markeb

It looks like all non-Acela business class is refundable, but check the fare rules! https://www.amtrak.com/planning-booking/changes-refunds/refund-and-cancellation-policy.html

No. It's really a walk up window or counter arrangement on most trains. There's a limited menu of premade hot and cold food. You won't go hungry, but it's not a 3 star restaurant. For whatever reason Amtrak has a contract with Dogfish Head and usually have their 90 Minute IPA at a "reasonable" price (maybe not at 6:20 am...). You can bring food and drinks, including alcohol, onboard. It just sounds like you're going to have a decent amount of stuff to handle, so you may not want to add to that. And if you do pay for business, you get free coffee by showing your ticket when you go to the cafe car. Most Amtrak trains are configured at around 6 (maybe 7?) cars. Depending on how its configured for direction of travel, the first (or last) car will be business for a NE Regional, the next car will be the quiet car, then a standard car, and then the Cafe Car. So from business it would be the third car back or forward. Just remember the train moves pretty fast, and in the US the tracks are shared with freight rail, so there's usually a fair amount of lateral motion as you're walking!

There’s no actual check in. You just board when they start boarding. They’ll typically check your tickets (I just use the app on my iPhone) once the train is rolling. It’s absurdly simple. For that length of time, business might be worth it. You get free coffee and soft drinks, but you have to go to the cafe car to get them. You should be able to find the cafe menu on the Amtrak site. That’s your food service. Get there 30-45 minutes early, but you may not board until 10-15 minutes before the train leaves.

You might be able to slip a pony keg through the screener... 😄

Scratch that. You're going to Newark, not NYP. It won't be a long stop, but you'll have time. At that point, it seems like most people (including me when I'm on the train) are going into Manhattan. And the conductors swap out at the next station. They'll generally take care of you, and may be able to get you a Red Cap when you get off.

Just saw this. Amtrak recommends being there a half hour before the scheduled time. I just pulled up the timetable, and it looks like 176 starts in Roanoke. Even better. They might start boarding early, but you're not standing there for the train to come in and have 2 minutes to get on. The NE Regional has quiet cars. That will either be the second car or the next to last car. No cell phone use or loud conversations. If you decide to do business for the slightly larger seat and free drinks that won't apply. Hop on, find a seat, and wait for the train to roll. There's a longer stop at NYP generally, so more time to get off and on your way.

Just looked it up on the Amtrak site and that's what I thought it would look like. It's not a short day! And looks like an early day as well, but you get on at home and get off in Newark. You do lose 30-45 minutes in DC sitting on the train while they change from a diesel engine to an electric one, but you don't have to transfer. If your option is to fly to Charlotte and connect, that's not a quick day either probably. Something to consider.

Never had an issue with any of my bags on the train. The only time anyone touches them is you ignore the signs and put them in the wheelchair area. There's an overhead rack for smaller items, and usually storage at the end of the car for larger bags. The biggest hassle is boarding without a real platform where you have to carry your bags up stairs. Don't know if Roanoke is like that. Quantico is, for instance. But if you're talking two people with a checked bag and carry-on each, shouldn't be a problem. If you're talking multiple full sized bags, that might be different...

I’m seeing this to Newark Penn. Not sure about EWR, but you don’t need the airport. Arguably the better hotels are in Newark, and you don’t have to deal with the Airtrain. It’s a long day, but something to consider.

176 & 66, apparently. Look to be direct with no changes. I’m a little surprised as well.

It’s a long day, but have you looked at Amtrak? Not sure what you’re seeing for a fare to EWR. Amtrak in the Northeast Corridor is pretty nice. Unfortunately looks like 8 hours from Roanoke to Newark, but you’re there with no connections…

Efficient, but not a pub experience I’d want. The slightly messy inefficiency is part of the charm!

It’s been a few years, but it went from bobbing cork to smooth ride when it submerged! It was a nice experience. Everything’s overpriced in Hawaii. Is it a better deal if you buy from Atlantis and arrange your own transportation? Not sure where the tender docks now. It used to be at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

I’d consider them submarines. They fully submerge, or did when we did them. If you look at the Atlantis web page, they show full submarines in Waikiki.

The $89 is before the 20% gratuity. Unless my math is failing, it's actually $106.80 (or $97.20 for the "sale" price).

Right now, with the 20% gratuity, the classic package as an add-on alone is $106.80 ($89+20%) pp/day. That's your starting point in comparing fares. Since the AI is actually a fare, the gratuity is buried in the fare. Gratuities are $17.50 for a standard cabin/$18 for concierge (AQ and Retreat are AI only at this point). Even if you don't drink alcohol, soda, water, and coffee ala carte can add up in a hurry, and the real difference between AI and CO becomes a lot smaller. You really have to do the math if you're making a price based decision...

