The Northern Belle Carriage Journey
Stop over to a stately home or castle with the Northern Belle train ride. You will be welcomed, accommodated in and served by the service staff in crisply starched uniforms. The Orient Express has the shining color and green interiors. Feast on a sumptuous gourmet meal especially prepared by a skilled chef matched with a bottle of champagne as the carriage slowly slips by to your next destinations.

The Orient Express Murder Mystery by Agatha Christie

The experience of the Orient-Express Murder Mystery merges a collection of amazingly beautiful landscapes along England’s countryside with a perfect plot of a murder. You may go around Brighton’s porch and eat the sumptuous food served with champagne as you try to find out the real culprit in Agatha Christie’s murder story. The elements of mystery and intrigue, for unknown reasons, go together in the Orient Express. World-renowned authors including Agatha Christie, Ian Fleming, Graham Greene and Bram Stoker share one thing in common. They all shared their iconic characters they used for daytime journeys; thus, raising the train’s credibility for dramatic style.

On Board the Orient Express’ British Pullman

Experience luxury train journeys at once from the golden age with an Orient Express trip! You may choose to board and experience the travel delights offered by the British Pullman. Learn and understand the significant role of the British Pullman carriages in the train history of the world. There were so many British Pullman carriages that were mixed up in significantly important historical events of the country. This included the State visit of France’s Presidents Charles de Gaulle during the1960s.

Did you know that the man responsible for creating all these beautifully engineered   carriages of the Orient Express named George Mortimer Pullman, was a school dropout? Yes, the man behind all these luxury trains everyone in the world admires and respects left school at a very young age of fourteen. Due to poverty, sought work and found one as a coffin maker, and then eventually a gold seller before finally shifting into the automotive business. And would you believe it he made his own steam trains and getting the design from the small boats that traversed the Erie Canal where this remarkable man was brought up.

There are several other destinations via the Orient Express. One of which is the Royal Scotsman Rail Journey where passengers will get to experience the splendor of the beautiful Scottish Highlands. Catch a glimpse of the ever-revolutionizing landscapes that behold your sight, the soaring peaks of Scotland while aboard the very exciting Royal Scotsman on an exciting tour to Scotland!

Sumptuous gourmet meals for lunch and dinner matched with champagne and wine make the Scotsman Rail Journey a truly luxurious, elegant and comfortable train ride!

Breath-taking Experiences Along the Countryside
Experience seeing a wide assortment of breath-taking sceneries and very beautiful landscapes while the train passes by the countryside vistas of France, North Eastern Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein! And finally catching a glimpse of the spectacularly romantic ambience and out of this world panorama you will behold on your final stop and destination, Venice!

The well-known Venice Simplon-Orient-Express consists of 17 green carriages divided into 11sleeping and passenger rail cars. There are private cabins with each cabin having its own hand basin cabinet with available hot and cold water. The same cabin easily transforms into a very comfortable sleeping room at nighttime. Really, the trains offer a most unique and astonishing traveling experience no other train service company can ever come parallel with! These, topped with excellent culinary repertoires and highly courteous attendants make the journey even more supreme than the other luxury trains around.

This thirty one-hour ride from London all the way to Venice is surely going to be wrapped up in one huge compilation of experiences! Pooled with romance, exploration and fashion, this overnight escapade to Venice will begin in the city of London going down to Folkestone. This is where all traveler passengers will be transported to the English Channel by bus then transported into the actual Orient Express rail car where the travelers will be comfortably and luxuriously seated and entertained for the rest of the journey.

Starving or going hungry is the least you can expect while aboard the Orient Express trains. There are actually three restaurant cars, a bar car and two other service cars where you can splurge in different kinds of food. Enjoy the freshly arranged gourmet menu made by accomplished French chefs using the best ingredients ever.

Also, expect one service crew to be designated to you, as there should always be one for every traveler. Breakfast will be served in a dining car while mounting through the Alps. Eating breakfast in a beautifully decorated dining rail car while gazing at the beautiful alpine meadows, the scenic country villages and the grandiose Alps, there is nothing more you can ask for in such experience!

What is more, the rail cars are decorated with mahogany ornaments and radiantly lit with Lalique illumination making the experience much more elegant and exciting.

