The Panama Canal was of course outstanding – I managed to be right in the front of the ship to watch everything while my children went all around the ship to experience it at different places. I really don’t think the experience would be the same from your balcony. Because you would miss the narrative and could not possibly appreciate it as much. We did the Lock tour and ego cruise which I don’t think was really worth it all though the Chagris River is gorgeous. The actual town of Colon where the ship is docked is very dirty and poor just like Limon. The market place has a lot of interesting things. My son and his wife did the Emberia Indian tour and absolutely raved about it.