No. They understand the law perfectly. This scenario is actually spelled out by CBP in its online documents. Two or more compliant cruises can become non compliant when put together. It’s the passenger. See the top of page 14. https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ICP Pax Vessel Services Act Apr 2010.pdf

Yeah. Had to read the CBP documents again. They do say "vessel". Much of what is written on the PVSA isn't actually in the PVSA. And it's a relatively obscure piece of law outside of cruising. I know I've seen people apply it to a company instead of the individual vessel, but that's not how the information is presented by the governing agency.

We haven't had a good PVSA discussion since Canada closed it's ports in 2021... The Act was passed in 1886. There was no cruise ship industry. Many if not most nations have similar laws that prohibit foreign carriers from transporting passengers between their ports. The same basic principle applies to air carriers in the age of air travel (US carriers generally operate to and from the US and follow on travel is via code share with a foreign carrier. Foreign carriers operate to and from the US and follow on travel in the US is via code share with a US carrier.). The PVSA actually has no language on a distant foreign port; that's an administrative interpretation written into the Code of Federal Regulations based on a fascinating ruling (involving a global cruise that included a leg from I believe San Francisco to Hawaii) in the early 20th Century. The actual act expressly prohibits transporting passenger between US ports other than by a coastal qualified vessel (basically made and flagged in the US, which brings in a lot of related but separate customs and immigration issues). Closed loop cruises are not subject to the PVSA. They're not transporting passengers from one US port to another. They make a foreign stop to qualify as a foreign journey, which allows crew visas and exemption from US taxes (again, same a US aircrew traveling around the world). And as this thread demonstrates, it's the transportation of the passenger, not the itinerary of the cruise, that determines compliance. The cruise line cannot transport a passenger between two US ports no matter how many itineraries are strung together without stopping at a non US port somewhere outside of North America.

They'd have to leave the ship in a day early in Victoria. Which may be what Celebrity is actually suggesting. Then the three legs would become Honolulu to Victoria, which is not a PVSA violation. Just stopping in Victoria doesn't solve the issue.

Apparently Eritrea. I saw one list that had North Korea on it. But that's about it. Didn't know that until this thread...

For some of your questions: Acela is faster and somewhat more comfortable. You don't need First Class and it's pretty expensive. Never done it. You do get meal service, and I think you're met by a porter for luggage assistance. But it is pricey... One advantage to Acela is you can reserve your seat. You can't do that on the NE Regional. But the NE Regional is typically much less expensive if booked early; the prices can get a lot more similar closer to travel. Amtrak trains have quiet cars. Unless you plan an being on your cell phone the whole trip, go for the quiet car... (No cell phone use, conversation at a whisper, electronics on headphones or muted, etc.) At the manned stations (Boston and NYP), there are porters/red caps. Request one. Have a $5 or $10 bill handy when they get you on the train. At NYP, they'll board you early. I assume the same in BOS, but haven't done that. If you need assistance getting your bags off the train, tell the conductor. You really just need to get to the train station in time to board, but if you haven't done this before, be a little early. The new Moynihan Train Hall in New York is wonderful, but it's big and "maybe" just a bit confusing. There's an Amtrak waiting area, which is where you'll find the red caps. Generally speaking it's a very pleasant experience. And you won't have to get to La Guardia when you're so close to Penn Station!

Kind of depends on your experience and tastes. They do a nice job, and the events are generally well run. If you have membership at multiple Napa/Sonoma/Columbia Valley wineries the wine tastings are going to be OK at best. But they do very well with what they have. Same for the whisky tastings. If you’re very familiar with Highland and Speyside Scotch, you can lead the tasting. But if you want a nice introduction to The Macallan, it’s a nice experience. The world wine tasting (I think that he name) was a lot of fun, and you get a chance to experience the different backgrounds and expect of the sommeliers. I’d unequivocally recommend that event.

Ignore the promotion and just look at the final price. Are you comfortable with it? I'm not quite as convinced as others that X is simply going through blatant price manipulation (just raise the first passenger fare so that the 75% off is the same as two at 100%). Eventually that gets you in trouble (see the various lawsuits against Jos. A. Bank for "always being on sale"...). But the real question is whether the price you're seeing is acceptable to you. If it is, book it, maybe check back every month or so for a price decrease (recognizing that the new price is likely different enough that you won't get the same deal), but otherwise forget it and enjoy the cruise. You paid a price you were happy with! (No, for those about to pounce, I'm not saying pay a clearly crazy price. I'm saying the sale is meaningless. The only thing that matter is whether you're OK with your own real after discount fare!)

Fuel. Read their 10-K. Food and fuel. And interest on their debt. Employee compensation is way down on their list of expenses.