Sea Sickness and Alaska
 

I am prone to sea sickness and my husband just loves cruises.

I am fine on lakes and rivers, it's just the ocean that upsets me. We took a 4-night cruise 2 years ago from Long Beach, CA to Mexico and back to try it out, and even with the patch I was pretty miserable.

Someone told me that an Alaskan inland passage cruise would be better for me as far as motion sickness goes, because it is more like a river criuse.

Is this true? I'd love to give cruising another shot, but would hate to spend the money and then feel ill for a week.

Thanks!

Yes, the inland passage cruise is almost motionless. I didn't believe it, but it is true. I am so prone to motion sickness, I completely avoid boats. I'll get sick just watching something in motion such as a merry-go-round. It is pretty sad!

The inland cruise was just wonderful. Absolutely no motion sickness. Alaska was breathtaking. I'd go back in an instant.

You can always bring an arsenal of supplies if you get sick, but I can almost guarantee you won't need it. My doctor gave me a prescription patch just in case but it wasn't needed.

Have fun!!

A little bit of caution ... inside passage round trip from Vacnouver is okay. Inside passage round trip from Seattle is not.

As the ship leaves Seattle and steam towards Victoria, it is not in protected water.

However, not all is not lost. You may want to seek out "ginger" as your motion sickness cure. It is not an instant cure like a pill but raw ginger has proven to work through the years for the Asian seafarers and the TV Mythbuster has "proved" that ginger works for sea sickness.

If you go try for an amidships cabin. Actually the lower and more middle the cabin the less you sense motion.

Sorry, claiming the Inside Passage is motionless, is a BIG myth. I have sailed Alaska over 20 times and FAR from true.

IF you are sailing Alaska, and prone to motion sickness, you are best to be well prepared. Consult your heath care professional for the best advice for you.

I agree with Budget Queen. I have done the inside passage many times as a BC resident we get some special rates on occasion so we take advantage of that. I have had smooth sailing a couple of times but have also been through some very rough seas. If you carry some Bonine (meclizine) I have found it is the best for motion sickness without drowziness. WE crossed the Drake passage from Antarctica during a major storm - well supplied with meclizine (Costco large bottle). I had fellow passengers with patches and ginger etc all coming to me to get some pills. It really works.

I definitely recommend Bonine....I have been on many cruises including Alaska, I have tried the patch, wrist bands, etc, and the best is Bonine (can be found in any drugstore, Wal-Mart) take once in the morning and its good for all day.

Another bonine fan here. I second everything gizmo said.

We did round trip from San Francisco - up to Canada it was bad, north from Victoria city was quiet.

Sgregs, do you know how to pick a cabin not to feel the motion? Lower part of the ship, in the middle.

I take ginger capsules starting 1-2 days before the cruise, and take them 1-2 days after the cruise. If the sea is rough, or for long tender rides I take Bonine.

L foound hte wristbands very helpful. I am not prone to motion sickness, but sailed out of NJ and hit very rough waters coming back during that snow storm Dec 18-20. Fair crossing!

sorry. I found the ...

We've only been on one Alaskan cruise out of Vancouver, so I'm not an expert. I, too, am very prone to seasickness, but found no reason to take anything for it during our cruise. It was as smooth as butter! A little rocking once the ship was out in the gulf, but nothing bad. We will be going on another Alaskan cruise this May, but this time I think I will buy some Bonine just in case. Better safe than sorry!

Viktoria- you DO realize your two cruises are completely different?? Totally different routes? Round trip Seattle cruises are the roughest of the Alaska cruise choices.

Like Dayenu, ginger tabs work for me. We cruised from San Francisco to Alaska, inside passage, and the only time I had a problem was on the California coast on the way back to SF.

I took ginger tabs, twice daily with food, on our recent cruise from Valparaiso, around the horn to Buenos Aires and it did help. We had some very rough seas and I did pretty well. Haven't tried Bonine, but it seems to get good results and many people swear by it.

I love cruises but I am pronge to motion sickness. Alaska, I needed both the patch and a special wristband I got in the gift shop for emergencies. When I'm going on my next cruise, I'm getting both again plus my family always carries dramamine for the excursions on rough roads. So my advice will be to get the wristband for motion sickness to help back up the patch and to bring dramamine along as well.

We took the Inside Passage cruise out of Vancouver - had some rough seas and DD got motion sickness. Went to the ship store and bought a wristband (highly recommended to us by a fellow passenger) and Bonine and that seemed to resolve the issue. Saw several people wearing the patch as well.