Believe it or not, there’s a one-day trip from Paris to Reims that runs about $800 per person. You get lunch, champagne tasting, and six hours of pretending you’re Hercule Poirot. It’s the Instagram version of the Orient Express—short, sweet, and won’t make you sell a kidney.
Or you can book a cabin with a shower (yes, that’s a luxury upgrade) for around $5,000 on the longer routes. Pro tip: book at least six months in advance, because prices jump by 20% during peak season. I learned that the hard way while staring at a “Sold Out” sign for summer dates.
But what do you actually get for your money?
You get the closest thing to time travel. Your cabin is a tiny museum of walnut veneer and brass hinges. Your waiter will serve you a five-course dinner with silverware that whispers “I cost more than your iPhone.” And every morning, you wake up in a new country—the Alps, the vineyards of Burgundy, the canals of Venice—without ever leaving your bunk.
Venice Orient Express: A Journey of Timeless Elegance
But let’s talk about the hidden costs nobody mentions. First: drinks. A bottle of water costs $12. A cocktail? Easily $25. Second: tips. The etiquette guides say to budget about 10-15% extra for the staff, who are genuinely delightful but also expect it. And third: the photo opps. You’ll want to hire a private photographer for that dreamy carriage shot—add another $200.
