Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf vs SilverLeaf Service Levels

The timeless, slow-travel draw of a long-distance train is enigmatic, especially when accompanied by seat-side drinks, three-course meals, and some of the most outstanding landscapes in the world.

Luxury rail travel is taking the world by storm. And we'll happily agree — traveling by luxury train is undeniably romantic, and undoubtedly glamorous.

Rocky Mountaineer is Canada's most luxurious rail experience, and one of the best train trips in the world. So, naturally, it's important for every guest to experience it in the way that suits them best.

Rocky Mountaineer offers two ways to experience luxury train travel in Canada: Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service and SilverLeaf Service.

So at a time when indulgent rail travel is having a resurgence, this is your guide to experience the very best of it, in the way that suits you most.

This is a comparison of Rocky Mountaineer's two service levels. If you want an in-depth look at the onboard experience, visit our post: Onboard a Rocky Mountaineer Train: What to Expect

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer Service Levels at a Glance

Rocky Mountaineer offers two levels of service: GoldLeaf Service and SilverLeaf Service.

If you're short on time, here's a quick look at what your ticket in each Rocky Mountaineer service level includes:

GoldLeaf Service	SilverLeaf Service
Bi-level glass dome coach with upper-level seating	Single-level coach with semi-domed windows
Large outdoor viewing platform	Small outdoor viewing vestibule
Gourmet meals served in downstairs dining room	Gourmet meals served to your seat
Premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages	Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Up to four Hosts in each coach, plus a full culinary team	Up to three Hosts in each coach

Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service

Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service is the premium service level onboard the train. That means access to premium amenities.

Hand-mixed cocktails, freshly made multi-course meals, and the highest level of onboard care are all included in your ticket. And, to commemorate the experience, a gold pin is yours to keep.

This all means GoldLeaf Service onboard Rocky Mountaineer is best for travelers seeking the most luxurious rail experience in Canada or celebrating a special occasion.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

GoldLeaf Service Coach

GoldLeaf Service coaches are bi-level, offering distinction between where you take your meals and where you take in views.

There are three main features of a GoldLeaf coach that set it apart:

• Panoramic views through upper-level domed windows
• A separate dining room where gourmet meals are prepared and served
• An outdoor viewing platform that GoldLeaf passengers have exclusive access to

Your main seat is in the upper level of the bi-level glass dome coach. That means you'll have a higher vantage point when looking out, positioned higher above trees and looking down on any wildlife.

In the viewing level, each passenger has a spacious reclining seat. It's high tech, offering seat temperature control, customizable lumbar support, and an electrical outlet all built in. And, each pair of seats can (optionally) be rotated to face another pair, creating a pod of four for larger groups.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

On the lower level of the coach, you'll find the dining room. There's something quietly luxurious about making your way down the train to a separate dining room for meals, something you'll do twice a day onboard most Rocky Mountaineer routes.

The dining room is set with white tablecloths and full place settings — it's more akin to a restaurant dining room than your typical train fare, and perfectly complements the gourmet meals you'll experience there. Washrooms are also located downstairs and are spacious and ADA-accessible. Any less-mobile guests can use GoldLeaf coaches, which have a lift available between upper and lower levels.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

The GoldLeaf-exclusive outdoor viewing platform is another one of the major draws. It's located downstairs, at the back of the coach, and offers guests the chance to get some fresh air while traveling. Our tip: this is the best spot to go if you want the clearest photos of the Canadian Rockies. With no glare from the glass, it’s just you and the mountains.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

GoldLeaf Service Meals

Multi-course gourmet meals served in an exclusive dining car are one of the main hallmarks of luxury train travel. It's what really evokes the classic view of a chic journey along the rails. And dining beyond where everyday roads go is just an added extra.

GoldLeaf Service passengers get a fantastic taste of this in the restaurant-style setting on the first floor of their train coach. Beside you, picture windows open up to great Canadian landscapes.

It's only natural that meals in GoldLeaf Service are one of the highlights of the trip.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Gourmet meals (prepared fresh onboard) are all served in the lower-level dining room. Passengers are served breakfasts and large, three-course lunches onboard the train, including regionally inspired meals and fine dining staples.

"Every meal onboard was thoughtfully prepared, showcasing fresh, local ingredients while we enjoyed panoramic views” - Alekh, Travel Designer

Meals are taken in two seatings, which are then reversed on the second day of travel. So, if you are a part of the first dinner seating on day one, on day two, you'll be a part of the second.

