Alaska Railroad

Book this!! This was my first train ride and I think I have ruined any other train ride. We took the trip to Seward during the summer and it was awesome. I think we did the perfect combo also so let me share. We booked the gold start on the way to Seward so we got the better view and breakfast with drinks in the morning. Then we booked the basic tickets on the way back. Because there were far less people on the way back we were able to walk around and even hand out in the back completely alone for a good about of time. Hopefully this works for other people. Regardless of how you do it I think it's a amazing trip.

Comfortable seating with plenty of leg room even in Adventure Class, can carry on a backpack or small suitcase. Can move about and between train cars and go to observation car. Stunning views and great live tour guides pointing out POIs.

Our first train experience was amazing. Can't go wrong with this one. Anchorage to Fairbanks going right past Denali/McKinley. Commentary on the train was steady, full of interesting history and fun local stories. Coffee stand and gift shop in Anchorage opened about an hour before departure. Bathrooms were clean, checking baggage was quick and easy.

Information could be better, as we arrived with no indication of which order to do things and were told varying information. When traveling to Whittier to cruise with NCL, there is a not mandatory but simple order of operation. Drop luggage with the porters under the canopy who load the baggage into trucks and then drive it to the ship and load it for you. The next time you see the bags will be in the room. Then go inside the building to retrieve you ticket even though you bought it online. Seats are pre-assigned and are listed on your ticket. The seats are comfortable and spacious enough. The ride is slow but has great views. There is a food and drink car as well as restrooms. Very enjoyable way to travel.

We traveled from Anchorage to Seward to take a cruise tour of Resurrection Bay on Kenai Fjords Tour. The train and the tour company collaborate their timing together to make it possible to travel there by train, do the tour, and return by train without missing a beat. Suny, who was the barista on-board, was very personable and attentive. Genuinely kind. Kayla helped us board and stood out to us with how she connected with my teenage daughter. Just when you thought you saw the most beautiful sight you could ever see, the train would go through another canyon and you'd be wrong. Absolutely breath taking views of mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, wilderness, and fjords. In terms of comfort features, the train does not have wifi, and only certain seats have outlets next to them. If you need to charge your phone, or for someone with medical equipment that requires charging, it is possible. The train travels at a leisurely pace. We had one stop between Anchorage and Seward at Girdwood. There is also an observation car with panoramic windows you can sit in. They ask you to limit sitting there to 20 minutes so other guests can as well, but our train was about 1/4 full and people were able to sit there the whole time. They also have board games to play.

You have to take the Alaska rail from Fairbanks to Seward. I divided my trip up into two different sections. And stayed a couple of days in Denali national Park. I highly recommend the Goldstar so you get the dome seats and the amazing dining service. It blew my mind. It is something you absolutely must add to your bucket list! I cannot rave enough about this exceptional experience!

Winter train from AK to Fairbanks is a must do for everyone visiting Alaska. 12hrs of stunning landscapes so time flew quite fast although the long and slow travel. The train's cars are unfortunately old without any spaces to store bits and bobs and also no phone chargers etc. Train bistro is a joke, the meals in restaurant ok. Staff is very friendly and provides good information throughout the ride. Exceptional views on Denali range and Alaska one wont see when going by car!

We boarded the train here for a connection to Whittier. All staff were remarkably kind and helpful from the luggage handlers to ticket booth to gift shop. We were treated with smiles and great information. The train ride is a delight, and the great service would keep me coming back again! The station does run a bit hot.

I cannot say enough good things about the staff. They are amazing. I brought my grandson to the depot to watch the trains, they saw how excited he was and they invited him onto the train to meet the conductor and walk around a little bit. They even made him a special little drink. Best day ever for him!!

The eight of us took the 4 hour Coastal Classic train from Seward to Anchorage. We splurged for GoldStar class since I had heard the views were like no other with the glass dome ceiling, making it one of the top train rides in the world. Included in the Goldstar ticket is dinner, unlimited soft drinks and two alcoholic drinks. I had the chowder and cod, which I thought was quite tasty! My parents had the pot roast and did not care for it. The key lime pie was artificial tasting. But...IMO you don't take the railroad for the food anyway. The scenery is so breathtaking! A photo or video cannot do it justice, so after awhile, I didn't even try and sat back to soak it all in. Great hospitality from the staff. Loved the narration throughout the trip. One pro tip: there's an S curve about half an hour outside of Seward where you can see both the front and back of the train simultaneously. People rushed to the outdoor viewing area (left side). We didn't even bother at that point, it was so packed. Wish I knew this in advance so I would have staked out a spot! My mom said this was the highlight of our 14 day Alaska trip. The extra money for Goldstar was well worth it. Bucket list!

