With just one flight you can travel right across the USA from west to east coast in one holiday linking San Francisco to Chicago & New York by sleeper train. Soak up the charming homely atmosphere of San Francisco - one of the most desirable cities in the US. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge, visit Alcatraz and sample the catch of the day at Fisherman's Wharf. Explore the top sights of Chicago such as the view from Willis Tower, the entertainment on Navy Pier, the shopping on The Magnificent Mile and Cloud Gate in Millennium Park - the start of Route 66. Then contrast with the buzz of the Big Apple with 5th Avenue, Central Park, Wall Street and the Statue of Liberty.
Eastbound - New York to Southampton: Fly direct to San Francisco to get the flying out of the way at the start of your holiday and sail back to Southampton. As a result - on your journey home you have no airline weight and size restrictions which will enhance your shopping ability. Enjoy the sail-away party as the ship slips for her berth and eases out into New York Harbour. Have your cameras at the ready as Cunard Queen Mary 2 sails past the Statue of Liberty and squeezes under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge on her way out to sea.
Room Only
Setting the standard in affordable luxury - this family owned hotel is located at Union Square – shopping central in San Francisco. The Handlery Union Square Hotel offers personal service, comfortable rooms, and a warm atmosphere. It is ideally located near main San Francisco attractions, including the world famous cable car right at the corner.
Full Board | Sleeper Roomette
Service overview
Your train journey comprises of two legs: The first is a two night journey from San Francisco across the Rockies to Chicago on-board the California Zephyr Service which is a bi-level “Superliner Trainâ€. The second is an overnight journey from Chicago via the Great Lakes to Manhattan on the Lakeshore Limited service which is a single level “Viewliner Train†.
California Zephyr
Experienced travellers say the California Zephyr is one of the most beautiful train trips in all of North America. Between the great cities of the west and Chicago lie narrow canyons, towering peaks and breathtakingly beautiful mountain wilderness areas as you cross two great mountain ranges, the Sierra Nevadas and the Rockies. Blowing away the alternatives is what Zephyrus, ancient Greek god of the west wind, and his namesake, the California Zephyr, do best. So sit back and be “blown away†by the otherwise unattainable views of the spectacular scenery along the route.
California Zephyr: Public Car Amenities
There is a dining car offering waiter service a-la carte menus for breakfast, lunch & dinner with bar service. The Superliner Sightseer Lounge car is on the upper level has a bar with lounge area, a seating area with tables and a separate observation seating area with swivel seats. The Superliner Snack Bar is on the lower for sandwiches, snacks, beverages and souvenirs.
Full Board | Sleeper Roomette
Lakeshore Limited
The Lake Shore Limited travels daily between Chicago and New York City, along some of the country's prettiest shorelines. You will travel along the south shore of Lake Michigan, the Mohawk River, and the Erie Canal, following a famous Native American Highway. In New York State, you'll pass through the Finger Lakes region to Albany, capital of the Empire State and along the Hudson River to New York City.ke Shore
Lakeshore Limited: Public Car Amenities
There is snack car offering hot & cold drinks, alcohol, snacks and light meals. On this Lakeshore Ltd Service cold meals are delivered to your roomette or bedroom, or eaten in a private café or lounge car. Lunch and dinner examples include “chilled beef tenderloin, vegan wrap, chicken Caesar salad, or turkey club sandwich,†and breakfast options include “assorted breakfast breads with butter, cream cheese and strawberry jam; Greek yogurt and sliced seasonal fresh fruit.†The meals on this train service only are delivered to the trains just prior to origination, eliminating on-board preparation. You will also be offered unlimited soft beverages, a complimentary serving of beer, wine or a mixed drink, an amenity kit. A Kosher meal is also available with advanced notice).
Room Only
This large art deco style hotel comprises 1,014 rooms spread over 40 floors and is perfectly situated on 34th St just across from Madison Square Garden and New York Penn Station. On the same street - just two blocks away you will find Macy’s Department Store and a little further on the Empire State Building graces the skyline. Renovated in 2000, this air-conditioned city hotel welcomes its guests through revolving doors into a large and impressive lobby. It is also centrally located close to Times Square, countless restaurants, shops and bars.
Cunard Line
Cunard Queen Mary 2 is a true icon of the modern age cementing her place in history alongside Cunard Ocean Liner greats of yesteryear such as QE2, Caronia, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Mauretania, Berengaria, Carpathia, Lusitania and Britannia. The iconic 151,000 tonne Cunard Queen Mary 2 is currently the only true ocean liner in the world built specifically to carry on the tradition of a Transatlantic service linking Southampton with New York. Unlike her predecessors - this head turning queen of the ocean merges the benefits of an ocean liner with those of a modern cruise ship giving one of the most stable and comfortable cruise experiences possible.
Stateroom accomodation
The luxuriously appointed staterooms have private en-suite facilities, air conditioning, flat-screen cable TV's with free in-room movies, vanity area, hair dryer, telephone, minibar and free room service.
