Need some insight

A

alwzrgt18

Guest
Need some insight and questions answered...
Taking the NCL Sea thru the Panama Canal in July
1. Any good shore excursions to take?
2. What are soda vouchers - I thought non-alcoholic drinks were included...
3. 15 day cruise - how much should I pack????
4. How many formal nights - and how formal
5. Shopping - barter system? Better to speak the language?
6. Food - all you eat still - pretty much around the clock? (not that I entend to do that)
7. Dining room - slacks/skirts & shirt or shorts and T's?
8. General onboard atmosphere?
9. Boarding at beginning of cruise - process - we are landing about 3 hrs before the ship leaves, and with gathering luggage and ride to port we're hoping to get there about 2 hours prior to debarking - when can we board the ship? How close are we cutting it?
10. General stuff you want to tell me would be greatly appreciated as well..

Thank you!
 
D

Don Clark

Guest
1. Never been on a Panama Canal cruise, so I can't help you...
2. You can buy a soda sticker for your cruise card(used similar to a credit or debit card). This will allow you unlimited sodas throughout the cruise and is a good value as there isn't any soda vending machines on board. Soda is not free.... Ship's water is, and milk, tea, coffee, and juices are free with the meals in the restaurants, but if you get thirsty between meals and don't want an alcoholic drink and prefer sodas, get the soda sticker for the card.If McDonalds charges for sodas, you can bet a cruise line will too... With the soda sticker you can get a soda just by showing your card. When purchasing liquor or beer, they use the card like a credit/debit card....Without the sticker on the card, everytime you wish to purchase a soda they use it like a credit/debit card. If you're use to drinking a soda between meals, 2 or 3 times a day like me, its a bargain to get the sticker....
3. It depends on how much activity you'll do. I always pack light. As a man I usually pack for a week's cruise 3 extra shirts and slacks, plus 3 extra skivvies, and a swimming suit. During the cruise they will have a specia dayl on the laundry/cleaners and I have my clothes laundered at that time. Of course, if you intend to workout or jog you'll need to bring a change or two for those activities. Then there are those who prefer to pack heavy and carry enough clothes for every day, which in my case for a two week cruise would empty my closet.
4. NCL has optional formal nights.... Usually there are two optional formal nights per week, however, I don't know how many there are on this cruise. Usually one of the two major restaurants will have the formal nights, while the other one will have the normal resort casual attire. Resort casual is slacks and a collared shirt for men. Formal attire is at least slacks, a sports jacket and tie for men, although many might wear a suuit or tux.... No blue jeans, shorts or t-shirts allowed in the major restaurants during dinner for men. Women dress accordingly.... However, its a different story for dinner in the buffet restaurant on the lido deck.
5. Yes.
6. Breakfast is usually available in the buffet restaurnat at 6 AM and its open all day until late...10 PM if not later.
7. For breakfast and lunch t-shirts, shorts and blue jeans for men is okay, at dinner time its resort casual....
8. Laid back rest and relaxation if you wish, or just the opposite.
9. You should make it easily.... You should board at least a half hour before its departs. Which airport are you arriving, GB International is about twice as far away than Hobby. Even from GB International its less than a hour away using the Sam Houston Tollway/Beltway. That is if your flights on time..... You can usually board around noon, so it might be best to catch an earlier flight.....If your flight is booked through Norwegian, they will wait for you to arrive.....
10. Have your documents already filled out. Have a passport. If not, have your DL and a certified copy of your birth certificate handy on your person when checking in.

I hope this helps some.....
 
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