Probably a dumb question, but I have to ask.

[holcomb-mania]

My wife has motion-sickness issues and is worried about it (planning a Jan06 4-night Wonder cruise--our first).

I told her the ship was way too big to even notice, but she's skeptical.

Can anyone back me up, here?

Also: I'm looking at a Cat 4, but is it that much better than 5 or another similar Cat? I definitely would like a private verandah. And there will be 4 of us, so I don't know if the extra little bit of room is important or not.

 

[debtman7]

My wife has motion-sickness issues and is worried about it (planning a Jan06 4-night Wonder cruise--our first).

I told her the ship was way too big to even notice, but she's skeptical.

Can anyone back me up, here?

Also: I'm looking at a Cat 4, but is it that much better than 5 or another similar Cat? I definitely would like a private verandah. And there will be 4 of us, so I don't know if the extra little bit of room is important or not.

Everyone is different. The bigger ships don't move as much but they do still move, and even if you don't feel it your inner ears can During the winter the seas tend to be rougher as well.

But, on the plus side, sea sickness medications work quite well for most people. She should start taking some bonine 1-2 days before the cruise and continue taking it every day one the cruise. Don't wait until you feel sick to take it... If she starts taking it well before getting on the boat, she should be fine.

Of course there is also the semi popular theory that the more worried you are about motion sickness, the more likely it is to happen, but we won't go there

 

[jrabbit]

Some people say "you can't even feel the motion" Others say "I can really feel it rocking". Regardless anyone can get motion sickness on a ship at any time. Most people don't.

I'm one that so far has not gotten sea sick. Thats not to say that I've never felt the ship move - because on one of our Eastern cruises we were in 20+ foot swells. I feel the ship move from the time I step on board (even while it is very securely tied up at Port Canaveral.

I take dramamine starting at least the day before we set sail (because either we are flying in or we are at WDW and I HAVE to take the med's to survive the parks .

The reality is that everyone has a chance at getting sick. But on a 4 night cruise you are in the relatively sheltered area around the Bahamas. Most of the time the ship is sailing during the night and you're asleep anyway. The notable exception is the sea day on the 4 nighter. Then you are cruising around the Bahamas and the captain is going to keep the ship in good weather and calm waters. So you really shouldn't have too much worry.

I would do a search here for "Motion Sickness" and you will find several pages where I have posted a comprehensive list of sea sickness remedies and their side effects - so you can go prepared!

If you can't find the info, I would be glad to post it again (and again and again and again and again

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I have motion-sickness worse than anyone I've ever known. I have to be thre driver whenever possible, won't even go certain places if I have to make too many turns in the same direction (no, not kidding) and even get carsick with my own driving at times on drives that are too long.

I've NEVER had motion-sickness on DCL. (We've done three.) I even brought Bonine, (just in case) but never needed it. Hope that helps.

 

[tkd lisa]

I do need motion sickness meds, and I operate on the "better safe than sorry" principle. With the meds today, sea sickness is no reason to not take a cruise.

As far as your room question, the Cat 5-10 rooms are all physically the same size, the only difference is location (10 rooms are inside, or in a very few cases, porthole rooms with obstructed views; 8-9s are porthole rooms - cat 9s are lower deck than cat 8s; 5-7 have private verandahs - location, type of verandah, and number of berths are the differences in category there). The cat 4 rooms have a "bumpout" which accomodates a murphy bed, making is the lowest cat of room that sleeps 5. But if you only have 4 people, that extra space really isn't enough room to make you say "Ahhhh look at all this space!" It's more about the sleeping space for a 5th person. All the cat 4s are on deck 8. IMO, for 4 people, the room size isn't different enough for the $.

Now if you want to spend more money, the cat 3s have an extra bathroom, which can make a difference to some families. For my family of 4, we never had a problem with the bathroom, since some of us showered in the morning, and some of us showered before dinner.

Enjoy your planning!

 

[chrisn]

We had 8-13 ft seas the entire week when we cruised the 7 Night Magic back in February of 2002. It's not always noticable and certain times and certain areas of the ship are worse then others. One night people were actually stumbling up the stairs of the Walt Disney Theater. Other times it seemed very smooth. There were a few times my DD and I "felt" a little green but nothing really to affect our fun. We also rocked for a few days after the cruise was over.

