Category Archives: sea to sky

Rocky Mountaineer release 2015 Rail Schedule & Rates

Rocky Mountain Holidays posted Rocky Mountaineer’s anticipated rail schedule and rates for 2015 today. We have highlighted the main changes below.

Rocky Mountaineer's Coastal Passage Route
The Rocky Mountaineer train travelling north from Seattle to Vancouver  [Coastal Passage Route]
After Rocky Mountaineer’s launch of their successful Coastal Passage Route in 2013, which connects Seattle to Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies, they have introduced a planned 18 northbound and southbound departures, up from 12 departures this year (2014). The Coastal Passage Route can still only be booked in conjunction with 2-day rail, it cannot be booked as a standalone product.

The Rocky Mountaineer 2-day rail departures for 2015 remain the same, however, there will be no break in 2015 during the first week of August as per previous years. This break was due to annual maintenance of the trains but they have now changed this schedule to ensure a continuous service.

Rates have increased significantly for 2-day rail over their 2014 rates and at time of press, Rocky Mountain Holidays were still offering 2014 Rocky Mountaineer vacation package pricing for 2015.

In 2015, there are no longer two price bands of April through to May, and June through to October. In the past, April and May departures for 2-day rail were reduced to encourage guests to travel earlier in the season. As a result of this change, there have been some significant price hikes, especially for travel in April and May:

2-day Rail – Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies [Jasper, Lake Louise or Banff]

For April and May train departures in 2015:

  • RedLeaf = +26% rate increase over 2014
  • SilverLeaf = +12% rate increase over 2014
  • GoldLeaf = +10.5% rate increase over 2014

For June through to October train departures in 2015:

  • RedLeaf = +14.6% rate increase over 2014
  • SilverLeaf = +5% rate increase over 2014
  • GoldLeaf =  +5% rate increase over 2014
Rocky Mountaineer Train, Morant's Curve
The Rocky Mountaineer train in Banff National Park, travelling eastwards between Lake Louise and Banff [Morant’s Curve]

2-day Rail – Vancouver through the Canadian Rockies to Calgary

For April and May train departures in 2015:

  • RedLeaf = +23.4% rate increase over 2014
  • SilverLeaf = +11% rate increase over 2014
  • GoldLeaf = +9.8% rate increase over 2014

For June through to October train departures in 2015:

  • RedLeaf = +13.2% rate increase over 2014
  • SilverLeaf = +4.6% rate increase over 2014
  • GoldLeaf =  +4.7% rate increase over 2014

Vancouver to Whistler 3.5 hour train [Sea-to-Sky Climb]

For May through to September train departures in 2015:

  • Classic Service – One Way = Almost 18% rate increase over 2014
  • Classic Service – Return =  Over 11% rate increase over 2014

Seattle to Vancouver train [Coastal Passage Route]

  • SilverLeaf = +10% rate increase over 2014 ($50 increase per person)
  • GoldLeaf = +7.1% rate increase over 2014 ($50 increase per person)

Why such dramatic rate increases in 2015?

Our assumption is that rising operating costs, updates to their GoldLeaf dome coaches, along with expansion into the United States are all reasons for increased rates. The weakening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar has also contributed to potential increased costs in 2015.

The upgrade margins between RedLeaf, SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf service have been narrowed to entice guests to indulge in the ultimate luxury of GoldLeaf service onboard.

From November 1st, 2013, Rocky Mountaineer imposed rail fuel surcharges on all of their routes in 2014 due to rising oil prices, so taking that into consideration, the actual percentage rate increases from 2014 are less (as long as more fuel surcharges aren’t imposed for 2015). Rocky Mountain Holidays are still currently offering “rail and cruise fuel surcharge protection” on all of their Rocky Mountaineer bookings, so they will pay any fuel surcharges imposed on your behalf when you book through them.

The Canadian Dollar ["Loonie"]
The Canadian dollar has weakened significantly over the past year, most dramatically over the past few months.

How do these rate increases affect you?

The good news for most international guests is that the Canadian dollar has weakened significantly over the past year, most dramatically over the past few months.

For example:

  • The U.K. pound has increased in value against the Canadian dollar by 17% over the past year
  • The U.S. dollar has increased in value against the Canadian dollar by 10% over the past year

Unfortunately, Australians have seen a 5% decline in the Australian dollar against the Canadian dollar over the past year and most guests who live in Canada will not see any benefit in a weakened Canadian dollar.

