Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Istanbul to Paris (Tour code: 13568)

There is no such thing as being too dressed up on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train! For dinner, we request formal evening wear, and many guests choose to wear black tie attire and their most elegant garments for the occasion. During the day, smart daywear is appropriate. For instance, a jacket with a tie or equivalent would be suitable for lunch. Please note that jeans are not permitted at any time.

Please note: Jeans are not permitted at any time. Our team can assist you with organising tuxedo hire (additional costs apply) – speak to our team at time of booking.

Children are welcome to join us on board, and infants under the age of two at the time of departure travel free. Parents must provide their own food and a bassinet for sleeping. Given the space constraints of a Twin Cabin, we highly recommend booking an interconnecting cabin (which should be reserved for no more than two adults) or a Grand Suite to ensure the comfort of our guests when traveling with a baby. Please let us know at the time of booking that you will be traveling with a baby so we can offer you the best advice and assistance. The ambiance aboard the train is geared towards our adult passengers. For this reason, it is at the Train Manager’s discretion that children may accompany their parents in the bar and restaurant cars.

Unfortunately, the train is not suitable for accommodating pets. The carriages have limited space and infrequent stops, which do not provide sufficient opportunities for pets to exercise and attend to their needs. In consideration of their well-being, pets are not allowed on board.

As with all holidays and trips abroad, we strongly recommend that you have travel insurance. Please consult our consultants at time of booking and we can assist you with this.

We will do our best to cater for special dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, vegan etc, provided a detailed request has been made at the time of booking. If a special request has not been made, the chefs will endeavour to prepare a dish with the ingredients available on board. We do, however, regret that we are unable to provide meals requiring strict religious observance in the preparation.

There are some key factors to be aware of before making a booking if you or your guests have mobility issues. One of the key considerations is that wheelchairs cannot be used on board the train. The dimensions and layout do not allow wheelchair passage through the corridors.

Essentially, our guests would need to be able to make their way from their cabin to the bathroom at the end of the carriage and would also need to be able to embark and disembark the train on foot, using the two high steps and grab rail by the door of the carriage. It is not possible to fix a ramp from the platform to the train door.

Foldable Mobility Scooters can be taken on board, for use at the final destination. Requests for wheelchairs and assistance can be made with prior notice, to official railway station services at each station along the route, however, train staff cannot provide these services directly.

Should you or your guests have any special requirements, please do let us know in advance of travel.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the train in all guest cabins. The service is however provided by a mobile device so signal can be intermittent in rural areas. To maintain the ambiance of the train for fellow passengers the use of mobile phones and electronic devices should be restricted to the cabin.

There is a centrally controlled cooling system on board, however individual cabins are not temperature controlled separately with cooling. Guests can control the flow and volume of cooled air into their cabins by opening or closing a vent.

Types of Luggage:

1. Hand luggage (Ex: Purse, Passports, Tickets, Cameras, Medication, Jewellery).
These items must be kept by the passenger at all times and not checked in.

2. Cabin luggage
We suggest that items required during the journey are packed separately in an overnight bag or suit carrier. This will also be taken from the passenger at check-in and delivered to their cabin by our staff.

3. Through luggage
We suggest items not required for the journey should be packed separately in sturdy baggage. At check-in this luggage will be labelled appropriately by our staff, stored in the baggage van and will not be accessible until the passengers reach their destination.

Skis/Golf Clubs/Bikes: These should be packed in their appropriate cover and checked in with through luggage. These must be advised in advance and are subject to approval. Only foldable bikes in a protective case can be stored on board.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express cars are the original 1920s models. Each Historic Cabin has a washbasin, hot and cold water, towels, bathrobes and slippers – no shower facilities. WCs are located at either end of each sleeping carriage. For those looking for more room to relax, our Suites and Grand Suites, complete with private ensuite facilities, offer the ultimate escape.

Note: Historic cabins feature twin beds – with a lower and upper bunk. If a guest is unable to physically climb to the upper bunk then we suggest opting for one of our Suites.

Note: Journeys on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train can last from one to several days. The traditional and most popular route between London and Venice takes two days, with one night on board. For longer journeys – we will disembark the train for the 2^nd night and this will allow guests the ability to shower in the comfort of their hotel room.