June 2024 Such a beautiful station and depot We had the gold star express experience Check in was a breeze and waiting for the train was the thrill for the kids We experienced the gold star express experience from Fairbanks to Denali and Denali to Anchorage No trip in Alaska is complete without a trip on the Alaska Rail

Probably one of the top three things we did on our vacation in Alaska. We arrived in Anchorage and had to transfer to Seward. We took this train ride and upgraded to gold star seats. They served us breakfast, which was a treat and provided coffee and drinks and water. The cars had large windows that went all the way to the ceiling with outside viewing decks also. The seats in the train were very comfortable with plenty of legroom. The landscape we traveled through was absolutely stunning! Bald eagle alley really amazing. We would've been able to see a little bit better had it not been raining but it was still phenomenal. I would 110% recommend this Adventure!

PreBoarding/Checkin Process: If I had one critique, it would be the lack of seats in the waiting area. Since they recommend showing up at least and hour prior to departure, but they don't board until 20 minutes to leave, there's lots of standing time. By my count, there were enough seats for about 20 people. The waiting area empties quickly and the boarding process happens fast. Slower if you want pictures alongside the train (Which are totally acceptable). On the Train: Start at your seats. Once the train gets moving, you can start wandering. Meals are a whole experience. Multiple seating and the process is pretty quick. Limited menu The pot roast at dinner is delicious. The green beans and mashed potatoes aren't anything special, but the pot roast is a good mixtures of soft and tasty with edges of slight crisp. The snack car has some cool seats and tables to play games. The upstairs area has great views and I felt was a cozy place to hang out. Fairbanks - - I wish I would have known that checked baggage takes FOREVER. The process is not efficient. And the train had spots to load your bags. Sort of like the spots for bags in the shuttle at the airport. 100% worth trying this out!

We took the round trip train from Anchorage to hurricane gulch. 12 hours. The good: amazing views from about 9:30 to 4 pm. It was warm and nice. The people were fantastic! One of the passengers brought cookies for everyone. A children's book author got on and signed her books We saw moose galore The bad: no food at all period. No WiFi Limited electric plugs Would I go again? In a heartbeat. It was spectacular. Denali was out in all it's' glory

The Coastal Classic Train proved a most enjoyable way to get to Seward for a boat tour. There were two narrative guides; one was good, the other just annoying. Breakfast featured okay scrambled eggs and really good reindeer sausage. On the way back, I had a very decent-tasting and good-sized hamburger. This train had older equipment, but it was still in decent shape. The windows were somewhat dirty, which was unfortunate because there were fantastic views of bays, lakes, rivers, and glaciers, plus moose, black bear, and Dall sheep. There was a crying baby nearby; I have kids and know two things: (1) a baby's going to cry sometimes, and nothing can stop it, but (2) it is usually possible to move to a location more considerate to others. I'm including a picture of a banner that I found most disturbing - not least because a railroad actually wanted it for their centennial logo. To me that stiesel engine looks like something Stephen King would dream up!

After a hectic but not terribly long, check in process at the train station, we were directed to Car A for our journey. We hadn't realized that there isn't space in Gold Star class for any luggage that doesn't fit under the small space under the seats. That's because the "walls" and ceiling are all windows for an amazing view. So we had to check our carry-on luggage but it arrived at our hotel in Seward before we did. To get to our seats, we had to climb very steep, small steps up. It was a challenge to go up and down while the train was moving, but we had to do that to go down to the dining car and restrooms. There was a bar at the back of our car - no stairs required and our tickets included our meal and 2 drinks. I, of course, had the delicious Gold Spike Old Fashioneds. They have a full bar with beer, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks. The 4 hour ride from Anchorage to Seward had breathtaking scenery. We saw Stephen's Glacier, Kenai Lake, and so much more. There was a tour guide on the loudspeaker pointing out sites and giving history. Our breakfast in the dining car was nice. They had 4 choices for entrées and coffee, tea, and juices. They do lunch and dinner also - depending on the time of the trip. I did go out on the viewing platform at the back of our car, and it was a fun experience. About midway through the trip the conductor came to our car and we chatted and asked questions for awhile. Once we got to the station in Seward there were lots of shuttles lined up to take people to their hotels or tours or downtown. Everything was very convenient and the people were all very friendly. I think the Coastal Classic train is a must for anyone traveling between Anchorage and Seward.

Check in is a total clown show with disgruntled employees that hate having to point you in the right direction. "Did you see the sign?" No, you haven't put any signs out. "Oh, well it's still pretty obvious" WTF are you talking about? I don't live here. I don't work here. I didn't put on my Alaskan Railroad uniform this morning, drag my hungover ass to the station, and stand here in my customer service job all day. But you did! You get to be the clown today! You did this to yourself! Honk honk!