The name Orient Express originally only referred to the typical international railway service yet through the years it gained too many sorts of reputation. A particular status that it had was that of being enveloped with intrigue and mystery. Paris and Istanbul were also the very first end point destinations. That therefore meant the train had to cut through the borders of several European areas that often had disputes hurled against each other. There goes the belief that armed groups often tried sabotaging and attacking the people that then paved way to too many mysterious conflicts.

Well, this is just a brief glance at the former Orient Express trips that were commonly enjoyed in the past. Traveling to Europe then was never a problem because aside from that super convenient accommodation, one could likewise take a look at the breathtaking scenery present in the countryside.

Alright then so the original Orient Express has long stopped serving the main end points Paris and Istanbul. However, times have changed. The reputation of the train also changed plus a lot other additions were made. More trains bore the name “Orient Express” and many other routes have been opened.

Therefore, that means you can still ride the Orient Express train today! How will you do that? Here are several ways for you to consider.

The simplest and of course most cost-effective choice to deal with is to board the real Orient Express train. That is, the direct progeny of the then popular Wagons-Lits route. It is up to now treated to be the overnight train that connects travelers to the borders of Paris and Vienna. Nowadays it is being managed by the Austrian, German, and French national railways bearing the name “Orient Express.” Your tickets to use are called the Eurail and InterRail passes. This mode is of course the same with that you can do to ride any of the existing international and national European trains.

Yes, the genuine Orient Express train still runs but it doesn’t provide services to the Orient anymore. The dates after June 9, 2007 signaled another change as the train can’t be caught anymore in Paris. Instead, the LVG has replaced it temporarily to serve people in Paris and Strasbourg. However, the same service is present in Strasbourg towards Vienna.

Also, a lot of privately owned companies have gotten the same name for their trains. One of which is the equally popular Venice-Simplon Orient Express that has been founded by no less than the American-British James Sherwood in the year 1982. He bought two of the railcars at an auction in 1977 when the original train ceased its operation. Apparently, those two railcars were used on the same route as that of the authentic Orient Express train.

So there you go with the varieties of Orient Express trips that you can take these days. Too bad, the legendary train ride isn’t the same anymore.

Strasbourg- Giurgiu Route in 1883
And so in 1883, Express d’Orient began service twice weekly. First stop at Strasbourg and last stop at Giurgiu where the travelers would traverse the Danube River by ferryboat. The ride would go all the way to Bulgaria to meet a second train that would be picking up all passengers for the 7-hour journey to Varna on the Black Sea.  After which an Austrian Lloyd steamer would join for the 14-hour sea expedition to Constantinople in Istanbul.

Paris-Vienna Route in 1889
Through the years, Express d’Orient’s service improved and became a daily trip doing the Paris-Munich-Vienna itinerary while at the same time, continuing operations twice a week from Vienna to Giurgiu to be picked up by the ferryboat to Ruse, Bulgaria. It was in 1889 that Express d’Orient started doing direct Paris-Constantinople operations and eventually officially named The Orient Express. After that Orient Express experienced incessant suspension of operations from left to right.

And finally in1919, Simplon Orient Express began its services and operations as the newest addition to Orient Express. They traversed the Southerly path from Paris heading to various places including Trieste, Lausanne, Belgrade Milan, Venice, and Istanbul beginning in 1920. They particularly took this path to be bale to avoid Germany that time. The Allies did not have full trust of the Germans at that time; thus, taking the route of Calais-Istanbul instead.

Looking back at history, we would see that it was actually the Venice Simplon Orient Express which stopped operations in 1977 when suddenly the Orient Express was asked to cut back its services. The Orient Express therefore was limited to running only from Paris to Vienna. With this the company lost several of its cars and seats from Paris to Budapest, even its sleeping car from Paris to Bucharest which ran twice a week. At that time, the name Orient Express almost got snuffed out.

However, it continued existing. It was beautifully brought back into full operations for some time again. However, in June 2007 when it started to run again its services since the TGV-Est express lines resumed operations, the Orient Express for Paris-Vienna route got cut back again. So that time, they had no other choice but to just run services from Strasbourg to Vienna.

