Via Rail The Canadian All Rooms Reviewed

[@douglasstruthers8307]

"Sleeper Class" (Cabin for 2, Cabin for 1, Upper & Lower berths) includes all meals which are made fresh on the train and are excellent and change as you cross the country. I recommend traveling in to "off season" when "Sleeper Class" passengers have near-full access to the Park Dome care at the end of the train, sharing the car with the high-valued "Prestige Class" passengers. The Park Dome car has an upper dome, lower lounge, and the rounded "bullet" lounge at the very end of the car. They have been renovated beautifully and have great views. The Cabin for 1 also known traditionally as a "Roomette" is great for solo travelers. Roomettes do have their own toilet & sink and have more privacy than Upper & Lower berths. Upper berths do not have windows.

[@BrowneyedGirlmjd]

Thank you for the great suggestions!

[@ODUCKSFAN1]

How much is the fare for a couple from edmonton to Toronto

[@yaoyangliu8019]

You forgot "no electronic outlets "😂

[@janrochester3000]

The upper lower berths remind me of riding trains in the 50s and 60s. I miss the "heavy weight" passenger cars. This was a super video. Thank you.

[@unityoc]

Thanks for this info, very helpful. How does VIA Rail define the offseason? Planning a trip for start of April which could fall into either the end of off season or start of high season.

[@amantastic]

Long term Amtrak rider here, I just booked Prestige on VIA in April and it was only 3600 USD, honestly compared to a bedroom on a western Amtrak route at the current prices, this is a steal, and it’s 4 nights. I understand Prestige class gets all free beverages, including alcoholic, has a concierge, an in room bathroom, wet bar, large picture window, and tv. Also appetizers with meals, turn down service, and reserved dome seating. I’m looking forward to it! Of course riding in a bedroom on the Builder to Seattle and Cascades to Vancouver. 🚂

[@randall8379]

Sounds enormously expensive to me! I can cross the Atlantic (seven nights) on the Queen Mary 2 in a cabin with a balcony for $3,500 with all meals included, even room service! A cabin without a balcony costs a lot less.

[@amantastic]

Oh, gosh, it’s expensive for sure, but I’m used to Amtrak, where a bedroom on the Empire builder is running more than 2,000 one way, with no dome cars, plastic dishes, and no where near the quality of food, it’s also only two nights. Queen Mary 2 is on my bucket list!!

[@randall8379]

@@amantastic I can't justify prices like those for a few nights on a train. Queen Mary transatlantic is another experience. Make sure you bring nice clothes. There is a dress code in the Brittania and Grill restaurants.

[@amantastic]

I’m sure I’ll only ride this train once as my bucket list is long and years are short! Thanks for the tip! 🥂

[@shanson786]

Be aware that the Prestige room bed when set up for sleeping has one side against the wall; this requires either crawling over your partner or getting out at the foot of the bed.

[@raygunsforronnie847]

I recall upper/lower berth accommodations on Sante Fe's Chief when my parents traveled. I remember this only once, and after we had a roomette (I was pre-kindergarten age), and when AMTRAK took over, we had a bedroom once. The vistas from the observation/dome cars, the Fred Harvey-staffed dining car meals, the friendly and knowledgeable Pullman porters, all created incredible memories I cherish to this day. I hope to repeat some of those journeys before I'm unable to. Thanks for the info about The Canadian, it sounds like a great tripi!

[@lelandrogers1078]

The upper/lower sounds like the old sleeper cars you see in the old movies where everyone is in a bunk behind a curtain.

[@davidlisowski5245]

They basically are as they were still in demand when the cars were built. When the Canadian was launched, it also included older cars made up entirely of berths as cheaper accommodations. They were dressed up with stainless steel to match the rest of the train but retained their old style roofs.

[@NadesikoRose]

I wear a sleep mask to bed and it helps a lot with the light that sneaks through the curtains and other places, I also have a pair of noise-canceling headphones that I sometimes carry with me when traveling

[@magician2166]

FYI, THE PARK CAR is reserved only for Prestige guests between 6:00am and 4:00pm. The crew might have allowed you to sit there since you traveled in the winter, but no, the Park Car can not be used by everyone at any time. I have a photo of the sign that states exactly that. We traveled in the cabin for two in the summer and we were not allowed into the Park car between above mentioned hours.

