The Rocky Mountaineer – The Grand Départ
The day had finally arrived for us to experience the iconic Rocky Mountaineer train. Our entire Western Canada adventure had been planned around the specific dates the train runs from Vancouver in September.
Originally, we had booked the Journey Through the Clouds route, taking us from Vancouver to Jasper. However, due to the devastating wildfires that caused significant damage to Jasper and the surrounding area, our itinerary was changed to the First Passage to the West, which instead took us from Vancouver to Banff.
The day before departure, we checked in at the Rocky Mountaineer guest centre desk at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, where we collected our boarding passes and luggage tags — we were all set. It was an early start the next morning, as the bus picked us up just down the road from our hotel on West Hastings Street at around 7 a.m.
At the station, we found ourselves among a crowd of equally excited passengers. We grabbed a coffee and listened to the warm welcome address. Then, after the sound of the train whistle and the stirring notes of a bagpiper, it was time to board. As the train slowly pulled away from Vancouver station, the entire Rocky Mountaineer staff lined the platform to wave us off — it was a fabulous and moving sight. I have to admit, I felt quite emotional as we departed Vancouver. This journey on the Rocky Mountaineer was the pinnacle of our Canadian adventure, and the sense of excitement and anticipation was almost overwhelming.
We had booked seats in SilverLeaf Service, which turned out to be fantastic. Meals were served at our seats in the carriage, which was ideal, as the seats were spacious, with ample legroom, and could recline without impacting the person behind you. The food was excellent and generously portioned. The team of three onboard our carriage were exceptional — friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely attentive. The panoramic views from the large domed windows, which extended into the roof of the carriage, were simply breathtaking.
Our journey on the first day took us to Kamloops for an overnight stay. We opted for a budget hotel, as the stop was short — we were there for little more than nine hours, just enough time for a shower and a sleep. The train runs only during daylight hours so that you don’t miss a moment of the incredible scenery.
I can’t recall exactly how many carriages our train had, we were close to the middle, but it was somewhere in the 20s. With the full crew, including hosts, managers, chefs, maintenance staff, and of course, the drivers, there must have been close to 90 staff onboard. The level of service provided by the Rocky Mountaineer team is truly world-class and easily the best I’ve ever experienced.
On arrival in Kamloops, coaches took us to our hotel, and as we were already checked in by Rocky Mountaineer, we were handed our room keys and straight off to our room, where our luggage was already waiting in the room. The next morning, we simply left our luggage in the room, and when we arrived in Banff, there they were again- neatly placed outside our door. It is a very slick operation, and I just cannot fault a single part of the experience. The entire Rocky Mountaineer team was wonderful, and the journey itself was everything we had hoped for, and more.
Tips
- The Rocky Mountaineer experience was exceptional; you won’t be disappointed- book it.
- For the short time you will spend at your stopover hotel, go budget. Ours was clean and warm and had all we needed.
- Check out the various videos on the Rocky Mountaineer website for more info and to get a feel of this wonderful experience.
Western Canada Grand Tour 