Motion Sickness and DCL

[neonurse]

DJ,
I experienced almost the complete opposite. We did a 4 night cruise after 7 days of WDW, so I probably had plenty of medication in my system... I got a OTC version from Walmart that had to be taken every 4-6 hrs, so in the parks when I could tell it was wearing off I would just take the next dose, gave these to DS (I think he was 10 at the time which is why I didn't buy the daily dose ones - those said 12 or older). We weren't drowsy or anything... just could tell when it was starting to wear off after 5-6 hrs. We took it every morning & then about 2-3 times rest of the day.

When we were on the boat (4 day) I felt the waters, I didn't love sitting in Animator's Palatte (I think it may be above engines??), and basically any time I was sitting in one place (movies, shows, dinner, etc.) I could feel the "motion". I never got sick... just that queesy "I don't feel good" feeling. Again, we took the OTC every 4-6 hrs, still no drowsy, but DS & I both "felt the motion". And we had been taking the medication for a wk prior in WDW so should have had plenty in system.....

Next cruise (7 day - western) on Wednesday I realized we had forgotten to take several doses, decided to take a risk and see if we got that "funny feeling" again. (Reason I decided to try to take a break was this time neither of us complained about the "motion" and I didn't feel it every time I was sitting down.) Anyways, we didn't take any more doses of the medication and both of us were fine. Which I will admit is odd because we both get motion sickness, pretty bad. This time we didn't have any pre-cruise WDW time, so we only started taking it the morning we were leaving port. I don't know what the difference was, but we're going back in November. I will take the medication with me, because you never know, but I think it just all depends on the individual. Take a few options, the OTC walmart pills were like 100 for under $5, the daily "version" I think was similar cost. I don't think either of those were bonine or dramamine, but not sure of name... I've taken Bonine & Dramamine before, all of them seem to keep me from actually getting sick, but on the shorter cruise, there were times I wanted to get up & walk around because sitting really didn't "feel good".
Sorry so long... HTH. I think it all just depends... just be prepared.

Some OTC non drowsy meds that aren't meclazine are actually ginger tablets. Read the back to see what the active ingredients are. It should have the generic name .... ginger, meclazine, or dimehydrinate. The names on the front of the bottle are just brand names like heinz and hunts...but they are all ketchup.

I have had a hard time getting meclazine in canada. They say it is on back order til NOV . Thats when my cruise is!!! The pharmasist says that its very popular because it works. Maybe I'll have to get some when we are in florida pre cruise.

HTH

 

[DCL Cruise Luvr]

Some OTC non drowsy meds that aren't meclazine are actually ginger tablets. Read the back to see what the active ingredients are. It should have the generic name .... ginger, meclazine, or dimehydrinate. The names on the front of the bottle are just brand names like heinz and hunts...but they are all ketchup.

I have had a hard time getting meclazine in canada. They say it is on back order til NOV . Thats when my cruise is!!! The pharmasist says that its very popular because it works. Maybe I'll have to get some when we are in florida pre cruise.

HTH

The thing that I thought was wierd about my motion sickness experience was that for both of these trips we were taking the exact same medicine, we still had some left over from 1st cruise, it hadn't expired so I took the same bottle. It was like 100 tablets or maybe more because it lasted 10 dys for 1st vacation. I was nervous about running out so I picked up some Bonine in Grand Cayman, but we didn't take anything after Wed. ??? Didn't open the Bonine on that trip and still had some of the others left over, finally threw them away because they finally expired. Took the Bonine on a later Dis Land vacation and again it didn't make me or DS drowsy, those were nicer because once per day dosage instead of every 4-6 hrs.
All I know is when we go in Nov, we will take the OTC Walmart daily dose version because now son is old enough. I may take the 4-6 hr version as well, just because it was so inexpensive and just as a precaution.
All I know is I love the water, I love Cruising, and especially DCL cruising so even if I do get that "feeling" that I had every time I sat on the 1st cruise, I'll continue to go cruising. It's worth it!
And I know I get motion sickness... , I get that feeling all the time, even when son is playing video games, if I'm a passenger in a car, especially "rides". I just think each experience is different for each individual???? Don't know why.

