Panama Canal locks from Colon (Panama Canal): ship excursion or on your own?
Booking Panama Canal locks independently from Colon (Panama Canal) saves about $54 per person compared with NCL's excursion (Carnival $100, NCL $118 vs $64 independent, November 2026). Safety for going on your own: 5/5. Be back at the pier 60 minutes before departure.
What ships sell
- Carnival: 5 excursions that include Panama Canal locks, median $100 per adult, e.g. "Eco Cruise & Agua Clara".
- NCL: 9 excursions that include Panama Canal locks, median $118 per adult, e.g. "Eco Cruise On Gatun Lake".
Ship excursions that include Panama Canal locks often bundle other stops or lunch, so compare what each tour includes. NCL prices were read from NCL's European website in euros on 2026-11-02 and converted at the ECB reference rate of 1 EUR = 1.1172 USD (2026-10-30). NCL's US site may show slightly different dollar prices.
Independent Panama Canal locks tours we compared
- Panama Canal Tour: New Locks Agua Clara & Gatun Center · $49 · 4.9★ (318 reviews)
- Panama Canal Tour at Colon City: Agua Clara and Gatun Locks · $200 · 5.0★ (2 reviews)
- Panama Discovery: Miraflores Locks, IMAX & Local Souvenirs · $63 · 5.0★ (4 reviews)
- Panama City: Panama Canal Miraflores Locks and City Tour · $64 · 4.5★ (21 reviews)
- Panama City: Visit the new and old locks of the Panama Canal · $160
See all Panama Canal locks tours
Getting back to the ship
Ships here dock alongside. All-aboard is normally 30 minutes before departure on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL and MSC (check your daily planner). Plan to be back at the pier at least 60 minutes before the ship sails.
- Panama Canal locks is a short ride from the pier, so the return is easy to plan.
Questions
How much is the Panama Canal locks excursion from Colon (Panama Canal) on Carnival?
Carnival's Panama Canal locks excursions start at a median of $100 per adult (5 options, $100 to $185).
How much is the Panama Canal locks excursion from Colon (Panama Canal) on NCL?
NCL's Panama Canal locks excursions start at a median of $118 per adult (9 options, $89 to $168), converted from €106.
Can you visit Panama Canal locks on your own from the Colon (Panama Canal) cruise port?
Yes. Independent tours cost a median of $64 per person (5 tours compared, from $49). It is close to the pier, so even a taxi works if you keep an eye on the time.
Is it cheaper to book Panama Canal locks independently?
Usually: the gap is about $54 per person, or $217 for a family of four, against NCL's price.
Best Colon (Panama Canal) excursions · All Colon (Panama Canal) excursion prices · Carnival in Colon (Panama Canal) · NCL in Colon (Panama Canal)