we're taking an overnight train from paris to venice, but we are try to decide on the type of accomodations. There are 6 of us with an infant and thought of a 6 berth, but wondered if the shared wash room on the car included a shower since that is 2nd class.

Hi

The Orient Express runs Paris - Venice !
Sadly, they don't have en suite facilities !

Peter
http://tlp.netfirms.com

The six-berth compartments are couchettes; there are toilets and wash basins at each end of the carriage, but no showers.

I would rather suggest to take the wagon lits. They have a sink, they are much better than the 6 berth couchettes (I have traveled in them on the Rome Paris line once but I didnt fine them comfy, it was cold and the top berths are too high for me, while the lower ones give me a sense of constriction....but it depends on the person...that's me). There is a wagon lit man on every coach who can wake you up at what time you want and in the morning you can have a light breakfast (coffe or cappuccino or tea with croissant). If you are 6 you can take 2 compartments of 3 lits each which you could also get with an opening connecting door if you want, but you should request it when booking (in order to have adjoining compartments, for if the train is already quite full you would risk to have a 3-lits compartment in one point and another in another point. By asking the common door and depending on the availability of course, you will be more likely to have nearby compartments)

I don't think the Paris-Venezia train has three-berth compartments. There are couchettes, two-berth T2 compartments, and the new excelsior compartments which have their own bathrooms. Even in couchettes, each carriage has an attendant who will sell drinks, wake you up, etc.

Overnight trains Fodors

The night train between Paris and Venice has 1, 2 and 3 berth sleeper compartments in the old style, as well as 2 berth second class compartments, 4 and 6 berth couchettes, and 1 and 2 berth first class compartments, the first class with or without a
shower en suite.

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