We had a great family trip on the winter train from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Our conductor F Long and assistants Daniel and Dustin were awesome. They were available for questions and took the time to answer them. Our 12 hour journey didn't seem that long. We were able to play games provided on the train a long as we left tables available for others. We were able to walk through the different cars as we needed to. To make breakfast, lunch or dinner reservations, the host would go through each car. We chose lunch as we liked the options better and had to sit across from people we didn't know. This was in order to make room for those who wanted to eat, I get it but was a little uncomfortable for those who do not wish to engage. We were told when wildlife was spotted and the train slowed down so everyone could see which was much appreciated. Scenic sites were also pointed out along the way. There is a bar and snack bar if you would like a drink or small lunch or dinner. We brought snacks and food and drinks on the train, bags are not checked for these items so I'm guessing they are allowed . Check in process was great, staff were very helpful and informative. Looking forward to another trip on a different route!

One of the worst customer service experiences I've ever had. After paying far too much for these tickets, the conductor had the nerve to wake us up on our way back and accused us of lying about our tickets and stealing from the train. When I proved her wrong, she proceeded to blame the confusion on me, insult my partner and refuse to apologize. I have been on trains all over the world. Nobody does it worse than these idiots. Rent a car.

We took the train from Denali National Park to Anchorage at the end of our trip and I must say, this train ride was probably the best thing we did on our journey! I loved everything we did on our trip (rafting/hiking/tours/etc), but this ride was so fun/relaxing. I have taken trains on other vacations and they are usually in a small seat with one small, round window (if you're lucky). On the Alaska Railroad, in the "Gold Star" service level, we had large picture windows all around, were allowed to move about freely from the snack car/dining car/our seats/and to the observation deck. From the observation deck you could see over the trees to the mountains/lakes/rivers/etc! Seriously, this train ride was the highlight of our Alaska trip (and we were in the cheapest Gold Star seats available!) The best part - this was one of the few times we got to see Denali (Mt. McKinley) clearly, was on this train ride :-) The conductor/stewardesses even pointed out wildlife/major sights to see when we passed them! I highly reccomend this train journey if you are anywhere in this area of Alaska.

This was a highly anticipated ride from Anchorage to Talkeetna. Well, it was somewhat disappointing. For one, although we enjoyed the wide windows, the views to Talkeetna didn't quite live up to our expectations. I will say that the views from Denali back to Anchorage was beyond amazing (more on that later in another review). Also, the plane was strangely managed. To eat, we had to go downstairs (and miss the open views?). We decided to pass on eating. It was a very relaxing ride with great A/C...but sadly, disappointing.

GOLDSTAR service Cost: $585 Date: 09/19/2023 Sad to give this experience 1 star, because I live here and want to be proud. I started getting asked by the 2024 visitors on whether or not this trip is a good idea, and that reminded me to post this review of the 2023 trip. Trip from Anchorage to Girdwood takes 75 minutes. The railroad does not shift the train schedule to adjust for when Alaska starts rapidly losing the daylight towards the end of the summer, so out of the 75 minutes, the first 45 were in complete darkness. As soon as we boarded, we were asked if we were only travelling to Girdwood and assured we would be the first to be seated at the restaurant and first to be served breakfast, so that we would have enough time to eat. Unfortunately, we were seated the absolute last and if the food was brought to the table just 5 minutes later than it had been, we wouldn't have even had the time to taste the food. Entertainment-wise at the restaurant, while waiting, we watched the server pour a glass of water right from the facet with a sign "Not for drinking" and bring it to someone's table. By that time it got light outside, so my dad stepped on the open deck to take a photo. That's when the person in charge came running and yelling "Quick! Quick! Those getting off at Girdwood, get ready! Quick!" What an atmosphere of nervousness and rush. I'm not particularly sensitive, yet this experience felt like getting quickly kicked off before the train took off immediately. I'm mostly disappointed for my visitors who were left with this bad taste in the mouth. In 15 years of living here, probably the most disappointing "touristy" experience of all. Unfortunately. I think Alaska can do better.

We used the Alaska Railroad to travel from Anchorage to Seward, Alaska to get to the Seward Cruise Port for our Royal Caribbean Alaskan cruise. First is it the cheapest way of travel? For 4 adults it was around $400.00 and the trip was a little over 4 hours. Yes if transportation and cost is the only criteria a taxi is around $350 for four adults with a travel time of 2 hours. For is the experience of the train and the scenic ride was worth it. When you travel on the train a person comes on over the intercom and points out the scenic sights and any wild animals nearby. Again for a great travel experience the Alaska Rail is great.

We had a phenomenal time on our trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks in early December. We lucked out and had clear skies, a beautiful view of Denali, and even a few moose sightings. We took advantage of the dining car for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the food was fabulous. The trip was about 12 hours, and there was someone alerting you to sights out the window, local history, and relevant train knowledge pretty much the whole way. We had a local celebrity author board at one point and do a book signing, which was unique. The mood on the train was so friendly- everyone is stuck there for so long, it kind of encourages you to open up and make new friends. I wish I would have dressed warmer- I had sweated my way through the airport wearing heavy base layers, so I wore lighter ones on the train and was pretty chilly the whole time. Also, I didn't think to bring snacks, but if you're not looking to spend money on the train food, I would recommend packing some. All in all, it was a beautiful way to see some of Alaska. I highly recommend!

