newcomer1

Hi! I'm just starting to plan our two week trip to Nova Scotia (flying into/ out of Halifax in mid June). I am very prone to seasickness/motion sickness/vertigo and wondered if anyone else with that problem has had any experience with the ferries listed above. If these are rough or choppy rides, I would much rather avoid them altogether than waste a day of vacation being sick (it goes w/o saying that I will be on Bonine the whole trip, but it doesn't prevent it totally). I know that it would mean skipping Brier Island entirely and doing some extra driving elsewhere, but that's why I'm planning early. Thanks so much.

OceanBreeze1

Have you tried Gravol?

ShelliDawn

I don't have any experience with ferries on the east coast, but I suffer from motion sickness/vertigo as well (you won't ever see me on a cruise ship).

I find that I spend most of my time on a ferry outside on deck. Something about the fresh air helps me considerably. And possibly focusing my gaze farther out on the horizon helps with the vertigo, I'm not sure.

newcomer1

Thanks for your replies. I can't use gravol/dramamine as it knocks me out & I'm incredibly groggy - then I miss all the scenery I'm going for!

I know what you mean, ShelliDawn - you'll never see me on a cruise ship either, though I have been on ferries.

I just wondered, given the strength of the Fundy tides, if these were rough rides.

boots08

I experienced sea sickness until I discovered acupuncture.

The acupuncturist inserted two (extremely thin) needles in the two spots on my wrists where the little balls in seabands are designed to put pressure.

Thanks to this, I was able to enjoy our last cruise without ever feeling nauseous. No more seabands or drugs for me!

artsbabe

I am somewhat prone to seasickness, and I had no trouble with the Nova Scotia to PEI ferries. I had my seabands on just in case.

newcomer1

Thanks, all! I guess I can do the Nova Scotia ferry (w/o acupuncture, as I'm a big coward when it comes to needles).

Has anyone done the ferry to Brier Island? When the guidebooks say it's an adventure, I'm not quite sure what that means...

xav

I too suffer from motion sickness. The ferry ride to Brier Island is very short and I had no problem with it at all. The ride from Digby to Saint John is much longer - 3 hours - and is very bouncy. Sea sickness is guaranteed for folks like us. Like ShelliDawn said being outside really helps me a lot. I also find that anything with ginger - ginger tea, ginger biscuits, etc. - helps to settle the queasiness.

Tanya

WHy not simply take the Confederation Bridge to PEI? You never know what the waters will be like on your crossing via ferry. Some times when I have crossed, it has been like glass - others extremely rough!

newcomer1

Well, we have had to postpone our trip until the end of August. I've decided to skip Digby and Brier Island entirely. We'll move from Halifax and area to New Brunswick/Hopewell Rocks area; then we'll take the bridge to PEI. Next, so that we won't backtrack, we will take the ferry from PEI to Cape Breton. That ferry looks like a shorter ride than the other one; hopefully it will be a more tranquil ride...

rfied112

not really much to see in PEI, anne of green gables is make believe tourist trap. i would recommend more time in NS, must do cabot trail, the south shore towns of lunenberg and mahone bay. my wife has menieres so we skip the ferry and drive into NS, the high speed ferry from maine is out of business, locals called it the Vomit Comet