Category Archives: holidays

Rocky Mountaineer Train Holidays 2011

We are not even into August 2010 yet and the rates have been released for all Rocky Mountaineer Train and Cruise Holiday packages for 2011. They have kept most of the packages the same as 2010 but have added an Alaska cruise from Seattle onboard Holland America’s ms Oosterdam to seven of their existing popular 2010 train holiday packages. Alaska cruises from Vancouver for 2011 are still onboard the Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam, which, in our opinion, has to be one of, if not, the best cruise ship sailing up to Alaska from Vancouver, Canada.

Below are the new 2011 Rocky Mountaineer train holiday packages with the Seattle cruise add-on. The links are to PDF documents on RockyMountainHolidays.com.

Rocky Mountaineer with Cruise to Alaska from Seattle

New Rocky Mountaineer Holiday Products for 2011

There have not been any major changes to the 2010 Rocky Mountaineer packages for 2011. Any changes are “tweaks” to already very popular and exciting train holiday packages.

Changes to Existing 2010 Products for 2011

  • All tours that overnight in Vancouver now include admission to the Vancouver Lookout
  • All tours that overnight in Calgary now include admission to the Calgary Tower
  • RedLeaf Service pre- or post-cruise tour packages now utilize Ocean- View Staterooms (Category D).
  • GoldLeaf Service pre- or post-cruise tour packages continue to use Deluxe Verandah Ocean-View Staterooms (Category VC).
  • Classic Rail Circle now has an additional pre-night in Vancouver plus a six hour sightseeing tour of Vancouver’s spectacular North Shore.
  • Grand Rail Circle now has an additional pre-night in Vancouver plus a six hour sightseeing tour of Vancouver’s spectacular North Shore
  • Canadian Rockies Highlights now has an additional pre-night in Vancouver plus a six hour sightseeing tour of Vancouver’s spectacular North Shore.
  • Canadian Rockies Highlights – 5 nights is also available; this is the same as the 2010 Canadian Rockies Highlights.
  • Canadian Rockies Circle is now 9 nights in duration instead of 12 nights.
  • The westbound itineraries of Trans-Canada Rail Adventure, Canada’s Coast to Coast by Rail, and the post-tour cruise options of these packages now include 2 nights in Jasper plus a Jasper highlights motorcoach tour, but only one night in Lake Louise.
  • City Stop add-on products are able to be sold independently, with rail-only, or in conjunction with any Rocky Mountaineer packages. Please note that transportation to/from the station or airport is not included in any City Stop packages.
  • Taxi transfers to/from cruise terminals in Vancouver are no longer included.
  • Travel documentation will advise of estimated taxi transfer rates, and limousine transfers available for purchase.

Discontinued 2010 Rocky Mountaineer Holiday Products

New for 2011 – Child and Youth Rates

New for 2011, Rocky Mountaineer holiday packages now include rates for youths (ages 12-18) and children (ages 2-11) when travelling with at least one single adult guest.

The published child and youth prices will apply for a maximum of 1 child or youth sharing with 1 adult. Parties of 1 adult and 2 or more children/youths will have to be booked with a minimum of 2 adults. It is not possible to book a single room with more than 2 persons sharing.


These are all the changes to the Rocky Mountaineer Holiday packages for 2011. Rocky Mountaineer package information which include cruises up to Alaska from Vancouver or Seattle can be all found at RockyMountainHolidays.com. You can view all the latest Rocky Mountaineer early-bird deals there too.

FREE night at Vancouver Fairmont 2010

Book a Rocky Mountaineer rail tour package of 3 nights or more on GoldLeaf Service or 5 nights or more on RedLeaf Service between June 7 and August 31, 2010 and receive a FREE additional night at a Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver. Some conditions apply.

Book by August 31, 2010 to take advantage of this special offer!

Download the packages below or visit Rocky Mountain Holidays.


Circle Tour Holiday Packages (Start and finish in Vancouver):

One-Way Tour Holiday Packages (Can be taken in either direction):

Trans-Canada Rail Tour Holiday Packages (Can be taken in either direction):

Rail and Self-Drive Holiday Packages (Can be taken in either direction):

City Stop Add-Ons (To be added to any of our packages or purchased separately):


Alternatively you can call 0800-567-7542 (freephone) from the U.K. or 1-888-747-6259 (freephone) from within North America.

Rocky Mountaineer Holidays 2010

The Rocky Mountaineer® Train offers spectacular rail journeys across Western Canada in the spring, summer and autumn months.