That being said, the early-bird booking deals set to be offered for 2015 will be very attractive to encourage guests to book far in advance.

What do you think about these changes? Feel free to comment below.

Source: Rocky Mountain Holidays

Rocky Mountaineer Train Packages 2012

Rocky Mountain Holidays now have all 2012 Rocky Mountaineer packages available for download. We are glad to see they have kept most of the packages the same with some of the popular packages having additional cruise ship departures added. One new route we are excited about is the “Coastal Passage” route which connects Seattle and Vancouver with the Rocky Mountaineer Train. The Whistler Mountaineer will no longer have dome service available for 2012. The dome trains used on the Vancouver to Whistler route will now be used for the new SilverLeaf service in 2012 which was introduced this year. For your convenience, we have provided links to all of the packages below. Alternatively, you can visit Rocky Mountain Holidays direct for their Rocky Mountaineer package download page.

2012 Rocky Mountaineer Circle Packages Start End Duration
Classic Rail Circle Vancouver Vancouver 8 nights
Classic Rail Circle with Pre Cruise Vancouver Vancouver 14 nights
Classic Rail Circle with Post Cruise Vancouver Vancouver 14 nights
Classic Rail Circle with Post Cruise Vancouver Seattle 16 nights
Canadian Rockies Getaway Vancouver Vancouver 8 nights
Canadian Rockies Getaway with Pre Cruise Vancouver Vancouver 17 nights
Canadian Rockies Getaway with Post Cruise Vancouver Vancouver 16 nights
Canadian Rockies Getaway with Pre Cruise Seattle Vancouver 16 nights
Canadian Rockies Circle Vancouver Vancouver 9 nights
Canadian Rockies Circle with Pre Cruise Vancouver Vancouver 17 nights
Canadian Rockies Circle with Post Cruise Vancouver Vancouver 16 nights
Canadian Rockies Circle with Post Cruise Vancouver Seattle 17 nights
Grand Rail Circle Vancouver Vancouver 11 nights
Grand Rail Circle with Post Cruise Vancouver Vancouver 16 nights
Golden Circle via Whistler Vancouver Vancouver 10 nights
Golden Circle via Whistler with Pre Cruise Vancouver Vancouver 17 nights
Sea to Summit Glacier Circle with Post Cruise Vancouver Vancouver 18 nights


