A lot of people want to know what it’s like on an Amtrak Viewliner Roomette. A Viewliner Roomette is designed for two people, it has an upper and lower bunk (berth). An Amtrak Viewliner Roomette is a sleeper car accommodation. It can only be found on long haul train routes and specialty routes. While riding during the day the seats are up and at night the seats become the bottom bunk while the top bunk is simply folded down. There is a big difference between an Amtrak Viewliner and the Amtrak Superliner. So let’s jump in and break this down together.
How Comfortable Is Amtrak Roomette?
There are a lot of advantages to a roomette. One of the best perks of staying in a roomette is the privacy. You are able to sleep fairly comfortably on your overnight journey with Amtrak. It is great to be able to sit and enjoy the view in your roomette with no interruptions from those boarding or leaving the train. The same goes for your night journey, it’s a lot quieter than trying to sleep in coach on an overnight trip. You’d be surprised at how loud it can get in the middle of the night with those boarding the train or getting off. Overall, I would certainly recommend booking the roomette on an Amtrak Viewliner.
What Is An Amtrak Roomette Like?
Now that you know a roomette is comfortable you will want to know what an Amtrak roomette is like. A Viewliner Roomette is different than a Superliner Roomette in the access to the bathroom. In the Superliner Roomette you share a bathroom and shower with those in your car. In a Viewliner Roomette, you have a toilet and sink inside your roomette to use as you please. It is a bit tight but it’s certainly doable. There is a bit more room on the Viewliner Roomette than the Superliner Roomette.
What Do You Get With A Roomette On Amtrak?
You get a lot of perks when staying in a sleeper car accommodation on Amtrak. As I mentioned above, you get your own toilet and sink inside your roomette, you only have to share the shower. Your meals are included with your sleeper car accommodations, as well as your drinks and even one alcoholic beverage per ride (not per day). If you want additional meals you can always purchase meals or snacks at the cafe. You also get an attendant for your car to help you with anything you may need during your journey. They will also make the beds for you if you have trouble doing it on your own.
Do Roomettes Have Toilets?
Yes, Viewliner Roomettes have toilets in them. The next question is about how you deal with privacy when going to the bathroom in a roomette. It is certainly a bit different when you have to go to the bathroom and the other person is in the roomette, you can simply step out of the roomette while your travel partner uses the restroom. At night it is a bit tricky as one person will be sleeping on the bottom bunk while the other person is using the bathroom. This is not as awkward if your travel partner is someone you know well or have been married to for a long time.
Tips For Riding In An Amtrak Roomette
There are several things to consider when riding in an Amtrak Roomette. You want to be sure you don’ t bring too much on board for your carry on items. There is some storage in the Viewliner Roomette about as much as in coach but not much. You don’t need to bring a towel with you if you plan to shower, those are provided. The attendant provides a great service, you should consider tipping them. We usually tip around $5-10 per person per night, sometimes more if warranted. Your meals are provided but you can bring snacks with you if you like to snack in between meals or late at night when the dining car and cafe are closed.
What It’s Like In An Amtrak Viewliner Roomette
A Viewliner Roomette is one of the sleeper car accommodations. It has a lot to offer. It is different than the Superliner Roomette. You will have your own toilet and sink but you will still be sharing a shower with your sleeper car mates. It is one of the accommodations we use the most while traveling on Amtrak. You get a nice quiet space to enjoy the ride to your destination. Be on the look out for the BOGO (buy one get one free) offer from Amtrak to save some money on sleeper car accommodations.