Breakfast contains a fresh-baked pastry and a choice of four main items from the rotating menu. Coffee, tea, and alcoholic brunch classics are all options.

Lunch is a three-course affair, seated in the same restaurant-style setting downstairs. Again, the menu rotates, but always starts with an appetizer, followed by a delicious main course, and a dessert. It is accompanied by drinks of your choice, selected from the onboard menu.

Even aside from structured meals, food is plentiful. Snacks are offered throughout the day, as are premium drinks. All are served right to your seat.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

GoldLeaf Service Hosts

Your Onboard Hosts really make the journey what it is. They provide not only attentive service hour-to-hour — serving drinks, bringing snacks, and being on hand for assistance — but act as onboard guides and storytellers. In GoldLeaf Service, passengers have up to 4 Hosts in their coach — a larger team than SilverLeaf passengers — and a full culinary team.

Your Hosts explain (with easy expertise and humor) the sights you see, the geology that formed them, and weave in both the Indigenous and modern cultures that now make up the region. If you're interested in anything from the railway's history to canyon formation, you're going to be interested in the onboard information.

It's worth noting that, alongside the storytelling, there is still quiet time to enjoy the views alone. Bring a good book (there isn't much internet access along the route), but don't expect to get too far into it. You'll find yourself distracted by the view for much of your travels through Western Canada.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Quality service goes beyond the Hosts you see while onboard. The full culinary team stays largely out of sight, but is busy in the kitchen bringing fine dining to the tracks. À la carte meals are prepared fresh onboard by the team and served as if you were dining in a sophisticated restaurant.

Credit: Canada By Design

Our Experience in GoldLeaf Service

In 2025, two of our Travel Designers, Alekh Singh and Mandy Messmer, took Rocky Mountaineer's Journey to the Clouds route in GoldLeaf Service. They were stunned by the views, which were "like a moving postcard," the food, and the service, which was "a highlight of the trip."

"Watching the scenery unfold from the train felt like being inside a moving postcard, as every turn revealed something even more spectacular than the last." - Alekh, Travel Designer

Credit: Canada By Design

Onboard, our Travel Designers enjoyed the little touches that bring the signature glamor to GoldLeaf Service. Seatside cocktails ordered from a menu, high-tech seats with custom lumbar support and temperature settings, and, of course, the attentive Hosts.

Upon her return from the trip, Mandy quickly mentioned how much she adored the Hosts' onboard storytelling. They were incredibly informative, answering many questions before they ever arose, and extremely warm and hospitable.

Credit: Canada By Design

Across the trip, our Travel Designers spent time not only watching the views roll past and learning about their significance from the Hosts, but making friends with fellow travelers over delicious meals (which they also gushed over on their return).

Passengers spend each day together in the viewing car, and are encouraged to move around the car as they please to see specific sights. Then, at breakfast and lunch, those traveling in couples are paired with another couple to form a table of four in the dining car. Pairings typically rotate at each mealtime, making it a remarkably social environment. On their first day dining onboard, Alekh and Mandy quickly befriended another couple and chose to keep dining with them across the rest of their trip.

These first-hand experiences are fantastic for us, letting us sample each experience we design, so that we can confidently recommend it to our guests. And given everything both Alekh and Mandy said about their time on Rocky Mountaineer, we can assure you it truly is the world-class journey everyone says it is.

Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf Service

Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf Service is the most affordable service level onboard the train. That being said, you still have access to the same world-class service, expert storytelling, and outstanding landscapes as you would in GoldLeaf. SilverLeaf Service is best for travelers seeking a luxury daylight rail trip to the Canadian Rockies at the most affordable price.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

SilverLeaf Service Coach

Rocky Mountaineer's SilverLeaf coaches are single-level, with large semi-domed windows. You spend the entirety of your time onboard in the viewing car, giving you ample time to relax in large, reclining seats and watch the views pass outside.

This also means that everything you need is located on one level and is easily accessed without stairs or a lift. We often recommend this to guests who are less steady on their feet or don't want the hassle of moving between floors several times a day.

Between SilverLeaf coaches, there is a small outdoor viewing vestibule which holds around four guests at any given time. If you want to get a quick photo of a passing landmark, this is the best place to go.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

SilverLeaf Service Meals

SilverLeaf passengers enjoy regionally inspired meals throughout their journey. But, in SilverLeaf Service, they're served at your seat, rather than in a dedicated dining room.

