Scared to Cruise.....what to do?

[Mishetta]

My DH's dream is to take a Disney Cruise. My 9 y/o son also has been pleading to go. I'm finally starting to break down but I suffer from motion sickness. I'm also always thinking "Titanic" when I see a ship! So, all you seasoned Cruisers.....can you tell me what I would like about a Disney Cruise?

 

[ann-e-mator]

First of all, you won't feel the boat moving. My grandmother has Vertigo and she was TOTALLY fine on the cruise. So don't worry about that Secondly... I don't think there is anything NOT to love about the DCL if you love Disney!!! And it's very child friendly, yet also very adult friendly. And you said you have a 9 y/o... The children are very well taken care of by the counselors all day, but they also give you a pager and you can visit them at any time. And there's tons of stuff for adults to do to, like an adult only pool, a spa, a coffee house, a few different bars and night clubs. It's alot of fun I think you would really enjoy it. It doesn't feel like you're on a boat at all.

Nicki

 

[ivanova]

I disagree with the previous poster only slightly ... a lot of people DO feel the boat move, even when others of us do not feel it moving ... most of the time it's a very gentle rocking if you feel anything at all.

If you are prone to motion sickness my recommendations would be:
(1) book a 3 or 4 night cruise for your first time; once you figure out it's not so bad you'll be up to trying a 7 night cruise (rebooking while still onboard will get you a discount on the fare plus a stateroom credit)
(2) book for a time of year that doesn't traditionally have rough seas (DCL or a good TA would be able to help you here)
(3) book an outside stateroom on a lower deck, midship. Lower/midship usually feels the least amount of movement (if there's any to be felt at all). Having at least a porthole might help as well.
(4) talk to your doctor and figure out what will work best for you, SeaBands, Bonine or Dramimine (the less drowsy types), patches (behind the ears), etc.

 

[princess Snow]

The Wonder has been my home for the past year (I work onboard), and I never felt unsafe. The officers and crew are trained to keep everyone safe. Additionally, the maritime communication systems have evolved quite a bit since Titanic, so if there were an emergency, help is close. I wouldn't worry about it. I would plan a cruise vacation!

 

[my3kids]

I promise...it isn't like riding a ski boat around a local lake. It is very stable and I, who gets car sick a lot, wasn't bothered at all! It is much easier than riding in a car for me. Maybe it is easier because there is so much to do that I am not breaking up fights in the back seat, juggling a large soda and reading a map all at the same time!!

 

[DrCavin]

You will probably feel the ship moving, if it has an effect on you will depend on many things. Best to plan for the worst & hope for the best. You can get many different medicines to help with seasickness. Try one before going on your cruise to make sure it doesnt have an adverse effect on you. In case it does you can switch to something else without runining your vacation.

I would not eliminate cruising because of motion sickness, just take precautions to help maintain the effects & you will have a great time.

I don't think you will have to worry about hitting any icebergs, a whale maybe but no icebergs... In any event, the ships are extremely safe & have state-of-the-art communication/warning systems to make them as safe as possible.

 

[Muushka]

I just read this thread to my husband. He too (as was I) was afraid of motion sickness. He just said "you will probably feel the ship moving and may get seasick (if you are prone to it (as we are)), but you will probably still enjoy it." We encountered 20 to 30 foot waves, so we had the extreme. We plan on cruising again, in spite of the weather we encountered. I hope we didn't scare you away! Just being honest.

PS I took Bonine 2 days in advance and used Seabands and did not get seasick. But I DID feel the ship move.

 

[Mishetta]

.....and of course, all that stuck in my mind after reading this thread was the 30 foot waves a poster encountered! Oh dear....

BTW, I also have a 3 y/o that has speech delays & he's not yet diaper trained. Would that be a problem for a children's club?

 

[cruisenewbie2004]

First of all, you won't feel the boat moving. It doesn't feel like you're on a boat at all.

I felt the boat move every day, even in the calmest seas (which were never smooth as glass by any means). It was moving all the time and I took motion sickness pills every day. While I'm certain that the boat has in fact had sailing where it did not feel as though you were moving, I wouldn't bet on it. It sails at 20 knots which is a fair clip and with any seas or headwind at all, you'll know it. Nevermind the day of 20 foot seas on our 12/11 Eastern sailing. Bleh.


I suffer horrendour motion sickness but by taking meds daily I was really fine. I would just recommend taking them.

 

[cruisenewbie2004]

....I also have a 3 y/o that has speech delays & he's not yet diaper trained. Would that be a problem for a children's club?

Children must be potty trained to be left in kids clubs. You could take him and stay with him, but you cannot leave him unless he can go to the bathroom without help.

