Rocky Mountaineer: Silverleaf Vs Goldleaf Services
Planning a journey on the world-famous Rocky Mountaineer is exciting, but one of the first decisions travelers face is choosing between the SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf service levels. Both offer breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies and the same all-daylight train experience, but the differences in seating, dining, and overall luxury can shape your trip in unique ways.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key distinctions between SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf so you can decide which service best matches your travel style, comfort preferences, and budget.
Silverleaf Vs Goldleaf Coach types
One of the biggest differences between Rocky Mountaineer’s service levels lies in the type of coach you’ll be traveling in. The design of the coach not only shapes your comfort but also defines how you experience the scenery.
While both SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf promise incredible views of the Canadian Rockies, the layout, seating style, and viewing options vary significantly between the two. Let’s take a closer look at what sets each coach type apart.
GoldLeaf Coach STyle: Bi Level Glass Dome Coach
GoldLeaf guests travel in a bi-level glass-dome coach, designed to maximize both comfort and views. The upper level features spacious reclining seats beneath sweeping panoramic dome windows that curve overhead, offering a higher vantage point for breathtaking scenery. On the lower level, a dedicated dining room allows guests to enjoy gourmet meals in a restaurant-style setting without sacrificing views.
Goldleaf outdoor viewing platform
In addition, GoldLeaf coaches include an exclusive, larger outdoor viewing platform, giving travelers an open-air experience that feels immersive and memorable.
Silverleaf coach: Single Dome
SilverLeaf guests travel in a single-level dome coach featuring oversized panoramic windows that curve up into the ceiling, ensuring wide-open views of the Rockies from every seat. The spacious, reclining seats are arranged in pairs, making them comfortable for couples or solo travelers.
Meals are served directly at your seat, so you can continue enjoying the scenery without leaving your spot. While the coach does not have an upper dome level like GoldLeaf, the large windows still provide an immersive and memorable viewing experience.
Silverleaf outdoor viewing platform
SilverLeaf coaches include a smaller outdoor viewing area located between train cars. While it’s more compact than the GoldLeaf’s exclusive platform, it still provides a welcome opportunity to step outside, feel the fresh mountain air, and capture photos without window reflections. It’s ideal for quick breaks from your seat to take in the scenery from a different perspective.
Silverleaf Vs Goldleaf Dining Services
Dining on the Rocky Mountaineer is more than just a meal — it’s an essential part of the journey. Both SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf services offer freshly prepared dishes inspired by the regions you’re traveling through, but the way they’re served creates two very different experiences.
From enjoying regionally inspired meals delivered to your seat in SilverLeaf to savoring gourmet à la carte dining in GoldLeaf’s dedicated restaurant-style car, the onboard culinary offerings add another layer of luxury to the breathtaking scenery outside your window.
Goldleaf dining: Special lower-level dining car
GoldLeaf Service elevates the culinary experience with a dedicated lower-level dining room that feels more like a fine restaurant than a train car. Here, guests enjoy gourmet à la carte meals freshly prepared onboard by a professional culinary team, complete with attentive table service.
The offering also includes signature cocktails, premium wines and spirits, and gourmet snacks served throughout the journey. Combined with the elegant setting and full glass-dome views upstairs, dining in GoldLeaf is a highlight of the entire trip.
Silverleaf dining: Meals served to your seat
With SilverLeaf Service, all meals are served at your seat, so you never have to leave the comfort of your panoramic coach. The menu features regionally inspired dishes that highlight local flavors, complemented by a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available throughout the day.
Guests are also treated to gourmet sweet and savory snacks, making the dining experience both relaxed and indulgent while still keeping the focus on the passing scenery.
Rocky Mountianeer: Special Dietary Requirements
Guests with dietary restrictions can be accommodated on the Rocky Mountaineer, though advance notice is essential. The train’s menus are thoughtfully designed to cover a range of tastes and dietary preferences, but once the journey begins, flexibility to alter dishes is limited.
To ensure the culinary team is prepared, travelers with allergies or special requirements should make sure to share this information while booking the train.
Silverleaf Vs Goldleaf Host & Onboard Services
Beyond the scenery and the comfort of your seat, what truly defines the Rocky Mountaineer experience is the hospitality of the onboard team. From sharing stories about the landscapes to ensuring your glass is never empty, the hosts play a central role in shaping your journey.
Both SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf services provide attentive staff, but the size of the team and the level of service differ, creating two distinct experiences.
Goldleaf: Host & Onboard Staff
In GoldLeaf Service, guests are looked after by an expanded onboard team, including multiple hosts and a dedicated culinary staff working in the full kitchen and dining room. This larger crew allows for more personalized attention, seamless service, and freshly prepared gourmet meals that elevate the overall journey. The hosts also enrich the trip with detailed storytelling and insights about the passing landscapes.
