Sea-Sick..Ginger Ale?

[TaniaU]

Haven't tried it with sea sickness yet, but I do have a very weak stomach and I buy ginger chews at Vitamin Cottage. I swear by them! They seem to work really well for me, taste pretty good (if you like ginger--they are pretty strong), they're CANDY, and they are natural. You can probably get them other places too. The ones I use are called Reeds; others will probably work just as well, as long as they're packed with real ginger. I saw a Myth Busters one time on the benefits of ginger and it actually worked really well in their experiment for motion sickness, though it may not work for everyone. Plus no drugs = no sleepiness (not sure whether Bonine causes sleepiness or not).

Up here they sell Ginger Gravol which seems to be the same thing. I've used it for motion sickness, stomach flu and hangovers and it works wonderfully.

 

[Lauri]

Here's the best tip that we got from our one and only RCCL cruise. We had a very rough cruise, and my teenage DS could not eat at dinner. The waiter brought him a plate of cut-up granny smith apples. They worked wonders! Fruit is available around the ship, so I'm sure you could easily get granny smith apples.

Lauri

 

[Dizpinfriend]

Ginger Root capsules are the way to go. They are sold where the vitamins are. I take them according to the package directions for the entire time I am onboard - including a dose prior to boarding. They are all natural and a jar of 100 capsules should run you less than $10.

My first cruise I was fine until the last night when they really speed up to make it back to port by the morning. I took the bonine after dinner from the medical center and slept well that night, but the next morning - I literally had no balance. It wigged my system out big time. I did take both pills, and hindsight tells me I should have taken only one.

My second cruise, I went the ginger root route and had no issues at all. No sickness or balance issues. I swear by it now.

 

[rcraw45425]

Y'all have such good advice here! For years we had a small Piper airplane and it would never fail, I would get queasy whenever we took a quick trip down to FL. I started taking the Dramamine and using the Sea Bands, no sickness but the Dramamine always made me sleep the entire flight. Back before that I used the Transderm Scop patches when going off shore in our 25ft. deepwater boat, but they always made me have crazy dreams and talk in my sleep, not to mention the constantly dilated pupils! I've never tried Bonine and we're never cruised, I've always been afraid. Finally worked up the nerve, think I'll buy a few Bonine to have on hand, grab some sea bands and probably get DH to write me a script for the patches as well. How bumpy is April, btw???

 

[frazzlemommy]

Another morning sickness trick I've used is buying ginger syrup (I got it at Whole Foods), and making my own ginger ale by mixing it with club soda. I also used to get crystallized ginger at Whole Foods.

I used to use ginger when I was pregnant, too! But I recently found out that there are now warnings against taking ginger during pregnancy. It seems to be probably OK as a spice in food but not as a supplement--possible fetal development problems. Just thought I should throw that out there in case anyone is pregnant. You might want to ask your doctor before taking it.

 

[TiszBear]

I too am prone to motion sickness but the nurse where I work and my doctor told me this advice and it works. Start taking Bonine at least 2 days before the trip and everyday while on the ship and then upto 2 days after you get off the ship. It does work. I brought crystallized ginger with me the last time and I never had to open it or anything, even on the day and night we had really rough seas 9when some fell out of bed due to the waves).

Good Luck

 

[truck1]

Heres a few things that will work as well.

First, seasickness/motion sickness is caused by a imbalance in perception between what the eyes see, and the body feels.
Other causes can be sinus issues, dehydration, eye strain to name a few.

Few natural cures
Ginger in just about any form is a good one, as it is the natural ginger that will help ease the discomfort. Cheeseits, or any type of like dry cracker, saltines etc will work also, as it will loosen your stomach a little to ease the discomfort. Keep in mind, that if you do take an over the counter anti seasickness med, you need to take it in accordance with the instructions. If you take it when you are sick, chances are that it wont help at all.

