Sleepers sold out

Oh man that is a bummer. I wonder why the website has been having such problems ?

Hope you will find an acceptable solution.

I love train travel also but unfortunately Amtrak is often lacking.

Since the website had issues, keep checking back. Maybe there are continuing issues with the website.

If push comes to shove, maybe the regular seat overnight will be better than expected. Is there a first class option?

OK, I just checked on the Polrail.com site:
https://booking.polrail.com/index.php?main_page=page_5&from=Krakow&to=Prague&date=24-05-2023&language=en

Every single night I checked near the end of May had a "Single Delux" Sleeping car with shower/WC, (1-person compartment) available. It's 921 PLN, which is $222. There is also a "Single" option (not "Delux", no shower WC) for 711 PLN / $171. (That option may not have been available every night, I was specifically checking the Single Delux, just to give you an option.)

I didn't check whether I could find those same tickets on the Czech site. I tried Polrail because I used them when I booked my overnight train with "Single Delux" sleeper compartment from Krakow to Prague in 2018.

Polrail's service, which at that time included ticket delivery to my hotel, was perfect.

ETA: I checked the last 9 nights of May, hoping your date is within that window.

Exact times may vary by night, but here is an example:

Date: Tuesday, 23 May 2023
Train #IC407
Depart: Kraków Główny 22:42
Arrive: Praha hl.n. 07:38
Food service available: Restaurant
Available options: Sleeping car with shower/WC (1-person compartment)

I'm also finding availability via Polrail.com on dates at the end of May for the train that leaves 1 minute past midnight, though the sleepers are not "Delux", so they are just a sleeper compartment for 662 pln / $159.

Doing some additional checking, the Seat61.com website talks about how to buy the Chopin (overnight sleeper) tickets:
https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/prague-to-krakow-by-train.htm#by_EuroNight_train_Chopin

They mention this problem:

Here's the workaround for a common problem, especially between June & September

You might find that this sleeper train shows up in the search results without a Price in the next step button, or that Price in the next step appears, but seat reservation cannot then be changed to couchette or sleeper.

This is because www.cd.cz only sells special cheap advance-purchase fares for this train, it is incapable of selling regular full-price tickets. In summer the cheap fares for couchettes and sleepers on this route are not offered as Czech & Polish Railways think they can sell at full-price without the need to discount. But don't worry, here's the workaround...

Continue on the Seat61.com website for further options, which include purchasing through Polrail.com.

Option 2, buy from www.polrail.com

If your journey starts in Krakow, the easiest option is to order tickets online through reliable and highly-recommended Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com - you can collect tickets in Krakow. The fare shown on their site is the full price, but I've been told that if cheap advance-purchase fares turn out to be available, they'll offer you those instead when they contact you.

Thanks everyone! I will check the PolRail site and see if it’s working for me as it never has before.
But, wow - those prices are a LOT higher than what the Czech site sells them for.
The only nonstop night train I’m aware of though is the Chopin that leaves around 10:20 pm. Hadn’t ever seen a midnight one listed anywhere.

I was only finding the "full price" fares on Polrail.com. You might try emailing them to ask whether they have the discount fares and confirm whether they can sell them to you. When I emailed, Polrail.com was very responsive.

CWSocial - thank you!! I owe you, and The Man in Seat 61 huge thanks. I’d already read the seat61 site but just went back and reread. He indicates that the Czech site can incorrectly say there are no sleepers for June-September … so since I’m trying to book for May I didn’t consider it was the same problem. His workaround said to book ONLY a reservation (no ticket), and then it let me edit/select sleeper. It showed as AVAILABLE!! Of course, then (same problem that I’d experienced several other times) it wouldn’t accept any of my debit or credit cards, nor Apple Pay. So I set up Google Pay … and it worked! Now, per Seat61, I then will have to buy a full-price ticket in person at station.
Whew - I love Poland and Czech Republic, but jeepers!

CW social to the rescue !! Glad that that has worked out !!!

Good thing you came here to vent !

Oh Shelly, I am so happy for you! I love train travel, also. And that night on the sleeper is one of my favorite travel adventures. I hope it will be for you as well!!

Yes, good thing you came here to vent!!

PS - I emailed the Man in Seat 61 once, when I found a tiny error on his site. He was so gracious in his response and friendly in our email exchange. I'd bet a dozen pączki that he would love to hear your success story in using his workaround!

Hi again. One other follow-up … Ive read several positive reviews here by folks who have used PolRail. Unfortunately, I’ve also read some really bad reviews and, rightly or wrongly, those have stuck with me. So last weekend when cd.cz site indicated sleepers were sold out (incorrectly, it seems), I was super reluctant to reach out to PolRail, as I understand it can sometimes take weeks before they actually purchase the tickets (and if they were then sold out for real, I’d be just 1-2 weeks out from my trip).
I’ll post on this thread again after I get to Krakow in a few weeks and provide update.
Thanks again, everyone!