2012 Rocky Mountaineer One-Way Packages Start End Duration
Classic First Passage to the West Vancouver Banff 3 nights
Classic First Passage to the West Banff Vancouver 3 nights
Classic First Passage to West with Pre Cruise Vancouver Banff 11 nights
Classic First Passage to West with Post Cruise Banff Vancouver 11 nights
Classic First Passage to the West Vancouver Calgary 3 nights
Classic First Passage to the West Calgary Vancouver 3 nights
Classic Journey through the Clouds Vancouver Jasper 3 nights
Classic Journey through the Clouds Jasper Vancouver 3 nights
Classic Journey with Pre Cruise Vancouver Jasper 12 nights
Classic Journey with Post Cruise Jasper Vancouver 10 nights
Classic Journey with Pre Cruise Seattle Jasper 11 nights
Classic Journey with Post Cruise Jasper Seattle 11 nights
Canadian Rockies Excursion (Eastbound) Vancouver Calgary 4 nights
Canadian Rockies Excursion (Westbound) Calgary Vancouver 4 nights
Canadian Rockies Excursion with Pre Cruise Vancouver Calgary 12 nights
Canadian Rockies Excursion with Post Cruise Calgary Vancouver 12 nights
Canadian Rockies and Whistler (Eastbound) Vancouver Jasper 4 nights
Canadian Rockies and Whistler (Westbound) Jasper Vancouver 4 nights
Canadian Rockies and Whistler, Pre Cruise Vancouver Jasper 11 nights
Canadian Rockies and Whistler, Post Cruise Jasper Vancouver 11 nights
Canadian Rockies Highlights – 5 nights Vancouver Calgary 5 nights
Canadian Rockies Highlights – 5 nights Calgary Vancouver 5 nights
Canadian Rockies Highlights – 6 nights Vancouver Calgary 6 nights
Canadian Rockies Highlights – 6 nights Calgary Vancouver 6 nights
Canadian Rockies Highlights with Pre Cruise Vancouver Calgary 13 nights
Canadian Rockies Highlights with Post Cruise Calgary Vancouver 13 nights
Canadian Rockies Adventures (Eastbound) Vancouver Calgary 7 nights
Canadian Rockies Adventures (Westbound) Calgary Vancouver 7 nights
Canadian Rockies Adventures, Pre Cruise Vancouver Calgary 15 nights
Canadian Rockies Adventures, Post Cruise Calgary Vancouver 15 nights
Western Explorer (Eastbound) Vancouver Calgary 7 nights
Western Explorer (Westbound) Calgary Vancouver 7 nights
Western Explorer with Pre Cruise Vancouver Calgary 16 nights
Western Explorer with Post Cruise Calgary Vancouver 14 nights
Western Explorer with Pre Cruise Seattle Calgary 15 nights
Western Explorer with Post Cruise Calgary Seattle 15 nights
Northern Explorer (Eastbound) Vancouver Calgary 8 nights
Northern Explorer (Westbound) Calgary Vancouver 8 nights
Northern Explorer with Pre Cruise Vancouver Calgary 15 nights
Northern Explorer with Post Cruise Calgary Vancouver 15 nights
Canadian Rockies at Leisure (Eastbound) Vancouver Calgary 9 nights
Canadian Rockies at Leisure (Westbound) Calgary Vancouver 9 nights
Canadian Rockies at Leisure, Pre Cruise Vancouver Calgary 18 nights
Canadian Rockies at Leisure, Post Cruise Calgary Vancouver 16 nights
Canadian Rockies at Leisure, Pre Cruise Seattle Calgary 17 nights
Canadian Rockies at Leisure, Post Cruise Calgary Seattle 17 nights
Northern Rockies at Leisure (Eastbound) Vancouver Calgary 10 nights
Northern Rockies at Leisure (Westbound) Calgary Vancouver 10 nights
Northern Rockies at Leisure, Pre Cruise Vancouver Calgary 17 nights
Northern Rockies at Leisure, Post Cruise Calgary Vancouver 17 nights


NEW! 2012 Coastal Passage Tours Start End Duration
Canadian Rockies Highlights + Coastal Passage Seattle Calgary 7 nights
Canadian Rockies Highlights + Coastal Passage Calgary Seattle 7 nights
Canadian Rockies Highlights + Coastal Passage, Pre Cruise Seattle Calgary 12 nights
Canadian Rockies Highlights + Coastal Passage, Post Cruise Calgary Seattle 14 nights
Western Explorer + Coastal Passage Seattle Calgary 9 nights
Western Explorer + Coastal Passage Calgary Seattle 9 nights
Western Explorer + Coastal Passage, Pre Cruise Seattle Calgary 15 nights
Western Explorer + Coastal Passage, Post Cruise Calgary Seattle 15 nights
Classic Coastal Passage, Pre Cruise Seattle Jasper 11 nights
Classic Coastal Passage, Post Cruise Jasper Seattle 11 nights
Classic Coastal Passage, Pre Cruise Seattle Banff 10 nights
Classic Coastal Passage, Post Cruise Banff Seattle 12 nights


2012 Trans-Canada Packages Start End Duration
Trans-Canada Rail Adventure (Eastbound) Vancouver Toronto 11 nights
Trans-Canada Rail Adventure (Westbound) Toronto Vancouver 12 nights
Trans-Canada Rail Adventure with Pre Cruise Vancouver Toronto 19 nights
Trans-Canada Rail Adventure with Post Cruise Toronto Vancouver 20 nights
Coast to Coast by Rail (Eastbound) Vancouver Halifax 15 nights
Coast to Coast by Rail (Westbound) Halifax Vancouver 16 nights
Coast to Coast by Rail with Pre Cruise Vancouver Halifax 23 nights
Coast to Coast by Rail with Post Cruise Halifax Vancouver 24 nights


