Cruise ship and circular polarizer

I'm going on a cruise to Bermuda this summer and am wondering if I should get a circular polarizer. I've never used one. I'm assuming it will help with glare when taking shots that include the ocean, but I'm wondering if it will help or hurt when taking outdoor people photos on the ship, or even while in port. Anyone have any expereince using it like this? I'm assuming glare is a factor there, too, but I've always seen CPs discussed in terms of landscapes. Thanks!

Polarizers work best when the sun is low to the one side or the other of your composition, there is not much benefit during high noon and around that time in my experience, others may chime in if I'm wrong, but in my experience I've had negative effects when not used properly or during those hours also if the sun is infront of or behind you you may not get any benefit.

The effect with the super wide's (ie the tokina's wider half) will likely be uneven as well in broad areas like the sky. Polorizers work at right angles to the sun so the wide lenses can take too much sky in to be uniform. They do nice things for foliage still, deepening colours. They are in the few filters that really are most useful, maybe the only filter that many will use.

Given that haze tends to depolarize light, you may not see a significant effect using a CP on/near the ocean. I don't live near the ocean so I am not 100% about that. I would still recommend one if you forsee doing any landscape shoooting in the future.

Thank you all for your insights and tips. Since I do landscapes quite a bit I had planned to get one eventually; but if it's useful for this trip it would give me the kick I need to get it sooner than later. I think after reading your comments, I'll go for it now and experiment on the trip, keeping the limitations in mind. Thanks again!

When the sun is high and you are on the water a polarizer is a great thing to have as it cuts the glare on the surface allowing you to see into the water resulting in deeper, more natural tones to the water. It also makes the sky bluer and the clouds look sharper too.

This site (http://dpfwiw.com/pola​rizer.htm), first recommended (https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=22081), looks like it has some great advice for using polarizers. I just came across the recommendation myself so just getting ready to read through it. Found your post interesting as I am also getting ready for a cruise. Mine is in the other direction though...Alaska. Enjoy!

Jim - I hoped that at least I'd get that benefit, so that clinches it for me.
Dan - I'll check it out. And, enjoy your trip too.

somewhat off topic but not really... what cruise line are you taking? wouldnt happen to be norwegian july 30 out of boston?

if so shoot me a PM, cause i'll be cruisin' too

espressomaker, take me with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved Alaska last time I went.

Get yourself a circular polarizer. It will be helpful, especially before 10:00 AM and after 3:00 PM.

Enjoy! Lon

I take mine on the boat all the time here is a shot from today

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I'm placing an order today. Thanks again.

I do quite a bit of landscapes and use a Polarizer all most all the time. It will do more when the sun is not over head but I still use it 90 % of the time. It is always the frist filter I buy when I get a new lens. I have one on all my lens instead of a UV filter.
Sam

It can also act as a modest neutral density filter to bring down the exposure to more manageable levels. Particularly useful if you are wanting a little motion blur to add a little life in a scene. Having the lens wide open can result in some very fast shutter speeds at high noon with all that glare.

Actually, adding two has an even greater effect, but that is just lavish!

Graham