What currency

[ALBATROSS7]

My wife and I are taking our first ever cruise in March 08. We are embarking from Mexico calling at Nicaragua / Costa Rica and then through the Panama Canal and around the carribean. Whilst our expenditure on board is atken care of, what currency should we have for off the ship excursions aer Amercan Dollars suitable everywwhere or should we get the local currency?

[cb at sea]

American money is still king! All of the places gladly accept it. No exchange needed. (Just don't try to pay for a $3.00 item with a $100.00 bill--you may get local currency as change--and no one wants that!