Sea Sickness - comparisons?

[vtwep]

I've read a number of the threads on sea sickness. I'm almost thinking that reading the threads is giving me more concern than is really there! But I'm looking for a general comparison to help me try to guess how this will impact me, if at all. We are going on our first cruise this fall.

I am on a pontoon boat on a lake often. Sometimes (holidays, weekends), boat traffic can be heavy, water is choppy, and there is plenty of "motion". I've been able to go on all-day catamaran excursions at various islands and on various vacations. In some of these instances, I may feel the rocking when I try to go to sleep on land later that night - but nothing major. No bad effects, etc.

Knowing that I'm fine in these other scenarios, I'm hoping this translates to "nothing to worry about" on a giant cruise ship. Thoughts on this comparison for sea sickness purposes?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've read a number of the threads on sea sickness. I'm almost thinking that reading the threads is giving me more concern than is really there! But I'm looking for a general comparison to help me try to guess how this will impact me, if at all. We are going on our first cruise this fall.

I am on a pontoon boat on a lake often. Sometimes (holidays, weekends), boat traffic can be heavy, water is choppy, and there is plenty of "motion". I've been able to go on all-day catamaran excursions at various islands and on various vacations. In some of these instances, I may feel the rocking when I try to go to sleep on land later that night - but nothing major. No bad effects, etc.

Knowing that I'm fine in these other scenarios, I'm hoping this translates to "nothing to worry about" on a giant cruise ship. Thoughts on this comparison for sea sickness purposes?

You'll find travel on large cruise ships much more stable than what you find in smaller (pontoon) boats.

 

[jrabbit]

I am a Dramamine Less Drowsy person. Take full doses EVERY DAY at WDW / DL.
I now take it as a preventative since I have gotten sea sick 4 times over 120+ nights - DW doesn't like me ruining her cruise by getting sick
When I have a snorkeling trip I make sure to "Double Up" (1 pill before bed the night before + normal daily Morning Dose + 1 pill shortly before boarding the boat) on the Dramamine since the snorkeling / sailing boats / catamarans DO make me sea sick every single time!! (yes I have puked in the ocean before, just not over the side of the boat or ship) Note: I weigh about 240 lbs so I am on the larger size.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

For me, round and round amusement park rides are the worst. Then small boats (fishing, etc). Then cars (if I am not driving). Then airplanes. Then larger boats, like ferries, etc. All of these things make me sick to some extent. Bonine helps but is not perfect. Cruise ships are MUCH better than any of these. Sometimes in high seas or for a couple minutes I feel something, but mostly not. I do take 1 Bonine a day as a precaution. Not sure it is needed, but between the plane and the various boats/cars/buses on excursions, I pretty much need it for that anyway.

I think you will have nothing to worry about. One question, in these scenarios you mentioned that don't bother you too much, is that WITH Dramamine or Bonine or something, or without anything? If you can be pretty fine on those boats without any meds, then I'm fairly sure you will be just fine!

 

[vtwep]

Thanks for the replies! To clarify - in the scenarios in the original post, I do not take anything. I've never taken anything for motion sickness. I do NOT like simulators or rides that go round-and-round or try to turn you inside out, but I'm fine on things like Tower of Terror and the water activities previously mentioned.

 

[Jess_S]

As others have said, I find that my motion sickness is worse on small boats than on cruise ships. I have even experienced some decently choppy seas and done okay. So my guess is that you would do fine.

 

[LVaughn]

I take ginger pills when traveling to the theme parks or the cruise ships. It's not a "medicine" for motion sickness per se, but it helps in case of rough seas or jarring rides. It's also good for digestion, since you tend to eat foods on vacation that are different than what you eat at home.

I've been on DCL cruises that get pretty rough crossing the Gulf Stream and did fine when others around me were getting sick. The ginger helped a lot.

Some people have sensitivities to ginger, so you might want to try some at home before leaving on your trip.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Some people have sensitivities to ginger, so you might want to try some at home before leaving on your trip.

There a medicine interactions that people should be aware of:
GINGER INTERACTIONS

Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination

• Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with GINGER
  Ginger might slow blood clotting. Taking ginger along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
  
  Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), phenprocoumon (an anticlotting medicine available outside the US), and others.
  
  
• Phenprocoumon interacts with GINGER
  Phenprocoumon is used in Europe to slow blood clotting. Ginger can also slow blood clotting. Taking ginger along with phenprocoumon might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your phenprocoumon might need to be changed.
  
  
• Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with GINGER
  Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. Ginger can also slow blood clotting. Taking ginger along with warfarin (Coumadin) might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.
  

Minor Interaction Be watchful with this combination

• Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with GINGER
  Ginger might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking ginger along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
  
  Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
  
  
• Medications for high blood pressure (Calcium channel blockers) interacts with GINGER
  Ginger might reduce blood pressure in a way that is similar to some medications for blood pressure and heart disease. Taking ginger along with these medications might cause your blood pressure to drop too low or an irregular heartbeat.
  
  Some medications for high blood pressure and heart disease include nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), and others.
  

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-961-ginger.aspx?activeingredientid=961

 

[tnshsms]

I'm a bonine type of girl. My suggestion, buy some motion sickness meds. Don't open them until that first sailing away. If you feel even a twinge of sickness, take one immediately and each night for the rest of the cruise as a preventative. Typically waiting until you first feel it might be too late for some but I think in your case, it might help you get back to normal by the next day if you need it. If you are fine, then return it when you get home. And if you are unsure if you want to take it, then eat an apple about once every 4 hours. Apples (especially green apples) are good natural foods to ward it off. However, its temporary. So its good to take the minute you feel sick but then take a pill too. Apples aren't a long term solution.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Thanks for the replies! To clarify - in the scenarios in the original post, I do not take anything. I've never taken anything for motion sickness. I do NOT like simulators or rides that go round-and-round or try to turn you inside out, but I'm fine on things like Tower of Terror and the water activities previously mentioned.

That's me exactly. I had no motion sickness on the Dream or on my first Alaska cruise. I was totally shocked when I got sea sick on the Wonder out of San Diego. Since then, I just start my cruises with Bonine. I take one right when I board the ship and then for the next couple nights around dinner time. I don't know if I would be sea sick or not without it, but I do know that I don't want to waste my vacation time being sea sick. I figure after 3 days on the sea, I should have my "sea legs" and I quit taking the Bonine.

In the parks, I don't take anything. I just avoid the spinning rides and the motion simulators.

 

[tnshsms]

That's me exactly. I had no motion sickness on the Dream or on my first Alaska cruise. I was totally shocked when I got sea sick on the Wonder out of San Diego. Since then, I just start my cruises with Bonine. I take one right when I board the ship and then for the next couple nights around dinner time. I don't know if I would be sea sick or not without it, but I do know that I don't want to waste my vacation time being sea sick. I figure after 3 days on the sea, I should have my "sea legs" and I quit taking the Bonine.

In the parks, I don't take anything. I just avoid the spinning rides and the motion simulators.

Prevention is best is my theory too! The pills aren't that expensive so its better to do that than be sick.