The Rocky Mountaineer® train operates through the Canadian Rockies in either direction to Vancouver from Calgary, Banff or Jasper and also to Whistler from Jasper. The train only operates during daylight hours to maximise your viewing experience and pleasure.

Rocky Mountaineer Routes

The Whistler Mountaineer™ train now known as the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb, is a three-hour experience connecting North Vancouver and Whistler which allows you to take a complete rail loop from Vancouver, Whistler and Jasper.

Make sure you make your holiday in Western Canada a Rocky Mountaineer Holiday.

Source: Rocky Mountain Holidays

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.

Famous People and Celebrities Onboard The Rocky Mountaineer

The Rocky Mountaineer train is one of the most famous and spectacular train journeys in the world and as a result attracts famous people and celebrities. Below is a list of famous people and celebrities who have been on this spectacular rail journey (that we know of!).

When you go on a Rocky Mountaineer Holiday – you never know who you may see!

  • Peter Jennings, ABC News Anchor
  • Sam Sullivan, Former Mayor of Vancouver
  • Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation
  • Stephane Dion, Former Leader of the Liberal Party
  • Joe Clark, Former Prime Minister of Canada
  • John Reynolds, MP/MLA and Speaker of the House of Commons
  • Chaim Herzog, Former Israeli President
  • Molly Sugdeon, TV Actor – played the role of Mrs. Slocum on the British comedy “Are you being served?”
  • Carroll Spinney, TV Actor – played the role of Big Bird on “Sesame Street”
  • The great-great-grandson of Simon Fraser – he proposed to his fiancée on the Fraser River between Lytton and Vancouver on the westbound leg of the journey in the dome car
  • The great-great-granddaughter of Billy Barker (Onboard in 2008)
  • Andrew Jergens, Inheritance magnate of Jergen Soap Products – one of the family members with him is the inventor of Crocs (shoes)
  • Dal Richards, Musician, Dal Richards Orchesta (Vancouver)
  • Carlo Rota, TV Actor, host of “Great Canadian Cooking Show” and now starring on “Little Mosque on the Prairie”
  • Charlotte Gray, Host of CBC’s “The Greatest Canadian”
  • Morgan Freeman, Film Actor
  • Ken Dodd, British Comedian – he resembles a real life Austin Powers.
  • Dr. Heimlich, Inventor of the Heimlich Maneuver
  • Thaksin Shinawata, Former Prime Minister of Thailand (Onboard in 2003)
  • Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft – he bought out an entire RM GLS dome coach for him and his family and asked to stop the train for a photoutside. This was allowed for him, of course. (Onboard in 2003)
  • Patrick Stewart, TV Actor – Jean Luc Picard, “Star Trek Next Generation” (Onboard in 2006)
  • Hans Blix, Swedish Diplomat – served as the United Nations Chief Weapons Inspector (he was the one who told George Bush there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, although Bush invaded anyway). (Onboard in 2006)
  • Anna Faris, Film/TV Actress – Scary Movie, Entourage, The House Bunny, etc. With a group of friends onboard RM winter train. (Onboard in 2007)
  • John Bishop, Chef of Bishops Restaurant in Vancouver, BC

The Whistler Mountaineer

  • Rajan Datar, Host of BBC TV “Fast Tracks” – he is a very well known British Television personality with program aired internationally. (Onboard in 2006)
  • Alan Thicke, TV/Film Actor, “Growing Pains”. (Onboard in 2007)
  • John Curly, Host of “Evening Magazine” (Seattle). (Onboard in 2007)
  • Johanna Ward, Host of Shaw Cable’s “The Express”. (Onboard in 2007)
  • Michael Eckford and Fiona Forbes, Hosts of Shaw Cable’s “Urban Rush” (Onboard in 2007)

To obtain Rocky Mountaineer prices please visit Rocky Mountain Holidays for a full list of downloadable PDF brochures.

Rocky Mountain Holidays

Rocky Mountain Holidays

We are pleased to introduce our updated RockyMountainHolidays.com website. We have made the site simpler to navigate through to help you plan your Rocky Mountain Holiday with us.

This website provides detailed information on the following Canadian locations:

In addition, we also provide summarised details on the services we offer:

We hope you enjoy our new website and please do not hesitate to contact us through Rocky Mountain Holidays to help plan your holiday in Canada, anytime of the year!

Any feedback on our site you may have can be posted here. Thanks for reading!