Help me convince my seasick husband!

[knlasv]

Hi! My mom and I are Disney fanatics. My husband will go every few years to WDW if I promise good food and my brothers are indifferent about it altogether. Well, mom wants to take the whole family on our first Disney cruise! 6 adults and 4 kids (will be 10, 7, 4 & 1) at the time of the trip Spring 2025.
My husband has told me many times that he will never go on a cruise. He likes his feet on the ground and also gets seasick on boats in general. How can I convince him?! Also my nephew (9) gets car sick a lot. How much different is car sick vs sea sick??

 

[sponica]

My kid gets car sick but never boat sick, airsick or train sick. Whatever it is that makes her nauseated in the car, that brain/vestibular motion connection doesn't exist on other modes of transportation.

What types of boats has he been on, are we talking boats on a lake or whale watching boats or ferries?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Leave him behind. Neither you nor he want him throwing up his guts every hour that ship isn’t in port.

Alternatively take a test 3 night cruise on any line, keep it cheap, make sure a day at sea is involved with just the two of you and see if gets sick or figures out meds that help him. Bonine is my bff on cruise ships. A bit of rolling used to be enough to do me in but now I’m good for pretty much whatever (literally my last cruise was bounce off the wall type seas one morning, even the crew were griping, and I was fine).

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

The first time I cruised I got some sea sickness but it wasn't the normal nausea (which I have had plenty of from much smaller boats in choppy water). It was more of a dizzy/vertigo feeling and very strange and vivid dreams at night. The motion is quite different from that of smaller boats, but can definitely cause some issue for those that are sensitive. Without the nausea, I didn't really recognize those symptoms as seasickness until later. The 2nd time around, I took a Dramamine each night. Problem completely solved. My youngest is also susceptible to motion sickness, and Dramamine has completely worked for him as well.

The key is just assume he will feel it, and go ahead and take the Dramamine when you board and on a regular schedule. It's much easier to prevent it than it is to make it feel better after the sick feeling has started. Our serving staff was also very quick to bring my youngest green apples and ginger ale the minute he said he felt it a little at dinner the first night, and those things both helped also.

Like your husband, there was a point in time where we also would have said we will never ever go on a cruise. It wasn't anything against boats in general or wanting to stay on land ... we love sailing, it just seemed like we would be trapped on a giant claustrophobic crowded germ factory. But, so many people we knew talked DCL up, and the kids were so into everything Disney at the time, we gave it a go. Now we have cruise #4 booked.

 

[Micca]

Been on a half dozen cruises, only had a seasick problem one time and it passed quickly. I'd echo the question posed by sponica about the type of boats your DH has experienced. In my experience, most of the time you might not detect any movement whatsoever. Also the motion sickness meds work really well for a lot of people.

But it'd be awful if he agreed to go and then was miserable the whole time. Any chance you'd sail without him?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

If you already know he doesn't want to go and would likely get sick by going, why would you ask how to convince him? If it's important to have the entire family together, skip the cruise and do the land version at WDW. A cruise would be a miserable trip for many days for someone who can't handle the motion. And there are many who can't.

 

[piglet1979]

My mom does not like being on the water. She is pretty afraid of it since she can't swim. I am the only one in the family that has been on a cruise and have really talked them up to her. She started small and would take the fairy to one of the islands close by. We live by the one of the Great Lakes. She has done good with that and now has her first cruise booked. I think she will love it as long as her anxiety doesn't get to her. They are also taking a 4 day cruise to try it for the first time.

I have been on 3 cruises. The first 2 before kids and the this last one when they were pre-teens. In that time I developed sea-sickness. I am fine in any other mode of transportation. I didn't prepare ahead of time for the last cruise so I was pretty bad the first night. I started to take Bonine right away. you can take 2 pills a day so I split it up. I took one in the morning and one at night to keep it continuously in my system. I was not 100% the rest of the trip but much better then the first night. I did find out that if you look at the horizon this helps a lot. After we got back my dad (he was in the Navy) told me that that is what they were always told too. We are now going on the first cruise since this one (it was in 2018). We are doing a short 5 day cruise for our anniversary coming up. I will take the Bonine the night before our flight (I have never been sick on a plane but take it just incase) and will continue through the cruise and flight home. I also have the patch this time. That will start working right away so I am going to try the Bonine first and use the patch if that is not working. This is a test to see how I do. If I do good we will book more. If not then it will be land trips for me.

 

[sponica]

The key is just assume he will feel it, and go ahead and take the Dramamine when you board and on a regular schedule. It's much easier to prevent it than it is to make it feel better after the sick feeling has started.

This is what we did with my stepdad who gets seasick on everything, deep sea fishing boats, the long island ferry to orient point, you name it. He won't go back on a cruise but he enjoyed going with us.

