Colon Embarkation / Panama City

[PutnamNY]

We have a cruise embarkation out of Colon coming up. We plan on arriving a day earlier into Panama City (in the evening). Ideally we would like to go visit a lock and see ships move through it in the morning and then head to the cruise terminal in Colon. Seeing the cautions in and around Colon, what's the best approach if we have to be at the cruise terminal by 1pm or 2pm. 

Any recommendations for sightseeing around the locks and proceeding to Colon? Will be there be any car service companies available for half a day to take us around and drop off at the Colon cruise terminal? Looking for ideas and recommendations.

 

Thanks.