Fighting Seasickness?

[Mineu]

Is it better to have the window if you tend to get seasick or not???Thanks!

 

[m4travel]

It is said that being able to see the horizon helps. There is a disconnect in an enclosed space: your surroundings appear to remain steady, but your inner ear can tell you're moving around. By watching the horizon, you can tell that it actually remains steady while it is evident that your surroundings are moving with you.

There was a study published in 2002 that determined fresh air, the ability to lie down, and watching the horizon helped with seasickness. It found that seasickness was also more prevalent in younger girls for some reason.

I find Bonine is excellent in controlling my mal de mer episodes. I start taking it the day before we embark and continue it through the cruise, even if I'm feeling fine. I've even taken it before plane rides, which seems to help bumpy trip, even if it's only psychosomatic!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

As the above PP it is correct that seasickness starts when the eyes and the inner ear send conflicting messages to your brain the natural way to clear this is to look at the horizon as much as possible and take in lots of fresh air.

Often people who get seasickness also can feel claustrophobic as well if they cannot see the sea and horizon well.

So either walk out on deck 4,9, 10, or if you have a verandah use it and look at the sea, my DD gets some seasickness and likes to go to our room deck 8 or top decks, its worse in the dinner rooms of deck 3 and 4 and lower decks feeling enclosed.

Drink water not soda, eat light, but not fatty foods,

 

[Nik's Mom]

I get sea sick. I took Bonine and it did help. On our first cruise last year, we forked out the extra $$$ for a verandah room because I thought that would help. It was nice when I did feel sick to be able to sit on the balcony without having to worry about other people staring at me feeling .

I only got sick when we were in the theater at the front of the ship. I could not take it in there. Unfortunately, this meant that I missed all of the shows. I also had trouble in Tritons for some reason. I ended up skipping dinner and going back to our room. I sat on the verandah and ate room service. I felt much better then.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I get sea sick. I took Bonine and it did help. On our first cruise last year, we forked out the extra $$$ for a verandah room because I thought that would help. It was nice when I did feel sick to be able to sit on the balcony without having to worry about other people staring at me feeling .

I only got sick when we were in the theater at the front of the ship. I could not take it in there. Unfortunately, this meant that I missed all of the shows. I also had trouble in Tritons for some reason. I ended up skipping dinner and going back to our room. I sat on the verandah and ate room service. I felt much better then.

I am very sorry to read that, missing the shows and the meals but yes enclosed places in the lower decks set my DD off as well.

 

[cheeringmom]

I am very sorry to read that, missing the shows and the meals but yes enclosed places in the lower decks set my DD off as well.

oh nooooo I've read where the lower the deck and towards the back of the boat is the best. And it was also reccomended to me to not get a window....Well I am well prepared in the drug dept!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

oh nooooo I've read where the lower the deck and to-wards the back of the boat is the best. And it was also recommended to me to not get a window....Well I am well prepared in the drug dept!!

I am sorry to say thats one of those 'old wives tales' if you go by movement the middle/middle of the ship is best, think of a child's see-saw, the middle moves least. Forward takes the energy of the waves so moves most,'Any'deck, Aft has some of the energy taken out of it so is less than forward, but Middle/middle is best.

The best and only cure is looking at the horizon on as wide as perspective as you possibly can and try to get fresh air as well.

If you have an inside room, best get up to those comfy chairs on deck 4, or deck 9/10.

Once I had to take my DD to the hospital on the ship, he gave recommendations fresh air, go to top decks and look at the horizon.

Post 2 covers it very well.

 

[TinkTatoo]

I suffer badly from motion sickness and was very worried before our first cruise. I took my regular motion sickness tablets that I take for flying and only had two "problems" The first was on our first night at sea, I felt absoutly fine except when I was walking on deck 3 to dinner at Parrot Cay, I was fine except when I looked out the porthole's at the ocean. When I did that I felt queasy but when I didn't look at the ocean on that deck I felt fine. The same happened at dinner, I was fine as long as I didn't look out at the ocean.

The second problem was when I got off the ship at Castaway Cay, I started to feel weird after a couple of hours and went to the first aid centre as I thought I had sun stroke. It turns out I had something called "sea legs" where my brain still thinks it's coping with the motion of the boat. They gave me a seasick tablet and I was fine.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I suffer badly from motion sickness and was very worried before our first cruise. I took my regular motion sickness tablets that I take for flying and only had two "problems" The first was on our first night at sea, I felt absoutly fine except when I was walking on deck 3 to dinner at Parrot Cay, I was fine except when I looked out the porthole's at the ocean. When I did that I felt queasy but when I didn't look at the ocean on that deck I felt fine. The same happened at dinner, I was fine as long as I didn't look out at the ocean.

The second problem was when I got off the ship at Castaway Cay, I started to feel weird after a couple of hours and went to the first aid centre as I thought I had sun stroke. It turns out I had something called "sea legs" where my brain still thinks it's coping with the motion of the boat. They gave me a seasick tablet and I was fine.

For my DD Animators is the worst as it is enclosed, PC next as it is on the lower deck as you say and 'feel' the movement, more, Sometimes as you say your Brain has adjusted so much as you go to land you still have sea legs and feel the land move!

Try the higher decks next time and look at the horizion not the sea.

 

[CruiseToSee]

I was sick on the first night of the cruise but was 100% perfect after I got my sea legs!

 

[m4travel]

Is it better to have the window if you tend to get seasick or not???Thanks!

