I am seriously considering a cruise and need help with motion sickness...

[DopeyRN]

are you more likely to have motion sickness towards the front of the ship or the back? Also is a higher or lower deck the better choice? Thanks...

[albiats]

I've been on 4 DCL cruises and haven't been bothered with motion sickness. I have an inner ear problem that causes Vertigo in many situations, even on land.

Our cabins have been mid-ship and towards the aft. I haven't had a cabin in the forward section, but my Mother and Cousin were on one of the cruises with us and their cabin was very far forward. I didn't sleep there but visited with them on several occasions and they didn't notice motion either.

I have never experienced that much motion in any cabin location. I have been on decks 8, 6, and 5.

The Disney ships seem to have been designed very well and they have good stabilizers. There are some times when you would have a better chance of encountering seas that are more energetic than you might like. On the first evening, you pass over the Gulf Stream starting about 6 or 6:30pm and ending around 10:00 or 11pm.

The Disney ships are 964 feet long, larger than 3 football fields end to end. With a ship that size, it's pretty difficult for waves to effect the ship like they would in a 30 or 40 foot boat.

From an engineering perspective, the best chance to minimize any potential motion would be to have a cabin midship and in a lower numbered deck, such as deck 2. That would minimize front to back motion and side to side motion.

My personal plan to combat any feelings of motion sickness are:

I take Prescription Antivert 30 to 45 minutes before I board the ship, which is around 12 noon to 1pm. The Rx says 1 every 4 hours and I take a second one about 4:45pm, just before the ship pulls out. I usually take a third one about midnight. From that point on, I take them only as needed.

I take a supplement with Ginger Root capsules. I start at least one to two weeks before the cruise with 2 in the morning and 2 at bedtime. I continue taking them as a preventive measure until a couple days after the cruise.

I drink at least one can of soda pop every evening about an hour after dinner, sometimes 2 cans.

I take along a pair of the wrist bands in case I need them, but I don't see much immediate effect with them. I don't like to wear them all day, the longest I've tried to wear them has been about 3 to 4 hours.

I haven't tried the prescription patch.

Many others have reported good results with the Over the Counter Medication called Bonine.

If you decide to try the Ginger Root capsules or anything else, I urge you to try them at least one week before you cruise to make sure you can tolerate them safely.

hope that helps

[sandee]

I have to be careful while floating on lazy river tube at the water parks, and swinging on a childs swing will make me sooo sick if I'm on it for more then a minute. I am getting ready for 3rd Disney Cruise. 1st cruise I used the RX patch I'd gotten from my doctor. It effected my vision and I ended up so sensitive to light I had to even wear sun glasses to dinner. I also slept through 2/3 of the cruise because it made me so sleepy. Last trip I took an over the counter drug called BONINE. I took one about an hour before boarding and only one more a few days later when we ran into some heavy, large waves and there was just a little more motion then usual. I was fine. No vision problem, no drowsy feeling,etc. I already have my bonine packed for our May cruise. You really don't feel a lot of swaying or motion in general on the boat. Have a wonderful trip!

[MdmMim]

I, too, need something for seasickness. I use Bonine--it doesn't make me drowsy, and the best part is: only 1 tablet per 24 hr period is needed. It's also chewable, so it's really easy to take. I've tried the wristbands, but they had only a little effect on my seasickness. The Bonine works for me! (I hope I don't sound too much like a commercial!) :)

[DopeyRN]

WOW! Great answers!!! Thank you so much. My last cruise was over 22 years ago...took Bonine the whole time and was nauseated the whole time...but everyone says ships are vastly improved in design.

[TnRobin]

I did not take anything before boarding our first cruise as I don't get motion sickness on rides, only get nausea when I read in a car. By 5:30 I was popping my first Bonine (I have never been sicker in my life)

Three Cruises later (in forward cabins and in aft cabins) I have yet to get seasick again. I always take Bonine at about 1:00 on the day we leave.

[akid@hart]

Relief bands There is a new product out now that can be purchased on the ships or on the web. Some have found them on e-Bay. They are not cheap, they are $80 - $100. and look like a watch. You press a button when you need help with seasickness and they work immediately, not an hour later. I don't get sea sick so I didn't purchase one, but others that have posted on the Cruisecritic boards say they are wonderful.

[MnParrothead]

My brother's family was at the aft of the ship on Deck 2 on the Magic in January. He's 41 and gets seasick, carsick, etc., easily. He did have trouble being at the aft, so on their next cruise he requested (and was confirmed) a Room on Deck 2 in the middle.

[mjsagain]

Hey, Kimber1963, you're giving us Illinoisans a bad name on the math thing.

The last time I checked, 100 yds. is 300 feet, so 964 ft. would be over three football fields. You don't play golf, I hope ;)

I think you owe albiats an apology. :)

[smorowski]

i get sea sick in the bath tub. . .i used relief band--bought at drug store.com (cheapest i've found) they helped! didn't feel sick at all. well worth the money if you don't want to take pills or use patches.

[plutojudy]

GINGER!!!!!!!!! We had 25 foot seas for 60 hours. I did not get sick, not even queasy. Two ginger capsules 4 times a day.

[sonney]

What is the name of the relief band mentioned afew posts up? What is the web site where one could purchase them? Thanks.

[billvack]

Here's the site for the wrist bands
We bought the re-usable one and it seemed to work great
http://www.seaproductsonline.com/index60.html
And right now they have a 2 for 1 special
Bill

[JENR]

We just returned from the Wonder. The first night was very rocky. My husband and my daughter took Bonine. They were okay but my husband slept the whole night. The rest of the cruise was wonderful and we didn't feel a thing. We were in the front of the ship on Deck 2 which according to the people who work on the cruise it is the best place to be if you get seasick.