Go to an open deck, such as deck 5 where the lifeboats are, verandahs, or deck 10 on the Magic/Wonder or 12 on the Dream. Close your eyes, and when you open them, be looking at the horizon. This wil take a few minutes to reset your sense of balance and the feeling to go away. Drinking clear fluids such as water at this time will help also.

Keeping your ears and sinuses clear will help also, as wax build up on or near your ear drum, will worsen the effect of a ships movement.

Dont fight the ships motion.(If there is any. Almost all ships todays have some type of stabilization system in place) Relax and go with it. There are some people in the is world, that can actually talk themselves, or worry themselves into being sick.

 

[MandyGirl]

We're going on the Wonder in Feb. This is the first ever cruise for me! I am so nervous that I'll get sea sick. Has anyone experienced this? Also, do they have Ginger Ale to drink...I'm putting together all old wives tales about sea sickness. lol

On a different cruise, I was in my second trimester of pregnancy and brought my own onboard in a carry-on bag. No issues from the cruiseline (Celebrity) and I had no nausea, either. I was skeptical to take anything for it being pregnant, and Ginger Ale did the trick.

 

[tinkrbell929]

bonine is awesome.. but do yourself a favor and DONT wait until you are on the ship to take it.. start a few days before!! why take a risk of ruining your trip just to save a few bucks?? i am VERY sensitive to motion... this will be my 4 th cruise in 2 years!! never an issue! NEVER EVER!! (not even drowsiness)

 

[tvguy]

I used to use ginger when I was pregnant, too! But I recently found out that there are now warnings against taking ginger during pregnancy. It seems to be probably OK as a spice in food but not as a supplement--possible fetal development problems. Just thought I should throw that out there in case anyone is pregnant. You might want to ask your doctor before taking it.

You really shouldn't take ginger....pregnant or not....without clearing it with your doctor. I don't know about pregnancy, but ginger can cause big problems (read, can kill you) if you have certain health issues, or take certain prescription medications.
But, I guess, it's common sense to clear ANY supplement you rake, even if it is natural , with your doctor. After all, even arsenic is natural!

 

[prettypixie]

We just got off the Magic and you could get ginger ale in the dining room with your meal - or for $1.75/can from room service (I think that was the price - it was under $2).

We bought bonine in advance and started taking it the day before we left. worked like a charm.

I was drinking plenty of ginger ale on my first cruise the first nite my son and I actually had to leave the dining room because we were feeling sick... we ordered green apples from room service that seemed to help.

 

[princess22]

I agree with everyone else about apples! I have cruised a lot and tend to get seasick once in a while. I hadn't heard of the apple trick until a cruise this past November. The sea was rough and my nan and I were extremely sea sick. I barely made it to dinner and when I did, I couldn't even eat! The head waiter came and told us the best thing for seasickness is apples and he came out with a huge plate for my nan and I and it actually worked!

 

[gomagic]

I too agree with the green apples. Once on NCL we had very rought seas the first 48 hours and lots of people were feeling it (we were ok though). However they put green apples out everywhere imaginable and fellow passengers would comment about how much it helped after they ate some.

 

[nemofans]

Then green apples it is!!!

 

[belle'ssister]

Here's the best tip that we got from our one and only RCCL cruise. We had a very rough cruise, and my teenage DS could not eat at dinner. The waiter brought him a plate of cut-up granny smith apples. They worked wonders! Fruit is available around the ship, so I'm sure you could easily get granny smith apples.

Lauri

My daughter, 18 at the time, was on an Alaskan cruise with us and got really seasick one night, it was extremely rough seas. Room service brought sliced granny smith apples along with ginger ale. It helped alot.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

We took cans of ginger ale onto the ship with us and had no problems going through security at the ship. We took a rental car from WDW to the port ($26 dollars for the Budget rental car)and stopped at the Public's grocery store close to the port to get the ginger ale. Here is the info for the public's that is close to the ship.

Publix Cornerstone Plaza (Store #01098)
5645 N Atlantic Ave
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931-3919


We also took the ginger caps too. For those of you who are unfamilar with ginger capsules you can get them in the vitamin section at most drug store or grocery stores.