An impolite question.....

[littlemuffin]

I have been reading threads about people getting very sick on the first night of the cruise. Is this normal? I have cruised before just on other lines and we've never had a problem. Is there something different about the first night on the Disney cruise??

Should I go ahead and take something the morning before we get on the ship or just wait and see??

Thanks in advance!
Kathy

 

[Evans Family]

I think that when you head out of Port Canaveral and down the coast of Florida you cross the jet stream and that tends to be bumpier and cause more motion on the ship. Once you head into the Carribean it smooths out.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

During the first night of the 3-day, 4-day, and eastern Caribbean cruises, the ship passes through the Gulf Stream. This is usually the roughest part of the trip, probably also in part because you don't yet have your sea legs. I usually stop noticing the ship's motion at around midnight of the first night.

I think a lot of it also has to do with how motion affects you. I never get really sick, but occasionally feel uncomfortable on the first evening. I also do not think that this is specific to DCL, as I've had similar experiences on every cruise I've taken from the Atlantic coast of Florida (HAL out of Port Canaveral, RCCL out of Miami).

If you don't tend to get carsick or airsick, you'll probably be OK. Since you've cruised before, you probably know how you'll react. It probably couldn't hurt to take a Bonine on the day before and the first day of the cruise, just to be safe.

 

[encmerk]

I was the one who posted the seasickness question about what to do. I will let you know and for anyone else that it was very rocky the first night on RCCL leaving LA to go to mexico. I asked the CM in the club if it was always like this they said "no", but I should be glad I wasn't on the ship last night. They reccommened people stay in their rooms. My dd and ds were stumbling and falling in the hall ways. My dh and I were holding on to the hand rails. (the weather was perfect except for wind)
So I don't think it matters which coast you are on always prepare for rough seas.

 

[logan1_2000]

It may also be some specific recent weather. We cruised on the 1/16/05 Wonder, first night was very rough seas crossing the Gulf Stream, ship going side to side and creaking like I had not experienced before, and DW did not make it through the Early seatingfor dinner before she turned green for the first time on any of our then 4 cruises and took some meds and went to bed. I didnt feel all that great by the time I gathered DS from the Lab around 11 pm. By 3-4 a.m. I recall waking up, the seas were fine, and we all enjoyed breakfast the next morning, no worse for wear. Our stateroom host on deck 7, Jonny, told us the last night of the cruise before us had even worse waves and motion. So some wintry seas may have some more recent instances than might occur in other months. We sail again on 4/2 on the Magic and we aren't planning any precautions, it whould be fine.

 

[spotdog]

I have been on the 3 night, 4 night and Western cruise. The Western cruise was smooth sailing all the way for me, but the 3 and 4 night, crossing the Gulf Stream, I was glad I had started the Meclizine 24 hours before. The rocking began at dinner and I just wasn't used to it, but I never became ill with the Meclizine.

The rest of the cruise I was fine.

On another note, the Captain announced on that last night of my 4 night cruise that we would be encountering high seas returning to Port Canaveral, beginning about 9 PM. Just take the medication as soon as the the Captain announces high seas coming. It's available for free on the Health Center door on Deck 1. The boat was going up and down like an endless elevator but I did great and slept reasonably well.

Consider it an adventure and have a great time.

 

[budwmn]

I've taken 5 cruises on DCL and only had one rough first night (that same 1/16/05 cruise mentioned earlier). I wouldn't be too worried about it, but if you are, just take meds when the ship leaves port. It's always good to try the meds BEFORE you leave home so that you know how your body reacts.

 

[My 2 Princesses Boat]

[ The rocking began at dinner and I just wasn't used to it, but I never became ill with the Meclizine.

I was given this recently for some health problems I had recently, but I ended up not taking it. I noticed it was for sea/car/motion sickness, so it is in my bag for use of our cruise!

 

[spotdog]

I do agree with BUDWMN, try taking the Meclizine before you cruise, to make sure you don't have an unfavorable reaction to it.

Most people never have a problem with sea sickness, but if all else fails, get fresh air, look at the horizon and remember you aren't the only person to feel queasy while getting your sea legs.

Expect a great trip.

 

[tvguy]

We had rough seas several nights, never saw a single person sick, and didn't notice empty tables in the dining room.

 

[Limmer]

I took Bonamine when we got on the ship, my DH said he didn't need it. I enjoyed a lovely dinner that night, he spent most of the evening in our room, very ill. Neither of us needed it again the rest of the cruise.

 

[banderson]

I think that when you head out of Port Canaveral and down the coast of Florida you cross the jet stream and that tends to be bumpier and cause more motion on the ship. Once you head into the Carribean it smooths out.

That was my experience on the Feb 26 Magic. I was green on the Saturday...I was told that the rocky first day/night has something to do with the transition from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico... I wore sea bands (they really worked for me) and that got me though the night. Before the sea bands, I thought I'd be getting off at Key West and heading back home. The other thing is you need to keep something in your stomach. Pretzels work well, I'm told, but I didn't actually try it. Forcing myself to have some dinner helped me, as well as staying out of the stateroom and in more open areas.

 

[giandave23]

Once we left Port Canaveral, I felt quite queezie - the biggest hint I was told (without meds) was to eat, not drink (alcohol etc) and once we had dinner I was a lot better. My body was able to get used to the rocking of the boat and I was fine the rest of the time (7day Western) - well there was the boat trip (high-speed taxi type) to Cozumel's Tulum Ruin Excursion - that was the worst (not sick, but almost), but the Ruins were amazing!

Hope all this advice helps out!

Take care!

 

[2angelsinheaven]

On our CCL cruise I took Meclizine each night before bed, it lasts a full 24 hours just about. So the sleepy effect went away since I took it at night, I spelt well and was not drowsy in the morning.

 

[meandmad]

Oh yeah.... and if you are feeling queasy, do NOT watch the horizon and do NOT stare at your water glass !