Are you planning to go on a cruise? No matter what oceans or seas the cruise ship might be taking you and your family to, you need to pack a good pair of binoculars if you want to get the best whale or dolphin sightings. Not just that, but the night sky looks downright amazing when cruising.
There aren’t city lights to dim the clouds, and your stargazing experience is going to be outstanding. The question that remains is, what are the best binoculars for cruising? Here is where we come in.
You never know when you will get the once in a lifetime chance to see a whale breaching, and this is why you must make sure to have a great pair of binoculars when that happens. We have reviewed the top 5 best binoculars for cruising that will bring the ocean’s most mesmerizing vistas into your focus, and we are going to present them today.
Make sure to stick until the end because we are also presenting a buying guide to help you learn more about cruising binoculars and the features that they offer.
Best Binocular for Cruising of 2020
Bushnell Marine
If you are an outdoor enthusiast, then you probably are already familiar with the Bushnell brand. This company is renowned for making premium products that deliver outstanding performances.
The Bushnell Marine is the company’s flagship cruising binoculars, and what makes them stand out is their impressive 350-foot field of view that looks great even at 1,000 yards. You will be able to spot the dolphins long before anyone realizes they are getting close to the ship. There is nothing that will slip your sight if you decide to go for these binoculars.
The binoculars feature a mid-range 7x magnification power that is more than ideal for cruising. The reason behind this is that you want to be able to spot objects at both close and long-distance. The objective lenses used by these binoculars measure in at 50mm, and they are multi-coated to provide an impressive clarity.
The binoculars feature BAK-4 prisms that are known for their excellent light transmittance. Also, the binoculars are protected by a rubber armor that floats in water.
Pros:
- Rubber armor;
- The binoculars float in water;
- 7x magnification power;
- Multi-coated optics;
- BAK-4 prisms;
- Wide field of view at up to 1,000 yards;
- Premium build quality.
Cons:
- The price is high.
Nikon ACULON
Nikon is another company that has a stellar reputation in the optics industry. If you go for the Nikon ACULON, then you can be sure that you will receive a premium product that is built from durable materials. The Nikon ACULON is very durable, and this makes it perfect for cruises.
Thanks to the durable materials, you will never have to worry about the damage that can happen if the binoculars are accidentally dropped. Despite shipping with a rubber armor coating that provides a non-slip grip, the Nikon ACULON binoculars are still very lightweight. The binoculars weigh in at only 2.54 lbs. Due to the compact and light design, your hands will not go shaky when using the binoculars for long viewing sessions.
The Nikon ACULON binoculars are always in focus! They are equipped with a central focus knob that gives you complete control over the range of focus. This is a nice feature to have, mainly since these binoculars feature a high magnification power that goes from 10x to 22x.
Are you worried that using binoculars for extended sessions is going to be uncomfortable? If that is the case, then you should be pleased to know that the Nikon ACULON feature turn-and-slide rubber eyecups. You can tweak them to find the best fit that feels comfortable and gives you a vast field of view.
Pros:
- 10x to 22x magnification power;
- Central focus knob for quick adjustments;
- Rubber armor;
- Non-slip grip;
- Compact design (the binoculars are very light);
- Turn-and-Slide rubber eyecups;
- Premium build quality.
Cons:
- The binoculars are not waterproof.
Hooway 7×50
The Hooway 7×50 binoculars are the ideal choice for people who enjoy outdoor activities that involve getting wet. The binoculars are specially designed for marine activities, and therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to find out that they are fully waterproof.
Not just that, but these binoculars will also float if you drop them in water. You can also rest assured knowing that it’s difficult to damage the binoculars because a sturdy non-slip armor protects them. These are the features that make the binoculars ideal for fishing, boating, and cruising. We also want to mention that the Hooway 7×50 binoculars are nitrogen purged and fog-proof.
If the versatility and durability of the binoculars are not enough to impress you, then their large 50 mm objective lens might do the trick. Your field of view is always going to be broad, even at 1,000 yards!
Furthermore, the binoculars use BAK-4 prisms, which, as previously mentioned, are renowned for providing crystal clear images. The optics are also multi-coated to improve the color quality and light transmittance.
The last feature that we want to highlight is that the binoculars are equipped with an illuminated compass. The binoculars will ensure that you never get lost, even if that is quite difficult to do on a cruise ship.
Pros:
- Ideal for all water activities;
- Water and fog-proof;
- The binoculars float in water;
- BAK-4 prisms;
- 7x magnification power;
- 50mm objective lens;
- Sturdy build;
- The binoculars feature a built-in illuminated compass.
Cons:
- The binoculars are quite large.
Celestron DX
On the fourth sport, we have the highly popular Celestron DX binoculars. With more than one thousand 5-star ratings, we think it’s safe to say that this pair of binoculars is worth your attention. This product was designed right from the start for outdoor activities, and therefore, it ships with essential features for cruising such as water and fog-proof, sturdy build, and top-rated optics.
The binoculars use BAK-4 prisms and offer a magnification power of 8x that will make it seem like objects located 1,000 yards away are sitting right in front of you. The rubber armor and polycarbonate housing guarantees that the binoculars will be safe at all times, even if they get dropped.