[@BrianPeters-k2c]

The Park car is available to ALL sleeping car passengers in the slow season. The forward 8 or 12 seats are reserved for Prestige passengers(sometimes there are very few Prestige passengers). The remaining 12 seats are open to sleeping car passengers and may use these seats from 4pm-midnight during summer season..

[@shanson786]

Good review of the sleepers. Two points: adjacent Cabins for 2 can be reserved as a suite with the partition slid back, allowing a family to be together, or for two persons each to sleep in a lower bed. And there IS a coach ("Economy") option available, but those passengers do not have diner access, only snack bar. And four days in a coach seat is not the best sleeping option.😮

[@Petemonster62]

The last car in the train with the rounded end, they used to be known as an "Observation Car". The Park Dome car would have been classified as a "Dome-Observation" since it also has an upper level with a dome top.

[@marcelvandenbosch3656]

Thank you so much for this informative video. I enjoy all of your travel videos. This one specifically helped me to decide whether to book a one person room or the bunk berth. I agree with you, there is so much to do on the train and so little time to spend in the room that it makes more sense to book the cheaper bunk berth. Thanks again for all you contribute!

[@DChatburn1]

Thanks, I enjoyed the video and subscribed to your channel. I am taking the Canadian in October of 2024 from Toronto to Vancouver, in a solo cabin. I have done a lot of long distance train travel, so I am looking forward to this adventure. I most recently took the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth (in May 2024). In the US I have traveled the Empire Builder, City of New Orleans, California Zepher, the Coast Starlight, the Southwest Chief, and the Silver Star. In South Africa I took the Blue train from Johannesburg to Cape Town. I love train travel. It is a relaxing way to see the sights but sadly, there are almost no afordable luxury train adventures left. I was looking into the Orient Express from London to Istanbul, and it is over $20,000 - way out of my price range.

[@amdelorey]

Thanks for this detail. We leave shortly with a cabin for 2 and look forward to it!

[@Classroom205]

Ok guys. I'm sold. I just booked upper/lower berth for next winter using the 40% sale on now. I don't love the idea of sleeping with just a curtain separating us from strangers but we trust what you say and I booked my husband and I in section 3. Thanks for your detailed trip reports!

[@BrianPeters-k2c]

Roomettes have curtains AND DOORS. The beds easily lift up if you wish to use the toilet during the night. Lower berths are the most comfortable bed on the train. It is the widest bed and the longest bed. The Park car is more restricted in the high season and is (open 24 hours) not restricted in the low season. Except for very unusual occasions, the Park car is open to ALL sleeping car passengers from 4pm to midnight during the high season. The dining car is infinitely better than anything that I've tried on Amtrak. Nothing is pre-packaged. Everything is specifically made to order by a Chef and Sous Chef for each passenger. There are usually 4 options for dinner and they are different every evening, including soup/salad and dessert. If you'd like soup and/or salad or more vegetables, just ask your server. All white linens and napkins, full set of real cutlery, several glasses for beverages. Alcohol is also available for lunch and dinner. Shopping for value on TUESDAYs is your best option to get a better deal or any of the regular sales that occur throughout the year (off season is always less).

[@bunnybecki]

The prestige cabins have tv’s, private in cabin bathroom with showers. Which none of the other class options offer. Plus you have a concierge and unlimited drink options and early access to the park car and reserved dome seating. It might be a lot more than the other options but you get so much more.

[@hlw1306]

I've typically trained 150 to 300 miles with Amtrak on Western routes. I'm always bummed by dirty windows. I wish they had someone ready to spray off the dirt at stations. Or an overhead train wash similar to automated car washes as the train slowly comes into key stations.

[@phronsiekeys]

Is the "park car" that fancy streamlined car at the end of the train? If so, when I took the Canadian it was booked by a private tour and we compartment passengers didn't have access to it. I never even got to see it. I found that annoying. Otherwise this was one of the best vacations I ever had. I took a single room and actually spent most of my time IN the room, looking at the fascinating scenery (well for someone who hasn't been to the high plains). I moved to the observation car for the Rockies, for sure. The upper lower bunks always remind me of "Some Like It Hot." That used to be a common way to travel. It's impossible for me to imagine that most Americans would be willing to travel that way (so good for you), unless they were into the novelty.