I know you will be able to find it in Florida (saw it in the Airport several places), and I priced those bracelet things on the ship, and if we are on the same cruise in November, hey, I will share some of ours... (Nov 8th Eastern).

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Bonine (Brand Name), Meclazine (active ingrediant) is available over the counter.

I swear by using the bonine. I have stronger anti-nausea medication from my chemo, but using Bonine twice a day to start and once a day towards the end of the cruise worked great and I never once had a feeling of drowsiness, dizzyness or nausea.

 

[inkkognito]

We carry Sea Bands (the wrist straps) even tho' I've never had to use 'em. They're just part of our regular cruise luggage for peace of mind, although neither Tony nor I is prone to motion sickness. Interestingly, on the cruise we're on right now, a woman we were talking to was with her grandson, who got seasick early on. The medical center actually recommended Sea Bands after the poor kid got knocked out with the meds (she didn't want him to sleep away his cruise!), and she said they worked really well for him. Our neighbor swears by them too.

 

[danielle782001]

I was hoping my motion sickness would not be passed to my children...Up until now it seemed that it did not...I thought I would only need to worry about my motion sickness on the cruise....

However, the past few longer car trips DS5 complained that he felt sick...Last week we were in the car for a little over an hour when he started to say he felt sick...As soon as we got out of the car at about an 1 1/2 he did get sick in the parking lot...So now I guess I need to worry about him too...I will have to speak with his doctor before giving him anything....

I will go to our doctors with all of the good advice we are getting on this thread...Thanks to everyone for taking the time to advice...

Keep it coming

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

One more opinion here......Just before our 1st cruise I asked our pharmacist what I should get. He suggested the Mecclazine. I bought a bottle and took it faithfully from the time we entered the airport, through the week at DW, and all through the cruise. It made my trip so much more comfortable!

I take 1/2 a pill (I'm tiny) in the morning, and the other 1/2 in the evening. I have had 1 night on each cruise that I get woozy, but not enough to get sick. The mecclazine has never made me sleepy! I love it for that! Now I don't travel without it!

 

[RLP817]

I'm taking Zofran (what they give for morning sickness to pregnant people and also to some cancer patients for effects from chemo!!). Taking no chances...I used to not have any problems with motion, but have developed a pretty severe intolerance for it over the past few years.

We also called our pediatrician to ask what she recommended for the kids - ages 5 and 7 - and she prescribed Zofran for them too!! She said she wouldn't set foot on a cruise without it!

Just wondering.. any side affects with the Zofran? The first cruise I ever went on I got seasick and didn't have anything with me so my husband got some Bonine from the cruiseline. I also took it on my second cruise. Big mistake here was that I packed it in my luggage and didn't receive it until after we set sail. I was never so sick in my life!!! I swear I wanted my vacation to end less than an hour after it started. I finally got the meds and had to fall asleep before feeling any bit of relief. So, I have learned not to take any chances and take it regardless of what the seas are like. But, it does make me tired and would love to take something that doesn't make me want to take a nap all the time. I have had Zofran after surgeries as the anesthesia makes me nauseaus so I know I can take that.

 

[graygables]

I barfed all over Europe growing up, so the idea of stepping on a motion-sickness-MACHINE worried me to no end!

I used meclizine (bonine), ginger capsules, and Hyland's motion sickness tablets. I began the meclizine before boarding and added ginger at lunch right after we got onboard. I took the meclizine faithfully, adding the ginger/Hyland's as necessary. It is also important to keep food in your stomach, but not too much!

The first night was 16 foot swells with most of the ship (including many crew) getting sick (as in, passed out outside on deck 4 with "protein spills" everywhere sick). I was perfectly fine. About 9pm, I was in our room which was all the way forward and was VERY rolly and I started to get a bit eh, but popped a few ginger, headed back to midship and was fine. I was the only person in Shutters and walking around the ship was eerie!

ALSO...after we got off the ship, I was still "rocking" for a few days (even longer after the 7 night), so I kept up with the ginger/Hyland's until it passed. I learned this the hard way after going to Coral Reef for lunch after disembarking...woo!

 

[Waltworshiper]

Sea Band also make ginger gum and sells it right next to the Sea Bands at our local pharmacy.