To make things even better, the binoculars are bundled with a compact carrying case, objective lens caps, a neck strap for easy carry, and many other accessories.
The manufacturers who designed this pair of binoculars are so confident in the premium build quality that they are offering a lifetime warranty. If anything goes wrong, the faulty binoculars will be replaced. What’s really cool about the Celestron DX binoculars is that they provide a wider field of view than most other binoculars.
You will be able to admire mesmerizing views like never before! In addition, the binoculars weigh in at only 1.75lbs so that you can use them for hours on end without getting shaky hands.
Pros:
- Lifetime warranty;
- Rubber armor and polycarbonate housing;
- Water and fog-proof;
- The binoculars ship with lots of useful accessories;
- An impressive field of view;
- BAK-4 prisms;
- 8x magnification power;
- Compact design that weighs in at 1.75lbs.
Cons:
- The performance in low light conditions is not too impressive.
Amcrest Roof Prism Binoculars
Are you looking for a product that is both affordable and reliable? If that is the case, then we highly advise you to check out the Amcrest Roof Prism Binoculars. These binoculars for cruising offer the best image clarity in their price range.
This is all thanks to the fact that the manufacturer has used a 42mm objective lens diameter and BAK-4 prisms. The optics provide a crisp and clear image. The light transmittance of the prisms is extraordinary, and you can see pretty well even when it’s night outside. However, this is a low-level night vision feature, and it will not work when it’s pitch black.
The magnification power of the binoculars is 10x, and therefore, you will be able to see everything that is happening next to the cruise ship. Due to the powerful magnification, you can also use the binoculars for stargazing and bird watching. The optics are multi-coated to increase the image clarity and the eye relief measures in at 16.5mm.
Even though the price of this product is affordable, the binoculars are built from premium quality materials. The binoculars for cruising feature a compact design that is durable and weighs in at 1.19lbs.
Pros:
- BAK-4 prisms;
- Multi-coated optics;
- Excellent light transmittance;
- The binoculars work very well in low-light conditions;
- Great price;
- Sturdy build;
- The binoculars weigh in at only 1.19lbs;
- The eye relief is 16.5mm;
- Adjustable eyecups;
- Waterproof.
Cons:
- The binoculars are not waterproof.
Buying Guide for the Best Binocular for Cruising
Here are the most important features that you should look for in a pair of binoculars so that they are the perfect accessory to pack on your cruise.
- Waterproof
This is a no-brainer! The binoculars that you are planning to take cruising need to be waterproof. Obviously, you don’t want the binoculars ever to get wet, but this can happen by accident. There are also pools on cruises, and you want to be able to use your binoculars whenever, wherever. Another cool feature that you should look for in a pair of binoculars for cruising is for them to float.
- Lens Coating
Another essential feature that is considered a “must-have” on all binoculars, especially those for cruising, is full lens coating. The reason why this feature is so important is because it enables your binoculars to spot objects at far distances even if the light conditions are bad. Is it getting dark outside? A pair of binoculars with multi-coated optics will still work without a single problem. We also want to note that there are four types of coating: Coated, Fully Coated, Multi-Coated, and Fully, Multi-Coated.
- High Image Quality
You never know what incredible sights you are going experience on your cruise, and this it’s always a good idea to purchase binoculars that feature excellent image quality, even at far ranges. Your best bet is to go for a pair of binoculars that use BAK-4 prisms, such as the Bushnell Marine, for example. You should also consider purchasing binoculars that do well in low light conditions because star gazing is a fantastic experience when riding on a cruise in the middle of the ocean, where there are no city lights to dim the sky.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you bring binoculars on a cruise?
A pair of binoculars is one of the best accessories that you can have on a cruise vacation. You can use them to watch for whales or dolphins from the ship, or even scout for ports as the ship is getting closer to the dock. You will have much better views than anyone who isn’t using binoculars.
What are the best binoculars for cruising?
We have listed our top five best binoculars for cruising above. However, if we had to pick one as our favorite, then we would go with the Nikon ACULON. The price is reasonable, and the number of features that these binoculars offer is quite impressive. There is also the option to change between 10x to 22x magnification power to help you get a better view.
Which deck level is best on a cruise?
Many people tend to choose the upfront decks of cruises because they want to get the best views. However, this causes the upfront decks to be overcrowded. This is why it might be a good idea for you to choose the rear of the ship instead.
You will have more than enough room to enjoy the views with your loved ones, without being bothered by strangers.
What is the best magnification for a monocular?
The answer to this question depends on what you are planning to do with the binoculars. Do you want to stargaze? If yes, then you need a high magnification power such as 22x. The best option for cruise vacations is to choose a pair of binoculars that feature a mid-range magnification power such as 8x or 10x.
Why do some binoculars have green lenses?
Most binoculars have green lenses, and this happens because the optics are coated. As mentioned in the buying guide, the lenses are coated to improve the overall quality of the images. Not just that, but the coating helps with performance in low light conditions.
Also, our eyes are more sensitive to green lights, and this enhances the sharpness of images.