Murray On Travel

What does a CABIN bus look like?  I understand it isn't a normal bus, but an overnight sleeper bus full of beds that runs between San Francisco and Los Angeles.  The route is pretty simple.   Two overnight CABIN buses depart at 11pm; one is heading South from San Francisco and another heading North out of Los Angeles.  Both arrive at 7am at their destinations.

When I arrived at 10:45pm the CABIN coach was right were it should be in an empty parking lot just below the Oakland Bay Bridge.  An attendant confirmed my reservation and showed me around the lower level of the bus.  It included a restroom and some booths for those who can't or do not want to sleep.  Upstairs are the sleeping berths.  If I had luggage, it would have been stored by the attendant and not accessible during the trip. 

Up a narrow stairway you find each side of the bus has lower and upper beds.  With the lower ones you get on your knees and easily slide in.  The uppers are at about waist height, and you just roll in and out.  Either way the space is tight.  I'm 5ft 11 inches and 185lbs.  I would suspect a person 6ft 2 inches and 220 lbs would easily max out the space.  Each berth had an air vent, an AC power outlet, and two USB outlets.  They provided a USB powered reading light.  Other than that, no internal lighting was available during the night.  Opening your curtain would allow some light to enter from the hall.  The bus has WiFi.

As the 11pm departure time neared, I headed downstairs to change in the washroom.  It would be almost impossible for a person my size to do it in the small berth.  I returned to my bed wearing some light weight bottoms and a t-shirt and pulled closed my curtain.   CABIN provides: Pillow, comforter, large bottle of water, ear plugs, a small bag for shoes and personal items.  They also provide a 2.5 ounce bottle of "Dream Water" which is a mixture of Melatonin and other sleep aid ingredients. (You can buy Dream Water on Amazon)  11pm, departure time, but we didn't move...then we heard a voice in the hallway; it was our attendant for the trip.  She welcomed us aboard and encouraged us to relax, get a good night rest, and assured us that she would be available if we needed anything.  We would be leaving in 20 minutes.  At 11:20 the bus began to move.

And move we did.  When you are alone in a small darkened space, your senses have only one thing to focus on, and that is the movement.  The sway of the big bus was expected as we made wide turns on the first few city streets, then onto the highway.  The signature feeling of bridge decking was obvious as we crossed the Oakland Bay Bridge just minutes after departure.  But the bumpy roads that continued for the first 30 minutes or so made it difficult to fall asleep.  A GPS app, Geo Tracker, tracked the route and speed on my cell phone. 

After getting used to the movement, I was dreaming sweet dreams, waking only occasionally and falling immediately  back to sleep.  Then the bus slowed dramatically and began making turns.  Is this Santa Monica?  No, we were moving to the other side of the 5 Freeway so that our Southbound CABIN bus could meet the Northbound CABIN bus and swap crews.  This stop makes sense - it allows the crews to return to their respective homes.  Even before we came to a complete stop at the Coalinga/Arenal Rest Area, I was fast asleep.

  
You could call it Mother Nature, or maybe physics that caused the next short sleep interruptions.  The images above are the stats from the Geo Tracker cell phone app covering the ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.  See the spike on one of the graphs?  Yes, a large elevation bump happens when you approach LA from the North on the 5 Freeway because you pass through a mountainous area known as the Grapevine.  This section of freeway shouldn't be a problem, but the elevation made my ears pop on the way up and on the way down, something I wasn't expecting to interrupt my sleep. 

The last few turns and stops on the streets of Santa Monica, a city on the coastal side of Los Angeles, woke me up and signaled the end of the ride.  The bus pauses here for a few minutes while passengers disembark.  One passenger was still fast asleep and had to be awakened by the attendant.  

A million dollar view awaits you as you step off the bus in Santa Monica.  Now that we have some light, I can give you some better photos of the inside spaces of the CABIN bus.

The 2nd story passageway has an upper and lower berths on both side.  The area has a low ceiling, so watch your head.  At night there is just enough light to see your way to the steps down if you need to visit the washroom or see the attendant.

This is a very small area, but you don't need much space to sleep.  Note that several of the cabins have unblocked windows for safety reasons.  Those passengers are given an eye/sleeping mask to block the light.  My berth had an insert covering the window.  I suggest you bring into your space only what you will need overnight.  I slipped several loose items like my wallet and iPad between the bed and the wall, and piled up my street clothes beside my feet.  The mattress was very comfortable, as was the pillow and bedding.  A single adjustable air conditioning vent kept the temperature just right while I was under the soft comforter. 

TIPS: Bring only what you need into your sleeping space.  If you have too much stuff, ask the attendant if she can store it in a nearby empty berth or downstairs.  Don't expect this to silky smooth ride.  Even on the smoothest road, you will feel some bumps.  I couldn't sleep on my side.  Any slight motion was amplified and I rolled around.  I was much more comfortable on my back or stomach.

