Clear outdoor vacation shots

Most of my keeper/share photos are taken on vacation.  Cruises (past) mountians and wildlife (this year).  I have had 4 digital cameras.  The first 3 had viewfinders.  My current camera Kodak EasyShare M340 was bought for it's small size.  It has no viewfinder and I missed out on super wave action on the Great Lakes in the sun.  I want point and shoot ease, would love panoramic stitching.  Good/reasonable zoom.  Most of all good clear pictures.  $100.00 sounds good $150.00 is high.

I will consider other cameras. The field is so big it would take me months to look at everything, even if I just look at the ones with viewfinders.