Trip vs trip
Alaska and the Empire Builder Rail and Sail with the Norwegian Jade® vs Alaska by Rail Tour
Two ways to do a similar journey. Every number below is from the operators' own published details, verified on the dates shown on each trip page.
| Alaska and the Empire Builder Rail and Sail with the Norwegian Jade® Amtrak Vacations | Alaska by Rail Tour Alaska Tours (alaskatours.com) | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 12 days | 10 days |
| From price | $2,369 | $3,849 |
| Price per day | $197 | $385 |
| Rail share | 25% | 50% |
| Pace | balanced | relaxed |
| Comfort | classic | classic |
| Guiding | Independent rail & cruise vacation | Rail package |
| Countries | United States, Canada | United States |
| Named trains | Amtrak Cascades, Empire Builder | Alaska Railroad |
| Nights on board | yes | no |
Which one, honestly
- For value: Alaska and the Empire Builder Rail and Sail with the Norwegian Jade® costs the least per day here: $197 against $385 (Alaska by Rail Tour).
- For time on the train: Alaska by Rail Tour spends the most of the trip on rails: 50% rail share, against 25% (Alaska and the Empire Builder Rail and Sail with the Norwegian Jade®).
- For pace: Alaska and the Empire Builder Rail and Sail with the Norwegian Jade® runs balanced; Alaska by Rail Tour runs relaxed.
Alaska and the Empire Builder Rail and Sail with the Norwegian Jade®: worth knowing
- Government taxes and fees for the cruise portion are charged separately from the quoted price.
- Anchorage and Vancouver hotels are offered as a list of options rather than one fixed property, so the actual hotel depends on what is booked.
- The evidence does not describe day 11 of the itinerary in detail; it falls between boarding the Amtrak Cascades in Vancouver and arriving in Chicago on day 12.
Alaska by Rail Tour: worth knowing
- Several transfers, including your arrival in Anchorage, the trip to the rail depot, and the final departure, are on your own rather than arranged by the operator.
- Meals, gratuities, transfers in Anchorage, and optional excursions (such as the Denali Flightseeing Experience, the Cabin Nite Dinner Theater, and the Anchorage & Cook Inlet Sunset Photo Safari) are not included.
- The Fairbanks to Anchorage leg on day 9 is a scheduled flight, not a train ride, so one segment of this rail tour is by air.
- The evidence does not name the hotels used, their star rating, or current departure dates; confirm these directly with the operator.