Silverleaf: Host & Onboard Staff
By comparison, SilverLeaf Service features a smaller but equally attentive team of hosts who balance commentary, meal service, and guest care within the single-level coach. Meals are delivered directly to your seat, and while the service is simpler, it still feels warm, professional, and perfectly suited to the relaxed SilverLeaf atmosphere.
GoldLeaf vs SilverLeaf Services: Seats & Comfort
Your seat is where you’ll spend most of your time on the Rocky Mountaineer, so comfort plays a big role in the experience. While both service levels provide spacious, reclining seats and large windows, the layout and overall sense of luxury differ significantly between GoldLeaf and SilverLeaf.
Goldleaf Seating & Comfort
GoldLeaf passengers travel in the upper level of a bi-level dome coach, where wide, reclining seats offer extra space and a higher vantage point. The full glass dome overhead makes the cabin feel open and bright, while the plush seating and adjustable features add a sense of luxury. With direct access to the lower-level dining room and a large outdoor viewing platform, GoldLeaf seating feels more like a first-class lounge than a train carriage.
Silverleaf Seating & Comfort
SilverLeaf coaches feature a single-level layout with oversized panoramic windows that curve up into the ceiling. The reclining seats are comfortable and roomy, arranged in pairs that suit couples or solo travelers. Meals and drinks are served directly to your seat, allowing you to stay relaxed and focused on the scenery. While simpler than GoldLeaf, SilverLeaf still provides a comfortable and memorable journey, with thoughtful design that keeps the views front and center.
Hotels and Overnight stays in Silverleaf Vs Goldleaf
Since the Rocky Mountaineer operates exclusively during daylight hours, the train does not run overnight. This ensures that guests never miss a moment of the breathtaking scenery — from towering mountain peaks and winding river canyons to sparkling lakes and endless forests. Rather than traveling through the night while passengers sleep, the journey is designed so that every stretch of the route can be enjoyed from the comfort of your seat or the outdoor viewing platform.
As a result, all multi-day itineraries include overnight stays in hotels, allowing travelers to rest, recharge, and then continue their daylight adventure refreshed the next morning. The standard of these hotels varies depending on whether you’re traveling in GoldLeaf or SilverLeaf Service, with both carefully selected to match the level of comfort offered onboard.
GoldLeaf Hotels
Guests traveling in GoldLeaf Service are typically booked into premium hotels (4- to 5-star properties) located in central or scenic areas. These hotels often include well-appointed rooms, full-service amenities, and a higher level of comfort to match the luxury of the onboard journey. Examples include the Fairmont Banff Springs, the Rimrock Resort Hotel, or similar upscale accommodations in overnight stop cities.
Silverleaf Hotels
SilverLeaf Service includes stays at standard hotels (3- to 3.5-star properties) that provide comfortable rooms and essential amenities. These hotels are often located a little further from the main attractions, with transportation provided where needed. Examples include properties like the Sandman Signature Kamloops or the Chateau Jasper, which offer a balance of convenience and comfort without the premium touches of GoldLeaf hotels.
Goldleaf & Silverleaf Pricing Difference
SilverLeaf Service includes stays at standard hotels (3- to 3.5-star properties) that provide comfortable rooms and essential amenities. These hotels are often located a little further from the main attractions, with transportation provided where needed. Examples include properties like the Sandman Signature Kamloops or the Chateau Jasper, which offer a balance of convenience and comfort without the premium touches of GoldLeaf hotels.
Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Pricing
GoldLeaf is the premium service tier, and the pricing reflects its elevated experience. On the same two-day routes, GoldLeaf fares begin at approximately CAD 3,065 during shoulder season and can go up to CAD 3,665 during the high season. Though it costs more, many travelers find the added comfort, dining experience, and larger viewing options well worth the difference.
Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf Pricing
SilverLeaf offers a cost-effective way to enjoy the Rocky Mountaineer’s scenic routes without sacrificing luxury. On Canada’s two-day routes, fares for SilverLeaf start at around CAD 2,245 per person in April and rise to about CAD 2,725 during peak summer months. While seasonal discounts and package deals can lower these prices, SilverLeaf generally remains the more affordable option between the two.
Frequently asked questions: Silverleaf Vs Goldleaf
What extra do you get for the Goldleaf service, compared to silverleaf?
GoldLeaf Service includes all the comforts of SilverLeaf plus several premium enhancements:
- Bi-level dome coach with panoramic upper-level glass-domed seating
- Dedicated lower-level dining room for gourmet meals
- Larger outdoor viewing platform exclusive to GoldLeaf guests
- Expanded onboard team, including more hosts and a full culinary staff
- Exclusive touches such as signature cocktails
Do both the services offer the same scenic views?