This does mean, though, that all passengers in your coach will enjoy meals at the same time rather than in staggered seatings. And, you'll get to continue enjoying your seatside view as you eat.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Dishes are chosen from a menu featuring gourmet multi-course meals for both breakfast and lunch. Breakfast consists of a fresh-baked pastry followed by one of three rotating options. And, of course, coffee and teas (and even some alcoholic options) are available.

Lunch is a three-course affair consisting of an appetizer, regionally-inspired main course, and, of course, dessert. Like GoldLeaf Service, all items vary by route, day, and season.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

SilverLeaf Service Hosts

SilverLeaf Service has fewer Hosts per coach than GoldLeaf Service does, but that doesn't limit the attentive service you'll receive onboard. Your Hosts provide an equally engaging mix of storytelling, interpretation, and facts as you travel along the routes.

In addition, your coach Hosts will serve drinks, snacks, and meals all to your seat. Onboard Rocky Mountaineer, you really want for nothing.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Available in Both Service Levels

Of course, there are some things available in both service levels onboard Rocky Mountaineer.

Spacious seating, dedicated Onboard Hosts, and hours upon hours of beautiful views through British Columbia's interior and the Canadian Rocky Mountains are not service level features, but instead a core part of what makes the glamorous, time-honored Rocky Mountaineer experience.

While we don't want to spoil the trip, some highlights along the way are the Kicking Horse Canyon, which you'll pass along the bottom of on the First Passage to the West route, and crossing the Continental Divide in the very heart of the Rockies. All are seen through panoramic windows in the comfort of world-class hospitality.

Credit: Canada By Design

Which Route has Each Service?

All Canadian routes on Rocky Mountaineer offer both GoldLeaf and SilverLeaf services. That means, both services are available on:

• First Passage to the West
• Journey through the Clouds
• Rainforest to Gold Rush
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And, for select dates only, on the 2026-exclusive route:

• Passage to Peaks

How to Choose Your Service Level on Rocky Mountaineer

Simply put, GoldLeaf Service onboard Rocky Mountaineer is best for travelers wanting the highest level of luxury, while SilverLeaf Service is best for those who are more budget-conscious. That being said, both service levels are incredible, feeling luxurious from start to end.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Why Choose GoldLeaf Service?

We specifically recommend GoldLeaf Service to our guests when they are looking to celebrate a special occasion or if experiencing Rocky Mountaineer is a particular bucket list item for them.

It is also worth noting that GoldLeaf service has greater access to movement — you walk from the upper to lower level of your coach for meals, and there is a larger outdoor viewing platform available to stretch your legs in.

Why Choose SilverLeaf Service?

We recommend SilverLeaf Service for our travelers when they are looking to get the Rocky Mountaineer experience at a lower cost or have a tighter overall budget. That means you can still experience luxury rail travel without compromising other parts of your trip.

Credit: Canada By Design

How to Book

Rocky Mountaineer train tickets can be booked directly or, for a larger vacation, you can book with a specialist tour operator like Canada By Design.

We create complete trips around Rocky Mountaineer's iconic journey. They include pre- and post-night stays, activities in the Canadian Rockies, and the ultimate flexibility to customize each step of the journey. A member of our team will work one-on-one with you to coordinate and book all aspects of your trip with Rocky Mountaineer.

As we design every step of your trip to fit seamlessly together, you can expect the same luxury that Rocky Mountaineer excels at throughout your trip. We can arrange drivers to collect you from the train station and take you on to the next part of your journey. And we can customize each step of the trip to you.

If you're looking to travel in a particular service class onboard Rocky Mountaineer, tell your Travel Designer at the time of booking. They can help find specific dates with open seats to fill your request.

FAQs

Which Rocky Mountaineer service level should I take?

The service level that's right for you depends on what you're looking for in your trip. If you're looking for a high end luxury train trip, then traveling in GoldLeaf Service is likely best for you. If you're more interested in the views you'll see than the onboard experience, or you have a smaller budget for train travel, then SilverLeaf Service is best.

What is SilverLeaf Plus Service?

SilverLeaf Plus Service is a service class available on Rocky Mountaineer's partner brand, Canyon Spirit, on routes through the United States.

What's it like onboard Rocky Mountaineer?

For a full look into your time onboard a Rocky Mountaineer train, see our detailed article: Onboard a Rocky Mountaineer Train: What to Expect

Feature Image Credit: Rocky Mountaineer