When I did a partial a few years ago, we took the excursion that took us on a ferry all the way through and they bussed us back to the ship. It was long, it was hot, it was amazing. I read The Path Between the Seas before I went which really added to my appreciation. It was so hot that I told my husband next time we're doing a full transit so we can go back into our cabin into the air as needed. Which we're doing on th Ruby in March. Plus, a ferry cannot go through the locks alone so you have to wait for a larger vessel which added hours to the trip. The beer man on board was our new best friend and he sought us out for pictures at the end. Then the bus broke down on the way back to the ship, they had to wait for us. The dining rooms were closed, thank goodness for a mini bar and room service. If you can handle the heat and don't mind a really long day, this was a great excursion.