While it is up to you certainly, you will indeed have an oportunity to eat diner that first night out of Albany. The dining car is still serving meals for all the passengers connecting from Boston. Most likely your attendant will make a reservation for you, just to hold a place in the diner for you. It is of course your option as to whether you want to wait that late for dinner, and then of course whether you want to take it in your room or in the diner. But the meal is included in the price of your ticket and you are entitled to it, should you wish it.My first train departs at 7:05pm so, I'm thinking the only meal they're going to serve on the train is breakfast since it arrives in CHI at 10:something AM Now, I don't eat breakfast. So I won't even be eating on that train. I plan on taking a subway sandwhich with me the night before for dinner. And I have an almost 4 hour layover in CHi - I'm sure there's plenty of places to grab a bite to eat for lunch.
There are places in Chicago's Union Station to buy something to eat. Make sure that you check into the Metropolitan Lounge first when you arrive though, as they will both hold your luggage for you and tell you when to return for boarding the Empire Builder. You can even bring your food back to the lounge and eat it there if you like. They also offer free juice, soda, water in the lounge, as well as WiFi for your laptop.
You are of course entitled to both breakfast and lunch, provided that it comes from the dining car. If you head to the cafe car, you get to pay for it. So even if you don't want to go to the dining car, you may still want to get lunch in your room.The Empire builder departs at 2 something PM. So I'm guessing dinner that night - which I will have in the diner car. I'll be skipping breakfast - will probably get a snack out of the lounge car or where ever for lunch and either take dinner in my room or the diner car. I get off the train at 1:45am - of course that would be on time, but I doubt we'd end up being so late I'd have to grab another meal.
It's not that much of a hassle, I just wanted you to know that they do have a fair amount of work. And they are required to bring meals upon request.I realize the attendant has lots to do and I wouldn't want to be an extra burdon on them. But if it's horribly uncomfortable for me to eat in the diner, I don't think it'll be too much of a hassle if they have to bring me one meal.
But you should also know that some attendants resent having to do that, if they don't see a disability or other good reason for it. Other attendants are perfectly happy to do it and will even be quite prompt with their service. It all comes down to the nature of the attendant.
I couldn't do that either, especially without a shower. I've never done an overnight on a train without a sleeper. Just my personal preferences.I'm not buying the rooms because of the free meals - I just can't see sitting in a chair, even if it does recline, for about 2.5 days - straight. It's great for the people that can do it and save the money, though.