are rough seas typical?

[kajohn]

I have bee reading a lot of reviews over the last few weeks about how high the seas are and the ship is really rocking. Then I took my son to the doctor yesterday for a bad cough, and was telling him about the cruise, and he asked where were we getting on the ship, I told him Port Canaveral, and he said "good luck, we left out of that port once, and I'll never get my wife on a ship again, it was aweful!!"

So my question - is rough seas that typical around port canaveral, and on the eastern itinerary (we will be sailing on the Magic, Feb. 8th)?

Also, the doctor thought giving my kids dramamine II each day as a precaution was fine, to prevent the seasickness. Do any of you do that with your kids, and do they have a problem with it. (That is what I do on a cruise, "one a day keeps the queasy away!"). My kids are 5, 7 and 9.

 

[CM Tinkerbell]

I've been wondering the same thing. We cruised on the Big Red Boat for our Honeymoon (before DCL came along) back in 1991. The first night was SO rocky. Everyone around us was getting sick, including the crew! It was horrible. We thought for sure this must not have been a normal occurance, but after reading many of the posts, I'm beginning to think it may be. My daughter tends to get motion sickness very easily and she's already nervous about it. We are on the January 19th sailing and are hoping for some calm seas.

 

[AnnMorin]

We have sailed out of port Canaveral three times and miami once and have never had the slightest problem from port canaveral. I remember the miami one was a bit rocky but that was also ten years ago before the ships had better stabilizers.

On the dramamine, I would not give it to my child unless he was feeling queezy. (note-he gets car sick but has NEVER been sick on the ship ) I just don't think it is a good idea to medicate unless it is needed.

 

[kajohn]

The doctor seemed to think giving it to them once a day was a good idea, and I know after 4 cruises I have to do that or I get so queasy even when things are calm, so I take it now from day one and no problems, (finally learned by the 4th trip!)

I think though, I will try them with it before we go, to make sure it doesn't upset them. If they don't have a problem with it, I will give it to them the first day or two, and then if the seas are calm I will try without it.

Has anyone else used dramamine or bonine as a precation with their kids before they get sick?

 

[candyht]

I haven't sailed the Magic yet, but I did recently sail the Wonder. From my understanding the first night is always rough. It was very rough for our cruise. A lot of passengers and some crew got seasick. DH and I were fine, but our daughters got seasick during dinner at Animators. They were fighting a cold, so I think that didn't help. Animators is in the front of the boat. I noticed each time that I was at the front of the boat, like in the theatre seeing shows, I would feel a lot of movement there.

My doctor advised me to give the girls Benadryl if they get seasick, which I did the first night. She said that my daughters, who are 5, are too young to take Dramine.

 

[MelissaE1]

Originally posted by kajohn
Has anyone else used dramamine or bonine as a precation with their kids before they get sick?

Hi Kelli,

I was asking about this a while back, too. Dramamine II and Bonine are Meclizine, and there are some strong opinions (on the board and off, I am sure) about whether you should give it to young children, it is not labeled for them. A nurse here made the valid point that sometimes tests have not been done and children eliminate some things from their systems differently than adults.

That said, however, my DS8 gets carsick and I do want to be prepared so he doesn't have to be nauseated on the trip (yuck!). I used to scuba dive a lot and much prefer Bonine to original Dramamine. I have asked three different pharmacists at different drug stores and both of the pediatricians my kids see and all of them gave it an unqualified thumbs up for my kids (half a tablet). I also am a non-medicator when I can help it (I am sitting here with itchy eyes right now ignoring the Claritin my doc gave me) but I just want to be ready. I am not even going to mention to him that people get seasick (no sense putting that idea into his head!) but at least I'll be prepared if he does.

It has also been suggested that Benadryl is successful in helping kids with motion sickness, and I may try that first if it comes up.

Just sharing the info I've gathered.

 

[tstobb]

Most of the newer ships (the Magic & Wonder included) have stabilizer systems that minimize the rocking of the ship. REALLY high seas can be noticed and, as with any type of motion sickness, some people are more sensitive to it than others. On our cruises, my DW (who is one of those sensitive ones ) didn't have any problems even though the monitor on our tv showed 12-14' seas almost all of the time.

 

[AnnMorin]

There is free sea sickness tablets available from the health center. I would also recommend "sea bands" for children. AsI said my son (9)has terrible car sickness, vomits each time we drive from here to capecod and back each way each summer. But the ship did not bother him.
You know your children best and should do what is right for you but that is strong medicine (dramamine) for young children, if it were me I would play wait and see and if they became nauseaus then medicate them, not in advance. BUT you should do what you feel is right for your family, one last note about dramamine, we give it to our DS each time before we leave for the Cape and he still gets sick so it is not a "sure thing cure all" We have learned by this time (after six years of this) to just keep a plastic bag in the back seat with him, he vomits and then is fine.

 

[MarkRG]

To answer your rough seas part of the question, no, it's not typical. Possible, yes but not typical. This time of year is more prone to it, and as someone said above the first night is always the worst on the eastern and the 3 or 4 day as that's when you cross the Gulf Stream, which is always a bit rough. Once you're in the Carribean proper it is usually smooth sailing.

Here's a link to a webpage that shows the current ocean waves: http://152.80.49.210/products/WAM/natl_swht_000.gif
It's updated regularly, so keep checking it.

 

[meab]

When I was a kid, my parents took me on a weekend cruise and gave me 1/2 a dramamine "just in case". I slept the entire weekend! Of course, this was about 15-20 years ago - I don't know if/how dramamine has changed since then, and if Bonine is any different.

