As a business traveler, when I go to Hell, I will change planes in Atlanta. As a train aficionado, when I go to Hell, I will have to change trains in Chicago. Now that we're cruising instead, I will have to depart for Hell from Miami.
Before cruising across the oceans, I used to cruise across the country by rail.
I had an assignment in Peoria, IL and was commuting by air every week - a Monday crack of dawn flight from DFW to Chicago, and catching a puddle jumper to Peoria. After I had crossed AAdvantage Gold before the end of the first quarter, I looked for alternatives.
The Texas Eagle left Sunday at 3pm (or so) from downtown Dallas and arrived just about noon in Bloomington, Illinois - a short drive to Peoria. So, I started taking the train up and flying home.
I discovered the train took more time, but it was more relaxed, there was much more room, and the food was full-sized. That beats an airplane, as long as you have the time.
Texas Eagle (Dallas to Chicago) - many times, commuting to Peoria from Dallas for work, plus with my son on multiple vacation adventures:
Texas Eagle to Empire Builder [Dallas to Chicago to Seattle]
Texas Eagle to Southwest Chief [Dallas to Los Angeles to Chicago]
Texas Eagle to Lake Shore Limited [Dallas to New York]
Texas Eagle to Southwest Chief to Coast Starlight [rerouted, Dallas to Chicago to Los Angeles to Oakland]
Empire Builder (Chicago to Seattle) - one vacation, connecting from the Texas Eagle, so Dallas to Seattle to see the country, with a flight back.
Southwest Chief (Chicago to Los Angeles) - one vacation, connecting from the Texas Eagle, so Dallas to Los Angeles to see the country. We were late (very late) into Chicago and missed the connection to the California Zephyr, so Amtrak re-routed us via the Southwest Chief and the Coast Starlight.
Coast Starlight (Los Angeles to Seattle) - a romantic cabin for a boy and his Dad. Oops. Still, the food was good, and it was a train we weren't expecting to take (see Southwest Chief), so it was probably an upgrade from the California Zephyr. We only rode up to San Francisco (actually, Oakland), so we could catch our scheduled flight home.
Lake Shore Limited (Chicago to New York) - one Fall Break, connecting from the Texas Eagle, final destination - New Jersey to pick up my Mom-in-law (who wouldn't fly) to drive her back to Dallas.
Cardinal (New York to Chicago) - start of a romantic trip home from the in-laws in New Jersey (we boarded in Trenton) to Dallas, which went a bit South (ha!) when the Texas Eagle was canceled due to track blockage, and we ended up taking a bus from Chicago to Memphis to Dallas. My wife is still scarred.