
 
I see that Amtrak watcher was responding to this at the same time as I and we both took on the shower/toilet issue.

Just to clarify, For myself I have no problem BEING IN the shower/ toilet, it is the GETTING in that can be a problem.

Why?

Because the chair is right in the way partially blocking the door. So just slide the chair over.

I have slept in an "upper" but it has been years. I do not remember it being any particular problem. It is quite sound strucurally, If you have a fear of climbing up, just do so when the train is at a stop. I traveled with my ordinary-sized but handicapped mother a few years ago and we did things "when the train was stopped in a station" as much as possible.
 
As others have already mentioned, the upper bunk is quite sturdy so I wouldn't worry about that. Additionally a ladder is provided to assist your climbing into the upper bunk.

I also wouldn't worry too much about the size of your luggage. As long as it conforms to Amtrak's rules & regulations and you don't exceed the quota of 2 per person you'll be find. The deluxe room has room for one medium sized bag in the cubbyhole over the hall, at least one bag can be squeezed under the couch, and two or three bags can easily be placed on top of the shower/sink unit.

The chair that Bill mentioned is easy to solve. Just ask your attendant to fold it up and slid it under the couch.

The only concern that I have would be the bathroom itself. Since you mention that you guys are on the large size, that could be a problem depending on just how large. My guess is that someone who weighs more than 275 might have a hard time fitting into the combo toilet/shower. Think of a telephone booth like Superman used to change in and you'll have a good idea of the size of this unit.

If you do think that the above will be a problem for you, then I would highly recommend calling Amtrak to make your reservation and ask for the Handicapped room, as this bedroom provides a larger area for the toilet. You can only get this room however by calling or visiting the station, you cannot book the Handicapped room via the online site.
 

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