timcc Loc: Virginia

I've had some luck taking night photos with a tripod on a small ship with the motor running. I've left the IS on and taken a number of shots -- some will be blurry and some acceptably sharp. Although I haven't tried it, some soft pads under the legs might help dampen the vibration. I also tried hand-holding, thinking my body would absorb the vibrations, but had less success at night, when you need the slower shutter speed even at high ISO. Good luck!

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Soft pads for under the legs shouldn't be hard to take along.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

cdayton

I have been on 5 cruises (3 Oceania, 2 Viking all relatively small vessels) and have never seen anyone using a tripod on the boat but have seen a few monopods (including my own). It would be exceedingly annoying for someone to select a prime location, set up a tripod, and deprive the rest of us of that spot. It is, obviously, a different issue for land tours during cruises.

clemente21

For me, when going on vacation the tripod serves for the selfish purpose of allowing me be part of the picture with my own composition. And if there is a tripod section I wouldn't mind.

Pixtaker

Have you considered a handheld gimbal stabilizer? The gyro would help eliminate movement in any direction.

rfahrens

If you are shooting in low light or at night, you will need some stabilization. A monopod works the best; however a tripod with the legs together also works well. Keep in mind you will likely not have a lot of room and you don't want to risk someone tripping over your tripod legs. There is vibration on the ship that will likely cause problems at lower shutter speed settings. I agree, use your camera stabilization. I have also found that placing your tripod or monopod on your foot also removes some of the vibration. Place the pod on your toes and then lift your toes slightly when ready to shoot. It not perfect, but works for me. I have seen some people place one foot on the other to provide more cushion but it screws up your stability unless your bracing yourself.

conigk

I did bring a tripod on a cruise and used it several times on our balcony when the light was low to take shots of the destinations we departed. I am so glad I brought it as I got some beautiful pictures and since the ship was not yet sailing, vibration was not an issue.

Burtzy Loc: Bronx N.Y. & Simi Valley, CA

A tripod is fine on the deck of a cruise ship unless the ship is sinking. Then, the tripod will tend to slide to the bow or stern.

Martys Loc: Lubec, Maine

The kind of tripod effects I would enjoy experimenting with would be wide angle images,...say,.... looking aft using a variable ND filter, & long exposure to render the ship's wake and adjoining ocean as and soft cottony cloud, while all aboard the ships deck would be rendered tack sharp.
Variation such as this could easily occupy hours of fun and unique images .

quizas Loc: Seattle, WA

On a trip to Antarctica, a fellow passenger had a tripod (not a small one) and used it to take gorgeous pictures both from the ship and on the shore. I imagine he would have taken beautiful pictures without it as well. However, his moving the tripod around and setting it up on deck when many other passengers were on deck taking shots and admiring views was often a major inconvenience for everyone else. His taking the tripod on the zodiacs to shore was also an issue as it took up a fair amount of space in a small, rocking boat filled with people with bulky clothes, PFDs and backpacks. All of that being said, I am not saying you should not take the tripod, but that you consider size, what type of activities you will be engaging in, and how having the tripod will be a benefit to you and/or a pain. On a land trip, a fellow traveler used a tripod of about the same size, took some amazing night shots, and it was never a problem for any others in the group. I am sure you would be very mindful of how it impacts fellow travelers and considerate of others.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I have been on several cruises and I never take a tripod because you can use a high shutter speed and push the ISO with a digital.

I did take a monopod on one Alaska cruise, but not for still photography. I knew we would be going into Tracy Arm Fjord and I wanted video. We went on the Sapphire Princess, which I had sailed on before and knew had a promenade deck that allowed passengers access to the bow without any "protective" window. Also, I knew there would be very little vibration because the ship's speed was limited to about 2-knots in the fjord. I set up before dawn on the bow so I wouldn't have to compete for a space and the combination of the D90 on the monopod produced beautiful video and stills.

Entering Tracy Arm Fjord

(Download)

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I didn't think my explanation needed explaining but their is always someone who just does not get it. SO......................
A tripod on a ship picks up every movement of the ship resulting in less than sharp photo's. Now, HAND HOLDING your camera on a ship actually counter acts the movement of the ship resulting in generally sharper photo's, especially if you shoot at higher shutter speeds. Some cruise lines do not allow tripods on board because they get in the way if you set up by the rail of the boat, generally speaking their is not a lot of room along the rail of most ships and folks would have to move around a tripod which might lead to some misunderstandings. Then their is the care and handling of the tripod, which for most experienced travelers is a head ache better left at home.
Now, the OP can also shoot with VR on his lens when he hand holds, and for most shots, since the boat is moving and most shots are of land, and since the boat is moving and you are close to land using a tripod, this can lead to having the land move during exposure on a tripod which would also lead to a degradation of the image. AND, some folks need to travel by air before they get on board, which would mean he has to pack his tripod and that may result in an extra bag charge.
All these factors may lead the OP to consider leaving the tripod at home so the OP can enjoy his trip better.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I brought both a tripod and a monopod on our Alaska cruise and only used the monopod. I tried the tripod once and it was a PIA. The monopod was great, especially on the side excursions.

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

The URL is actually

http://coolcameragadgets.store/