*This review is for the Aurora winter train in January from Anchorage to Fairbanks.* Boarding experience - 5 stars Service of train staff - 5 stars Train amenities - 4 stars Scenery - 5 stars The train stopping in Talkeetna (less than halfway to Fairbanks) because an ARR freight train was broken down ahead - 3 stars Having to board buses to drive the rest of the way to Fairbanks since they could not move the train- 2 stars Not being able to get a any amount of refund because apparently its part of their Terms of Service includes a provision that allows them to provide alternate transportation in the event of unforseen circumstances - 0 stars I feel like if they encounter this situation often enough that they added a clause to exempt them from providing customers refunds when issues come up, are they really unforseen? I would like to see some numbers on how often they have to do this. From the demeanor of the train staff this seemed to be a routine occurrence. No one seemed the least bit surprised and one of them even shrugged and said, "well we tried" as we boarded the buses. Although the overall experience of the train (including the buses) was not so bad, just the fact that ARR has the audacity to treat customers this way really invalidated any positive aspect of the actual experience. Many customers plan for a long time and save their hard earned money for this experience, its not a cheap ticket. And the fact that ARR has the audacity to pull a bait and switch in the ToS is really quite insulting.

Dome Car - Gold Star Service - First Class Just do it and splurge! This has been on my mom's "bucket list" for years, and this year we made it happen. So glad we did. It was an awesome trip. Of course, we got super lucky and had amazing weather. Partly sunny / cloudy and no rain. The segment from Anchorage to Seward is claimed as The Most Beautiful Train Trip. Now, I don't do much "train-ing" (hahahahaha!), so I have no frame of reference, but it truly is Spectacular with a capital S! Who knew there were so many waterfalls in Alaska?! Everything is so green and lush! The glaciers glistened. We also saw lots of Bald Eagles and a few Dall Sheep. The train even slowed down to a crawl so we all got a good look at the sheep. The day started WAY to F*ing early for me. ha! But it was totally worth it. We had to be at the train station (Anchorage) by 5:45am, and when we got there it was organized chaos. People everywhere. Thankfully the folks working know what they are doing. We checked our luggage all the way to our hotel in Seward. (Meaning we never touched our luggage again until it was delivered to our room at our hotel in Seward. That's Service! Dang! I was impressed and uber thankful since we had a full day in Seward.) Then we had to go inside the small building to check-in and get our train tickets. Then we had to wait for them to allow us outside onto the train platform / loading area. Once they allowed us to go to the trains, it was another bit of organized chaos. Each train car had a letter so hopefully you know your letters by now and can find your car that you are assigned to. If not, there was staff to help. We boarded the A car and got settled into our assigned seat. Upon boarding, they had HOT coffee waiting. Of course, I was a little late to the party on that so I waited for a fresh batch to be made. No biggee... just took a few minutes to get my fix of caffeinated bliss. Breakfast was included in our fare which was served below us in the Dining area of A car. Since it is pretty small, they split you into 2 seatings. Their breakfast menu is pretty limited, but solid. Mom got the eggs and reindeer sausage and I got the Oatmeal, and we shared. OH! And with the First Class ticket, you get 2 adult beverages per adult of legal drinking age (21+)! So, we kicked off the morning with a Mimosa for Mom and a Bloody Mary for me. Cheers! Breakfast was organized, and it didn't feel weird while moving. After breakfast we went back up to our seats and enjoyed the rest of the trip either in our seats or on the back outside covered patio. Outdoor Viewing Deck, I think it was called. We even had our own bartender in the Dome Car. She was stationed in between the seating area and the Outdoor Deck. Such a relaxing and civilized way to travel. PS... The stairs in the dome car are a steep, narrow spiral. So, keep that in mind if you have a hard time with stairs. Oh... and the bathrooms were nice and clean too. Sort of like airplane bathrooms but bigger and nicer. Oh.. and there isn't a lot of room for extra 'stuff'. Thankfully our backpacks that we had with us fit under the seat in front of us. Don't bring a bunch of unncessary stuff with you.

Having been trying since July 2024 to book the package deal North to Denali and was continually told they were waiting for the final costs to firm up our package costs. Today I was told they are unable to book us lodging in Talkeetna, unable to provide the Denali Park tour, and unable to keep us in the Gold coach for the return train to Anchorage. All of this was supposed to be part of the package. I am beyond frustrated and disappointed.

