Will I get seasick?

[Susie]

I've never been on the ocean before. Will I get sick from being on a ship? You always see people getting seasick in the movies.

Susie

[Love2Cruise]

I've never been on the ocean before. Will I get sick from being on a ship? You always see people getting seasick in the movies.

Susie

No easy answer. Until you actually sail, there's no way to tell. If you start turning green around the gills just looking at water, you might get seasick. If you have a problem with motion sickness in automobiles and airplanes, you may be more prone to seasickness. On the other hand, if you get nauseous in a smallish sailboat, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll get seasick on a cruise ship. Here are some recommendations:

You can book your cruise on a larger modern ship with stabilizers.

Book a mid-ship, lower level inside cabin, those have the most stable ride.

Book a cabin with beds that are parallel to the length of the ship; the rocking is usually easier for your body to handle than a rolling motion.

Speak with your doctor before you leave for recommendations of preventative medications you could use.

Some people find an accupressure bracelet around the wrists to be helpful.

Once on board, spend some time on deck and focus on a fixed point of the horizon. This helps your body to adjust to the motion.

Avoid alcohol, it will only increase the symptoms of motion sickness.

[Helena]

Hi,

Good question! I love boating and have never had a problem on small craft with seasickness. But I was concerned when I went on my first cruise. The first night onboard, I was fine as long as I was up and moving around, but when I went to bed, I felt a little queasy. It takes a while to get used to the rocking motion, but after the first night, I had no problems. In fact, I found that I fell asleep quickly and slept literally like a baby.

Of course, maybe I was just so tired out by all the activities! It does take some getting used to though. The thing is, there are doctors onboard and they can give you a special bracelet that I've been told really helps.

H

[jojogirl]

It's true that some people get seasick even on the big new ships that are so much more stable and don't rock anywhere like the smaller ships with the old propellers of the 1980's.

There are products like Dramamine that you can take for motion sickness or ask your pharmacist for patches or bracelets that you can wear to prevent motion sickness.

If you do feel queasy on the ship, the medical department on the ship can give you a shot that will clear up seasickness fast. Of course the best course is prevention, so talk with the pharmacist before the trip.

But these big new ships are designed to plow through the waves rather than rock. Most people don't even notice the motion of the ocean. Movies like to show drama!

jojogirl