The washroom on the lower level was very, very small.  It was OK for use as a toilet, but as a changing area it wasn't very workable. 

The attendant informed me that if I didn't want to go to sleep right away or if I awoke early, I was welcome to come downstairs and use this seating area.  During my trip, I don't think anyone used this space.  I would suggest CABIN remove one of the tables and create a changing room. 

Was the overnight CABIN sleeper bus worth it?  That depends on a variety of factors.  If I lived in LA and needed to be in SFO for a 9am meeting, I would consider it.  Much nicer than getting up at 4am and heading to LAX, or flying in the night before and paying for a hotel.  Or if I dislike flying and didn't want to take the train or regular bus.  For current pricing, check the RideCabin.com website.

NOTE: On this ride I was a guest of the CABIN service and didn't pay for my transportation.  I was not compensated in any other way.  If circumstances were right I would use this service again and pay for it out of my own pocket.

I enjoyed my trip and see the value in an overnight sleeper bus on this route.  Like many things in life, the staff told me the second trip is much more comfortable.

Many think that boarding a Christmas cruise takes them away from long held traditions and customs.  But on a recent Holland America Line cruise to Mexico, I discovered that isn't always the case.  Sure, cruising an ocean can't duplicate years of holiday memories, but it can create new ones and might be the start of a new tradition.

At Christmastime on a cruise ship you will definitely see some decorations.  On the Westerdam several of the public spaces were very festive and most of the ship had some kind of holiday adornments.  The central lobby of the ship, known as The Atrium, had a nice tree and poinsettias.  It was often surrounded by groups having photos taken by the ship's photographer.

The stairs between decks were decorated, as were the railings on the balconies on each level of the atrium.  Since The Atrium of the Westerdam was a central traffic area, it gave plenty of opportunities for viewing these ornaments. 

Holiday flowers, plants, and small Christmas trees were located around the ship, like these in the Lido Restaurant/Buffet.  You can read more about the Westerdam HERE.

On the Westerdam, a portion of one of the lounges was converted into a beautiful gingerbread town depicting landmarks from around the world.  The Holland American Line kitchen staff outdid themselves on this yummy display!

During this Mexico cruise, departing Long Beach California, Christmas Eve was the first evening at sea.  It featured a Vigil Mass, Hanukkah Service, Midnight Mass, and Midnight Interdenominational Services.  In the lounges, the entertainers offered up holiday favorites.  The entertainment staff also spent the evening singing carols in various locations around the ship.  The crew of the Westerdam presented a Christmas Concert featuring traditional songs from their home countries.

December 25th was a day at sea as we headed toward Mexico's Cabo San Lucas.  It had snowed confetti overnight in The Atrium, and everyone was waiting for the arrival of Santa Claus.  The ship's Daily Navigator newsletter said we should expect the arrival of a special visitor that morning in the main theater, the Vista Lounge.

On Christmas Morning, the ship's entertainers took to the Vista Lounge stage and sang carols as passengers awaited the arrival of Santa.  The Captain then made a ship-wide announcement that something unusual was spotted in the water off the port side of the ship.  A boat crew was dispatched to investigate.  Sure enough, they returned with Santa Claus and a few of his helpers.  A video screen in the lounge showed Santa as he moved through the ship, being distracted at every turn.  First it was the buffet, then the casino, then the salon and spa.  His helpers would constantly remind him he had children waiting.  

Santa found his way to the Vista Lounge stage and was greeted by shouts of glee from children of all ages.  He took to the stage as the ship's staff passed out cookies to the watching audience.

A line of excited children quickly formed, and the jolly old man began passing out wrapped packages.  In traditional fashion, most of the kids were excited to meet Santa on Christmas, but others were a bit confused and shy.

It was a busy morning on the Westerdam, and someone had a lot of cleaning up to do in The Atrium.  Over the next few days the decorations slowly disappeared, and the ship took on the normal, everyday appearance.  A few other observations of this holiday cruise: As would be expected, lots of families were on-board, and the ship was full.  Wikipedia says the capacity is 1848 passengers; we had 2065.  I'm sure most of this was extra kids staying with parents.  At times the ship felt crowded, but you could almost always find a quiet spot to sit and read or have a drink. 

Mexico is a beautiful country, and the Western coast is a great cruise destination.  During this seven day cruise, we visited Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan.  We traveled 2169 NM with an average speed of appx. 16 knots.  You can listen to a podcast about this Christmas Cruise HERE.

(NOTE: Four months after this cruise, the Westerdam entered dry-dock for routine maintenance and some upgrades.  It was nice to see that Holland America Line is keeping this already beautiful ship in tip-top shape.)

My sample of the new Travelpro Crew 11 Expandable 21" Spinner Carry-On arrived just in time to test it out on a trip to Vancouver, British Columbia.  I have reviewed Travelpro bags in the past so I had high hopes for this new carry-on spinner.   It easily met all of my expectations.  In general it is well made, properly designed.  This bag is a good "middle of the road" bag from the extensive Travelpro line of bags.  This is a quality carry-on bag at a reasonable price. 