[@maysmith4906]

That happened to use once when it was some big VIA anniversary and various federal government officials were on board with media. They had also added a fancy train car I had never seen before and I'd have gone completely across Canada many times. I snuck in of course to check it out. It was like a 1920s lounge / bar car: so interesting!

[@nickimontie]

Maybe I missed it, but how much storage do you get in the upper/lower room?

[@sjlcanada]

under the seats pretty much. you can put a small luggage and a small backpack

[@georgecarlson1460]

The sections (upper/lower berth) have no power outlet! If you have a CPAP machine (or other nighttime support equipment) they are non-starters.

[@jcif2468]

So the way to go for CPAP users would be the single or double cabin or prestige, correct? Still learning the train terminology but very much want to do this for a retirement celebration trip. But can only do if I can plug in my CPAP.

[@strawberryqueen3394]

Gurl yall are really living i can't wait till my time comes

[@croberts709]

If you're doing the full trip from Vancouver to Toronto or vice versa I honestly can't see doing it in those upper/lower berths. Maybe if you're breaking up the trip or only on for a night or so but I couldn't do 4 nights. Also, are you sure berth passengers have access to the Park Car? I don't remember that from our trip. I thought you had to be in a room. We had a cabin for two, that happened to be at the back of the train by the Park Car. On our trip there were folks who kept their lower bed intact for the whole day, it wasn't a good look. I do agree that you will not be in your room as much as with Amtrak. We hung out in the Park car all day.

[@youdontknowme5969]

the Dome Car tho 😍

[@GroundedLifeTravel]

It's amazing!

[@mgrizz2386]

Another perk with the sleeper berth, you are rocked side to side when sleeping, rather than head to to with a bedroom. My favourite is the lower berth. Only drawback is that it needs outlets.

[@kerrybutcher283]

I am going on this train next year in lower. Where or how did you charge your devices?

[@BrianPeters-k2c]

All of the Dome Lounge areas have charging stations and all bedrooms and roomettes have power.@@kerrybutcher283

[@bettydillingham1498]

I’m really interested in learning all I can about the Via Rail cabins. I’ve been checking out the cabin for 2 as well as the upper/lower berths for my husband and me in April 2025. In doing research, I watched an informative video showing a Via Rail employee setting up the upper/lower berth for the night. She did a magnificent job and I was impressed with how comfy the berths looked. However, for most of the process you could hear a wailing baby in the background. There would be NO sleep with that racket going on. Paying extra and having peace and quiet at night is priceless to us so I’m discarding the notion of anything but the cabin for 2.

[@greeneggslamb9336]

Seems you're no longer solo traveling with the upper/lower berth. Not so much because of the sleeping arrangements, but more so the "sitting" arrangements. It would be awkward for me to sit and face someone for so long. And who gets to sit facing the direction of the train (my preference)? It would be a challenge to retreat to some alone time on the train without always feeling obligated to converse with strangers.

[@jenniferkneller1228]

Also don't forget there are zero power outlets in the berths. You have to plug your stuff either in the hallway or a bathroom.

[@maysmith4906]

Good call! I definitely need to plug in my stuff: thanks!

[@marywagner63]

I just love your videos!!

[@kskssxoxskskss2189]

How many nights for the quoted priced, and did they include meals? If so, how did you like the meals?

[@phronsiekeys]

The rooms include meals. They are old fashioned but good, considering they are cooked on a train.

[@TypoKnig]

The Via Rail website says the Canadian is 4 days and 4 nights, going between Toronto and Vancouver.

[@jackieheidorn5875]

So in the cabin for two room the toilet is blocked during the night? Seems a waste.

[@amdelorey]

They are talking about the cabin for 1.

[@shanson786]

The Cabin for 2 bathroom is NOT blocked at night.

[@michelletoth9125]

cabin for 2 has a whole separate bathroom space!!!!

[@unityoc]

Great video! FYI 2 x single cabins are not always cheaper than 1 x double cabin, I've seen them go for the same price or even slightly higher, depending on the route and dates.

[@EricJ317]

Hi guys, I was curious about tipping on the Canadian. I will be on the train in December in a cabin for 2. Did you tip your car attendant? Did you tip in the dinning car? If so, did you use Canadian currency?

