Motion sickness on a cruise?

Will I get sea sick on a cruise? And if so what do I do?

All first time cruisers ask themselves this question. Most of us have an idea of how well we fare on a boat or catamaran but how you react to the motion of the ocean is a bit of an uncertainty until you set sail.

The good news is: very few people actually suffer from seasickness when on a cruise ship. Due to the size of modern day cruise liners, navigational avoidance of storms, and built-in stabilizers rides tend to be smooth and the likelihood of experiencing symptoms is minimal.

If you are concerned or feel you may be prone to sea sickness look out for cruises on large ships that sail in climates where the sea is unlikely to be choppy, like the Caribbean, the Mediterranean or the Baltic Sea. Chose a cruise that don’t require tendering to reach a port and choose a cabin in a higher deck midship where you’ll have the least motion (and as an added bonus: the best views).

If you do experience nausea and dizziness when you hit the high waters, don’t fret. There are trial and tested methods to deal with symptoms.

Motion sickness happens when what you see conflicts with what your inner ear senses, which confuses the brain.

For those with mild seasickness, the solution might be as simple as standing on deck and picking a fixed point on the horizon to focus on while taking deep breaths can help.

If you do experience stronger symptoms

A very effective and non-medicinal remedy is wearing sea bands, little acupressure elastics that you wear on your wrists. By pressing against your pressure points they help keep sea sickness at bay. I would recommend that you also bring along Bonine or Dramamine (the non-drowsy kind), and take them prior to the cruise to help prevent motion sickness (or on the ship if motion sickness strikes). Sufferers can also try Scopolamine patches placed behind the ear or worst case scenario consult with medical services on the ship.

Just like on other modes of transportation

storms, winds and extreme weather conditions can make things a little rocky and uncomfortable. However, I have not found this to be a dealbreaker and have had the time of my life cruising, even after twice being caught in severe storms in the middle of the Atlantic.