Category Archives: official

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Rocky Mountaineer Vacations in 2018

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Canadian travel companies, including ours, have been very busy over the past few months. With Canada celebrating its 150th birthday this year, resulting in free entry into all National Parks here, combined with the weak Canadian dollar as well as Canada being seen as a safe country to visit, we are seeing record visitors in 2017. There is no better time to come and visit our magnificent country and join in with the 150th birthday celebrations. However, due to the popularity we are seeing some hotels and rail dates now completely sold out which, if you have set dates in mind, is proving to be quite disappointing, as not all the guests booking this late into the season will be able to secure rooms in the best hotels. If there is availability, then you will receive a FREE hotel night when you book a 2017 Rocky Mountaineer package of 4 of more nights, but this offer does not hold a candle to those who are now booking their 2018 vacation this far in advance. If there is one thing our guests have learned from the 2017 season, it is that booking far in advance gets you the best rates and deals, as well as availability at the best hotels. For a deposit, you can lock in the 2018 dates you want, at the best hotels and receive the best deals.

Rocky Mountain Holidays have just updated their website to include all of the 2018 Rocky Mountaineer Vacation packages. We are very excited about the addition of the “Culinary and Adventure Packages“. These packages have been introduced based on customer feedback and are to appeal to foodies and the more adventurous types – we think they will be very popular indeed!

Rocky Mountaineer have also renamed some of their popular packages to avoid confusion and to allow you to know for sure, you are booking a genuine Rocky Mountaineer vacation package. Look out for following trade-marked route names in the packages:

Rocky Mountaineer Rail Routes – 2018
  • Journey through the Clouds™
    Means the package incorporates Jasper-Kamloops-Vancouver 2-day train route (or reverse)
  • First Passage to the West™
    Means the package incorporates Banff-Kamloops-Vancouver 2-day train route (or reverse)
  • Rainforest to Gold Rush™
    Means the package incorporates Jasper-Quesnel-Whistler-Vancouver 3-day train route (or reverse)
  • Coastal Passage®
    Means the package incorporates the newest Seattle-Vancouver 5 hour train route (or reverse)

Any operators trying to mimic a Rocky Mountaineer package can no longer do this as they can not use the above trade-marked terms in their package names. We welcome this change as it ensures guests know that they are booking a genuine Rocky Mountaineer package, and not a trimmed down inferior product.

With our Canadian dollar so weak, you can now book your trip of a lifetime for less than you think. With a weak dollar, travelling outside of Canada is expensive for us Canadians, so we are finding many Canadians are now exploring their own country with a good old “staycation”. It is a great time to travel in Canada, no matter where you are from.

Right now, Rocky Mountain Holidays are offering their best rates and deals for 2018. You will also be able to get locked into their private tours while availability is still good. Be sure to contact them directly to ensure you receive the absolute best service: RockyMountainHolidays.com

Have you travelled with Rocky Mountain Holidays or onboard the Rocky Mountaineer train? Share your experiences with us below!

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WestJet offers non-stop service to London (Gatwick) from six Canadian cities

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WestJet today announced it will launch new non-stop service next spring to London (Gatwick) a total of four times daily from six Canadian cities: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and St. John’s. These new routes represent WestJet’s first non-stop service to London, and the only non-stop service from Winnipeg to the United Kingdom.

“Canadians have been paying far too much to fly to Europe for far too long and today, as we have throughout our history, we’re going to fix that,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. “We are offering non-stop flights at very low prices and we’re proud to once again lower airfares and make travel more affordable.”

One-way fares between Canadian cities and London (Gatwick) are available starting at:

Departing Arriving Air transportation charges (ATC) Taxes, fees and charges Total one-way price from
Base fare from Other ATC
Toronto London $187 $7.50 $54.50 $249.00*CAD
Vancouver London $244 $7.50 $47.50 $299.00*CAD
Calgary London $234 $7.50 $57.50 $299.00*CAD
Edmonton London $234 $7.50 $57.50 $299.00*CAD
Winnipeg London $219 $7.50 $52.50 $279.00*CAD
St. John’s London $131 $7.50 $60.50 $199.00*CAD

*Some restrictions apply. Please see westjet.com for details. Advertised taxes and fees for European destinations may fluctuate based on exchange rate.