Dining On-board
The magnificent Britannia restaurant caters for most of the guests on-board over two sittings for dinner and has anytime dining for breakfast and lunch. The Britannia restaurant is modelled on the grand dining room of the original Queen Mary with a sweeping double staircase which ends with twin fluted Lalique light vases. The soaring vaulted stained-glass ceiling, huge tapestry, majestic columns and a space which stretches right across the whole width of the ship is most impressive. The King's Court area occupies virtually the whole of deck seven (the Promenade deck) and features a large central service area which offers virtually 24-hour dinning with extra service areas offering speciality a la carte dining options#. The Cafe Corinthia offers light snacks and options for breakfast and lunch and is a full-service coffee bar too. The Verandah restaurant offers speciality French cuisine during lunch & dinner for an extra charge; while pub style lunches in the Golden Lion Pub are free of charge.
The unique Cunard Insights Programme provides an impressive line up of guest speakers & lectures and the Cunard Maritime Quest is discovery trail around the ship charting the history of Cunard. Superlative white-gloved afternoon tea is taken in the Queen's Ballroom which is the largest ballroom at sea hosting the captain's cocktail parties, themed balls and big band style live entertainment in the evening. This ship even has a planetarium and its own art gallery. There is an indoor pool with a retractable glass roof and two whirlpools, two outdoor pools with three whirlpools and a separate kid's splash pool . You will also find a library, children's clubs, numerous bars & a casino. The Royal Court Theatre offers spectacular shows and entertainment and the G32 nightclub is ideal for night owls.
Fly from the UK to San Francisco, USA
Fly from the UK to San Francisco for an overnight hotel stay close to Union Square. The hotel is ideally located close to the central San Francisco shopping area, including the world famous cable car right at the corner<b>.</b>
San Francisco, USA
A further two nights' hotel stay. Take the famous cable car nearby over the hill to Fisherman’s Wharf - a world class tourist destination. Here you will find Pier 39 a huge entertainment, dining and shopping experience and Fisherman’s Wharf where there are lots of bars, fishing boats and restaurants. Enjoy a free boat trip to Alcatraz and you will also see a magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Perhaps visit Golden Gate Park where you will find the carousel, a huge conservatory, a huge botanical garden, a Japanese tea garden and a buffalo paddock among other attractions. You can walk through to the Dutch Windmill on the coast and have a marvellous lunch overlooking the Pacific Ocean. For a more local feel visit the Castro and hippy Haight Ashbury.
Scenic Rockies train journey, USA
Make your way to the Amtrak Ferry Building Office centrally located at the junction of Market Street and the Embarcadero in San Francisco to board the Coach at 07:50 for a 30 minute drive to the train terminus at Emeryville for your Amtrak California Zephyr train service to Chicago. Spend two-nights' on board the train in a sleeper roomette on full-board. Pack an overnight bag for the three night journey and check your main luggage into the baggage car. Embark the California Zephyr at 09:10 for a two night journey across the Rockies to Chicago. The train crosses the Nevada state line just before Reno and passes through Salt Lake City in Utah. Then it’s on to Colorado through Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs where the infamous gunslinger Doc Holliday is buried. The Fraser River cuts a swathe through the Arapahoe National Forest and Fraser Canyon. The train crosses the continental divide in the Moffat Tunnel which is 6.5 miles long. Just past Denver (the mile high city) the train drops down to the start of the great plains into Nebraska and onto Omaha.
Chicago, USA
The final part of the journey takes you though Iowa and into Illinois to the metropolis of Chicago - America's third largest city, arriving at 1450 where you will have the afternoon to spend at leisure. Amtrak will automatically transfer your main luggage between trains. Perhaps shop on the Magnificent Mile, stare at the reflections in the giant “Cloud Gate†stainless steel bean sculpture or stand on the glass “Ledge†103 floors up in the Willis Tower - the tallest building in the US. The Lakeshore Limited train departs at 21:30 for an overnight journey via the Great Lakes to Manhattan. Spend overnight on board the train in a sleeper roomette on full-board.
Manhattan, USA
Arrive into Penn station at 1835 and walk across the street to spend three-nights in the four-star New Yorker Hotel (or similar). Perhaps visit Macy’s Department Store just a couple of doors away or enjoy the panoramic views of New York from the top of the Empire State Building as the sun sets over the horizon and the lights twinkle on. Enjoy a stroll through central Park and go shopping on 5th Avenue to take advantage of the exchange rate and the lower prices. Have wander up to Times Square nearby, visit Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, the Ground Zero memorial, Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty.
Manhattan, USA
Transfer to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal to embark the magnificent Queen Mary 2. Enjoy the sail-away party from New York at 1700 next to the Terrace Pool as the ship inches under the Verazzano Narrows Bridge on her way out to sea and across the Atlantic back to the UK.
At Sea
Relax and make the most of the myriad of facilities available on board the ship, from fantastic entertainment to delicious and diverse dining options.
Southampton, UK
Disembark the ship after breakfast.
Prices are subject to availability and change. Offer and prices can be withdrawn at any time without any notice. Prices are per person based on two sharing a room. Carry-on and checked baggage restrictions vary by airline and may incur an additional charge.
Virgin Voyages
May 2025 - Sep 2025
Virgin Voyages
May 2025 - Sep 2025
Royal Caribbean
May 2025 - Sep 2025
Royal Caribbean
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