This is the main reason that Gayle and I came to the 49th State, to land cruise on the Alaska Railroad. It also marked my achievement of visiting all 50 states. Onward to my last Canadian Province.....Newfoundland. Gayle and I splurged on the Gold Star service, which meant assigned seats in a wonderful observation car, full luggage service, drinks at our seat, meal service downstairs, and really great Alaska Railroad employees. We took the Coastal Classic to from Anchorage to Seward and back, and then the Denali Star to Denali and then Fairbanks. It was a magical scenic experience throughout.

We rode the Wilderness Express from Anchorage to Denali. It was amazing. The views are gorgeous, if you have a clear day. There is in seat service for drinks and a dining car. The staff was really really nice. The food was even reasonable. They come by and ask if you would like to eat lunch in the dining car; we did. Then they take people down in batches. We had the French Dip and a Turkey Melt. Both were good. 2 sandwiches, 2 sodas, and 1 slice of pie for dessert = $58. So not cheap. But the view was amazing and the service was good.

Sadly we didn't get to ride to our Seward excursion as booked because of chance of avalanche however the would not offer a partial refund because they said they were giving us transportation which was a bus. If you book bus to begin it's $75 We paid $147 for railroad and were disappointed not to be offered a partial refund Bus driver was friendly and informative along the ride I'm giving 2 stars just for customer service I'm not rating the railroad which my husband says is amazing because I didn't get to ride

The trip was going well at the start of it until dinner time and baggage claim time. First came dinner, it started late, but things do happen in every kitchen and I'm not the kind of person expecting perfection ever. They call the first group of the B car of the 'GoldStar Service' (meal is included with this type of ticket. This is the best ticket anyone could buy for the trip) - [seat 18C and 18D of the 5-17-24 afternoon trip]. I noticed right away such first group was taking a very long time (my party of 5 were on the second group) and I immediately thought it was the passengers' fault, however, shortly after we found out it was actually the kitchen's fault. By the time the second group was called (our group) we were almost at the end of the trip and everyone was rushing. When I tried to order, the waiter expressed they could only served either a soup and salad or a dish. I was truly shocked since I never understood a soup and a salad was a 'meal'. So, then we were told shortly after we couldn't order soup either I was shocked. My guess is the kitchen person coordinating everything has no idea of what he/she is going, or the food was purposely brought short on board. I ended up ordering a Pot Roast and then the waiter said they had no gravy for the mashed potatoes. I just couldn't believe it, and already upset I just asked her to bring it anyway since the rest of the menu was subpar anyway (only God knows what happened to people that ordered other items, but judging by the faces and conversations around the car people were not happy at all). Several of us in the car called for a manager, and a young kid that came by tried to apologize sincerely, but there was nothing he could do anyway. We specifically told him to make sure he communicated with his superiors that we wanted a refund for the dinner part of the trip and that we were extremely disappointed. He took our information down. When the food finally arrived I was just beside myself, ..... that looked like anything but 'Pot Roast'. Took 2 bites and had to leave and return to my seat to make sure I didn't lose my temper. Of course, I didn't bother trying my desert. When we finally arrived, then came the circus of claiming our baggage. They had loaded an actual 'box truck' with all the luggage at the terminal in Seward, which I thought the intention was to make sure everybody's luggage was delivered ahead of time and placed in the destination terminal so people could take their bags faster. Boy was I surprised! When we arrived, we found out the truck, even though it was there for God knows how long, they had not even brought the luggage down. I have videos of the whole show. So three or four passengers had to help the driver and I guess his assistant bringing the luggage down from the truck and the passengers themselves had to kind of help each other to make sure everybody got their bags. A total circus. I just couldn't believe it. Bottom line, if anyone ever wants to take this trip, they need to know that yes, they will enjoy beautiful views. However, professionalism should not be expected, and quality should not be part of any type of food or other service offered, including wine. Also, if it's possible, you may want to bring your luggage with you on the train, but if you have no choice, make sure you know the expectations and also tag those luggage pieces really well, so they don't get confused at the end of the destination.

We throughly enjoyed the Wilderness Express train from Anchorage to Talkeetna on a Celebrity land tour. Other individuals were also traveling. We opted for breakfast. We took seats upstairs where we were told a short history of the railroad, safety and the train's services. Then we were called down for breakfast. There was an elevator used by a few disabled people. The menu included omelets, pancakes, barley meal, yogurt, and side meats and breads. The service was wonderful and the food was delicious. Hubby got the scrambled eggs with bacon and reindeer sausage. I ordered the barley meal with brown sugar, blue berries, sliced almonds and organic maple syrup. It was way better than oatmeal. While traveling we looked for wildlife. Totally recommend taking the Wilderness Express train in Alaska.

Must must must do this train. Gold Star is the best !!!! Staff amazing friendly welcoming helpful and very knowledgeable if there's anyway possible do the Goldstar ride

We took this from Fairbanks to Denali and then from Denali to Anchorage. If your into train rides through wilderness country seeing mountains, moose, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, Eagles, gorgeous scenery constantly while sipping on adult beverages and eating wonderfully prepared food server be friendly fast servers then this is your next trip. Seriously, it was the best part of our Alaska 2 week trip. Wonderful, just wonderful.

