Questions are about Amtrak ticket.

Few questions about Amtrak Sleepers - sleeping and dining?

• I'm going on a 4 day journey on Amtrak (New York to Los Angeles via Chicago layover), if you have travelled in an Amtrak Sleeper, how easy is it to sleep lol? I mean I'm kinda worried I'll fall out of the bed lol with the rocking and rolling of the train .. sounds silly but lol ... and with the dining, I've been on a cruise before and when you go into the dining room, they sit you with strangers and show you where to sit, actually taking you to the table, I like that as I'm shy and it forces me to talk to people, it's good getting to know people, do they do that on amtrak? Or do you just sit anywhere? Also, does Amtrak go to Florida (Orlando)? Thanks so much everyone! Looking forward to my trip! :-D

• Answer:

  I've traveled many tens of thousands of miles on Amtrak sleepers. It's pretty easy to sleep in the roomettes if you are one person. The bed takes up almost all of the compartment. There's less than a foot of space at the door. You can't fall out of the bed. On the upper berth, there's a netting that you put up to prevent you from falling. If you are by yourself, you are on the bottom berth. In addition, you are sleeping parallel to the tracks. The rocking motion is L/R but is just enough to rock you to sleep. I actually have more trouble staying awake. (In the larger bedrooms, the beds are perpendicular to the tracks. Still no danger of falling out as the lower berth is wider.) When you get to the dining room, you will be seated with other people (tables seat 4). The dining car staff do take you to the next available seat. Most people consider the policy one of the best parts of the trip. I've met all sorts of people from all over the world in the dining car. (Don't forget to tip even though the food is included with sleeper tickets.) Make sure you hang out in the Metropolitan Lounges in NYP and Chicago. The NY one is plush with good magazines. The Chicago one has a working fireplace, free coffee and juice, sometimes muffins and things. You can check you luggage and wander around the city if you have a long layover. The lounge IS the best place to wait as they'll make sure you hear the announcements for your train. Hints for the trip: I love love love the shower. Really hot, good towels, relatively roomy dressing room. Showering at 80 mph is something to talk about once the trip is over. You will have an outlet in your room so take the adapters for your electronics. You WON'T have cell reception in parts of the Rockies. You won't have Wifi on the Southwest Chief segment. On the NYP to Chicago segment, make sure you shut the curtains if you use the Viewliner bathroom in your room. People can see in at station stops. Pack only what you need for the train in a small backpack. Everything else can go in the storage area in the car. Only check things you absolutely don't want on the trip. While you CAN fit a small carryon under the seat in the roomette, you won't be able to access it when the bed is made-up. The backpack is small and soft and can stay at your feet. You get free OJ, apple juice, cranberry juice, bottled water, coffe, tea, and ice in the sleeping car. Be nice to the car attendant and remember to tip. You can also hang out in the Lounge car if you want to meet people. I'm also very shy but I talk to people on the train. There's natural ice-breakers: How far are you going? Is this your first time by train? Where are you from? What made you decide to travel by train? Tell me about your town/state. Make sure you print out the Rail Guide at http://www.trainweb.com/routes/route_03/rg_3old.htm this tells you what you are passing. Take your camera, you can get pretty good pictures of fantastic scenery. Yes, Amtrak goes to Orlando via the Silver Star and Silver Meteor.