chris45105

Well we have never been on a cruise yet. I have a son (15) and a wife. Both me and my son get sea sick so we never even considered trying a cruise. Getting sea sick on his one and only vacation would be such a big bummer. So for people that have been on a cruise i would like some advice on getting seasick.

Also up for any destination advice!
Thanks!

abram

Book a cabin as low and midships as possible.

Don't cruise the Caribbean during the height of hurricane season.

Start taking meclizine the day before the cruise.

qwovadis

www.transdermscop.com my saviour

Consider "calm water cruises" to get started

Alaska Inside passage might be a nice choice for you

Black Sea Adriatic and River Cruises are best for newbies

[email protected] gets me 70% off also

priceline.com vacationstogo.com

cruisecritic.com ship reviews great info

Happy Cruising!

jacketwatch

Just curious how you get seasick having never been on a cruise? Did this happen on a smaller ships or boats? It would help to know the circumstances. My wife suffers from motion sickness in certain situations but unless the seas are very rough she does fine on a cruise boat. having said that i agree about booking low and amidships to minimize feeling or sensing motion. as for remedies there are several including scop patches, meds OTC such as dramamine and meclizine, prescription meds like phenergan which my wife has used successfully and other treatments such as ginger tablets and pressure bands. If you go talk to your MD for the best recommendation. Larry

Dayenu

Larry, I can answer your question: I get sea sick just by looking at boats in motion

Pick a cabin in the lower middle part of the ship. Don't do Guaranteed or inside - you will need at least a window. Pick a cruise with more port days, less sea days.

Start ginger (if not taking blood thinning meds) 2-3 days before the cruise. Take it during the cruise and 2-3 days after the cruise to avoid sea legs. Bring Bonine (meclizine) with you for rough days.

1965

Dayenu-I've heard about ginger. My husband takes OTC seasick meds. the first day or two of a cruise, and he's sleepy all the time, and a GRUMPY guy when awake. Are there any sleepy/grumpy side effects with ginger? He takes an 81 mg. aspirin daily. Should he stop those if taking ginger?

jacketwatch

Dayenu: OK, got it. Thank you.

ParrotMom

Second to the ginger tables which I take as I board the ship.. they are available at a health food store.. I also carry with me a few mint tea bags which helps settle my stomach, but I have NEVER stopped cruising.. oh yes, I take the ginger tablet every day at sea...and we have gone trans-atlantic many times. As for the aspirin, it's for his heart isn't it.. he should keep taking it.

Giovanna

I too take ginger tabs with good results. Even shared some with a fellow passenger on our last cruise and they helped her too. No side effects that I'm aware of. I've been seasick on a couple of occasions, but only lasted overnight in Mexican waters and for a few hours on the way back to San Francisco from Alaska. Not pleasant, but neither time did it even come close to ruining the cruise.

1965

Thank you ParrotMom. We're departing on Oct.28 for 16 day transAtlantic. I read somewhere that you can get ginger tabs pretty cheaply at WalMart. They're now on my shopping list. Funny thing is that he's never been seasick on a large cruise ship, but he is so afraid that he will get sick that he takes the meds. the 1st 2 days of a cruise, and then stops them, and he's fine. But he isn't his normally lovely self those 2 days taking the seasick meds. Hopefully the ginger tabs will do the trick.

Dayenu

1965: please don't stop taking anything without talking to the doctor first.

I find Bonine the least sleepy of all OTC motion sickness meds.

ParrotMom

1965, are you by chance going on a Celebrity starting in the UK? I pass out the ginger tablets like candy and the mint tea bags help tremendously..

jacketwatch

Also if you do get nauseated try green apple and crackers. The crew suggested this and it seems to help.

1965

ParrotMom-We're taking the Carnival Magic, Barcelona to Galveston, 10/28-11/13. For your mint tea do you just get hot water from Lido? Am going to pack mint tea bags, crackers, ginger tabs, and keep one or two green apples from the buffet in our cabin. Wish me luck. Maybe I should ask you to wish my husband luck!
Dayenu-Is Bonine an OTC med? I think I'd better get some of it just in case.
Thanks one and all for the helpful info.

Dayenu

Yes, Bonine is OTC, sold in Walgreens and other pharmacies, the generic name is Meclizine.

Giovanna

Have a wonderful cruise and I hope your husband feels well throughout!

chris45105

Thank you gus so much. We have a great passion for fishing and have been ifishing out in some pretty rough waters out in the florida keys. we've gotten sick a few times there. I once tried the patch and it worked great the first time but i had put it on before i had gone to sleep. The second time, I put it on a few hours before going fishing. By the end of the trip i felt like complete crap. i was tired as could be, i could barley move, it was terrible. Anyways, thank you eveyone for your advice.

Eschew

Chris,

Below is a link to aniother thread/discussion regarding sea sickness. There are quite a bit more info and discussion than what is on this thread. You may want to read it.

http://www.fodors.com/community/crui...s-420464-2.cfm

Also, on the modern mega ships, they have stablizers. Unless you are hitting some really rough water, motion sickness should not be an issue. Most ships are so stable that you hardly feel it was moving. I would worry more about getting on a tender in rough water.

I am sure you will be fine on a cruise ship. Book it, relax and enjoy.

Knowing

My husband and I cruised for the first time 7 years ago. We went to Bermuda and my husband and I swore we would never cruise again. We were both so sick. Crackers and green apples help along with a nap, but are not long term answers. The pills had me sitting with my face in my plate and the wrist bands did nothing. Several years ago, a friend asked me to go to the French Polynesia. The water was like glass and we barely moved. Wonderful! Finally, last month my husband agreed to try another cruise. We did the british isles and we both fell totally in love with cruising. So, our answer is: choose a destination where the water will be smooth!