[@OriharaKaoru]

I was like "how much more can the Prestige possibly be? Maybe an extra $1000?" You guys: "You're looking at 12-14 THOUSAND dollars" oh my god what??

[@ginnyghezzo1368]

Thanks! Question: Where can you charge your gadgets if you get the Berths? Trying to see if I want to pay 2x for an outlet

[@greeneggslamb9336]

How does the berth work with snoring? I would definitely be self-conscious about people hearing me snore as well as being concerned about not being able to sleep due to someone else snoring. Should people who snore get a cabin with a door?

[@lindacarr314]

Have you ever had trouble with someone going through your belongings if you just have them stored in a room or berth with no locking door?

[@notconvincedgranny6573]

Don't really want to sleep with a stranger in the room...

[@RaymondMcNamaraJr]

When i get my passport i want to try this and love no transfers it goes straight from East to west versus Amtrak have to transfer in Chicago for that

[@franciaalmonte9321]

I take the lower level is it very good deal ❤❤

[@barbaralienhard3490]

I was curious about where you store your carryon in the upper and lower berths and also in the cabin for 2? The upper and lower looks like an option for us but not having carryon/backpack space is not a good option. Also, are their power outlets in the Park and Dome cars?

[@SD.Ligia22]

Great review, thank you! Quick question, do the cabins for one not have a door either, even with a toilet in there?

[@cjmatthews2002]

I have noticed you never talk about handicap with Amtrak or the Candra train. Why is that?

[@michelletoth9125]

I don't think these trains accommodate for that. They have pretty narrow hallways and the rooms are too small for a wheelchair. Just not the right train.

[@harps1974]

I will be travelling on the Canadian in June… Question do you know Car 10 means on your ticket? I am used to coach 110 or 113

[@michelletoth9125]

Hey I'm travelling in May and extremely confused too. I think there will be numbers by each car entrance, and I'm sure there are people you can ask, like the ones that help you get on.

[@harps1974]

@@michelletoth9125 Yes the porters will, but I think mine is car 10, is also 110

[@NadesikoRose]

Yeah, that is what I am thinking of booking once I have enough money saved up for the dream trip to Vancouver. Either the cabin of one or the lower bunk will do for me, the Prestige is nice but waaaayyyyy out of my price range

[@buckgirl13]

Does the Prestige Class cabin have an outlet for a sound machine? leaving in 1 week!!!

[@vickilindberg6336]

Great again. Only questions: price for cabin for one? Are there any outlets in various bed areas? Thank you.

[@kerrybutcher283]

I am going on a lower bunk next June, i was wondering where I can store my camera and pad?

[@MrJAYFAV]

I you brought up the 2 bedroom, but they are not the same. I saw another video where the man had a 2 bedroom that was very large.

[@dewflower7298]

I need my own bathroom. Wish I did not have to. That would save a lot of money.

[@drobangjungla2672]

Is there extra charge to sit in the dome car

[@michelletoth9125]

No but there are only specific times that non-prestige folks can be in there.

[@leed206]

Hi guys are there shower, toilet in the prestige plse?

[@JoebDragon]

prestige includes all drinks

[@shanson786]

Yes, en suite toilet and shower.

[@merc340sr]

Cabin for one is a little bit snug. If you can, get a cabin for 2. Lower berth is nice too, but I found that I sweat a lot and the bed feels damp. Either, I'm overweight, or mattress is too thin and doesn't breathe...If top berth is vacant, ask for a double mattress. Even if I could afford it, I wouldn't go Prestige Class. Ridiculously overpriced!

[@randall8379]

BERTH, not bunk!

[@cindygibbs1724]

About $12,000 for this room.

[@Sb-ff7mm]

Are you listening to yourself going round and round what is the prices?……..

[@jameskubajak8489]

So the uppers are lower! 🤣🥸

[@eugslat8184]

Love to go but they charge way too much for retired people with fixed income. We need comfort at this age. Nothing changed much in the last couple decades to justify their greed. F em!

[@BrowneyedGirlmjd]

Thank you for this! Since I will be travelling solo and don't really want to deal the upper / lower berth and not knowing the person in the other bunk that the Roomette is my best bet. Unless I win the lottery and then it is Prestige and Coast to Coast (and an item crossed off the bucket list). 🙂🚅🛄

[@michelletoth9125]

Have you travelled this yet? Can you say anything about it?