What to do for sea sickness...going on a cruise tomorrow in the storm

[alldiz]

Hi,
We are cruising out of NY up to Canada tomorrow right along side tropical storm Danny....I am TERRIFIED.

Has anyone cruised in rlough seas....what should i expect. I don't normally get sick....will those bracelets do anything....should i take Dramamine?

And....this is DD7's 1st cruise
Help
Kerri

 

[CruiserMom]

We have taken a number of cruises (see my screen name!), and we always use meclizine (generic Bonine). It even worked for us during last year's Tropical Storm Hannah cruise (20-30 foot seas at one point!). The trick is to start taking it BEFORE you feel sick. We normally start the even before we get on the ship, and continue for the first day or 2 on the cruise, and then if seas are calm, we don't take anymore until the last night (crossing over the gulf stream can be rough).

I've never tried Sea Bands, some people say they work, some say they don't. I don't like leaving things up to chance, so I take the meclizine.

 

[Darcy03231]

First, the captain will do everything possible to try to keep the ship out of rough seas. The ships are also pretty big and have stabilizer systems to help smooth out the ride.

I cruise a lot and get seasick in a small boat. As long as the seas are fairly calm I can cruise and not use anything. If I need something I take Bonine. I've found it has less side effects for me. Another thing that helps is to put something in your stomach, nibble on crackers or a roll, sip gingerale and get outside on the top deck and look out over the horizon. I've never had any luck with the sea bands.

In August 2005 I was on a cruise in the Gulf of Mexico when Hurricane Katrina hit. While it was pretty "rocky" for a while, the captain got us out of the area as quickly as he could. The kids and I all took Bonine and were fine.

 

[Shutterbug]

I used Dramamine to survive Mission Space..so it has to be good stuff.

Also there is the Transderm Scōp® patch but you have to get a prescription from the Doctor to get it. One patch usually lasts up to 3 days.

 

[alldiz]

Ok.....can i go to the drugstore and buy Bonine....or is this a prescription.

Is there a kids dose on it.....or do i have to buy 2.....one for kids?
thanks



OH...should i take the bonine a few hours BEFORE i get on board?
What side effects if any?
thanks
Kerri

edit....is bonine different than dramamine?

 

[Jennasis]

Can you get in quickly to see your doctor? He can prescribe the Transdermal Scop patch (scopolamine). It's used to treat nausea and "sea-sickness". I always get a prescription for it before going to WDW because some of the rides make me nauseaous (as does the long car ride there). It's a patch the size of a dime that goes behind your ear. You put a new one on every 3 days. Worked like a miracle for me.

 

[MM27]

Where is your stateroom? Cabins on higher decks often feel more of the motion and tend to make you more wobbly. I was on a Caribbean cruise one December on deck 9 and at night I thought I was going to slide right out of the balcony door. We could actually hear the drawers opening and closing as we were trying to go to sleep.

I have heard that Ginger works well. Also the patches or magnetic bracelets.

Have fun though and realize that your ship's captain will do his best to keep you out of the roughest seas.

 

[ChrizJen]

I'll echo what the others have said.
I've used Bonine and it worked wonderfully. It was effective and had no side effects.
And don't worry too much about the storm. As others have said, the captain will steer you clear of danger, and will do his best to make sure that the weather is as nice as possible on your cruise.
Have fun!!!! Wish I were going!!

ETA...Bonine is OTC, and the difference between it and Dramamine is the drousy factor. Bonine tends to have less of a drwsy effect. OH! And one more ETA...LOL: Do make sure that you begin taking it before you get on the ship. I usually start taking it the night before, but tomorrow morning will be fine if you're not able to take it until then.

 

[alldiz]

Can you get in quickly to see your doctor? He can prescribe the Transdermal Scop patch (scopolamine). It's used to treat nausea and "sea-sickness". I always get a prescription for it before going to WDW because some of the rides make me nauseaous (as does the long car ride there). It's a patch the size of a dime that goes behind your ear. You put a new one on every 3 days. Worked like a miracle for me.

I might see my dr today.....because i have a cold....and now my back hurts from coughing....don't know if i need a muscle relaxer...antibiotics...or just a heating pad.....Aargh...

Where is your stateroom? Cabins on higher decks often feel more of the motion and tend to make you more wobbly. I was on a Caribbean cruise one December on deck 9 and at night I thought I was going to slide right out of the balcony door. We could actually hear the drawers opening and closing as we were trying to go to sleep.

I have heard that Ginger works well. Also the patches or magnetic bracelets.

Have fun though and realize that your ship's captain will do his best to keep you out of the roughest seas.

Of course i have deck 8 with a balcony....i think i might bring tape to tape the drawers shut.

I'll echo what the others have said.
I've used Bonine and it worked wonderfully. It was effective and had no side effects.
And don't worry too much about the storm. As others have said, the captain will steer you clear of danger, and will do his best to make sure that the weather is as nice as possible on your cruise.
Have fun!!!! Wish I were going!!