There is something magical about exploring America's Last Frontier via the good old American train. Peacefully cruising through the beautiful landscape that is Alaska, the Alaska Railroad is an adventure fit for everyone. Words don't do justice for how wonderful this trip truly was. It was worth every penny for round trip Gold Star Service. My entire family was in awe on both legs of the journey. We took the train from Anchorage to Seward roundtrip in June, which meant plenty of daylight in the land of the Midnight Sun. We saw bears, bald eagles, moose, glaciers, tunnels, waterfalls, rivers, mountains, and lakes. We had a boat tour for the Kenai Fjords in Seward, and everything was timed perfectly with the train. On our return to Anchorage, we witnessed the Alaskan sunset over the Turnagain Arm. This was a majestic ride. It brought all my social studies learnings on American history from grade school to life. When I was in the 3rd grade, I found the lyrics to America the Beautiful at the front of my social studies book, and the lyrics were so beautiful to me that I scribbled it into my notebook. The Alaska Railroad takes you through American landscape that truly brings that song to life. The company itself is grand. The conductor was so friendly. He came out multiple times to check on riders, and he even took a picture with us and gave us little souvenir bands that said "I rode the Alaska Railroad." Seats were very comfortable. Food was great for train food. For breakfast, they even served reindeer sausage, which was surprisingly delicious. I had the cream of barley cereal, which was healthy, warm, and hearty, served with brown sugar and milk. For dinner, we had the slow braised pot roast and Gold Rush gumbo (a cauliflower riced dish with vegetables). We were pleasantly surprised to get a chocolate mousse cheesecake after dinner. Drinks are unlimited, with alcoholic beverages limited to 2 per person (although they really didn't keep count, much to my dad's joy). Bathrooms were surprisingly kept pretty clean. The staff were all very friendly, and they clearly loved their jobs. I am so happy we got to experience the Alaska Railroad Gold Star Experience. This started off as something on the itinerary to make my husband happy since he's always wanted to ride a train since he was a little boy, but it turned into a magical ride for everyone involved. I am excited to ride more trains in the future.

I would much rather travel from the port of Seward to Anchorage by train than by bus. A much more scenic trip. Saw my first moose this time! And a beluga whale

It is very much worth the extra bucks to ride with Gold Star Service (first class). The views on the glass dome deck are simply breathtaking and feels like you're at the edge of the world - kinda reminded me of the train scenes from the movie Spirited Away. We rode the Coastal Classic line just from Anchorage to Girdwood. We were so awestruck by the scenery, too busy taking photos/videos that we missed our opportunity to get our complimentary meal during our ride. But we were able to get our free drinks, at least. That said, make sure you take the time to make your way downstairs if you're going to be hungry later, as the trip from town to town will go by fast especially when you're having as much fun as we were. The perk of riding first class, too, is that you're able to step outside in one of their carts for some fresh Alaskan air and more cool photo-ops. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking to get some sightseeing done while you travel, or just a fan of nature. There's a decent gift shop at the Anchorage station, where most people will begin or end their rides. I'd be delighted to see what the rest of the routes look like if I ever return again to visit.

It was very difficult to get the advertised 1/2 price "off season" fare for those on Medicare, but I was finally able to reach a supervisor who helped me.

The Denali Star went through some beautiful landscapes. However, this is not an eight hour train. It was closer to 10-11 hours. We paid for adventure class so we couldn't use the dining room for breakfast or lunch. Ten to twelve hours is a long time to go without a real meal. Also, most of the seats don't have charging ports. I was expecting uncomfortable seats and no wifi, but lack of charging ports and real food was a major bummer. If I was doing this trip again, I'd rent a car versus the train and maybe do a shorter train ride from anchorage.

Great adventure with lots of information throughout our ride. First time on the railroad and we loved it

I had a great ride from Anchorage to Seward for the day. Many thanks to all employees from Alana, the passenger services supervisor, Daniel the Onboard supervisor, Lee and his dining crew, CJ the Tourguide, Wanda the conductor and to all the staff at the depots in Anchorage and Seward - thank you as always for making the trip an extremely wonderful experience.

We rode the winter train last week from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Beautiful winter snowy scenery out the train window was perfect! Unfortunately the train seating and interiors were uncomfortable and outdated looking. The four of us at table seating facing one another was nice, but the table leg came out of the window wall at an angle underneath the table made it cramped in for our legs! Plus we at the end of train car by door opening for passengers. Every few seconds the door between train cars opening & closing with passengers. It was making a horrible loud banging noise was overwhelming exhausting and nerve racking. The snack car was fun with small seating upstairs looking out. The dining car was outdated. Food and drinks were OK, adequate nothing special.

