Butts
Veteran Member
First class ticket holders get free breakfast plus water and chocolate is provided in the cabins. The Avanti lounge at Euston is satisfactory.
What does the breakfast consist of ?
First class ticket holders get free breakfast plus water and chocolate is provided in the cabins. The Avanti lounge at Euston is satisfactory.
I suppose there's the point that if you can afford the first class fare then a few more quid for a meal and drink shouldn't trouble your finances. With Caledonian Sleeper there's the further argument that taxpayers subsidise every passenger, even those travelling first class.The cheapest ‘first class’ (Club) cabin available for London - Glasgow between now and the end of September is £235, available on three dates: the last Monday in each of August and September, plus Weds Sep 20th. The more typical price is £290. This is (almost) the price per room, ie two travelling together lay only a little more.
As to the question about food and drink - theres a free breakfast and use of the lounge before departure. I wouldn’t expect a free evening meal and booze before I go to my room for the night in the same way I don’t expect that at a Premier Inn or Claridges.
I suppose there's the point that if you can afford the first class fare then a few more quid for a meal and drink shouldn't trouble your finances. With Caledonian Sleeper there's the further argument that taxpayers subsidise every passenger, even those travelling first class.
Obviously this is quite a simplification but you can imagine some folk being critical of providing lavish complimentary hospitality.
Performing some research of your own may answer this...What does the breakfast consist of ?
Performing some research of your own may answer this...
Nonetheless: https://www.sleeper.scot/menu-overview/menus/breakfast-menu/
Double and Club guests get the choice between various free breakfast items:
- Porridge
- Bacon Roll
- Sausage (plant based or not) Roll
- Granola Yoghurt
- "traditional Scottish breakfast"
- smoked salmon omelette with avocado & sourdough, or
- a traditional vegan breakfast
If there are two of you, presumably! Otherwise, perhaps if you ask nicely.Can you have 2 bacon rolls ?
There are a range of options and the menu can be found online. Overall, its a pretty good offering food wise - the menu items are complimented by toast on demand, fruit juice, tea/coffee etc.What does the breakfast consist of ?
You do also get a free hot or cold drink of choice and a cereal bar if you’re in the cheaper rooms, served to the room.
I wouldn’t expect a full breakfast for free but it’s nice to have the hot drink as that’s something I would expect from a hotel
Is the cafe still there at Fort William station? I remember having a pretty good fry up there when I did the sleeper in Mk3 days.TBH I would prefer it being chargeable and the fare slightly cheaper accordingly, I don't really want breakfast that early, I'd rather arrive and find a decent cafe for a proper one. The only exception being the Fort William with its relatively late arrival, though Morrisons is just outside the station and does a decent fry-up all day so I'd probably hang on for that!
I suppose it depends on how much it costs them to provide it - I would guess it’s very little.TBH I would prefer it being chargeable and the fare slightly cheaper accordingly, I don't really want breakfast that early, I'd rather arrive and find a decent cafe for a proper one. The only exception being the Fort William with its relatively late arrival, though Morrisons is just outside the station and does a decent fry-up all day so I'd probably hang on for that!
You know if they did that, the fare wouldn't go down...TBH I would prefer it being chargeable and the fare slightly cheaper accordingly, I don't really want breakfast that early, I'd rather arrive and find a decent cafe for a proper one. The only exception being the Fort William with its relatively late arrival, though Morrisons is just outside the station and does a decent fry-up all day so I'd probably hang on for that!
And it did look good, shows that even if you don't get a breakfast on the sleeper there is normally options available close to the station. Even if it's a SpoonsAnd the station cafe on fort William station is really good as well, I ate there at the start of the year having done a red eye CityLink coach from Glasgow, ironically to meet a friend who had come up on the beds
And it did look good, shows that even if you don't get a breakfast on the sleeper there is normally options available close to the station. Even if it's a Spoons
My only - albeit minor - issue with the Sleeper breakfast is it seems to be among the last places left that serves tea and coffee with those awful UHT cartons...surely at these prices they can get a few pints of fresh milk in the fridge - it won't go sour from Euston!Or McD's if that's your thing. I am quite partial to a double sausage and egg. Though the Maccies closest to Edinburgh Waverley is about the roughest place I know (though the one near Liverpool Central has to be close).
Sorry but if your paying the price for premium cabins then being stingy about 2nd cup of tea really isn't good enough IMO ??I had the Scottish breakfast last year. Even though I turned up at my booked time, the breakfast was dried up and horrible. I was not offered any extras like juice or toast. I did request a second cup of tea, to the obvious amazement of the server, but he did bring one.
They weren't necessarily being stingy - they might have needed to setup for other customers. The lounge car is only so big and its not practical to have it monopolised by a few customers sipping multiple drinks when others are waiting to eat breakfast. I think everyone needs to appreciate that the CS is a train and some unique considerations apply! Watching the beautiful scenery pass by whilst eating breakfast is a highlight of the CS (at least heading north!) and it should be experienced by all those that want to.Sorry but if your paying the price for premium cabins then being stingy about 2nd cup of tea really isn't good enough IMO ??
