Lunch on the Orient Express (Orient Express)

Member Name: mjn

Product:	Orient Express
Date:	10/07/00 (416 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very good for that special occassion

Disadvantages: Expensive

www.orient-express.com

Telephone: 0878 1615060

Last June my wife and I spent a very enjoyable afternoon on the Orient Express.

The trip, costing approximately £400 for two people, buys you a "Movable Feast", a five-course meal and a five hour train ride through the Kent countryside. The journey will depend on where you join the train. The Orient Express runs journeys all over the UK main land and a small number of continental destinations are also available (these would obviously be much more expensive). There is also the choice of being “pulled” by a diesel locomotive or Steam Engine, although this will cost more.

Our day started at about 11.30 a.m. when we embarked at Victoria Station. We were shown to our seats on a particular carriage that was a work of art straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. You sit at individual tables seated in comfortable armchairs. Each carriage has a different name and a different marquatry design interior. Each carriage offers either two and four seat tables or compartments that seat up to six people and the carriage has its own steward to look after its passengers.

On taking our seats we were welcomed with a glass of Champagne and Hors doerves and over the duration of the journey, as mentioned above, a meal of five courses was served along with complimentary wine, coffee and port or a short or liqueur.

Before the experience I had worried that the food would not be very good because we'd be "on the move," but was very pleasantly surprised with both the food's quality and the standard of the service, which was excellent at all times.

Another worry had been that of standing out because I intended to propose in public! I need not of been concerned as a number of fellow passengers had their own "special" occasions to celebrate. The couple opposite were celebrating their Fortieth Anniversary and two other groups were there to
celebrate one of their number's birthdays, so we were all in good company.

One word of caution, it would probably be wise to check with the company if you have special dietary requirements or have particular preferences, as there was not a choice on the day. Our main meal was fish, which might not be to everyone's taste.

Summary: