Luxury accommodation, food and drink, on-board entertainment, and off-board excursions are standard as part of many luxury train journeys – but let’s explore further, what exactly is included in luxury train tickets?
You’ve either already booked a luxury train journey, or you’re considering whether or not to book… So what is included in a luxury train ticket? What do you get out of it, and is it worth it?
What Is Included In A Luxury Train Ticket?
Accommodation
For sleeper train journeys, at booking you’re usually given the choice between several suite and cabin options, depending on availability.
For day-trips, you’re able to request tables with varying seating options.
During day trips, if you request a table of two, the operators will do their best to accommodate the request, but with limited tables on each train, it’s subject to availability and you may end up sitting at a table of four with another pair of passengers.
Dining
Meals and drinks as listed on the journey’s menus are included in the luxury train ticket as part of the experience of lavish-living and travel. You can expect to enjoy the work of Michelin-starred chefs, curated sommelier wines, and excellent mixologists.
Entertainment
Live entertainment will often be provided in the evenings. On the Northern Belle, musicians stroll the carriages, playing and imbuing the passing evening of the journey with a jovial energy. Although, most other trains provide a dedicated space for musicians to play – see for example, Bar '3674' on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express or the Observation Car on the Royal Scotsman.
Depending on the journey, onboard entertainment may be deeply entwined with the experience itself. We’ll delve deeper into some of the particular experiences in more detail below, when we will go over individual train operators.
For more casual entertainment to pass time over conversation, they are playing cards and board games available for you to enjoy along with fellow passengers. An opportunity to make great conversation and meet people over a casual game.
Excursions
Excursions are heavily dependent on your journey – but they’re included when you purchase your luxury train ticket. Any excursion listed on your official and final, detailed itinerary (which is released 5 days before your departure date) is inclusive to your ticket and does not require any extra fees. Although that is typically the case, a few journeys, such as Orient Express’ ‘La Dolce Vita’ offers optional off board experiences which require a separate fee, though standard stopovers and scheduled activities are included in your journey.
What Is Not Included In A Luxury Train Ticket?
Many extras are available, but requires onboard purchase such as drinks at the bar (not including the drinks served alongside meals, which are included as part of what the ticket offers). Or spa treatments, which are available on a few of the luxury trains.
Some day trip trains, such as the Northern Belle, may offer the option to guarantee a table for two by paying a supplemental price. For the aforementioned Northern Belle, it is £105 per passenger as a guarantee.
Laundry services and irons are often not available onboard. However, some sleeper journeys offer pressing garments, steaming brushes, and hanging garment bags to keep your clothing tidy and neat
LuxuryTrainTickets.com
What is included in a LuxuryTrainTicket.com voucher and/or booking?
As LuxuryTrainTickets.com is an authorised ticketing agent – an official partner of every operator we sell journeys for, LuxuryTrainTickets.com is able to offer the same journey, the same price, and the same unforgettable luxury travel as you get from booking directly with operators.
With a LuxuryTrainTickets.com booking, you get all the benefits from the actual train journey, alongside a dedicated concierge service to help you plan and book transfers to and from destinations, hotels, and bespoke extras.
Got a question? Concerns? Our team of luxury travel experts are here to go above-and-beyond in supporting you and making your luxury train journey something truly special and hassle-free.
If you purchase a voucher from us, either for personal use, or as a gift, you can expect the same level of service and attentiveness. An e-voucher is issued instantly, but a physical voucher option, a stunning voucher in a card-holder and navy envelope, is offered for a more personable experience for the recipient. These are redeemable against any luxury train journey offered on our website.
Moving on though, here’s our breakdown of each train operator and what you can expect to be included in your luxury train ticket.
Belmond
Belmond is one of the largest luxury train operators available across the world, offering journeys across Europe, Asia, South America and beyond.
If you book a sleeper train, expect graceful days and gallant evenings aboard.
They offer various luxurious suite and cabin options for their sleeper journeys – with twin or double bed suites or grand suites available to choose from.
Each train they offer – both day and sleeper trains – include a restaurant carriage and well-stocked bar carriage so there’s always plenty to eat and drink. Menus onboard are often curated and created by Michelin-starred chefs. Drinks served with meals are complimentary, but if you wish to savour a drink outside of a meal, you may additionally order from the expert mixologists aboard as you please.
