Magic Christmas Cruise 2010 (Dec 18th - 29th) - PART II

[MommyLissa]

Melissa,
Are there any side effects from scopolamine? I'm very sensitive to certain medications. The last two cruises we took Bonine every day, and it worked well for us until we had a really rough day at sea. It was so rocky that about half of the crew was also sick. I don't want to spend another day feeling like that, or losing a day of my cruise

I, personally, have never had any problems using the transdermal patches. I've had a few patients complain of a mild headache and feeling like their hearts were racing in the first few hours after applying a new patch (usually replaced every 3 days), but that always subsided quickly. The most common side effect is dry mouth.....nothing that a DOTD wouldn't cure! Otherwise, scopolamine is pretty benign and works well!

 

[MommyLissa]

I visited Wal-mart today and was told that Bonomine is no longer available in Canada - only gravol. I find the first few nights of any cruise a little wobbly and have used Bonimine in the past. Is scopolamine the proper names for Bonamine or is this the patch?

Marezine, Dramamine, and Bonine are all over-the-counter antihistamine classes of medication (like Benadryl and Zantac), however they seem to work on the inner ear (where sea-sickness comes from)

Scopolamine (patch) is longer acting (about 72-hrs), but can have some side effects like dry mouth and racing heart. Also, it should not be used by people with glaucoma or prostate enlargement.

I am a SCUBA diver, and for me scopolamine has worked the best.

 

[MommyLissa]

Ok, I promise I don't get kick-backs from pharmaceutical companies!! So, I thought I'd throw this out there as well...

Motion sickness is caused by your visual input (what your brain processes) and your inner ear balance (what your body senses about your position) being out of synch. There are numerous other ways to relieve sea sickness without medication. First, try to get a view of the horizon, as this helps orient you. Also, you can move to mid-ship (which is where the least rocking motion is; think of the ship like a see saw and mid-ship is the fulcrum). There are many anecdotal herbal remedies--aromatherapy (lemon, cedar, lavender and spearmint seem to work the best), ginger (especially tea), and peppermint (hard candies, maybe? again, I think it plays on the aromatherapy).

Part of the motion sickness battle can be won by acknowledging that you are on a moving ship, in a rolling ocean. You may feel stationary, but the fluid in your inner ears will be sloshing around just like the waves below. Accepting that fact, and not fighting it, can be therapeutic in itself. Going with the flow, so to speak.

If all else fails, you can always be treated with heavily sedating anti-nausea medication, but that's no way to enjoy a cruise!!

 

[3PrincessGrandma]

Christie, first cruise we were ever on (western Caribbean) the last day was so rough half the crew was sick. Ship's dr gave me a shot that made me VERY sleepy but it did the trick. When I woke up I was fine. Since then I have used the patch with no side effects and we have had a couple of really rough days (Alaska, Med). DD used the wrist bands on Alaska because she was pregnant. That seemed to work for her. I am prone to motion sickness if I am sitting in the wrong part of the car and have been this way since I was little (won't tell you how long that has been). I always carry dramamine just in case. Looks like we have a couple of medical people in the group and their explanations were great. Hopefully none of us will need much medicine., just DOTD.

 

[VA Girl]

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBeadPirate
If anyone wants I can do a bunch of these and bring them- we have a button maker that makes 2.5" buttons. Just someone let me know how many I need to make! Lori -

I would love one of the pins and I think my husband would wear one, if you are making the guy ones too. Let me know what you need from us. Thank you so much for offering to do this . I do love my DOTD's.

Gretchen

 

[VA Girl]

We got our docs on Friday in the regular mail....so excited!!!!

 

[Pooh's Pals]

If anyone wants I can do a bunch of these and bring them- we have a button maker that makes 2.5" buttons. Just someone let me know how many I need to make!

Thanks for offering Lori, can I get 2 princess buttons and one prince please. We were'nt sure if Zazzle would post to us in Scotland so this will be great.

See you all soon

 

[3princessMommy]

Christie, first cruise we were ever on (western Caribbean) the last day was so rough half the crew was sick. Ship's dr gave me a shot that made me VERY sleepy but it did the trick. When I woke up I was fine.

Really?? Fine??? That's what you call it??? I seem to remember a striking resemblance to a LOBSTER when you woke up!

 

[BigHugsForEeyore]

.

 

[DVC4US]

I am wondering if someone could give me an idea about getting on and off the boat on excursion days.

We have 2 diving excursions planned, and they are in the mornings. We have a 4 year old that will be in the Oceaneers Club while we are gone, but the thought of leaving her in there all day doesn't thrill me. Are we able to get right back on the boat after an excursion?

Also curious about any other on boarding/ off boarding protocol?

It is fairly easy to get on and off the ship. The biggest problem getting off is if it is crowded then it can be a little slow.

Getting off - once the ship has been cleared by local customs then they will make an announcement that you are able to go ashore. They will also tell you to proceed to deck 1 forward or aft(sometimes both) to leave the ship. When you get off they scan your KTTW card to show that you are off the ship.

Getting back on board - somewhere on the pier there will be a check point that you will have to show your KTTW card and photo ID to proceed any further on the pier. After this point you will walk up the ramp to the ship, place your items in the scanning machine, walk through the metal detector, and have them scan your KTTW card to show you are back on the ship.

You can get on and off as many times as you like. I think all the ports we will go to we can dock so you will not have to deal with tendering which can take longer.

When our DD was younger we left her in the kids club while on an excursion with no problems. I think it is easier if you are on a DCL excursion because they can reach you if need be but I am sure others have done it on non-DCL excursions. I woud make sure the counselors know that you are going to be off the ship and who you will be doing your excursion with or maybe a contact number if you have a cell phone.

