Wilderness Express - Domed Railcars
Like the progressive design of our ships, the Wilderness Express railcars are the most innovative in the travel and tourism industry. The railcars are among the largest in the world. Listed below are some highlights of the railcars:
DESIGN FEATURES
- Overall Railcar dimensions 18’ high, 85’ long, 10’ wide
- Widest dome seats(of any railcar in Alaska) at 23” wide
- Total of 80 leather upholstered seats, which recline and are all located in the upper dome level.
- Both level’s are ADA accessible and accommodate wheelchairs from the rail platform via elevator
- Onboard Host/Guide providing narration throughout trip
- Dining room (lower level) accommodates 36 guests per seating.
- Meals are freshly prepared by the onboard chef
- Full bar service and espresso bar available
- Outside viewing platform
- Two restrooms including one ADA accessible
- Gift Shop display area with items available for purchase
Food and beverages onboard the railcars are available at an additional cost.
Railcar Seating
If a family or group is traveling together every effort will be made to seat the group together. Railcar seating is not pre-assigned and while enroute guests may walk around the railcars, enjoy a meal, go to the outside viewing platform, etc.
ALASKARAILROAD CONSIST TRAVEL
Royal Celebrity Tours operates four luxury-domed railcars that were custom built for operation in Alaska. The railcars, named the Wilderness Express, transport guests inland through the heart of Alaskabetween Fairbanks and Anchorage on the Alaska Railroad consist. This means the Wilderness Express is pulled by an Alaska Railroad locomotive along with railcars from the Alaska Railroad, HollandAmerica and Princess. It’s not uncommon to find the Alaska Railroad consist composed of 20 or more railcars on any given day. Each day there is a consist traveling from North to South through the interior of Alaska and a second consist traveling South to North. These consists parallel each other.
The total travel time by train from Fairbanks to Anchorage is 12 hours. This is divided into the following segments – indicative of a North to South travel pattern:
Fairbanks to Denali4 ½ hours
Denali to Talkeetna4 hours
Talkeetna to Anchorage3 ½ hours
Anchorage to Denali7 ½ hours
Guests on a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruisetour will never be on the railcar for more than one segment at a time. Therefore,guests are never traveling more than 4 ½ hours on the railcar.