 

[crisi]

And potty trained means fully potty trained. My kids took some additional time to handle buttons and "paperwork." DCL expects your child will be able to enter the bathroom clothed and leave it clothed.

added on edit: For this reason we didn't book until my kids were potty trained. Children must also be potty trained to use the pools.

 

[Kuffam]

What about wearing a swim diaper with tight fitting rubber pants? That is what we did with my DD 2 years ago.

 

[jel0511]

What about wearing a swim diaper with tight fitting rubber pants? That is what we did with my DD 2 years ago.

Around September 2002 or so, DCL changed the rules that ANYONE wearing a swimming diaper wasn't allowed in the pools, they are adhearing to a USPH ordinance for all cruise ships that sail from its ports. When we were on board in November, we saw this rule being enforced by the DCL CM's. They've converted one of the Mickey Ears to be a sort of water play area, water is continually circulated for those children in diapers. Children aren't even allowed to stand in the pool if they are wearing diapers, its due to the water in the pool not beint filtered, treated, etc and accidents, which can cause HIGH bacteria levels to form in the pool.

 

[my3kids]

They are strict about the potty training thing in the clubs. No pull ups, no wiping, etc. But if you can get the little one trained before the trip, the club would be so much fun and I wouldn't worry about the speech issue at all.

 

[chasbos]

Mishetta, you sound like my DH! We leave in about 2 weeks for our cruise - a 4 night beginner cruise (to make sure we like it!) We would much rather get off the boat kicking and screaming that we do not want to leave then be kicking and screaming to get off the boat!

DH is actually threatening to stay in Nassau and fly home from there if the motion is too bad! I have bought motion sickness meds to start taking a couple of days before hand (advice I recieved from these boards) and we are going expecting to feel some motion.

I will let you know first hand how it went when we return the end of January. And just remember that there are no ice bergs that far south! Just kidding!!

 

[cadburysmom]

Conquer you fears and go for it!

You'll have the most MAGICAL time of your life!!!

 

[logan1_2000]

The "conquer your fears and go for it" line is great advice, and no just bravado--I don't go on many amusement park rides w/ DS because I get feelin' barfy...don't even get me started and that giant viking ship that swings back and forth, totally expected to see breakfast again...so when I took my first cruise it was a 4-day, and same with second. We wore patches behind the ears the first time, had them but didn't use them the second time, have never thought about it since.

Great advice above in going thorugh DCL directly or a TA that specializes in DCL or at least cruises to identify a date that gives you the best odds (though certainly not a guarantee) of sailing in historically calmer seas.

Most laws are designed to prevent future recurrence of past wrongs. So Titanic is the reason today's cruise ships are safe, not a reason to fear them. I admit--sometimes late in the evening, standing out on deck lookin at the sky and the ocean, and if there isn't a passing ship then there is just darkness, well, yeah, I think back to that movie and forget the movie, the reality of it, and ... I remember all the technology and radar and GPS and sonar and enough motorized, covered lifeboats for all even if there would be a worst case scenario, and I go back to enjoying the stars without the interference of the lights from my city at home.

Go. Get patches/pills, and use them early, not after feeling bad if it happens at all. Get the guidance of a specialist for time of year, location of stateroom help. Watch the DCL show on Travel Channel, or even other cruise shows to learn more about cruising. Start with the shorter duration cruise. Book the second one, for 7 or more days, on board. All set? Enjoy!!

 

[MrShiny]

If you can get an aft cabin, that's helpful. Actually, the only time I felt any motion on the cruise (3 night) was the first night when the ship was going full steam to make it to Nassau. It's very easy to forget you are on a vessel at all.

Being a ride chicken myself, i find it's best to focus on the here and now rater than what might (or probably might not happen). For instance, turbulance on a plane used to get me really anxious, not because of the bumps themselves, but because I feared they would get worse. So if everything is fine and you are feeling ok, don't worry that it might get worse. Just focus on how you feel now. If you do have distress, chances are it will be passing - there just isn't that much motion to cause it to continue for long except under the very worst conditions (which are very very unlikely).

Take the meds, get a wrist band, yadda yadda. Sign up for a couple of spa treaments and watch that anxiety fade away.

 

[Mishetta]

You are all so kind to respond. I have another question though.... is it still women & children first?

I'm hoping that the motion sickness meds are non-drowsy now. What's the point of taking a motion sickness med if you're going to end up sleeping the whole time? Would I have to get the patches from my Doctor or can I pick them up at a drug store?

 

[Otimon]

Mishetta - Glad to see you on the Forum looking for information.


You're going to love it!