Hi Langeland, and welcome to MySwissAlps!
>> I would like to reserve a seat on the Gotthard Panorama Express. I have a 1st class Eurail 3 Country Select pass, but understand it doesn’t work for this.
Your Eurail Pass will cover the train trip, and provide 50% discount on the boat sector, but no matter what sort of ticket or pass you have, the reservation for the train sector is compulsory and always an additional cost.
>> What is the best way to reserve and what does it include?
The reservation fee includes
- Seat reservation on the train between Flüelen and Lugano (or the reverse).
- Presentations in the Gotthard Tunnel.
- Accompaniment by a travel guide (only in the 1st class panorama coach)
- App or travel guide with information on the sights of interest along the route.
Food is not included, and no reservations are possible for seating on the boat. People move around constantly on the boat anyway.
You can find out how to reserve here:
http://www.myswissalps.com/go tthardpanoramaexpress/ tickets
Alternatively, you can reserve on the SBB site
http://www.sbb.ch/ticketshop/ b2c/adw.do?sprache=en&artikelnumm er=1993
>> If you miss a connecting train, will you be able to get on the next one?
A reservation is made for a specific seat on a specific train and can’t be used on a different one. In any case, the Gotthard Panorama Express only runs once per day in each direction.
>> Does it include the boat ride, food on the boat etc.? Is it ok to bring food with you on the train and boat?
Your Eurail Pass gets you a 50% discount on the boat ride, and reservations aren’t possible. Food is not included, but you can bring your own food on both the boat and train.
>> It is too early to reserve now, correct? If it says you need to reserve 90 days in advance, does that start at midnight and in which time zone in Europe?
I imagine the 90 days starts when it is midnight in Switzerland.
On what date do you plan to do this trip?
Operating details for the Gotthard Panorama Express are below. If these dates don’t suit you, you can do the same trip on regional trains and the boat, without the need to get a reservation.
- 30 Mar-2 Apr 2018: daily (preseason – Good Friday to Easter Monday)
- 3 Apr-20 Apr 2018: not operating
- 21 Apr-14 Oct 2018: Tuesday to Sunday (not Mondays, except for 21 May 2018)
Alpenrose