Swiss Travel Pass: inclusions/exclusions confusion
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Hi. I’m thrilled to find this highly useful platform to plan my upcoming trip to Switzerland. We are a family of 4 adults travelling to Europe in June 2018 and we’re spending 5 nights in Switzerland (June 10 to June 14). Here’s the itinerary of the Switzerland part:
June 10 – Sunday (Night at Zurich)
After breakfast, transfer to Zurich from Munich by bus/train. Early check-in at Zurich accommodation and lunch.
After lunch, visit to Rhine Falls with boat ride to the rock included.
After return, dinner and free time at Zurich.
June 11 – Monday (Night at Zurich)
After early breakfast, visit to Mount Titlis with Ice Flyer.
Lunch at Lucerne. Lucerne orientation tour and free time at Lucerne.
Dinner at Zurich/Lucerne.
June 12 – Tuesday (Night at Zurich)
After early breakfast, reach Interlaken via Golden Pass Rail line from Lucerne. Take Jungfrau line to Lauterbrunnen. Spend some time at Lauterbrunnen village to admire village scenery and Staubbach Falls.
Then proceed to Wengen and further to JungfrauJoch – Top of Europe. Visit attractions and lunch at Bollywood restaurant at Jungfraujoch (if still open these days).
Return to Interlaken using the Grindelwald line and enjoy free time for some time.
Return to Zurich for dinner.
June 13 – Wednesday (Night at Montreux)
After breakfast, take train to Interlaken to join Golden Pass Line to reach Montreux by check-in time. Packed lunch on train. Check-in at Montreux accommodation.
Quick transfer by cab to Broc to visit Maison Cailler Nestle chocolate factory for chocolate tour. Then roam around village for short time.
Then proceed to Bern by train to enjoy free time at the capital city.
Dinner at Bern and return to Montreux.
June 14 – Thursday (Night at Montreux)
Relaxed breakfast. Proceed to Lausanne to board 11.40 am Heritage cruise on Lake Geneva to cover Lavaux Vineyards and Chillon Castle and disembark at Montreux on return journey from castle (assuming we can embark/disembark at any stop during the cruise).
Proceed to Geneva for lunch. Geneva orientation tour and free time.
Early dinner at Geneva. Then proceed to Lausanne to board 6.45 pm – 9 pm Gourmet sunset Raclette cruise on Lake Geneva and do full round trip back to Lausanne to experience the sunset. Return to Montreux from Lausanne.
June 15 – Friday
After breakfast, proceed to Geneva to catch train to Paris.
All commutes in this itinerary are by train unless otherwise mentioned. I’m planning to use a 4-day Swiss Travel Pass (2nd class) from June 11 to 14 which makes a lot of the travel in Switzerland ticket-less and free in a way. But I have some confusions regarding it that I want you guys to clarify:
1. Apart from Mt. Titlis, Jungfraujoch, cab to Broc and chocolate factory tour, what other items/connections on this itinerary from June 11-14 require payment of any sort (discounted or otherwise) considering I’ll be having a valid Swiss Travel Pass for that period? Please also mention if any seat reservations are required anywhere. And does reserving a seat imply paying money?
2. I emailed this question to the official CGN email as well but didn’t receive any reply. So I’m asking here. I know that the pass is valid on the cruises. But I don’t know how it works with the gourmet cruises. Do I need to buy a ticket or is my entry free because of the pass? If entry is free, then is the raclette also free or do I have to pay separately for it? Also, do I need seat reservations separately? Basically I want to know the cost of the Raclette cruise for a valid Swiss Travel Pass holder. The CGN website says that the ticket price includes 3 portions of raclette but if I’m going ticket-less because of the Swiss Travel Pass, then how does it work?
3. The Heritage cruise in the day time has 1st and 2nd class. Only the 1st class ticket has access to the upper decks of the cruise. And I’ll be a 2nd class Travel Pass holder. So will I be able to access the deck free of cost or do I have to pay? And is it even worth to pay for the view from the upper deck?
Thanks in advance for going through my post and answering my questions. You are also welcome to comment/advise on any other aspect of the transportation/itinerary that I might’ve overlooked if you deem fit 🙂
Regards,
Vidhi
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