This will depend on your budget, but there are a few things that may help: travel with compact binoculars: 8x32s are probably the best balance between size, power, and the shaking that an Alaskan boating excursion might force you into.
- Waterproof/fog proof because you don't want to worry about them in the rain or dunked in a lake. Fogproof so you don't end up in Alaska with fog inside your optics.
- 8X power (not 10X or higher because they cause too much shake).
- 32 MM Objectives let in enough light and are smaller/less bulky to carry.
In order of preference (and because I know people like to have options) but I wanted a good lifetime warranty and a cost that would not break the bank:
1. Vortex Diamondback HD 8X32 ~$260
2. Celestron – TrailSeeker 8x32 ~$198 or Opticron Discovery WP PC 8x32 ~$200
3. Vortex Optics Crossfire 8x32 ~$140
4. NIKON PROSTAFF P3 8x30 ~$107
Better brands are Vortex, Nikon, Zeiss, Pentax, Vanguard, and Swarovski but they are well over $300 (up to a few thousand) per pair.
You get what you pay for. The higher cost is a higher quality build (tougher), better optics, and a brighter image. Heavier means more glass and metal and less plastic. It should also last you a lifetime of cruising.
If you have a bigger budget, I recommend anywhere between $300-600 which is the sweet spot for great quality and value--above that price range it becomes much harder to see the jump in clarity and brightness. Example: the Vortex Viper HD binoculars (below, discontinued) I have are my go-to pair for cruising. They were ~$550 and were wide-angle, under 21 ounces, and very compact.
Hope this helps. Happy to answer any questions.