I say don't medicate "just in case". I have been on 7 cruises in the past 5 years, and haven't had one case of seasickness. Occasionally, there are some rough seas, but I never see anyone getting sick. There are good stabilizers on the new ships.

 

[Michelle]

In TEN cruises on DCL I would say only ONE cruise had even MINIMALLY rough seas. That was our Eastern Caribbean cruise last December; something about traveling through the Gulf Stream the first couple of days contributes to the greater movement. Rough seas are definitely NOT typical, and many times I barely feel the ship moving!

I don't get seasick but those who are prone to seasickness should take some sort of precaution for the first couple of days, until they are sure they will be okay. Meclizine (Bonine) works wonders for those 12 and over and kids can be given children's Dramamine. Or you can try whatever other preventative you think would be effective.

 

[CRB#33]

I felt the rocking of the ship when we are all the forward watching Hercules in the theater. This was only on the first night as we crossed the gulf stream. The movement was never felt again after that. That was in late June.

I gave my children 1/2 of one pill of the Dramamine in the past with no ill effects.

 

[kajohn]

I guess I am concerned because I get queasy on the first day or two no matter what the seas or like, and I have been on very new ships with the best stabalizers, so that doesn't seem to matter. If I don't take bonine I spend half the first day in the cabin. I then keep taking it just as a precaution, although once I have my sea legs I could probably stop, but rather than mess up part of a day, I take it just as a precaution.

I didn't realize bonine and dramamine II weren't for kids under 12. I had regular dramamine in the past and it said 2 and up, so I just assumed kids could take the other as well.

I will check again with my doctor's office to see exactly what they recommend.

Thanks again for all the info,

 

[pouncingpluto]

I want to chime in as another "sensitive" one who gets very motion sick and cars and sometimes airplanes. I've never been on a long-term cruise, but I've been on two overnight cruises in Scandinavia, and the motion of the boat never bothered me. In fact, those wonderful experiences (especially on the Silja line) are what made my boyfriend and me look into this Disney cruise.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

We gave my dd - who was 6 at the time - 1/2 a bonine every morning (ok's by her pediatrian) and she was fine even though we had 20 + foot seas. I just cut the pills in half.

 

[allears]

Hi all,
We have cruised twice with DCL, once in mid-November and once in early February. As you can see from our timer, we're on our way again. We did experience more motion on the ship the first night out, and the crew told us (as others have mentioned) it has to do with crossing the Gulf stream. I figured it was a similar effect when cold and warm fronts meet in the atmopshere - lots of wind. However, the motion wasn't bad. I also noticed the same effect late at night on the way back to port, I tend to stay up and wander the ship. We would of course be crossing the gulf stream again.

My oldest son (12) is prone to motion sickness, at least in cars and occasionally air planes. He is usually okay near a window. But he did just fine, well once he got some sleep. We leave early, early in the morning of the cruise and by late seating he was way past tired. This year naps before we sail. We have packed dramine during both trips, but never used them. I wouldn't hesitate to take precautions if you are prone to problems. I've been told and heard that you should start taking some of the medications before you get on the ship rather than once you feel sick.

I am curious though, what has been the experience of western curise veterans? How are the seas on that side of the world?

 

[CamColt]

We have done 2 Disney cruises and 1 BRB, all out of Canaveral. Each time we had different circumstances.

BRB-7/95, we could feel some rocking going through the gulf stream, but nothing major

DCL10/00, 14 ft seas, people getting sick everywhere, hardly no one in the dining room that night. We went right back to our room after dinner. I even felt a little queasy and Ive never get any motion sickness.

DCL 7/02, We were on a boat?

 

[meab]

Originally posted by LOVETHATMOUSE
We gave my dd - who was 6 at the time - 1/2 a bonine every morning (ok's by her pediatrian) and she was fine even though we had 20 + foot seas. I just cut the pills in half.

Earlier, I posted that my mom gave me 1/2 a pill on the first day and I slept for the entire weekend. Aside from the possibility of a difference in the strength of dramamine/bonine now vs. 20 years ago, it may also depend how your child reacts to medications.

For example, now even as an adult, if I take just 1 pill of a non-drowsy cold pill when I'm sick (of the recommended dose of 2 pills), then I am drowsy and drugged for the entire day.

I'm glad to hear that someone had luck giving their child seasickness meds with good results. It is always best to check with your child's doctor first.

 

[donnier]

We have done 7 cruises, 4 have sailed from a FLA port. The first night has always been bumpy, some worse than others. It doesn't bother me, however, my DW is very sensitive. On all but one , of these cruises she has taken a non drowsy dramamine about an hour before sialing and had no problems. The one time she didn't, she was miserable with a couple hours after sailing. Once you are sick, taking the medicine is little help until it "kicks in". My advice is, if you have any doubt, take one before you sail. After the initial "rough night", you probably will not need any more, at least tha has been the case with my DW. We did the same on our last cruise which was our DD's (4 year old) first. We gave her 1/2 a tablet, and she did fine the first night and without any medication the rest of the trip.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

One good thing about Bonine is that it is non-drowsy. My pediatrician suggested we try Non Drowsy Benydryl and the Bonine before we left. The Benydryl zonked her out, but she was fine on the Bonine. Oh - and we did start it the night before the cruise before she went to bed, then again in the am before we boarded. The Dr. said it should be in your system before you set foot on the boat - and he should know he has cruised DCL along with us!