BC Ferries-- should i be worried about getting seasick?
Apr 10th, 2007, 04:36 PM
#1
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BC Ferries-- should i be worried about getting seasick?
I was assuming that since we're not in the open ocean of the Pacific that the waters are relatively calm.
Should i be prepared with dramamine or a patch in July?
thanks,
dina
Should i be prepared with dramamine or a patch in July?
thanks,
dina
Apr 10th, 2007, 04:39 PM
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I have taken a few trip on BC Ferries and it has never been the least bit rough. The vessels are quite large and the waters are sheltered. They do cancel sailings in bad weather but this is uncommon.
Apr 11th, 2007, 06:15 AM
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our route is Twasssassen (sp?) to Nanaimo.
Ici, you make it sort of one extreme or the other, but i guess i'm more on the wuss side than the born on a fishboat-kind-of-girl!
i rook dramamine and still got a little woosy on Greek interisland ferries, and also on a snorkeling cruise in Hawaii. but never get seasick kayaking, even in the ocean, without any dramamine.
thanks,
dina
Ici, you make it sort of one extreme or the other, but i guess i'm more on the wuss side than the born on a fishboat-kind-of-girl!
i rook dramamine and still got a little woosy on Greek interisland ferries, and also on a snorkeling cruise in Hawaii. but never get seasick kayaking, even in the ocean, without any dramamine.
thanks,
dina
Apr 11th, 2007, 08:35 AM
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Dina: If you are prone to getting a bit clammy, go right ahead and take a dramamine or something about 2 hours ahead of time. These larger vessels will make you sick while small boats won't. This is because small craft can really bob around, but your inner ear system deals with that more violent motion easier than it does with the more subtle motion as you'll find on a ferry.
I've always been prone to motion sickness on larger vessels but never on small ones - I even owned a 17' run-about in Florida at one time and despite the heavy weather, never got sick. As you know, the minute you step foot on dry land, all of your syptoms disappear. But dramamine tends to make you drousy. Ask a pharmacist about other remedies.
I've always been prone to motion sickness on larger vessels but never on small ones - I even owned a 17' run-about in Florida at one time and despite the heavy weather, never got sick. As you know, the minute you step foot on dry land, all of your syptoms disappear. But dramamine tends to make you drousy. Ask a pharmacist about other remedies.
Apr 11th, 2007, 09:13 AM
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I'm not prone to sea sickness, but I've never seen people sea sick on the BC ferries between Tsawwassen and Nanaimo, ever. As others have said, waters are very calm and the vessel is about as large as a cruise ship - you feel the rumble of the engine occasionally as it leaves the terminal, but other than that, you hardly know you're moving.
Apr 11th, 2007, 10:33 AM
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Keep in mind....I'm prone to all kinds of motion sickness including car sickness, sea sickness, air sickness....you name it.
I did not feel sick at all on our ferry trips from Vancouver to Victoria and back.
I think you should be fine.
I did not feel sick at all on our ferry trips from Vancouver to Victoria and back.
I think you should be fine.
Apr 11th, 2007, 04:01 PM
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Haha... I admit I'm exaggerating. My point wasn't so much comparing sizes between the ferries and luxury cruise ships, but stressing that the BC ferries that go between Tsawwassen and Nanaimo are massive vessels, unlike smaller ferries one might come across.
ex: http://www.all-canada.co.uk/images/bcferries.jpg
ex: http://www.all-canada.co.uk/images/bcferries.jpg
Apr 11th, 2007, 04:51 PM
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One more thing to consider is the timing during the year of your trip.
If during heavy tourist season, it is more possible that THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU might get sick that way on a ferry, and some people who can manage on their own, totally lose-it when somebody ELSE loses it.
Generally speaking, though, those big ferries are pretty safe in inside passages.
The hydrofoil thing from Seattle to Victoria might have been another story entirely.
If during heavy tourist season, it is more possible that THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU might get sick that way on a ferry, and some people who can manage on their own, totally lose-it when somebody ELSE loses it.
Generally speaking, though, those big ferries are pretty safe in inside passages.
The hydrofoil thing from Seattle to Victoria might have been another story entirely.
Apr 11th, 2007, 05:06 PM
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Oddly, the ONLY time I've ever been sea sick was on a BC Ferry - I was on my way home from a week-long sailing trip on a 130-foot schooner and caught the ferry from Victoria to Tsawassen - after a week in open water, the ferry made me queasy and ill (to be fair, it coulda been that orange sauce they used to put on the ferry burgers...much better food there now...).
Having said that, I take the ferry all the time and other than that one occasion, have never felt even the slightest bit ill.
Having said that, I take the ferry all the time and other than that one occasion, have never felt even the slightest bit ill.
Apr 11th, 2007, 05:10 PM
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Further to previous post - I've heard that an acupressure bracelet can help prevent seasickness - I've seen them in stores - it basically looks like a Velcro wristband with a little bead inside (about the size of a marble)...you might want to look into that for a non-medicinal approach...
Apr 11th, 2007, 07:42 PM
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The question is not answerable. We were on the Queen of the North before it went down to the bottom. On that open stretch north of Port Hardy, the swells were rocking the boat in long, slow motions.
My wife who never gets airsick was having a problem. I was not.
So I doubt if anybody can give you the definitive answer you want.
On the Tsawwassen - Nanaimo route, I actually saw people ill. The wind was calm, and the water was like a small fishing pond on a calm day. I wondered if they got sick in their bathtubs?
Ships to sway with the movement through the water, so I for one would not hazard a guess.
If you fear it, dope up and sleep it off.
My wife who never gets airsick was having a problem. I was not.
So I doubt if anybody can give you the definitive answer you want.
On the Tsawwassen - Nanaimo route, I actually saw people ill. The wind was calm, and the water was like a small fishing pond on a calm day. I wondered if they got sick in their bathtubs?
Ships to sway with the movement through the water, so I for one would not hazard a guess.
If you fear it, dope up and sleep it off.
Apr 12th, 2007, 07:07 AM
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Dina - I am sure you will be fine. I know some people are very sensitive to motion but unless that is the case with you July is a very calm month on the water. However, you mentioned dramamine - that can certainly make you sleepy. Bonine is great - it doesn't make you sleepy so you could take one a couple of hours ahead just to be safe. I know - I took it on an Antarctic cruise and went through force 11 winds with absolutely no problem with seasickness (can't say the same for other passengers with patches on) The generic of Bonine is meclizine (got it at Costco)
Apr 12th, 2007, 06:58 PM
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Travler69-
thanks for the bonine tip. i was dreading Dramamine because of the sleepy effect. i didn't realize bonine didn't make you drowsy -- AND you can get it at Costco. awesome!
bob--
i hope it was that orange sauce....
thanks,
dina
thanks for the bonine tip. i was dreading Dramamine because of the sleepy effect. i didn't realize bonine didn't make you drowsy -- AND you can get it at Costco. awesome!
bob--
i hope it was that orange sauce....
thanks,
dina
Apr 13th, 2007, 06:24 AM
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Dina glad I could help. Remember at Costco it is sold by the generic name meclizine. You will laugh when you see the size of the bottle but it is cheaper than buying the Bonine at the pharmacy. Have a great visit to our beautiful city!!!
Apr 13th, 2007, 07:24 AM
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I'll throw in my 2 cents on this as well. I've taken the ferry a few times recently between Tswassen and Nanaimo. The ferries on this route are huge, with gift shops, play rooms for kids, big cafeterias. They haven't been the least bit tippy on my crossings. No chance of the coffee even spilling. In fact, it is hard to tell they are moving without looking out the windows.