When on the road it is important to have plenty of power for your various gear.  This Crew 11 carry-on has a dedicated pocket that holds a power bank.  Wiring installed in the luggage brings the power up to a USB outlet just below the handle.  More on this feature later in this review.

The bag is made of a high quality ballistic nylon fabric with a Duraguard coating.  Duraguard protects the fabric by stopping liquid or stains from penetrate the fibers making it much easier to clean.  Heavy duty zippers feel solid and durable.  Leather carry handles on top and side.

This is one of my favorite Travelpro features:  MagnaTrac wells!  These may look like regular spinner wheels, but these are something special.  This patented design has small self-aligning magnets in the dual spinner wheels.

Here you can see MagnaTrac spinner wheels in action.  The magnets keep the bag on a straight track when pushed.  They release and allow for turns with the slightest push, then return to a straight line orientation.  The video above is of another Travepro bag I reviewed.  Warning:  When on a slightly slanted surface hold onto the handle!  It rolls so easily, it can get away from you.

The top zipper opens up the main compartment of the case.  The zippers can be locked, but I would never trust any zippered luggage to be secure.  See this Video for the reason why.  The second zipper below the main one expands the bag 2 inches at the bottom and none at the top.  This tapered expansion limits the increase in storage, but it keeps the bag from becoming top heavy.  I've seen many bags that when expanded, can easily tip over.  This bag's basic dimensions are slightly thinner at the top than at the bottom.  A great design feature that limits storage but makes it much easier to roll.

The lid of this bag has a deep 11 x 16 inch pocket with side gussets that keep items from falling out when fully open.  Another thin 10 x 7 inch pocket along the top is handy for small items you may need during your trip.  This bag weight's in at just over 7 pounds empty.  Lighter bags are available, but I've always found weight and durability go hand in hand.  This Crew 11 from Travelpro is a good balance.

Along the upper side of the bag is a dedicated power bank / battery backup pocket.  Having a battery with you when traveling is almost a requirement nowadays.  I like that fact that Travelpro did not build a battery into the case.  They let you select a battery that you can replace when it degrades.  

The pocket has a USB plug that transfers the power to an outlet on the outside of the case.  See gray USB outlet cover in photo below.  A note about power bank batteries: many require you to press a button on the battery to turn it on.  Others like my Anker Powercore 13000 Power Bank come on when a load is placed on the USB outlet.  This allows you to plug in and go, rather than having to open the side pocket and turn on the battery.  This side pocket is also large enough to hold a USB charger and an extra cord.

The grip on the handle is very comfortable.  It is patented and specifically designed by Travelpro to help you guide a bag with spinner wheels.  The bag also has skid protectors on the back, protecting the fabric from abrasion when you go up and down stairs. 

The Powerscope telescoping handles are another patented feature of this bag.  The shape of the extruded aluminum handle is designed to reduce wobble and opens to 38”, 40” and 42.5”.  

This bag meets most airline carry-on size limits, 14 x 9 x 22 inches.  The bag is promoted as a 21" carry-on, but it is actually 22" tall.  Though within most US airline requirements, it might not go over well with international carriers.  I like the gray interior fabric color which makes it easier to see items in the bottom of the bag.  It has two compression straps that can help keep your items in place during transit. Note: I never use them.  I always seem to stuff my bags just enough that things don't shift.  The inside of the lid has a full size zippered mesh pocket.  The mesh allows it to breath and makes it easy to see what is inside the pocket.

The Travelpro Crew 11 Expandable 22" Spinner Carry-On has two interior 10 x 7 inch pockets.  One is plastic lined to keep wet items away from your clothes.  You could use this for toiletries that might accidentally open and spill.

On the side opposite the wet pocket is a mesh pocket of the same size.  Both zippers worked smoothly.  In the photo above you will see the bottom of this bag.  You can see the structure of the collapsible extension handle that stores inside the bag.   Some bags have this hardware on the outside/back of the suitcase.  Here it is on the inside, taking up some of the usable space.  I don't like having the handle mounted to the exterior; it is very vulnerable to damage. 

Travelpro provides a suit cover with your Crew 11 carry-on.  I found it a bit small for me.  If you are over 6ft,  I suspect your suits won't fit into this thing.  It is well made with ventilation and is designed to fold perfectly into the bag.  I haven't used it.  On short trips, which this bag is perfect for, I wear my suit while in transit. 

What's better than a quick trip to Las Vegas to check out the usefulness of a suitcase?  It carried enough for a quick weekend trip with no problem.  I suspect that 4-5 days on the road would max out this bag.

I love the solid construction, easy to steer MagnaTrac wheels, and the sturdy handle.  It would be nice if the small gadget pocket at the top of the lid was lined with a soft material.  This bag is a good value and is available for sale at Amazon.com (ad).