During peak periods from early May to early October, Vancouver service will operate six times weekly, Edmonton will operate twice weekly, Calgary five times weekly and Winnipeg once weekly. Flights from Toronto and St. John’s will operate once daily. For details, please visit westjet.com/londongatwick.

WestJet’s non-stop flights from Canada to London all operate as overnight flights leaving late afternoon or evening, which is ideal for travellers connecting to all six airports from other regions in Canada. Some 45 airlines operate from Gatwick airport, offering WestJet guests low fares and easy connections to and from approximately 200 destinations in 90 countries, more destinations than from any other airport in the UK. Located just 30 minutes from all of Central London’s many attractions, Gatwick is also one of the easiest London airports to navigate, with a monorail connecting its two terminals.

“Non-stop service between Canadian cities and London is a natural next step in the evolution of WestJet and for our transatlantic service in particular,” said Bob Cummings. “With the addition of our 767 aircraft, we will now bring our low fares and fun, friendly, people-driven service to England where we know many Canadians have relatives. This new service will also help connect family and friends on both sides of the Atlantic.”

With the exception of flights from St. John’s, which will operate on one of the airline’s Boeing Next-Generation 737s, all London flights will be operated by one of WestJet’s four 767-300ERW extended range aircraft. Featuring a new teal and blue maple leaf-themed logo, which will eventually appear on all WestJet aircraft, each 767 seats 262 guests and has a range of approximately 11 hours. The aircraft will include a Plus cabin with 24 premium seats in a two-by-two configuration, hot meals and all other amenities associated with Plus. The main cabin has 238 seats, with two seats on either side of the aircraft and three in the middle. By next spring all four 767s will be equipped with WestJet Connect, the airline’s new inflight entertainment and wireless connectivity system.

 

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2015 Rocky Mountaineer Vacations

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2015 Rocky Mountaineer Vacation Packages – itineraries, rates and dates

Rocky Mountain Holidays have just posted all 2015 Rocky Mountaineer vacation packages for 2015. There are significantly more packages available with the welcomed addition of some old favourites such as the “at leisure” packages, which give you more time in the Canadian Rockies. There are now 129 Rocky Mountaineer Canadian vacation package options to choose from.

All vacation packages were always available through customisation, although the addition of these extended packages make it much easier for guests to view itineraries and prices at a glance. Rocky Mountain Holidays also have a useful vacation search tool which assists you in finding the perfect vacation package with Rocky Mountaineer (featured below):

For 2015, at time of press, all new Rocky Mountaineer Vacation packages will be subject to a 20% non-refundable deposit. In the past, guests took advantage of the low deposits to secure their vacations in advance. For now, any guests booking 2015 will have to be a little more committed – we always recommend you take out adequate travel insurance to protect you against unforeseen circumstances.

Changes to 2015 Alaska cruise out of Vancouver

It’s goodbye to NCL in 2015 and the relationship with Holland America continues to grow strong for the 2015 season. Having travelled onboard Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam myself out of Vancouver on their 7 night round-trip Alaska cruise, I have to say it was an excellent cruise ship and perfect for the Alaskan climate with not too much outside deck.

In 2015, the ms Zuiderdam’s route will be replaced by the returning ms Noordam. The itinerary will remain the same. This ship is a Vista-class ship like the Zuiderdam and was the last built of the Vista Class ships (Zuiderdam being the first).  As this is a newer ship, Holland America made some improvements. The consensus is that this is a better ship with some slight changes –  it is a sister ship to ms Zuiderdam and has mostly identical features.  So, this is a really positive change for the rail and cruise packages in 2015.  We are already off to a great start!

Here is a nice photo I took from onboard the ms Zuiderdam as we cruised Glacier Bay National Park – just breath taking.

Photo taken from onboard Holland America's Zuiderdamas we cruised Glacier Bay National Park
Photo taken from onboard Holland America’s Zuiderdam as we cruised Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. The Zuiderdam is the sister cruise ship to ms Noordam.

Holland America’s ms Westerdam will be the cruise ship of choice out of Seattle again in 2015 and ties in nicely with the Coastal Passage route which connects Seattle to Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies.

So what new packages are available in 2015?

Taste of the Rockies Circle

Rocky Mountaineer’s research with guests and potential guests indicated that future guests are seeking more days onboard the train. To accommodate this growing demand for circle trips, Rocky Mountaineer introduced the new shorter-duration 6 night “Taste of the Rockies” Circle package.

Taste of the Rockies Circle Vacation with Rocky Mountaineer
Itinerary and map of the new 2015 “Taste of the Rockies” Circle Vacation with Rocky Mountaineer.

This rail vacation package includes both the Rocky Mountaineer’s best-selling First Passage to the West and Journey through the Clouds routes, plus a motorcoach tour along the Icefields Parkway connecting Banff and Jasper National Parks. The journey can also be extended to begin and/or end in Seattle instead of Vancouver by adding Coastal Passage, or combined with pre- or post-tour cruise options onboard the ms Noordam out of Vancouver.

Canadian Rockies Adventures

Canadian Rockies Adventures Vacation Package with Rocky Mountaineer
Canadian Rockies Adventure Vacation Package in 2015 with Rocky Mountaineer

During my years of guiding in Banff National Park, the Icefields Parkway was one of my favourite places to take guests and the scenery never failed to disappoint. This route is only accessible by road and is a favourite of many Rocky Mountaineer guests too. With this in mind, the “Canadian Rockies Adventures” vacation package was introduced for 2015.  It extends guests’ stays in Lake Louise and Banff to two nights, to allow for more time to include this spectacular highlight in their itineraries while at the same time, slowing the pace making this holiday more relaxing over 7 nights.

Please note that this package is not the same as the one with the same name sold until 2012 as the old itinerary did not include lunch on the Icefields Parkway tour or the helicopter flight at Cline River. A 7 night round-trip Alaskan cruise out of Vancouver onboard ms Noordam can also be added before or after this package.

Canadian Rockies at Leisure and Northern Rockies at Leisure

Due to increased demand of vacation packages in the Canadian Rockies with longer durations, the “Canadian Rockies at Leisure” (9 nights) and “Northern Rockies at Leisure” (10 nights) have been re-introduced. These itineraries are very similar to the best selling Western Explorer package and the Northern Explorer package, but with two night stays in Banff and Lake Louise, as well as in Jasper.  A 7-night round-trip Vancouver cruise onboard ms Noordaman can also be added to either of these packages (at the start or the end).

Coastal Passage Packages

We were some of the lucky ones to be invited onboard for the inaugural departure in August 2013 and we were certainly impressed by this new exciting route, connecting Seattle to Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies.

Back in February 2014, Rocky Mountaineer vastly expanded the number of Coastal Passage packages available, making a total of 41 package options to choose from which include this route.  For 2015, these packages will also be available with cruises from Holland America (ms Westerdam, before or after your rail tour)

As in 2014, the Coastal Passage add-on is  available to begin or end any Rocky Mountaineer package in Seattle, it can not be taken as a stand-alone.

Is that all the changes for 2015?

Yes, as far as we can see.  Apart for some minor tweaks on some existing packages, such as the Summit Helicopter tour removal from the Canadian Rockies Getaway, Grand Rail Circle, Trans-Canada Rail Adventure, and Coast to Coast by Rail, no other major changes to report.

We are delighted about the changes we have seen for the 2015 season…it will be here before we know it!

All aboard!