We rode the McKinley Explorer in early September from Anchorage to the McKinley Chalet in Denali National Park. Keera is our guide. The train is great. 2 level cars 180 degree views from every seat, dining area below. The views are fabulously astounding. We have been to a few places and the trip to and into Denali is incomparable. Our guide was great pointing out so many things on the roughly 7 hour journey. We saw Mt. McKinley, n/k/a, Denali, from many angles and from many spots on the ride. Guide said we were so lucky 85% of the time the peaks are shrouded in clouds or just not viewable. Meals are provided, breakfast and lunch and small plates are available throughout. Cocktails are also available as each car has a bar with bartender. Flora and fauna are seen regularly from the train one of our favorite spots was an outside viewing platform at the front of our car. Great views. We came in early September and the trees were in full color amazing golds & reds. Temperature was ideal 60 degrees and bright sun for the whole ride. We highly recommend this along with a park visit. Mark & Nancy.

We took the Coastal Classic to Seward. The ride took about 4 hours. We had access to the dome sitting area which gave open windows views all the way around. The views were absolutely gorgeous and unforgettable. The train was well kept and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the scenery. The train ride is a must do!

Horrible customer service from reservations! Waited on hold for 40+ minutes to redeem a tour saver coupon and got either no answer, or the phone was answered and immediately disconnected. Tried to book at the ticket counter and was told I had to contact the number. When it was explained that I had tried calling the number, was basically told too bad, not my problem. Pay full price. Did get good service from staff on board and conductor. Views were not that amazing as we had done the drive. Definitely not worth the money.

The views are stunning, and the staff is nice and attentive. However, the gold star food service was disorganized. They do two separate seatings for meals. If you're in the second seating, you might as well grab a meal elsewhere. We waited over 90 minutes to get to our seating, which lasted less than a half an hour. They need to come up with a better process as the first and second wave seatings pay the same price.

We booked this not knowing what to expect but knew we wanted to see Alaska in a different way. This was so worth it. Sit back, relax in really comfy seats, grab your coffee, and just watch the beauty roll by. The train is not so fast that you cannot get pictures, and it stops along the way. There is plenty of time to get out, stretch your legs, take a hike, and make it back to the train.

Exceeded my expectations! The train ride from Anchorage to Seward offered breathtaking views and beautiful scenery. We were fortunate the weather was beautiful and it was a calm sunny day! Conductor Warren was fabulous as he was helpful and cordial. He even took the time to stop and answer our questions! I would highly recommend this trip.

This is a Must DO when visiting Anchorage. We took the train to Whittier and were able to see amazing sights. In Whittier, we caught the 26 Glacier tour boat for a stunning adventure, returning in time to take the train back. Tip: Get an assigned table upstairs to see everything. Magical‼

Took the McKinley Explorer train from Denali to Anchorage. I took the dome car from Denali and had drinks, and lunch and snacks. The dome car was amazing, a 360 degree view of everything we passed. The reason for the lack of stars is because of all of the delays with stopping and sitting and waiting for other trains to pass. The train ride was scheduled for leaving at 8:30 am and arriving at 5:30 pm. Didn't understand why it should take so long since the train should have gone faster than the bus ride for practically the same route. I did love the views and the food in the dining car below the top level of the dome car. Having a bartender and a commentator made the trip that much better, but it took an eternity to get to Talkeetna and then we still had 3 hours to get to Anchorage. The train finally started moving once we got past Talkeetna, but until then it was so slow and actually stopped for way too long. I do feel the trip and views were amazing and what we saw and the food was outstanding for a train and everyone worked hard to make this trip special. But you've got to work on the delays. I still don't understand why there was only one rail track. Why wouldn't there be a second track!

Thank you for the hospitality and helpfulness today! Our family had an enjoyable and scenic ride from Whittier to Anchorage with the Alaska Railroad (departed at 6:45pm). The wonderful team helped us load and unload our luggages, provided lovely commentary and information, and had friendly and upbeat cheer all throughout. Clean comfy seating, great windows, bathroom available, smooth ride-- A lovely experience!