And it was so unfortunate that it happened again and was announced that come December this year, specifically on December 12, 2009, the Orient Express’ Strasbourg-Vienna route is finally going to be withdrawn after a long period of 125 years.

Stylish and Elegant Interiors

Each luxurious and comfortable bedroom offers a set of supple towels and crisp linen. Cabins can convert from a seating room to comfortably stay in during the day into a luxurious and cozy bedroom to sleep at night.

While its interiors were made to look so stylish and elegant to look like a castle or stately home. Some items of brassware and fabrics have especially been bought from some British traders to beautifully furnish the carriages. Truly, the Northern Belle has been successful living up to its name ‘Belle’ taken from the Belle trains during 1930′s. Northern Belle Carriages have six carriages in all with each name taken from North Britain’s grand British castles or the beautiful stately homes.

Equipped with Six Dining Cars

The Northern Belle luxury carriage has six dining cars to boast of, with each able to hold a maximum of 252 passengers. Though they may be six carriages, each carriage or train can seat 42 passengers and set up tables either for two or for four. Also, each carriage is a very spacious car so guests can move around very freely, comfortably and therefore, enjoy this once in a lifetime experience to ride the Northern Belle of the 1920′s.

Northern Belle’s Inaugural Trip

The Northern Belle had its inaugural train trip all the way from Liverpool Lime Street going to Belvoir Castle with around 252 guests invited from various places including from North England. Guests took pleasure in listening to live music topped with a bottle of champagne just before passengers arrive at the Belvoir Castle.

The Northern Belle leaves from locations all over UK. Take this once in a lifetime Orient Express experience that is guaranteed to be fun, exciting, unique and a learning experience for you about the cultures of various countries. Therefore, book your trip now and get that ticket to an exceptionally enjoyable experience of a train ride! Upon booking for reservations, the itineraries, programme and other details of the trip will be sent to you.

And when you get to the train station and hop aboard the Northern Belle, you will be served a sumptuous brunch matched with a bottle of champagne to prepare for your exciting and luxurious journey. And as soon as you reach your first stop, you will be given a city tour with a professional guide to assist you.

While for expeditions to the beautiful fortresses and the stately homes, the lush gardens and various shows are usually already included in the packages you choose. So grab your bags now, and book that ticket to a journey aboard the Northern Belle Carriages!

Distinguishing the New Providers

Well, the original train is no longer in operation but thankfully someone saved it and bought the railcars during an auction sometime in the year 1977. His name is no other than James Sherwood, an American-British. It may not have stuck to the original route that served Paris to Istanbul as the authentic end points but new routes have been taken by the new version of the Orient Express.

These days, the Venice-Simplon Orient Express or VSOE runs from one of the end points, that is, London towards several other European destinations like Krakow, Rome, and Istanbul. What has been retained is of course the luxury which is a trademark of the Orient Express. As people would claim it, riding this new Orient Express train is more like boarding a luxury cruise rather than enjoying a typical train ride. After all, people are likely to experience the kind or quality of journey it provides rather than get to their destinations on time. On the average, the train tickets cost more or less 1,200 Euro per person.

Apparently, there is yet another privately operated train that capitalizes on the name of this world-renowned train. That is, the Nostalgic Orient Express. The trains used are the LX-class cars which run on an irregular timetable from Zurich bound for Istanbul and then towards Athens.

The Difference between the New Providers

While some of the private company Orient Express trip providers have managed to keep up to the authentic train’s standards, many of them have not restored the once beautifully crafted luxury railcars of the 1920′s up to the 1950′s. Some of them have diverted away from the original routes due to the other railways that have been opened. At some point, many of today’s new Orient Express trains are no longer like the same old railcars.

However, some of them have pooled many elegant LX-class railcars which they address as the original Wagons-Lits material. In truth, the authentic train mostly used the Z-class and S-class sleeping class because they were deemed utilitarian at that time. But of course, some of the parts of the train were composed of the LX-class cars to serve the royalties and aristocrats of the time in a much better way.

Nevertheless, you can still get a feel of the Orient Express trips provided that you know which ones to call authentic. The Venice-Simplon Orient Express or VSOE is hence considered to be an overnight train that can make your European visit much more romantic and enjoyable. So, be sure to try it and never fail to be enthralled by almost the same luxurious ride that the original train had once provided.