 

[leebee]

I'm sorry, but I'm going to say don't do it. I get motion sick on everything- planes, cars, boats, amusement rides, etc. ONE time I did an afternoon cruise. Took Bonine, wore SeaBands, wore a scope patch... sick as a dog. You do NOT want to get out on the ocean and have him be sick. Once it starts, it doesn't stop. There is no way I'd encourage someone who knows they get motion sick to go on a cruise.

 

[Dug720]

If you already know he doesn't want to go and would likely get sick by going, why would you ask how to convince him? If it's important to have the entire family together, skip the cruise and do the land version at WDW. A cruise would be a miserable trip for many days for someone who can't handle the motion. And there are many who can't.

Agreed! I see so many people forcing themselves to do things they know will make them sick unless they stay doped up on medication. I admire him for not wanting to be miserable or medicated on a vacation.

That said, there is a big difference between large cruise ships with stabilizers and small boats on lakes, etc. But respect his decision.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

OP are you actually concerned about things that may help your husband's motion sickness? Because saying "How can I convince him?!" doesn't sound like it. You don't convince someone who would feel ill to do it.

I get motion sick with the biggest trigger being cars. I don't get seasick at least not as of yet and I have been on small boats like pontoons, speed boats, catamarans, clipper ship, and two cruises (with a third one planned for next year). But enough rough waters will do most people in regardless.

However, many rides at theme parks do cause my motion sickness to get triggered. I did a train trip through Europe back in May and made sure that whenever I could we had me sit facing the direction of travel (which for me is what I needed) and the only time I felt motion sick was from Belgium to Luxembourg through France because it has a lot of stops (the start/stop is often part of what gets me car sick though isn't the whole reason) so I know that generally speaking trains don't do it to me.

I did bring with me last year on our cruise and this year on the train trip seabands which are bands you wear on your wrists that press in on a pressure point and they often help people.

However, my sister-in-law who does not get motion sick (unless going on simulator rides repeatedly close together these days) did get sick on the cruises she's tried to be on and really just doesn't want to go on them at all because of that.

Really you need to discuss with him his comfort level, which sounds like he's already expressed not wanting a cruise. Sometimes it takes trying different things out to see if they help but everyone has their own personal limit. I know which attractions at theme parks I stay away from due to xyz.

The way I see it is you have two choices which is to leave him behind (especially if you've gently talked to him about if there's anything he think may work to help) or suggest a different destination if the intent is for everyone to join. Side note does your mom know of your husband's issue with cruises? If so, I'm not sure that was the nicest thing to suggest if she meant for him to actually be a part of the vacation.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Leave him behind. Neither you nor he want him throwing up his guts every hour that ship isn’t in port.

Alternatively take a test 3 night cruise on any line, keep it cheap, make sure a day at sea is involved with just the two of you and see if gets sick or figures out meds that help him. Bonine is my bff on cruise ships. A bit of rolling used to be enough to do me in but now I’m good for pretty much whatever (literally my last cruise was bounce off the wall type seas one morning, even the crew were griping, and I was fine).

I'm not sure I would suggest a 3 day cruise just to figure out if someone could do a cruise. For some people they may feel ill for a few days or at the very least off but then as their body acclimates to it are okay. Some meds take time for your body to actually get to working too.

That's not even getting into if someone is just sick for the entire 3 days and gets to feel miserable.

Things like size of the ship (bigger doesn't always mean better in this case) and the stabilizer used, location of the room, location of the cruise, did the transit ahead of time worsen it, etc also play a role. Things like a balcony on a cruise ship may be absolutely necessary (fresh air for me is an instant reliever for example). I don't know where the OP is going but TBH our eastern Med cruise last year had the smoothest of waters you could possible dream of. A Caribbean cruise, while that may be closer assuming the OP is coming from the U.S. and isn't doing a Pacific cruise, that region also gets rougher waters and more storms on a more frequent basis especially when dodging hurricanes during the season.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'm not sure I would suggest a 3 day cruise just to figure out if someone could do a cruise. For some people they may feel ill for a few days or at the very least off but then as their body acclimates to it are okay. Some meds take time for your body to actually get to working too.

That's not even getting into if someone is just sick for the entire 3 days and gets to feel miserable.

Things like size of the ship (bigger doesn't always mean better in this case) and the stabilizer used, location of the room, location of the cruise, did the transit ahead of time worsen it, etc also play a role. Things like a balcony on a cruise ship may be absolutely necessary (fresh air for me is an instant reliever for example). I don't know where the OP is going but TBH our eastern Med cruise last year had the smoothest of waters you could possible dream of. A Caribbean cruise, while that may be closer assuming the OP is coming from the U.S. and isn't doing a Pacific cruise, that region also gets rougher waters and more storms on a more frequent basis especially when dodging hurricanes during the season.

