Torn Between Two NCL Excursions ... Help Us PLEASE!

[ajtraveler66]

We are torn between two excursions for our time at Panama: "Panama Canal Experience" and "Two Oceans By Railroad".  Have any of you been on either of these?  According to the description, you do get to see the locks in action at the end of thet 'railroad' excursion.  Hard to decide.

[BillB48]

First a question... is the following link the Panama Canal Experience you are referring to?   https://www.ncl.com/shore-excursions/PCT_01/Panama-Canal-Experience

 

The next question is, are you on a full transit cruise of the Canal or just a partial?

 

Maybe the last question, will you be transiting using the new locks or the original locks?

 

While I have not been on NCL's version of those shore excursions, most of the tours are conducted largely in the same manner for all the cruise lines.

 

In general I feel the train excursion is better for the person who is a railroad buff and would like to experience the trip since the Panama Railroad has quite a history not only in being the first transcontinental railroad but its importance in building the Canal.

 

Recommending the PC Experience would depend a lot on your answers to the above questions.

[Essiesmom]

OP is on roll call for NCL Bliss in Jan, so looks like the new locks.  EM

[BillB48]

In that case I would recommend the Panama Canal Experience over the Two Oceans by RR.  Transiting the original Pacific Locks would be my preference as compared to a shore side visit.