It might be worth it. What’s the sleeping accommodation? If it’s a berth, 1st class will be in a T4 (4 berths) instead of a 6 berth couchette, which is significantly more comfortable if it’s full. However, if there are empty berths in a couchette, the middle berths are left folded up and there isn’t any difference. If it’s a seat reservation, 1st class will be bigger, more comfortable, and will recline farther. While that’s usually not worth it for day travel, it would make sleeping a whole lot easier. 1st class might get you a cup of coffee, orange juice or at least a cup of water to brush your teeth in the morning. The water on the train usually isn’t drinkable.

Hmm. If I choose the EUR45 option, I can either choose “placement couche” or “siege inclinable.” If I choose “placement couche” I can select Indifferent, couchette superieure, milieu, couchette inferieure, or inferieur imperatif. If I choose “siege inclinable” I don’t get to make any other choices, but my price goes down to EUR39.

Below all the other prices, it says “Voyage en 1e class!!” This is EUR57. I can only choose “Placement couchette” here, with the options Indifferent, couchette superieur, couchette inferieur and inferieur imperatif.

So, I’m not completely sure what each different seat type means. I’ve gathered that the siege inclinable is just a reclineable seat. There are four choices of couchette for second class, it looks like. Could there possibly be four levels of bunks? And three levels of bunks for first class? I’ve never been on or even seen a train, so I’m completely ignorant about how the couchettes and seats work. I went to the Lunea website, but there aren’t many pictures.

Superieur = upper berth, inferieur = lower, Inferieur imperatif = middle, “Indifferent” = “I don’t care, choose for me.” All of which shows 1st class is a T4 with two berths on each side of the cabin and 2nd class is a couchette with 3 berths on each side of the cabin. This, from Rick Steves, may help: http://www.ricksteve…

The cheapest 2nd class is “siege inclinable,” a reclining seat in 2nd class — that’s the 39 euro option. I’d probably spring for 1st class, or at least a couchette in 2nd class. I wouldn’t get any sleep in a reclining seat.

Thanks. I think I will go ahead and go first class. It’s just too good a price too pass up the chance to experience the difference.
I’m still confused, though. If you have the chance of upper, lower, and middle, how does that make two berths on each side? In my head, when I think of two berths on each side, I think two “beds” on the left and two on the right. Upper and lower, but no middle because adding a middle would make three and therefore six beds in a cabin. (I do realize they’re not actual beds, but berths.)

And what does milieu mean? Would that be upper, upper middle, lower middle, and lower? But then, that makes me think four on each side.

What is your favorite berth placement on a train? I think I’d rather be in the upper berth, so if everything collapsed, I’d be on the top. I’d be the squisher and not the squishee. (I know logically that nothing will collapse, but the scenario does run through my mind.) But I’m short, so it would probably be better for me and kinder to others to stay on the bottom or in the middle. What’s your favorite, though?

There is no middle berth in a 4 berth cabin, thus no choice of “milieu” — sorry, that’s the middle berth, not “inferieur imperatif” means “I have to have a lower berth” — presumably because you can’t climb up to a top one.

Each sleeper car is a series of cabins (T4s, couchettes and some singles and doubles)with doors. The door is in the center of a T4 or couchette. When you walk in there are two or three bunks on your left and two or three on your right.

Your reservation for a couchette gives you a choice of 1) upper (Supieure) 2) lower (inferieure) 3) middle (milieu) 4) I don’t care (indifferent) and 5) I must have a lower (inferieur imperatif). Your choice may not be available, in which case they’ll assign you something else — unless you picked inferieur imperatif in which case you’ll probably be told “no reservations available that meet your criteria.” Choices for a T4 are the same except there is no middle. You usually don’t get a choice of left or right side of the cabin.

I prefer a top, although it’s fairly tough to climb into one even with the ladder and you’re claustraphobically close to the ceiling. If you’re tall, the lower berth is sometimes a little longer and wider because it’s permanent. The middle and top berths fold up against the wall when not in use and that makes them a little smaller.

Duh. That makes so much sense now that I feel silly for asking. I think I may roll the dice and go with indifferent. Thanks!

You can get some information and pictures at
http://www.seat61.co…

I couldn’t make the virtual tours work, probably because I don’t like to add a lot of helper applications on my pc.

I say if the first class sleeping accommodations are available on sale, to go for it. Normally I wouldn’t say that about first class anything, but I mean the difference is pretty noticeable when it comes to sleeping berths.

Also, under no circumstances would I ever recommend the 2nd class “incline” seats for sleeping purposes. If you’ve ever been on an AMTRAK train in America, it’s basically exactly like that except maybe a little newer. Unless you can sleep through a hurricane YOU WILL NOT SLEEP without like, sleeping pills or something, but on the flip side, if you are actually knocked out like that, it’s probably not a good idea security-wise

EDIT: Damn double-posts!!

Hey, thanks! That site had a couple of good pics of the berths. The 2nd class berths actually don’t look too bad. I’m going with the 1st class this time. Bought my ticket this afternoon. I’m looking forward to the experience. Thanks for the help.

went on an amtrak train from chicago to san francisco (52hrs) and i was in 2nd class incline seats…but only manage to sleep as i was front row with no one next to me good when it works out like that

Yeah and it almost never does… haha

I love trains (generally speaking, even AMTRAK ) but sleeping in an inclining seat is damn near impossible, I’ve found. There is just always a low level of noise that is interjected with loud noises, people bumping into you, AND since our passenger rail volume is several orders of magnitude lower than Europe’s, all the trains are packed and you have to sit next to somebody you don’t know…. and go to sleep. I’ve probably been on 10 AMTRAK night trains and have slept on exactly one, and it was at a time when I was heavily medicated… hehehe

Though to be fair, for some reason I don’t have as much trouble sleeping on them in the day; I think this is a direct result of not getting any sleep the night before