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Rocky Mountaineer release 2015 Rail Schedule & Rates

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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

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Upgrade for FREE onboard the Rocky Mountaineer Train

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For a limited time, book a qualifying Rocky Mountaineer holiday package of four nights or more through Rocky Mountain Holidays and receive a free rail seat upgrade on select dates in 2013. Space is limited and availability changes daily.

RedLeaf Service:
Guests receive a free rail seat upgrade to SilverLeaf Service

SilverLeaf Service:
Guests receive a free rail seat upgrade to GoldLeaf Service

GoldLeaf Service:
Guests receive a $400 credit towards the package price

Offer expected to end sometime next month (June 2013). Remember to mention the discount / promotion / coupon code: FREEUPGRADE when calling 1-888-PH-ROCKY (74-76259)

For more information on this Rocky Mountaineer Deal – visit Rocky Mountain Holidays.

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All ski resorts in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies will be open this weekend and to celebrate, we are offering a FREE 3-day Tri-Area ski pass to one lucky Twitter follower (CA$279.09 value with tax). The Tri-Area ski pass covers Banff Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise ski resorts as well as the ski shuttles from Banff. Banff Norquay celebrated it’s earliest opening ever and is currently open weekends until November 30 2012. Sunshine Village and Lake Louise are set to open for the season this Friday, November 9 2012.

To enter, follow all you have to do is:

  1. Follow us on Twitter @HolidaysCanada
  2. RT the tweet below

One of tweeters who RT will be chosen at random to win the 3-day Tri-Area pass. The pass must be redeemed and used this season. Good luck and happy skiing!

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Rocky Mountain Holidays™| Reviews

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You should always research the travel company before you make a reservation with them.

We are proudly based in Beautiful British Columbia (BC) here in Western Canada which is currently one of the most heavily regulated Canadian provinces for travel companies. With this comes Consumer Protection BC, which by law, BC travel companies must be licensed with in order to offer you, the consumer, financial holiday protection. Our Consumer Protection BC licence number is 58516 or you can simply look us up by business or trade name. For those of you from the U.K. this kind of protection is similar to that of ABTA or ATOL.

rocky-peak Holidays | Rocky Mountain Holidays | BBB | A+

Another place to check out a North American business is the Better Business Bureau. We currently hold their highest rating of A+. Their ratings are based on a number of factors including time in business and consumer complaints.

Finally, the internet is a wonderful thing and you can easily find out a lot about a company by searching their company name online. If guests are not happy, they will likely complain online. If guests are thrilled with the service they receive, they will likely seek out review sites to let the world know about their positive experiences. If you can’t find anything on a company online, you have to ask yourself why.

rocky-peak Holidays | Rocky Mountain Holidays | 5-stars

We are thrilled that we are currently rated 5 stars on www.reviewcentre.com, this is their highest rating.  We are grateful that our satisfied guests have taken the time to review us online through various sites. If you were one of those guests who reviewed us, thank you!

Reviews for Rocky Mountain Holidays (rocky-peak Holidays)

We understand that most guest’s decision on who to book with is price – this is the bottom line for most and we understand this by keeping our rates competitive. We take care of our guests from your initial contact with us through to your feedback when you return and so you can always be rest assured, you will be taken excellent care of when you book through Rocky Mountain Holidays™, a trade mark of rocky-peak Holidays Ltd.

Thank you for choosing us!

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Seattle to Canadian Rockies by Rocky Mountaineer train

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This is a promotional Rocky Mountaineer video of the new Coastal Passage route, set to debut in August 2013. Please read our last post for more information. The 3-day route connects Seattle (via Vancouver) with Banff and Jasper in the Canadian Rockies as well as Calgary. Any questions, please drop us a line.

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Rocky Mountaineer Vacations 2013

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Rocky Mountaineer 2013 packages are now available to book with Rocky Mountain Holidays.