Memorable Experiences at Blenheim Palace
So many people take a one-day tour to Blenheim Palace which they find totally fabulous. The carriages remind them of movies about time travel. They sit themselves in large and very cozy chairs and just relax and ponder on. They say their train journey with Orient Express is truly the most unforgettable experience pf a trip they had in their whole lifetime.

The Best Breakfasts Ever during a Journey with Orient Express

While on the train and going down to Blenheim Palace, people would get the best breakfasts they haven’t had for a long period of time. It was initially a Bellini as soon as they climbed onto the train, pursued by some kind of cream and fruit in a cup, freshly prepared fruit salad, smoked salmon, buttery bread and scrambled eggs and of course the choice of  tea or coffee. People just love being served good food with utmost service and friendliness. This is highlight of their experiences with Orient Express train journeys they cannot forget.

The Train Ride Going Back

The train ride back is usually always still quite enjoyable. Dinner is served first with a drink of champagne and canapés are served as people boarded. According to previous and happy passengers, they started with a very interesting strawberry and champagne soup, next a menu of guinea fowl, seasonal vegetables mixed altogether, and topped with summer pudding for dessert. They also had a bottle of champagne to share. It was so delicious for them that they could not forget how wonderful that trip for them, aside from the beautiful sceneries they enjoyed, of course.

Dining Experience Plays a Great Role in Travel Experiences

While others mainly enjoy the food and become their most memorable experience, for others it is the several nights of traversing the destinations eagerly anticipated. On board the Orient Express are some of most people’s most memorable travel experiences ever.

Passengers awed in the beauty of their cabins, or what is also called the compartments. Their beautiful cabins were compact and very cozy. Their food was superb and the service of the trains staffs truly remarkable.

Beyond the Panoramas and Beautiful Scenes

Truly, it is not just the panoramic landscapes or the lush gardens, or the wild-looking rainforest that you catch a glimpse of in the train windows, or the scary but exciting heights while aboard the train that give value to a person’s sense of adventure. Dining experience also plays a very great role in measuring the happiness, satisfaction and gratification of the person as far as travel experiences are concerned.

The Orient Express Voyage’s Joys
Up to this day, our travelers on board the Orient Express expect nothing less, and nothing more. Any Orient Express voyage or tour, wherever it may be in the world, must only get on upon with the highest of expectations.

From London’s Victoria Station along England’s Country Sides
Leaving from London’s Victoria Station, passengers will definitely enjoy a complicated yet stylish five-course meal as the Orient Express British Pullman tours the country sides of England and showcases the various landscapes, and panoramic sceneries that passengers will delight upon seeing.

Joyful Moments Experienced while Traveling on Board Orient Express
From the moment you are greeted welcome aboard the Orient Express and cozily seated with a glass of wine or champagne, you can always predict whether that dining aboard the Orient Express will be a delightful and enjoyable experience one can never ever forget. The moment that you will experience the magnificence and sophistication of another generation as you relax comes, it will always be in the majesty of this renowned train. There are actually several trips planned for the whole of the year. However, passengers are advised to book earlier than necessary for the Orient Express, as this is an extremely popular excursion and you might just end up having no tickets to ride.

The Pleasures of Taking the Orient Express
The Orient Express Trains bring us to that time of easygoing travel. Those were the times when the expedition was truly as pleasurable and enjoyable as finally reaching the concluding destinations. Those times when eating dinner or lunch or breakfast on board a train carriage was a great way to pass away the time and absorb all the beautiful surroundings. Experience the romance of the long-ago with Orient Express’ varied destinations of significant enjoyments and excitements.

Games and other Pleasurable Activities aboard the Orient Express
While wandering aboard the Orient Express trains, there are very high chances that you will surely find a game of bridge in movement in one of Orient Express’ club cars. That is already in itself a form of enjoyment for so many people. While some people may want to just settle comfortably in a chair or a lazy boy and relax while there is the soft background of beautiful music being played on.

So just stay relaxed and allow the Orient Express to take you through the sceneries and views of the most stunning stately homes and private grounds in England. The outward or return journey will be by the Orient Express British Pullman train where you will enjoy a three-course meal either lunch or dinner with your choice of champagne and wine.

