Cruising advice for someone with travel sickness.?

Question

I suffer very badly with motion sickness and use travel tablets and wristbands for planes, boats, trains etc. I haven't managed very well on cross-channel ferries, even with tablets, but I'd like to try a med cruise. I'm wondering what a large cruise ship would be like. Is it more stable than a ferry? Has anyone with motion sickness gone on a cruise and felt okay?

Answer 1

There is a world of difference between traveling on the water on a cruise ship versus a ferry or 50, 100, or 200 foot boat/ship. I have been on many cruises and seen and felt the difference. I have also done a cruise on the Mediterranean and also to the Baltic countries and on neither cruise did the ship pitch and rock like a ferry or small boat.

First of all most cruise ships for the major cruise lines are between 900 and almost 1,000 feet long and about 150 feet wide. So they sit in the water better, are not moved by the seas like a ferry of fishing or sailing boat would. I have been on cruises where passengers had to take a small tender boat (really one of the life boat) to shore to the pier. While the cruise ship was not moving at all, when we boarded the tender it bobbed and rocked.

In addition, the newer cruise ships being used these days have automatic stabilizers that deploy like underwater wings to keep the ship from rocking side to side when its underway. That, along with the ships being long, prevent most motion at all. Like other people have said, you hardly know you are moving.

The Mediterranean is a good place to cruise because it does not have as much motion as open seas, like the Caribbean. The next best place for calmer seas is a cruise to Alaska because it using the "inside passage" which is an inland waterway protected from open ocean; kinda like cruising down a river.

Since you already know about the pills, patches and wrist band, I suggest that you go first on a 1, 2, or 3 day cruise to see how it goes for you. One cruise line, Norwegian, does a variety of these from several major US ports, east and west coast: http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruisesearch/cruisesearch.html;jsessionid=Gnx0c3hfT02zhVdJGJb2TpvlL2zBhJ4G!561109016

So try a 1 or 2 day cruise to see how you do and then go ahead and book the longer Med cruise. Be sure to get an outside, preferably balcony, cabin and try to get it mid-ship; both of these to further reduce motion and help deal with motion sickness.

Answer 2

I have been on a good few Med Cruises at all times of the year and the sea and weather has been good with no large waves or rough seas. The cruise ships are so large that there is hardly any noticeable movement, although on occasion there is some vibration.
There is a Doctor on-board if you should become sea-sick, who will help with pills or injections. (expensive!)
Most Med cruises have only one full day at sea, the rest of the cruise they sail relatively slowly during the night.
Try a taster cruise from Southampton for 2 ro 3 nights, If you can handle the English Channel, you will definitely manage the Med.
MY brother-in-law who was once seasick in a rowboat on a boating pond loves cruising and now cruises every year.

Answer 3

I get sea sick easily, but I have never gotten sea sick on a cruise ship. First of all the ships are very big, so they don't move much. Second they have stabilizers which help a lot if the seas are rough ...

http://www.lisashea.com/lisabase/cruise/ships/stabilizers.html

http://www.ssk-sasebo.co.jp/ssk/us/business/kikai/img/img71.jpg

Here is some information about the stabilizers from the captain of a cruise ship ...

Drango: "I heard about stabilizers. What are they?"

Captain Dyrdal: "They are like little wings Drango. They stick out from the hull and are controlled by gyros to move as needed to help control the rocking of the ship. They are like ailerons on airplane wings. When they are not needed they can be folded in to the hull."

I read some of the reviews of the cruise I am taking before I take it. For of the cruises there were several mentions of rough seas. So I took ginger tablets with me. I took one in the morning before breakfast and one in the evening before dinner. I like ginger because it is not a drug and because it is the only thing that worked on Mythbusters. I had no problems on that cruise. You can get a whole bottle of ginger for just a few bucks at stores like Walgreens. Just make sure you take some water with each tablet.

Answer 4

I got a little motion sickness on my last cruise. We went when there was a large hurricane at sea which made the waters rough. I took a non-drowsy dramamine everyday. I would usually have to take another one right before dinner. Our tables were right at the back of the boat overlooking the motors and this is usually when I would get seasick. But once I took a second dramamine with a ginger ale I would be fine.
I would talk to your tavel agent and see if you can get a dining table and cabin near the middle of the boat. And don't look out the windows when you are walking. And if you can...don't book during hurricane season!

Answer 5

Cruiseships are a lot larger than cross channel ferries therefore you'll find that you probably won't feel any movement at all. Best advice would be to do a taster cruise. A few cruise operators offer 2/3 night cruises in and out of Southampton, that way you wont be stuck onboard ill for a week! ;) Also, the sea wont be as rough in the summer, reducing the risk of movement!!

Answer 6

I just came back from a cruise and it was a ship with 13 decks. They are so large you can't feel the motion. Only occasionally if the sea is a bit rough. Ginger beer or ginger cordial puts your sickness right and there is something you can ask for on ship that is rubbed behind your ear which cures it.

Answer 7

see your doctor for the new patch. you place a small place anywhere you want on body and it deposits the chemicals needed / you absorb through your skin what you need to maintain equilabrium

yes it is true that the newer ships have more stablizers but you still can feel vibrations and there are instances on sea of rough sailing. you see water in window at low line / ship rocks / window water line is high. you usually hear things go flying in the dining room at a time like this. does not happen a lot one to two times per sailing ?

most people are okay / some folks are really sensitive. best to get patch. dramamime is good for taking a tablet not as good as a patch. my mom uses the patch and it helps her 99 percent. one percent even the patch doesn't help. most of time she is fine. take care and enjoy cruise

Answer 8

Use Bonine during the day, and a Dramamine at night.
Try a shorter cruise first, some of the med cruises are 2 weeks.

This website has cruises starting at $159:

http://www.choiceretreat.com

Answer 9

You cant even feel the ship moving. I am the same way. I have been on 4 cruises. They have doctors on the cruise ships also. Just dont think about it. Think about your cruise. That helped me... Happy traveling

Answer 10

Ever considered accupuncture? Might well be worth a try if nothing else works!! Having said that....yes there is a huge difference between a passenger liner and a mere ferry......they are definitely more stable....but check out the accupuncture...it might just be the thing for you. You should be able to find more information and possible a refferal from your G.P.