Majestic Imperator

This item appears on page 71 of the June 2009 issue.

The railcars of the Majestic Imperator Train de Luxe (Vienna, Austria; www.imperialtrain.com) replicate those used by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and his wife, Elisabeth (Sissi), before WWI. With modern chassis, cars dating from 1905 to 1959 have been restored or replicas made using original plans and photographs.

The (non-air-conditioned) luxury train runs between Vienna and Munich, passing through Melk, Linz, Salzburg, Prien am Chiemsee, Innsbruck, Seefeld and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

From late April until early October there are departures from Vienna on Thursday and from Munich on Friday and Saturday. Fares are based on how many of the line’s four zones are crossed. Per zone, it costs $120 in the lounge car (à la carte dining available) or $155 in the dining car. The entire Vienna-Munich route crosses four zones. A beverage package with the dinner train costs $83.

Every Wednesday there is a dinner train round trip from Vienna to Eisenstadt ($279), including cocktails at the Josef Haydn exhibit at Esterhazy Castle.

In North America, contact, in Encinitas, CA, Custom Travel Network (888/675-6357 or 760/688-0127, www.customtravelnetwork.com).