With the exception of some British Pullman, Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journeys, and so on, which sometimes do not have any scheduled off-board experiences, excursions are often included as part of your ticket. Often including guided tours and time to explore at your own pace and enjoyment before it’s time to return on-board.
For most journeys, such as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express or the Britannic Explorer, Wi-Fi is available on-board, though may go inactive in more rural areas. On the Royal Scotsman and Andean Explorer, Wi-Fi is occasionally available on specific carriages on trains, but at best, can be inconsistent at times when going through remote locations. The intention onboard these trains is for you to enjoy slow-travel and really indulge and immerse yourself in the journey.
Each train often features a unique charm and their own artisanal design for the carriages. If you board the Royal Scotsman or Andean Explorer for example, you can find a spa carriage on-board, where you can order off their treatment menu and relax under the attention of specialists. Many trains offer on-board entertainment as part of the experience as well – live musicians and performers – doing the best at what they do onboard.
Or if you’re looking for a more immersive experience and entertainment onboard, we recommend British Pullman’s ‘Murder Mystery Dinner’ or ‘A Moving Murder Mystery Lunch’ where you can solve a murder mystery onboard by collecting clues on a thrilling and immersive thriller.
Orient Express
If you want to explore Italy in a way that few do, ‘La Dolce Vita’ is the perfect journey, operated by Orient Express. In 2027, L’Orient Express will arrive, likely going across Europe, inspired by the original Orient Express routes. For now, we’ll discuss La Dolce Vita in isolation as it’s the only luxury train journey offered by Orient Express as of writing.
Included in the La Dolce Vita journey is much of the standard luxury fare for both day time trips and overnight sleeper journeys.
Transfer to the train station for boarding is included. On-board accommodation is provided and you have the choice between the Deluxe Cabin and the Suite Cabin – subject to availability so we recommend booking early. Of course, the table d’hôte, the menu and beverages, selected wine, spirits, mineral water, soft drinks, tea and coffee) are also included. Should you wish to order additional beverages, you may do so at the bar at your own discretion.
Wi-Fi is available across the entire train. Although, there are restrictions on video streaming when using the Wi-Fi aboard and devices should only be used in the cabins and you may encounter low or no connectivity as the train passes through rural areas.
Some journeys include optional off-board excursions which are available with a fee. However, these are completely optional experiences. If you opt not to go on these excursions, you’ll be provided transfer from the station to the city center and you can freely roam and spend your time as you please off-board before returning to reboard the train as scheduled in the itinerary and program. All passengers must disembark the train during the stop.
For entertainment, it can vary quite a bit between journeys.
For the ‘Whispers at Midnight’ journey, you can expect burlesque performances, live entertainment and a DJ set carrying the evening into the night while celebrating New Year’s Eve. There’s also the brilliant and vibrant ‘The Carnival Party’ journey where a lively Carnival party takes place, with masks and music.
In the bar carriage, you can settle in and listen to talented musicians – a singer accompanied by a pianist – as you enjoy a drink while the train snakes through Italian landscapes. For more idle entertainment, suitable to play over conversation and a great way to meet your fellow passengers, you can use the various playing cards or game sets, like backgammon or dominos, which are provided onboard.
Northern Belle
The Northern Belle is a luxury train exclusively operating and providing day-trips across the UK.
As standard with luxury train journeys, a ticket would include fine-dining and drinks as described in the trip’s itinerary with a well-stocked bar should you wish to order beverages.
Passengers receive a champagne reception, canapés and caviar blinis. You’ll also be offered a sommelier-chosen bottle of wine per couple.
Excursions (if listed and described) are also included as part of your luxury train ticket as part of your itinerary.
Northern Belle’s ‘Gatsby Gala Dinner’, ‘Christmas Lunch’, and many other of their journeys feature London-based ‘The Gatsby Band’, who performs contemporary music with the glitter and glamour of 1920s swing; ‘Casablanca Steps’, a jazz quartet playing the best of the 1920s with a sophisticated yet light-hearted style; and the ‘Northern Belle Magician’ with table-to-table magic.
As part of the ‘Gatsby Gala Dinner’, included is also platform paparazzi capturing photos of passengers and an onboard photographer who’ll offer polaroid keepsakes to immortalise the ‘Gatsby Gala Dinner’.
Got a specific journey in mind that you’d like to know more about?
Get in touch with our expert concierge team and they’ll walk you through the entire process – from pre-boarding and transfers, to onboard itineraries. Go into your next luxury train journey with confidence and peace-of-mind.