You-all may find this article, Cabin Location and the Likelihood of Motion Sickness in Cruise Ship Passengers by Paul M Gahlinger published in the Journal of Travel Medicine 2000; 7:120-124, of interest.

The study's conclusion?

All modern cruise or expedition ships provide cabin facilities to passengers, allowing them to lie down when desired. This study suggests that the location of the cabin is not related to the risk of motion sickness for passengers at liberty to use their facilities, and this concern should not be a factor in cabin selection.

It is recommended that travel consultants explain to passengers that the location aboard a ship is related to the risk of sea sickness only when the passenger is seated or standing. When lying down, the distance from the center of the ship no longer appears to affect motion sickness. Therefore, the choice of a berth or cabin should be determined by other factors, and not a concern about motion sickness.​

 

[Mineu]

Wow! Thanks for the great replies!! I did upgrade to a window as I think that seeing that we are NOT moving when we're at port will help alot! We're also on Deck 2-haven't tried that one yet-got sick on deck 7 & 5! Usually, it's just the first night and maybe the sea days. If you see someone on Deck 4 with their chair facing the ship and not the ocean-that will be me! Thanks again!

 

[disneypolybride2008]

Oh great, i am a bit worried now. I get motion sick easily. When we go to Disney World i have to take Dramamine the whole time and even with that rides like Space Mountain and Star Tours get me. I thought that with the cruise ship being so big that i would not feel the ship moving. When i was little i took a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, I was sick the whole time. Any small boat bobbing in the water does that to me as well.

What would you compare the effects on the ship to? I just hope that taking Dramamine will be enough.

 

[Mineu]

I think you'll be fine Disneypolybride 2008-I have been on 3 cruises and feel seasick every time and still enjoy myself! I would start taking the medicine before you board, eat light the first day/night sip some ginger ale and go up on deck to feel the fresh air. All of these things help tremendously. You'll learn quickly what not to do! I am very motion sensitive especially in cars and rides like Star Tours-the cruise is not that bad. I try to take every preventive measure that I can though-just to be safe. Don't let a little seasickness stop you-DCL is a blast!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Also avoid enclosed 'tender' boats such as at Cozumel for Tulim and mainland.
If you can on these go outside in the fresh air.

 

[TinkTatoo]

Oh great, i am a bit worried now. I get motion sick easily. When we go to Disney World i have to take Dramamine the whole time and even with that rides like Space Mountain and Star Tours get me. I thought that with the cruise ship being so big that i would not feel the ship moving. When i was little i took a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, I was sick the whole time. Any small boat bobbing in the water does that to me as well.

What would you compare the effects on the ship to? I just hope that taking Dramamine will be enough.

I'm like you and can't go on any of the "motion" rides in Disney and being in a small boat would make me feel sick (although I'm alright on the ferry across to MK )

I was dreading the cruise but apart from the two small incidents I mentioned in my post above I was fine on the cruise and didn't need to take my sea sick meds every day.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Just going to bump this thread up as people are asking questions on this subject and it has a lot of accurate info on it.

 

[karenmason52]

Scopalamine patches are the answer!!!
I had never been seasick until a ten day cruise to the Carribean last spring.
On the first sea day I felt soooo sick.
I was planning to disembark in St Thomas and fly home.
Some friends had extra Scopalamine patches and gave me one.
The patch took two hours to take effect and then I was absolutely fine.
The only down side was that my pupils dilated, and I had to wear sun glasses 24/7.
This cruise hit rough seas going from Baltimore to the Carribean.
Hoping that starting down South makes a difference.
But I will definitely have Scop patches on hand.

 

[OCD for WD]

Scopalamine patches are the answer!!!
I had never been seasick until a ten day cruise to the Carribean last spring.
On the first sea day I felt soooo sick.
I was planning to disembark in St Thomas and fly home.
Some friends had extra Scopalamine patches and gave me one.
The patch took two hours to take effect and then I was absolutely fine.
The only down side was that my pupils dilated, and I had to wear sun glasses 24/7.
This cruise hit rough seas going from Baltimore to the Carribean.
Hoping that starting down South makes a difference.
But I will definitely have Scop patches on hand.

BIG FAT DITTO on this response!!!

I went on my 1st DCL cruise in Jan 07 (4 nights) and just like the other 2 4-night cruises I had been on years before, there were several times when I just had to go to my room and lie down because I felt miserable. I even had the Bonine everyday on that one and it still didn't cover me completely. (I am VERY prone to motion sickness.)

Well when I booked my 15 night PC cruise I was very concerned about being sick for 2 weeks. So being an obsessive pharmacist I came overprepared this time. I got the scopolamine patches from my physician with the Bonine as a backup. (Then I even asked for an antinausea prescription just in case because I'm demanding from my MD that way. ) I never needed the antinausea pills because the patches worked like a charm!! I did have the dilating of the eyes (sometimes had to have my tablemates read the menus to me) and the dry mouth, but I knew to expect them and it was worth it considering the alternative.

If you know you are REALLY prone to motion sickness I would recommend getting a prescription for the patches. You can always take them off if the side effects get to be more trouble than it's worth. (Or just wear sunglasses... )

 

[jamal]

This is a great thread. Thanks for all the info. I'm considering the cruise but have a history of motion sickness.

My question is about drowsiness. In the past Dramamine has helped me but knocked me OUT! What can I take/use that won't put me to sleep?