Yes! While our GoldLeaf Service coaches are outfitted with full glass-dome windows, our single-level SilverLeaf Service coaches have oversized glass-dome windows with the same scenic views.
Are beverages included in both service levels?
Yes, all-inclusive beverage service is included with both service levels. Enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in SilverLeaf Service, or signature cocktails and premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in GoldLeaf Service.
Which Rocky Mountaineer trip is best?
It depends on what you’re looking for: the First Passage to the West is the most iconic route, Journey Through the Clouds offers more remote mountain scenery, Rainforest to Gold Rush combines the greatest variety of landscapes, and Rockies to the Red Rocks showcases dramatic desert canyons in the U.S.
What is the difference between SilverLeaf and SilverLeaf plus?
SilverLeaf Plus includes everything in SilverLeaf along with access to a lounge car, premium alcoholic beverages like handcrafted cocktails and local wines, and enhanced dining touches. It is only offered on the Rockies to the Red Rocks route, in the U.S part of the route.
Which service should you choose?
If you value a luxurious experience with panoramic dome seating, gourmet dining, and added extras, GoldLeaf is the best choice.
But if you prefer a more affordable option that still offers excellent views, regionally inspired meals at your seat, and great service, SilverLeaf is a wonderful alternative.
Summary of Difference: Goldleaf Vs Silverleaf
| Feature | GoldLeaf | SilverLeaf |
|---|---|---|
| Coach Style | Bi-level dome coach with a dining room on the lower level. | Single-level coach. |
| Seating & Views | Upper-level glass-domed seating with panoramic views. | Spacious seating with large windows. |
| Dining | Gourmet, à la carte meals served in a separate dining room. | Hot entrées served at your seat. |
| Beverages | Complimentary premium drinks. | Complimentary drinks. |
| Outdoor Viewing | Exclusive, large outdoor viewing platform. | Shared outdoor viewing area. |
| Service | Attended by a larger team of hosts. | Attended by two dedicated hosts. |
| Accessibility | All seating, dining, and amenities on one level (no stairs) | Requires use of stairs between seating and dining levels |
| Prices | Premium price point. | Entry-level price point. |
Key Considerations while choosing your service
When deciding between SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf, think about what you value most:
Cost: SilverLeaf is the more budget-friendly option while still offering great comfort and views.
Luxury & Comfort: GoldLeaf provides extra space, bi-level dome coaches, and a more premium feel.
Dining Experience: SilverLeaf meals are served at your seat; GoldLeaf offers gourmet à la carte dining in a dedicated restaurant.
Service & Hosts: GoldLeaf has a larger host team and a full culinary staff for more personalized attention.
Viewing Options: SilverLeaf includes large panoramic windows, while GoldLeaf adds a higher dome level and a spacious outdoor viewing platform.
Choose your service and route now
Ready to experience the magic of the Rocky Mountaineer? Whether you’re drawn to the comfort and value of SilverLeaf or the luxury and exclusivity of GoldLeaf, each service promises breathtaking scenery and unforgettable moments. Explore the details, compare your options, and select the service that best suits your travel style.
Enhanced Rocky Mountaineer Experience with Curated tours
Journey Through The Clouds Excursion
7 Days / 6 Nights, Vancouver to Calgary Rail + Coach Tour
- 2-day Rocky Mountaineer train journey
- 6 nights hotel accommodation
- Breakfasts & lunches onboard the train
- Rail station transfers (Vancouver, Kamloops & Jasper)
- Icefields Parkway tour with Ice Explorer & Glacier Skywalk
- Yoho National Park tour
Grand Circle
5 Days / 4 Nights, Roundtrip from Vancouver, Rail + Coach
- 2-day Rocky Mountaineer train journey (Vancouver → Jasper)
- Fully guided motorcoach tour of Jasper, Banff & Lake Louise
- 4 nights hotel accommodation
- 5 breakfasts & 2 lunches
- Rail station transfers (Vancouver, Kamloops & Jasper)
- Optional hikes through Johnston & Maligne Canyons
Canadian Rockies Rail Excursion
6 Days / 5 Nights, Calgary to Vancouver Rail + Coach Tour
- 2-day Rocky Mountaineer train journey (Jasper → Vancouver)
- 3-day guided motorcoach tour plus independent day in Lake Louise
- 5 nights hotel accommodation
- 5 breakfasts & 2 lunches
- Ice Explorer tour, Glacier Skywalk & Gondola ride
- Services of a dedicated mountain tour guide