For 2013, there are less vacation package options due to the fact that a lot of packages can easily be customised making some of the current 2012 packages redundant.

The new Rocky Mountaineer Coastal Passage Route – 2013:

Rocky Mountaineer Coastal Passage Route - 2013

The most exciting addition is the new Coastal Passage Route from Seattle which connects to Vancouver then onto Banff or Jasper in the Canadian Rockies. There is currently only one departure date set in August 2013 which means that this debut route will likely book up quite early.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Another addition for 2013 is the option to board and disembark the Rocky Mountaineer train in Lake Louise (as well as Banff as before) in Banff National Park. This provides us with more customisation options based on guest preferences.  The station is located just southwest of the Lake Louise Village, and less than 5 km northeast of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. The address is: 200 Sentinel Road Lake Louise, Alberta T0L 1E0. View Map

Motorcoach transfers will be available to and from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and are included on all packages except 2 day rail-only. For guests departing from Lake Louise, please note that all check-ins will be at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and NOT on the station platform or at the station itself.

Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf Service - 2013

After the successful introduction of the onboard SilverLeaf service in 2012, the Rocky Mountaineer will also be offering this service on the Vancouver to Jasper two (2) day “Journey through the Clouds” route. SilverLeaf service will not be available onboard the Rocky Mountaineer route between Whistler and Jasper in 2013 and could potentially be introduced in 2014.

Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Deluxe Service - 2013

For the most luxurious accommodation option, this has been rebranded as “GoldLeaf Deluxe Service”. This allows us to book more than just Fairmont properties, such as the Four Seasons brand in this deluxe accommodation category, without conflicting with the Fairmont branding.

Cruise terminal transfers will be included with all Rocky Mountaineer rail and cruise packages in 2013.

Other than on packages connecting to Coastal Passage route, Holland America’s Oosterdam cruise from Seattle up to Alaska has been removed in 2013.

The Rocky Mountaineer city stops will not be available in 2013.

Rocky Mountain Holidays now have all of the 2013 Canada rail vacation packages for download along with early-bird pricing and promotions.

Thanks for reading and don’t hesitate to message us direct with any questions you may have. For reservations, we recommend you book direct with Rocky Mountain Holidays, an A+ rated business with the Better Business Bureau (their highest rating) and licensed with Consumer Protection BC for financial protection.

Safe travels 🙂

 

 

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Rocky Mountaineer Coastal Passage Route

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ROCKY MOUNTAINEER TO DEBUT NEW ROUTE FROM THE US IN 2013

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (April 24, 2012) – Internationally-acclaimed Rocky Mountaineer, is pleased to announce the debut of its new Coastal Passage route, departing Seattle, WA in August 2013. This unique rail journey will seamlessly connect major cities Seattle and Vancouver, BC to the Canadian Rockies. Coastal Passage marks the company’s fifth rail route and the first time the award-winning rail service will depart from the United States.

“We are very excited to offer a new route from Seattle, WA, giving travellers who fly into the region or cruise to Alaska from the port even more options and convenience to experience Western Canada by rail,” says Dan Joyce, Executive Director, Strategic Development of Rocky Mountaineer. “Coastal Passage will be a great addition to the exclusive routes we currently offer and a unique opportunity to experience two amazing countries, rich in history and natural wonders. We look forward to welcoming guests onboard in 2013.

Guests on the Coastal Passage route will traverse the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, the renowned scenery of British Columbia and the majestic mountains of the Canadian Rockies from the comfort of Rocky Mountaineer’s award-winning GoldLeaf Service. Onboard, they will enjoy luxurious surroundings in a bi-level custom-designed dome coach with panoramic views, gourmet cuisine in a private dining room and personalized service by Rocky Mountaineer Hosts.

Coastal Passage will be available August 24 and 25, 2013, both northbound and southbound, with packages allowing for stays in Seattle, Vancouver, and the resort towns of Banff or Jasper, AB.

Contact Rocky Mountain Holidays for more information or to book.