Alaska is huge, the size of the west coast, twice as big as Texas. You get the picture. In order to see this great state you better have a car, but if your like me you end up driving the whole time and don't get to experience the travel un-encumbered. This is where the tours come into play. Not only can you coordinate the train ride to a glacier tour in Whittier, but coming back as well. The train ride is guided as well, which is a plus. The daily parking at the lot across the street is $20, but the Hilton across the street can also be used if you got game. The park that's between them is pretty cool. The locomotive across the street is cool, but the train building itself looks like a school. Inside looks like an old school, woodsy train station. Coffee cart, bathrooms, gift shop. You load up out back where they designate your cart and level, and your seating is a little up to you, but you may end up sharing a table with others. Bathrooms on board are much like any train/airplane bathroom, but what I like most is the concessions cart. Finally I get to let loose and not have to stay sober to drive, not that anyone else in my family couldn't otherwise, but I have the most experience and best sense of travel. I start knocking back boilermakers and bloody mary's, extra mary (no salmon vodka). Half the trip has waterfront views even better than the road, the other half was green hills/mountains, snowcaps, lakes, streams. The usual gorgeous scenery. You won't always catch a ton of wildlife, like we didn't see any bears (though they are more common on the Denali ride apparently), or moose, but pretty much everything else. Service is good, friendly, facilities are clean and modern, but they don't lose their sense of old school history. The price is something to be planned for as it's not simply a train ride, it's a tour and thus is priced accordingly. Protip: I recommend spending some time at the car joints and getting some fresh air in your face. I had a great time waving at people/cars as they/we passed and I found people up here to be very friendly. I got over 100 people to wave in a matter of 30 minutes or so. Since I went in the summer I'm not sure how this runs during the winter, but it's a great way to get around if you don't have a car or don't' feel like drifting around with studded tires in the winter.

We were excited to take the Aurora Winter Train frm Anchorage to Fairbanks and booked early, with a request to be seated together (2) in the middle of the car. The first problem was that we were plopped into the front section, very close to a loud and obnoxious group of foreign tourists. Eventually we got the conductor to switch our seats to the middle of the second car. The second problem was that there was no coffee available on the train! None! Not even an instant. Apparently they had a problem with the brewing apparatus. Problem #3 was the meal service. We were in the first car for lunch and were served promptly and efficiently, but the poor folks in the second car were not served timely, and the crew announced that they had run out of one of the entrees, so the Car B folks couldn't have any of that one. Since we were in Car B at dinnertime we figured that the girl taking reservations would have at least recognized that the Car B folks were shorted for lunch and booked them first. She didn't. Not only that, there was no announcement for dinner for Car B until a number of us just went up to the dining car and watched and listened to the dawdlers from Car A, some of whom had had a little too much alcohol, until we were seated and served. The crowning glory of this twelve hour ride was the English film crew who were traipsing all over the train to film something for British TV. Of itself that wasn't a real problem, but when they convinced the train crew to stop at a flag stop, let the crew off, then back the train up for a half mile or so in order to film a "flag stop experience , this added about a half hour to the journey and added nothing to the other passengers' positive experience. Most of the journey was in darkness - it's Alaska in November, after all, so we didn't expect much but were hoping to see the Northern Lights and at least, Denali. Didn't happen, it was pretty much cloudy the whole trip. I do have to say that the crew on the train were friendly, capable and pretty much delightful. While this seemed like a fun and exciting adventure it turned into a grueling journey and we will not be doing it again.

Great experience!! Get to see alot of Alaska! Went from Seaaard to Anchorage! The dinner was great as well as the bar tenders making the drinks!! (: Saw lots and lots of wildlife!

A "must-do" when visiting Alaska! The scenery is breathtaking. Our crew went above and beyond to make this an excellent trip. Big shout-out and thank you to the conductor, Vern Gillis, who was playful and interactive with all the passengers. He made my little grandson's face light up by playing his harmonica and playing cards with him. This will always be a wonderful memory for us!

A must do! Take the Gold Star trip in the domed cars!! We went from Anchorage to Fairbanks. It is an 8-hour trip and worth every minute. We did the Gold Star. Included 3 meals....all delicious. A variety of drinks both alcohol and non-alcohol. Bathrooms were pristine. Staff were wonderful. Tour guide was very informative. The views were amazing. We did see some wildlife, but cloud cover prevented a view of Denali. The ability to relax and enjoy the scenery was worth it. Would do it all over again.

When we were on an Alaska cruise (our first Alaska and first cruise) with Holland America about twenty years ago we did the cruise only-Big Mistake! While the cruise was fun and the ports were interesting, for the next twenty plus years all I heard whenever Alaska cruises came up was how disappointed my wife was that we didn't go to any of the interior of Alaska. So when our son asked if we wanted to go on an Alaska cruise with them, I also added a few extra days to the schedule and I booked passage on Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Denali for a couple nights and then back to Anchorage. We decided to take the Gold Star class of service because for less than double the regular fare we were seated in a dome car, with drinks and light snacks included, and seating time preference for meals in the dining car. Taking the Alaska Railroad is not just about getting to your destination...relax and enjoy the ride. We saw eagles, moose, mountains, and a whole variety of wildlife as we made our way through wilderness with a couple of short stops at towns along the way. Another pleasant surprise was how good the food was in the dining car. The panorama of moving scenery outside the window couldn't be any better. They offered a somewhat limited menu but everything we tried was comparable to a casual but upscale restaurant and the service was also first class. I had their Cioppino and my wife had Chicken; both were delicious. Definitely save room for dessert; you will not regret it. We had a Tiramisu and Key Lime Pie Alaska Railroad style!