 

[dwkwootton]

If you have super calm seas, you will feel very little, but not nothing. Chances are you will have some waves at some point and January is a month with more waves than some others. Last month we had 10-12 foots seas one day, 4-8 most days and 1-3 a couple days ... one night was quite rough with closet doors sliding and banging which woke a number of people up. Hubby and I do not get seasick and we were fine but I'm from the more practical school that would tell someone with motion sickness issues to think long and hard before taking a cruise vacation. I was on a NCL ship several years ago and a guy we met and talked to flew home from the first port we docked at. He was beside himself because he had been told that he wouldn't feel anything on a big ship, but the reality is you will feel at least a little something. And it is important to note that the seas were calm on that cruise.

 

[mom_rules]

Thank you all for posting this information.

I had a bit of a panic attack last night-I get motion sick terribly easily. I will take meclizine the morning of the cruise, before we board the DCL bus (because of course I get bus/car sick too). I can't think of too much worse than being on a 4 day cruise and being sick for the whole thing!

 

[debtman7]

It can't get as bad as a small boat We did a dinner cruise in kauai and had a fabulous time, but we're talking a 30 ft boat on the rather rough waters of hawaii.

That was the trip I learned the most valuable sea lesson. Guys, in such circumstances, sit down on the toilet to pee.

 

[ambushangel]

We live in Canada and I don't think that Bonie is available up here. Can anyone suggest a good motion sickness med.

Thanks.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I had read that January can be rough and let me tell you it was. The days were fine,but nights were very rough...You could hardly walk and everything was shaking!! I could not even look out my window!!! The air would also get cold at night and we were in the western Caribbean.

I won't sail in January again....I am sticking with Fall...Late October and early November is very nice and the sea's were calm both times.

Although I never did get sick on this cruise and I am thankful for that. It was an experience!! If I travel in January again I will stay on land!!

Good luck!

 

[1stNoel]

There are different triggers for motion sickness. I am completely fine in cars and most WDW rides, but I'm toast with wave action and spinning. If your wife has had problems on a boat before, chances are she will have some problems on the ship. Motion sickness meds do help though. I wear the patch and take TripTone. I also spend the majority of the time outside or looking out a window at the horizon. I don't do the the theater or spend a lot of time in the dining rooms. All are enclosed and where I feel the motion the most.

 

[jhorstma]

I could be wrong on this, but in general the roughest portion of the Bahamas cruise typically is crossing the Gulf Stream as it sluices between Florida and the Bahamas - so you'll feel it the first and last nights. And January appears to be a rough seas month (relatively speaking).

The ship does have stabilizers, but you'll still feel the motion. I've also read on these boards to bring duct tape to "batten down the hatches" - in this case to keep drawers and doors from banging repeatedly if it gets bumpy.

 

[holcomb-mania]

Thanks for all the info.

I guess the "better safe than sorry" approach should be used and she should go with something to help her get by. It's weird. She's worried about it, but she has no problems on my parents little Chapparal and even rides the Wave Runner with me! But forget about Star Tours or M:S.

 

[debtman7]

Thanks for all the info.

I guess the "better safe than sorry" approach should be used and she should go with something to help her get by. It's weird. She's worried about it, but she has no problems on my parents little Chapparal and even rides the Wave Runner with me! But forget about Star Tours or M:S.

Most people don't have problems if they can see the horizon or nearby land or something. The times you get sick are when you are moving, but your eyes only see things that look like they are stationary (i.e. inside on a ship where everything appears to be still yet you sense motion).

 

[fairytalelover]

what's better? Bonine or Dramamin?

 

[peanutgirl]

I live in New Brunswick Canada, and I have recently bought Bonnie at the pharmacy behind the counter.

Good Luck and calm sesa,
Peanutgirl

 

[ambushangel]

Great I'll ask at our drugstore. We're in Ontario.

Here's hoping.

M.

 

[mom_rules]

There was a question asked about what you can buy in Canada-Dramamine is dimenhydrate-in Canada it is sold as Gravol.
Bonine is Meclizine-In Canada it is sold as Bonamine (both brand names are manufactured by Pfizer). You can buy either at Walmart, Basic, Zehrs Pharmacies-I usually go to Shoppers and buy them with my earplanes for the flight.
Gravol makes me sleepy-I haven't found a non-drowsy form yet. Bonamine is the ticket for me.

 

[lrovnan]

I wouldn't worry too much...I get motion sickness all the time, in the car , in a bus etc.....But as long as I took my dramine I was good to go.


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