Orient Express has established itself as a very popular carrier of people who want to have a glimpse of the varying cultures of other countries, the people and their beautiful places. So, let Orient Express take you anywhere you go and get a taste of other countries’ customs and traditions aboard their luxuriously comfortable trains! Here are some of the most famous and most-loved tourist destinations where you may be brought to by Orient Express.

Eastern and Orient Express

What could ever be more exciting than riding aboard a very posh train all the way from Singapore to Bangkok, Thailand? Usually, travelers would take flights instead of train rides. But train rides can also be very luxurious, comfortable and exciting with the train rides of Orient Express! This is called the Eastern and Orient Express journey wherein travelers enjoy their 1,262 mile train ride to Bangkok. The trip is divided into four days and three nights with two stopovers at Penang Island and the so-called River Kwai.

These stopovers are like excursions led by official tourist guides explaining the unique and beautiful sceneries beholding your sight! Get a glimpse of the rainforests while comfortably seated in the Orient Express. See jungles, rivers, rice fields, and sometimes even water buffalos and elephants loitering.

The Eastern and Orient Express luxury train adventure brings you through the whole of South East Asia. After a luxurious stay of a few days in Singapore, you will then head to Bangkok, Thailand, Chiang Mai and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia aboard this high-class Orient Express luxury train.

Discover and see the sights around Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore on a very extraordinary rail journey in the luxurious comfort of the green carriages of the world renowned Eastern & Oriental Express. Ran by the same people who restored the world famous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Europe, the Eastern & Oriental Express is an exclusive train of unparalleled luxury and comfort!

The cubicle is an air-conditioned and stylishly furnished day room and converts into a very warm and comfortable bedroom for sleeping comfortably at night time. Experience the taste of their unique papaya juice courteously served to you before dinnertime.

Traverse along the Orient Express railroads bringing you to an unforgettably 1,200 miles of wonderful journey connecting the most astonishing and beautiful cities if the East! Take in the mystery and excitements this trip will bring to your life!

A Romantic Day Tour on Board the Northern Belle Carriage

With the Orient Express, you definitely have limitless choices of great escapades and relaxing treats. You may choose to take on the famous romantic day trip aboard the Northern Belle carriage of the Orient-Express. Have a taste of their delectable brunch on your way to that perfect retreat! At the same time lavish on the fabulous dinner with bottles of champagne and wine on your return journey.

As soon as you turn up at your destination metropolis, you will forget where you were a day before! The place is just so mesmerizing you are already thinking about hating to leave when you have just arrived at the place!

And from the moment you arrive at the train station and get on to the Northern Belle up to the time of your exciting journey, you will surely feel the refinement and elegant beauty of Old England. Take your time and savor your freedom from all worries and thinking. Enjoy the ride back to the Old England where your eyes will feast on castles, English homes and lush private grounds. There will always be short city tour with a tourist guide to make it all more enlightening and cultivating. You will also be delighted with shows depending on the package tour you have chosen. And to top it all, what could be more heartening than a four course menu with champagne and wine to enjoy on your journey back home!

Carried South East by the British Pullman

Aside from the popularly known Northern Belle Carriage for romantic day trips, another exciting and prominent Orient Express ride is the British Pullman. You may choose to take a luxurious day tour crossways South East! Sit comfortably and get mesmerized by the countryside’s magnificent views while being driven away by the polished carriages of the British Pullman! The various UK destinations across South East are just bubbling with cities so rich in culture and history England could be proud of. There are even guided tours putting in all the information about what happened in that place several years ago.

Allow the British Pullman to whip you up into England’s history and let your imagination run wild with such attractive destinations! Truly, you wouldn’t want to miss getting that experience of getting aboard the luxurious Northern Belle Carriage and the British Pullman! Both present luxuries coupled with the best comforts you can ever ask for!

So book your tickets now and get that Orient Express experience! Just make sure that when you do your booking, all your necessary itinerary, schedules and details of the programs will be delivered to you. This way, you will be all prepared to go. And all you will have to do is savor each mesmerizing and breath-taking view your eyes will lay on! And forever etch them in both your heart and mind!