You will not have to leave your DD all day, so no worries!

 

[3PrincessGrandma]

Okay, when I fell asleep (while DH took DD to dr for same shot) I was in the shade on deck. When I woke up I was in the sun and had a really good "tan" line on my feet from my sandals.

 

[NaomiJayne]

Because we won't be at home for christmas (obviously lol) it means we'll miss the family tradition of our advent calendars. We have five, one for each member of the family however we take it in turns to open on i.e i'll do the playmobile one, whilst sister does another on then we swap the next day. (None of them are chocolate).

However mum (pooh's pals) had the idea of using the advents calendars as a countdown to the cruise. We leave on the 12th December to spend 5 days in Disney before cruising (we'll be doing MVMCP on the 14th).

Anyway long story short, here is a picture of one of our advent calendars (disneyfied) the mickey was taken out of brother's disney hero/villain chess set.

Each day someone takes one of the number slats out of the chimney and after three mickey falls down the chimney when mickey is at the bottom it means holiday time!

Here is a link encase the picture hasn't worked http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f245/nazzyjayne/?action=view&current=Countdown_to_Cruise.jpg

 

[BigHugsForEeyore]

.

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

Oh good! I had half my closet out trying to conquer the pirate costume. Glad it doesn't look too bad. I need a better red sash though. I just grabbed the tie I bought for my hubby. Do you see anything I'm missing or should remove? I'd love the help. I'm not as creative as I used to be when the kids were young.

I think your pirate costume is fabulous. It is very creative: DH's red tie as a sash

You are going to rock it Pirate Night

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

We are doing MVMCP on the 12th. We figure the crowds will be less and we're there early to get back onto U.S. time before the cruise.

Can't wait! Now, if I could only get the printer to work so I could get my lesson plan done I could use an hour to work on FE gifts!!!

Unfortunately, we are not going to MVMCP, but we will be going to DL's Christmas Fantasy Parade on the 4th of December. That day we'll also have brunch at Goofy's Kitchen to help get us in a Very Merry Disney Christmas mood, which is an awesome preview for our cruise.

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

Ok, I promise I don't get kick-backs from pharmaceutical companies!! So, I thought I'd throw this out there as well...

Motion sickness is caused by your visual input (what your brain processes) and your inner ear balance (what your body senses about your position) being out of synch. There are numerous other ways to relieve sea sickness without medication. First, try to get a view of the horizon, as this helps orient you. Also, you can move to mid-ship (which is where the least rocking motion is; think of the ship like a see saw and mid-ship is the fulcrum). There are many anecdotal herbal remedies--aromatherapy (lemon, cedar, lavender and spearmint seem to work the best), ginger (especially tea), and peppermint (hard candies, maybe? again, I think it plays on the aromatherapy).

Part of the motion sickness battle can be won by acknowledging that you are on a moving ship, in a rolling ocean. You may feel stationary, but the fluid in your inner ears will be sloshing around just like the waves below. Accepting that fact, and not fighting it, can be therapeutic in itself. Going with the flow, so to speak.

If all else fails, you can always be treated with heavily sedating anti-nausea medication, but that's no way to enjoy a cruise!!

Thanks for the helpful tips. Yesterday, I wiped Target out of all the Bonine in stock.

 

[jgura]

I wish I could use that but after a few days my vision turns upside down. Not good when you are trying to scuba dive. I am hoping the wrist band will be ok for me. Doesn't the Boninie make your children super tired? Maybe that is the master plan? Lol!

I use the patch behind my ear for the beginning of the cruise. I have had lasik eye surgery and it really dries my eyes out more than they already are. It even makes the navigators look blurry. So you will always see me w/ my eye drops, could be crying for joy or using my drops. About day four I use the packets the cruise provides and things seem to be fine. The wrist bands do nothing for me. Unless we are known to have bad weather I do not use 2 patches during the cruise. (I like my drinks too much to be so dried out)
One of my daughters started to get motion sickness right at age 7. Unfortunately we found this out in Top Siders I buy the children's bonine or non drowsy Dramamine and they have helped.

Does this look at all like a pirate costume? Or do I just look like the president of the DOTD club.

Love the costume

I am wondering if someone could give me an idea about getting on and off the boat on excursion days.

We have 2 diving excursions planned, and they are in the mornings. We have a 4 year old that will be in the Oceaneers Club while we are gone, but the thought of leaving her in there all day doesn't thrill me. Are we able to get right back on the boat after an excursion?

Also curious about any other on boarding/ off boarding protocol?

What 2 ports are you diving? I only found Dis going to two.
We leave our kids in the club on certain excursions. You are usually not gone more than 4/5 hours.

Hey Caryn~

I think THIS should be the correct link to Jill's blog...

Thank you!

www.guratravels.blogspot.com

We are doing these excursions w/ our 8 year olds (8 today)
Tiami Sail Snorkel in Barbados and Carbel Falls & Floral Park in Guadelupe.
Hopefully cabbing to a beach at most of the other stops.

No Docs here. I tend to get them later than most.

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

My DS and BIL got their Docs yesterday. Yes!


No Docs at Granada Court yet...Still waiting

 

[pennymike]

If anyone is in need of a pirate costume (and is not feeling as creative as STLUCIELADY ) try www.buycostumes.com. They have lots of costumes, shoes/boots, and accessories and are doing big post-halloween discounts right now. We've had good luck with them. Bonus feature, check out reviews for costumes to see what others have thought of them....helps avoid ordering the cheap-o ones!

Penny

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

Tomorrow is the semi-finals. I am still in shock that one of this season's worst dancers is still in the running for the mirrored ball trophy.

Go Jennifer Go Kyle Go Brandy May the best dancer win.