ETA...Bonine is OTC, and the difference between it and Dramamine is the drousy factor. Bonine tends to have less of a drwsy effect.

I know i am remembering the captain want to live as well...Just like the airline pilot want to live when i fly
thanks
Kerri

 

[CruiserMom]

Ok.....can i go to the drugstore and buy Bonine....or is this a prescription.

Is there a kids dose on it.....or do i have to buy 2.....one for kids?
thanks



OH...should i take the bonine a few hours BEFORE i get on board?
What side effects if any?
thanks
Kerri

edit....is bonine different than dramamine?

Bonine is different from regular Dramamine, it MAY be the same as the Less Drowsy Dramamine (don't hold me to this). It is sold over the counter, just make sure that the ingredients say Meclizine (this is less drowsy than the regular Dramamine).

I used to give DD kid's chewable Dramamine, now that she is 11, she can take half a meclizine. The kid's chewable Dramamine made her sleepy, but the meclizine doesn't.

YES, you should take it before you get on board. And continue to take it for at least a day or 2, until you see how rough the seas are.

And I found out after our Tropical Storm Hanna cruise last year, to keep taking it after the cruise is over. I had terrible land sickness (is that what it is called), trying to adjust after the cruise was over. I had to continue to take the meclizine for 3 days after.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

on my last alaskan cruise, we were hitting 25 foot waves one day. someone told us that green apples are suppoesd to help, so everyone was eating them.
I put a patch on the night before it started getting really rough and it helped alot--but the patch made me tired, so im glad i took it at night. But like others said, take it before you start feeling sick!

 

[4Seasons]

Ginger helps. Some grocery stores sell candied ginger.
Many times the stateroom steward can get bonine for you, but I like to be prepared and take my own remedies, LOL.

 

[okeydokey]

MY DH had a problem on our cruise and the Bonine made him feel sick. He switched to the Sea Bands on his wrist and was fine after that. Get them before you board, they'll sell them on the ship but at a huge mark-up.

 

[Darcy03231]

Ok.....can i go to the drugstore and buy Bonine....or is this a prescription.

Is there a kids dose on it.....or do i have to buy 2.....one for kids?
thanks



OH...should i take the bonine a few hours BEFORE i get on board?
What side effects if any?
thanks
Kerri

edit....is bonine different than dramamine?

I get mine at the drugstore. I would take one the night before you board and then one each night - they're good for 24 hours.

 

[momof1princess]

meclizine (generic bonine) is available at any pharmacy counter. it is behind the counter but all you have to do is ask. the bottle is 100 pills and is about $5.00. much cheaper than bonine (which the pharmacy will also have, in a box on the pharmacy floor, for an outrageous price), and works great. i use it for all trips, as the slightest motion makes me deathly nauseous-sometimes even if i just move my head too fast.

 

[alldiz]

Bonine is different from regular Dramamine, it MAY be the same as the Less Drowsy Dramamine (don't hold me to this). It is sold over the counter, just make sure that the ingredients say Meclizine (this is less drowsy than the regular Dramamine).

I used to give DD kid's chewable Dramamine, now that she is 11, she can take half a meclizine. The kid's chewable Dramamine made her sleepy, but the meclizine doesn't.

YES, you should take it before you get on board. And continue to take it for at least a day or 2, until you see how rough the seas are.

And I found out after our Tropical Storm Hanna cruise last year, to keep taking it after the cruise is over. I had terrible land sickness (is that what it is called), trying to adjust after the cruise was over. I had to continue to take the meclizine for 3 days after.

yikes......i remember on my 1st cruise i was stumbiling for a day or 2 afterwood sometime....and in bed i could swear i felt the boat a rockin

on my last alaskan cruise, we were hitting 25 foot waves one day. someone told us that green apples are suppoesd to help, so everyone was eating them.
I put a patch on the night before it started getting really rough and it helped alot--but the patch made me tired, so im glad i took it at night. But like others said, take it before you start feeling sick!

i am going to the dr.....i might get the patch....is bonine and the patch overkill?

Ginger helps. Some grocery stores sell candied ginger.
Many times the stateroom steward can get bonine for you, but I like to be prepared and take my own remedies, LOL.

funny....ginger makes me nauseas

MY DH had a problem on our cruise and the Bonine made him feel sick. He switched to the Sea Bands on his wrist and was fine after that. Get them before you board, they'll sell them on the ship but at a huge mark-up.

I'll be the one with the patch, the bonine and a bracelet....drunk on seasick meds

I get mine at the drugstore. I would take one the night before you board and then one each night - they're good for 24 hours.

night before eh.....think i might do that
thanks
Kerri

 

[JoiseyMom]

My DH gets motion sick, so when we cruise I buy bonine (I get the kids one too just in case the kids get queasy). DH also went to the doctor to get the patch behind his ears. It worked for him. He put the patch on as soon as he got on the ship!

Having a balcony helps too, the fresh air is good for you. Good luck!