Perhaps a timed slot system should be used if the lounge car is oversubscribed ?They weren't necessarily being stingy - they might have needed to setup for other customers. The lounge car is only so big and its not practical to have it monopolised by a few customers sipping multiple drinks when others are waiting to eat breakfast. I think everyone needs to appreciate that the CS is a train and some unique considerations apply! Watching the beautiful scenery pass by whilst eating breakfast is a highlight of the CS (at least heading north!) and it should be experienced by all those that want to.
It broadly is - certainly when leaving the destination - First Class ticket holders go first, Classic thereafter. I am guessing breakfast self regulates as people get off at different stops (more so going north admittedly).Perhaps a timed slot system should be used if the lounge car is oversubscribed ?
The highlight of the CS is getting you to the destination first thing in the morning, before the first day train has arrived. That's the whole point of it.They weren't necessarily being stingy - they might have needed to setup for other customers. The lounge car is only so big and its not practical to have it monopolised by a few customers sipping multiple drinks when others are waiting to eat breakfast. I think everyone needs to appreciate that the CS is a train and some unique considerations apply! Watching the beautiful scenery pass by whilst eating breakfast is a highlight of the CS (at least heading north!) and it should be experienced by all those that want to.
You are conflating purpose with experience. Of course the purpose of the CS is to provide a very time efficient means of transport. However, given the tourist market and the pricing of the tickets, it is important to provide a quality experience. The Club Car is part of that hence the benefit in ensuring people get the opportunity if they wish to use its facilities. The point I am making, and have had been making throughout the thread, is the CS is a train and not a hotel. Its unique constraints associated with being a train - namely capacity in the Club Car, the fact is a travelling between destinations, finite food storage capabilities, limited numbers of hosts etc etc - all mandate a little give and take by passengers to make the journey more pleasant for all. Intransigence in the form of demanding extra breakfast or refusal to vacate upon arrival degrades the overall experience for all.The highlight of the CS is getting you to the destination first thing in the morning, before the first day train has arrived. That's the whole point of it.
The scenery is still the same no matter what train.
You are conflating purpose with experience. Of course the purpose of the CS is to provide a very time efficient means of transport. However, given the tourist market and the pricing of the tickets, it is important to provide a quality experience.
The Club Car is part of that hence the benefit in ensuring people get the opportunity if they wish to use its facilities. The point I am making, and have had been making throughout the thread, is the CS is a train and not a hotel.
Its unique constraints associated with being a train - namely capacity in the Club Car, the fact is a travelling between destinations, finite food storage capabilities, limited numbers of hosts etc etc - all mandate a little give and take by passengers to make the journey more pleasant for all.
Intransigence in the form of demanding extra breakfast or refusal to vacate upon arrival degrades the overall experience for all.
Because it is a train.You keep peddling this "it's a train" line...
Which makes sense as the train won't move until after the vacate time unless an earlier path is found, however that is very unlikely. If it needs cleaning, could that not be done at the depot or as the train is going to the depot.Such as being permitted to remain in your room until the advertised vacate time?
You are conflating purpose with experience. Of course the purpose of the CS is to provide a very time efficient means of transport. However, given the tourist market and the pricing of the tickets, it is important to provide a quality experience. The Club Car is part of that hence the benefit in ensuring people get the opportunity if they wish to use its facilities. The point I am making, and have had been making throughout the thread, is the CS is a train and not a hotel. Its unique constraints associated with being a train - namely capacity in the Club Car, the fact is a travelling between destinations, finite food storage capabilities, limited numbers of hosts etc etc - all mandate a little give and take by passengers to make the journey more pleasant for all. Intransigence in the form of demanding extra breakfast or refusal to vacate upon arrival degrades the overall experience for all.
The experience ends when you get to the terminal - which is why the tickets pretty much say, (e.g.) arrival time 0730, dep 0731. I would humbly suggest, storage space is a factor - the trains only have so much space for foodstuffs. The extra cup of tea in itself is not an issue (and you can always order one in your cabin), it is the occupation of the lounge car which has limited capacity. In any event, it is what is it is, just don't use the service if it bothers you.Ahh, experience you say? All while taking the position for folk being chucked off the second it arrives at the terminal. lol.
Trains don't have the problems of weight or stowage like aircraft, CS even stop en-route, where potable water can be replenished.
Asking for a second cup of tea isn't demanding a second breakfast, that's hyperbole.
The experience ends when you get to the terminal - which is why the tickets pretty much say, (e.g.) arrival time 0730, dep 0731. I would humbly suggest, storage space is a factor - the trains only have so much space for foodstuffs. The extra cup of tea in itself is not an issue (and you can always order one in your cabin), it is the occupation of the lounge car which has limited capacity. In any event, it is what is it is, just don't use the service if it bothers you.