Monday, April 1, 2024

Seasickness on a Cruise: 7 Helpful Tips to Avoid It

cruise ship seasickness

Please note that if you or your child cannot keep food or water down and other medicines are not working for you, a suppository may be your best option. Suppositories are often the best remedy for seasickness if you can’t keep anything down. Seasickness medicine is easily the most reliable route to keeping the good times rolling on your cruise. You can choose from numerous options, including patches and pills available with prescriptions or over-the-counter medicine. Meanwhile, some people have a genuine proclivity for motion sickness and will undoubtedly suffer more during rough seas.

What kind of cruise ships are best to avoid seasickness?

Your travel agent will be able to help you navigate the possibilities (pun intended), as a rule of thumb, the Western Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico tend to have more stable seas. However, you may feel some motion or slight vibration while on a cruise. I mention this as we were a bit surprised to find this out on our first cruise. As a precaution, I took two Dramamine pills before going to sleep to ensure that they would kick in by the time I woke up the following morning. Essentially, the body’s balance mechanism becomes disoriented, and your body's senses are confused into becoming imbalanced. The first time I realized I would be struggling with this was night one of my first cruise.

How to Avoid Getting Seasick on a Cruise

These stabilizers are shaped like a wing that folds out from the ship and cuts through the water. With the wing out, it makes it much harder for the ship to rock back and forth as the wing will push against this type of motion. Even if there is rocky weather, however, it doesn’t mean the ship will be rolling. Passengers will never see these, but if you notice a symbol painted on the ship’s hull that looks like a key, that means there is a stabilizer there.

cruise ship seasickness

Use Acupressure Bands

For some, it may only last a few hours, while for others, it could take a day or two to acclimate to the ship’s motion. Mega-ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, might be your best bet for avoiding seasickness, thanks to their sheer size and advanced stabilizing technology. Larger ships tend to be more stable and provide a smoother ride, making them a better choice for those prone to seasickness.

cruise ship seasickness

Remember to consult your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations on medications or remedies. These stabilizers can make a massive difference in the amount of motion you feel on board, often reducing the chances of getting seasick. Additionally, some bodies of water are more prone to strong winds and currents than others. The Caribbean can be hit with unpleasant weather during the latter part of hurricane season, too. That being said, any ocean can encounter unfavorable sailing conditions at any time. This medication came into medical use in the early 1950s to treat nausea and vertigo and advertises itself to be less drowsy than Dramamine.

Focus on finding areas that feel less of the motion of the cruise ship. And remember that cruise ship buffets often offer green apples and bars provide ginger ale, should you feel only slightly off-center while cruising rough seas. Breathing in the salty sea breeze can help alleviate seasickness symptoms and provide a calming effect.

Avoid Motion Sickness By Choosing the Right Cabin.

Dramamine and Bonine are both great options for when you know you're going to be hitting some choppy areas. Doctors are also able to prescribe stronger medications, but this requires an office visit — plan accordingly. In our experience, this option worked very well, alleviating seasickness symptoms without causing any drowsiness.

Select one that has less actual time out on the water, such as one that has many port days and minimal sea days. Or, similarly, one that has built-in “overnights” where the ship stays in port. You should avoid sailings that have more than one or two consecutive sea days.

Dramamine vs. Bonine: Motion Sickness Medicine

The closer you are to the center and the lower decks, the less motion you’re likely to feel. Come prepared if you know you or a family member is prone to seasickness. There’s no guarantee that items or over-the-counter medication will be available onboard. If you or a family member experience extreme illness due to motion sickness, contact the medical staff onboard your ship to find a safe solution.

If you're lactose intolerant or if you plan to consume alcohol, stick with a more natural motion sickness remedy like an acupressure bracelet, green apples, ginger tablets or candies, or peppermint. Additionally, limit your intake of alcoholic beverages to avoid seasickness on a cruise. Alcohol can dehydrate you and amplify the effects of motion sickness, making it more likely for you to feel unwell. Book a mid-ship cabin to experience the least amount of motion on board.

Cruise passengers left on 'cruise to nowhere' suffer seasickness: report - Business Insider

Cruise passengers left on 'cruise to nowhere' suffer seasickness: report.

Posted: Mon, 27 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Try to avoid an inside stateroom, so one with an Oceanview or a balcony is good. It is always a good idea to book early to ensure you get the best choice of staterooms. Avoid Guarantee Fares as you never know where you may end up on the ship.

You’ll have one day at sea in each direction in the usually calm waters between Fort Lauderdale or Miami and the Bahamas. When in port, you’ll have a day to relax and play in the warm sunshine, clear blue water, and white-sand beaches of Nassau. If you already use acupuncture, you may want to ask your practitioner if he or she thinks it will help to prevent seasickness on your cruise. The good news is that there are effective remedies for motion sickness, and these work very well on a cruise. We’re Mike & Anita, your spirited guides to cruising the high seas (and Rivers), and we’ve clocked in over 600 days at sea.

Motion sickness doesn’t have to be an obstacle to sailing on a family cruise. Today’s forecasting tools can offer lots of advance notice about weather conditions. While a ship can’t completely avoid all weather, it does have the ability to maneuver or change course to offer a more comfortable ride when possible. In addition, you will want to avoid any cruise itinerary with back-to-back sea days. Back-to-back sea days usually indicate that the ship will sail through open seas for an extended time, prone to more giant waves. Some destinations are more prone to rough waters, particularly during hurricane season.

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