As I said, not my first choice either but I mentioned it as I see the reality here is OP has already decided their DH is going on this cruise. Therefore nothing short of an actual cruise experience will convince OP to let DH stay behind- or convince DH he can do it if all goes well. Having spent a week sick at sea every time my cruise ship wasn't in port many years ago before I discovered Bonine works for me I get it- but it's a helluva lot better to be sick for 3 days just dealing with your spouse than being sick and dealing with your kids + your mother in law paying a ton of money for you to be sick all day, day after day.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

As I said, not my first choice either but I mentioned it as I see the reality here is OP has already decided their DH is going on this cruise. Therefore nothing short of an actual cruise experience will convince OP to let DH stay behind- or convince DH he can do it if all goes well. Having spent a week sick at sea every time my cruise ship wasn't in port many years ago before I discovered Bonine works for me I get it- but it's a helluva lot better to be sick for 3 days just dealing with your spouse than being sick and dealing with your kids + your mother in law paying a ton of money for you to be sick all day, day after day.

It would be unfortunate indeed if that was the case with the OP already thinking the husband has to go especially with already knowing he has past experience on waters. It would appear the OP loves to do all things Disney with their mom (past posts as well) so my guess is the husband is not considered as much--not intended as a jab against the OP but more like his feelings on the subject may not even be considered here because of the OP and their mom's enjoyment of the Disney product.

Bonine didn't work for me at least for attractions at the Parks, it just made me very tired, wasn't worth it and didn't help the motion sickness at all for me. Several days of that and I decided enough was enough and stopped taking it, got my energy back. I know people take it (or split the pill in half) before they go to sleep to help with the drowsiness but yeah it just didn't work for me.

 

[Nayan]

My husband has told me many times that he will never go on a cruise. He likes his feet on the ground and also gets seasick on boats in general. How can I convince him?!

How about dropping the subject since he has stated 'many times' he's not interested. You go on the cruise and he can stay home, then when you plan a 'land' vacation he can join in.

 

[auntlynne]

I agree with those who say let him decide. And then quit asking. This is definitely a direct question and be done.

“Do you want to go on this cruise - if we can find something that may (but not necessarily) help your potential seasickness or should we go without you?”

 

[wendlle]

we all get seasick, we use the meds that they give out on board at the medical centre. They fix us all up in no time.
I wouldn't stop cruising because of it.

 

[MomOTwins]

There's really no reason not to take the medicine. I went on my first cruise on my honeymoon and was throwing up and felt like death until I got the medicine from the med center, and after a little time for the medicine to kick in, the seasickness vanished. I now take Bonine the day before the cruise and once per day on the cruise and don't notice a thing. It's nondrowsy and over the counter.

To me, saying you don't want to go on a cruise because you get seasick is like saying you don't want to watch TV because the volume is too loud--makes no sense because in both cases, there is an easy fix (take medicine / turn down the volume).

 

[lanejudy]

To me, saying you don't want to go on a cruise because you get seasick is like saying you don't want to watch TV because the volume is too loud--makes no sense because in both cases, there is an easy fix (take medicine / turn down the volume).

You do realize that some people don't react well to certain medications? If the OP's husband gets that seasick/motion sickness, it is likely he has tried at least the simple OTC meds or bands.

OP - I would respect his wishes. He clearly feels strongly about the issue if it has come up many times previously. Ask if he wants to try some remedies and join the extended family, or inform mom that he sends his regards and won't be on the cruise. If mom really wants to include everyone, ask her to plan a land vacation.

 

[MomOTwins]

You do realize that some people don't react well to certain medications? If the OP's husband gets that seasick/motion sickness, it is likely he has tried at least the simple OTC meds or bands.

OP - I would respect his wishes. He clearly feels strongly about the issue if it has come up many times previously. Ask if he wants to try some remedies and join the extended family, or inform mom that he sends his regards and won't be on the cruise. If mom really wants to include everyone, ask her to plan a land vacation.

I don’t think it is necessarily obvious that OPs husband has tried OTC medications (for which side effects are exceedingly rare, which is why no prescription is needed). A lot of people are wary of taking medications (my huband before he met me refused to even take advil or tylenol for headaches because he grew up in a small town where the attitude was distrustful of medicine generally). And some are just not perfect at planning and don’t prepare to have them on hand on a ship (even I screwed up once and forgot to bring them on a ferry ride and was sick the whole time). I also know there are a lot of ginger pills out there disguised as seasickness medicine and sometimes folks get that not realizing it is not the real thing. From OP’s post, it sounds like he just ruled out boats and isn’t interested in trying to make it work. Now I’m not suggesting he put it to test on a 10-day transatlantic sailing, but it’s reasonable he could try a short cruise for a family vacation.

But OP can correct me if I am just wrong and husband has tried everything under the sun and nothing works.