Yep, seasickness happens.
If you get carsick, airsick, or are sensitive to movement you might just get queasy on a ship. The best way of managing seasickness is to prevent it before it starts. There is nothing worse than stepping aboard a ship on your first ever cruise thinking you’ll be okay and waking up in the morning miserably sick. Once in the throes of seasickness recovery is not easy. A few thoughts will enter your mind.
Why did I get on this ship?
This was a huge mistake.
I want off and never want to come back.
On my first cruise those were my thoughts exactly. I really wanted to go home. It took me a few days to get enough medication in me to make it through the rest of the week. And now? Occasionally the seas will be quite rough and I might feel a bit icky. Pop a couple motion sickness pills and I'm good.
There is much truth to the saying “getting your sea legs”. The same amount of movement that makes you queasy at the beginning of the cruise may not be noticed by you at end of the cruise. Until the sea legs kick in there are a variety of methods for preventing seasickness.
How to Prevent and Manage Seasickness on a Cruise
1. Book a midship cabin. The lower decks and the middle of the ship are where the least amount of movement is felt. If unable to book a midship cabin hang out in the midship public areas during the rougher times. It could be a library, an atrium area, or a bar on a lower deck. You may still feel some movement on the lower decks but the view can be nice.
2. Eating green apples or using ginger products - tea, gum, candy, and capsules - can be helpful. If already experiencing a strong case of seasickness it might be best to use an alternative remedy.
3. Look to the horizon and fix your eyes on a point far in the distance. You'll need to have access to a window or, even better, get yourself outside in the fresh air. Focusing on something inside the ship or at the waves themselves certainly will not help.
4. Seasickness bands. These wrist bands use acupressure to help alleviate motion sickness.
5. Over the counter or prescription medication. Some folks take over-the-counter anti-nausea pills in the evening before bedtime since both regular and less drowsy formulas can cause sleepiness. The medication can last for 24 hours. If you're wanting something even stronger, there are prescription anti-nausea patches. The circular, beige-colored patches are worn behind the ear and give continuous medication for up to three days.
If an excursion takes you on a smaller boat like a ferry, catamaran, sailboat, snorkel boat, or zodiac raft take additional precautions. Smaller boats do not have the additional stabilization systems so the ride can be rougher. I’ve watched crew members handing out dozens of plastic bags for sick passengers on these smaller boats.
Prevention is the best medicine so don't let the fear of seasickness prevent you from taking a cruise.
