Due to the ever-shifting landscape of the pandemic, Rocky Mountaineer has announced schedule changes this summer, which include delaying the start of its Canadian travel season until June 1, but also extending inaugural departures of its new “Rockies to the Red Rocks” route in the US by four weeks.
The train company, known for its luxury rail journeys in the Canadian Rockies, says the moves are prompted by its need to navigate “continuing travel restrictions and uncertainty of when they will be lifted.”
“The travel landscape is almost unrecognisable from 17 months ago when we last operated our trains, and much uncertainty remains around when the Canadian and provincial governments will lift the travel and health restrictions that make it impossible for us to welcome guests on board our Canadian routes,” said Rocky Mountaineer founder and interim CEO Peter Armstrong.
He added that the company is hopeful that vaccination programs underway in Canada and the US will soon be sufficient to allow travel to restart, adding, “We are seeing a strong interest from travellers with some high-demand dates nearing capacity, and signs are pointing to a strong US domestic travel season for the year ahead.”
To that end, the company is adding 16 more Red Rock departure dates, plus additional rail cars for the two-day train journey between Moab, Utah, and Denver, with an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The preview season for the route starts on Aug. 15, and, with the extension, will run until Nov. 19.
Canada
For guests affected by the delayed start to travel in Canada, Rocky Mountaineer is offering several benefits, including providing a future travel credit equivalent to 110 percent of monies paid; holding its 2021 and 2022 rail pricing at 2020 levels; and providing a price guarantee for its vacation packages to ensure travellers can book a similar tour at the same price when the pandemic has passed.
Guests may also choose to transfer their booking to the new “Rockies to the Red Rocks” route, with an added incentive to return to travel on Canadian routes in the future.
Understanding that some guests may be hesitant to select a new travel date immediately, Rocky Mountaineer has added greater flexibility to its bookings, which allows guests to change their departure dates, or people on the booking, up to 30 days ahead of travel, without charge or penalty.