Updated July 19, 2026: We’ve refreshed this article with our completed Hotel del Coronado stay, our upcoming Thompson Seattle pre-cruise booking, and clearer guidance for comparing hotel points, cash rates, fees, credits, location, and other real-life travel considerations. Hotel points can cover an expensive night, make a better location easier to afford, or remove part…
Updated July 18, 2026: We’ve refreshed this article with recent examples from credits we used while traveling, including two DoorDash pickup orders, a Resy credit at STK San Diego, and resort credits that changed how we spent during our Hotel del Coronado stay. We also added a clearer framework for separating real savings, bonus experiences,…
We are heading back to Alaska on August 2, this time aboard Norwegian Encore for a seven-night round-trip cruise from Seattle with our friends. Ask us anything, before we sail or while we are onboard. Comment wherever you see this article or on our posts on the Mr. ’n’ Mrs. Nobody Facebook page, in Facebook…
Updated July 16, 2026: We’ve refreshed this article with a clearer way to calculate the real cost of rewards travel, our upcoming Norwegian Encore Alaska cruise costs, and a practical reminder that pet care, hotels, transportation, and other expenses can still make a “free” trip too expensive. Points and rewards can make travel much more…
Norwegian Encore is a large, modern cruise ship with enough restaurants, lounges, entertainment, activities, and scenic-viewing areas to make the ship an important part of the vacation—not just transportation between ports. That variety is part of the appeal, especially for an Alaska cruise where weather can change quickly and many hours of the trip are…
Updated July 14, 2026: We’ve refreshed this guide with a clearer way to compare the true net cost of Uber and Lyft, our experience buying discounted Uber gift cards, and practical lessons from airport and cruise-terminal rides. Uber, Lyft, and traditional taxis can each be the best deal in the right situation. The problem is…
Norwegian Encore has enough restaurants, bars, lounges, and casual food options that most travelers will not experience all of them during a seven-night cruise. The bigger challenge is deciding which meals deserve reservations, where specialty-dining credits provide the most value, and how much flexibility to leave around Alaska port days. We have sailed Norwegian Bliss,…
Some cruise traditions seem to follow us from one sailing to the next. Melanie brings themed lanyards, we notice cruise ducks around the ship, and we have developed our own routine for getting onboard and settling into the first day. An Alaska cruise seems to create a few traditions of its own. After sailing Alaska…
A seven-night Alaska cruise can look straightforward on paper: leave Seattle, visit three Alaska ports, spend a day scenic cruising in Glacier Bay, make a short evening stop in Victoria, and return to Seattle. The actual rhythm of the week is more varied than that simple list suggests. The Norwegian Encore itinerary begins gently, becomes…
We would not pay cash for three nights at Hotel del Coronado. That is not a criticism of the hotel. We love returning to the Hotel Del, and this has become one of our favorite annual trips. The reality is that rooms around this time of year can easily cost about $750 per night once…