2012 Rail and Self-Drive Packages Start End Duration
Banff the Beautiful Rail and Drive Vancouver Calgary 5 nights
Banff the Beautiful Rail and Drive Calgary Vancouver 5 nights
Banff the Beautiful with Pre Cruise Vancouver Calgary 13 nights
Banff the Beautiful with Post Cruise Calgary Vancouver 13 nights
First Passage to the West Discovery Vancouver Calgary 7 nights
First Passage to the West Discovery Calgary Vancouver 7 nights
First Passage to the West, Pre Cruise Vancouver Calgary 15 nights
First Passage to the West, Post Cruise Calgary Vancouver 15 nights
Journey through the Clouds Discovery Vancouver Calgary 7 nights
Journey through the Clouds Discovery Calgary Vancouver 7 nights
Journey through the Clouds, Pre Cruise Vancouver Calgary 16 nights
Journey through the Clouds, Post Cruise Calgary Vancouver 14 nights
Journey through the Clouds, Pre Cruise Seattle Calgary 15 nights
Journey through the Clouds, Post Cruise Calgary Seattle 15 nights
Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Drive Vancouver Calgary 8 nights
Rainforest to Gold Rush Discovery Drive Calgary Vancouver 8 nights
Rainforest to Gold Rush Drive, Pre Cruise Vancouver Calgary 15 nights
Rainforest to Gold Rush Drive, Post Cruise Calgary Vancouver 15 nights


2012 Rocky Mountaineer City Stop Add-Ons Start End Duration
Explore Vancouver Vancouver Vancouver 1 night
Explore Victoria from Vancouver – Pre-Tour Vancouver Vancouver 2 nights
Explore Victoria from Vancouver – Post-Tour Vancouver Vancouver 2 nights
Explore Whistler from Vancouver – Pre-Tour Vancouver Vancouver 2 nights
Explore Whistler from Vancouver – Post-Tour Vancouver Vancouver 2 nights
Explore Victoria and Seattle (Northbound) Seattle Vancouver 2 nights
Explore Victoria and Seattle (Southbound) Vancouver Seattle 2 nights
Whales and Bears of Tofino Vancouver Vancouver 3 nights

Source

Rocky Mountaineer Tax Increase 2010

Rocky Mountaineer Logo

With the introduction of the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in British Columbia, Rocky Mountaineer Holiday packages will increase by up to 7%.

For those of you who are planning to book your holiday in Canada, or are about to book your holiday, be sure to read the following as you could save up to 7%. If you book and pay in full by the end of this month (April 2010), then you will only have to pay the standard Federal goods and services tax (GST) of 5%.


IMPORTANT ADVISORY – CHANGE IN CANADIAN SALES TAXES

The Province of British Columbia, Canada, has tabled legislation to introduce a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on goods and services, effective July 1, 2010. This tax will merge federal (GST) and provincial taxes (PST) into one single amount, the HST and will, unfortunately, increase the cost of your Rocky Mountaineer® Holiday by up to 7%.

The HST applies to all Rocky Mountaineer bookings with travel dates beginning in Canada after July 1, 2010.

Below summarises three options for consideration in the implementation of HST:

1. Bookings received prior to May 1, 2010 with a payment due date by April 30, 2010

Transitional rules allow bookings made prior to May 1, 2010 to be taxed under the old GST rules if the payment is due and paid for by April 30, 2010.

2. Bookings made after April 30th, for travel before July 1, 2010

Transitional rules allow bookings made prior as of May 1, 2010, for travel before July 1, 2010 to be taxed under the old GST rules.

3. Tax rate increases for bookings made after April 30th, for travel after July 1, 2010

The changes required to comply with the new HST will result in tax increases to an effective rate of 8% – 11% for Rocky Mountaineer bookings. Please note the following exceptions: Whistler Sea to Sky bookings all have a 12% tax rate, bookings with a cruise or VIA Rail component will have a tax rate determined by the originating province of the trip.


Please visit RockyMountainHolidays.com for more Rocky Mountaineer Tax Information.

Highway 99 | Sea-to-Sky| OPEN

For those of you wishing to travel to Whistler from Vancouver on the Sea-to-Sky, there is finally good news about the rock slide which has blocked the road for some days.

The Sea-to Sky, Highway 99, re-opened at 11 pm last night, Saturday August 2nd 2008. Please expect delays due to extremely high traffic volumes and continued clearing efforts.

More detailed information on this event can be found at cbc.ca