I am exploring the possibility of a trip to Greece for next year. We have been wanting to go there for years. Now that I am getting into the nitty gritty of things I am realizing that this could be a real misery due to my problem with seasickness. Can anyone who is also inficted comment about the ferry trips for me? I realize I can fly to Santorini, but I would like to also get to one of the less touristed islands and that would require a boat!

a product called "Bonine". It was recommended to me by an officer of the Navy Reserve.

The causes of seasickness are largely psychological, though very few people are completely immune. If you are worried about it a year in advance, you will be sick from nervousness when you get there. Most of the time, the seas around Greece are calm; if it is very rough, ferries are cancelled. If you can, try to get some practice at being afloat and learn to enjoy the motion of a ship, which is best done on deck, rather than in a stuffy saloon.

From someone who suffers from motion sickness I disagree that it is "psychological". I use the patch whenever I travel and it works wonderfully.

I beg to differ that seasickness is "largely psychological." Check out this site.

http://seasickness.co.uk/

I worked with my travel doctor for my Greek vacation. We settled on Scopalamine. Scopalamine usually comes in the patch. We went with the oral tablets.

A patch lasts 3 days. The oral tablet lasts 8 hours. With island hopping I would never be on a boat more than 6 or 7 hours so the tablet worked fine. If the boat was delayed I could take another one before the first one wore off.

The only side effect I had was the common one of feeling thirsty. The Mythos beer I sipped helped alleviate that. I didn't have to put up with the main side effect of dramamine which is drowsiness. I didn't want to sleep all the way from Athens to Santorini.

The car ferries are VERY large and VERY stable. Unless the seas are rough you probably won't feel much motion and almost no rocking of the ship. I've gotten seasick before but never on one of these ships.

I honestly don't think it's psychological. I have no problem on small sail boats but put me on a ferry and I am hanging ont to the sides with dizzyness and sick to my stomach. I have had problems with my ears and I feel it may be part of it but big ferrys just throw me for six!

This is from the "Seasicknes" web site recommended by "indytravel":

The good news for sufferers is that the condition often disappears without medical treatment within a few days. As your brain learns to compensate for the swaying and pitching of the boat you will get your “sea legs”.

That sounds it me as if it's psychological. I've so often seem people worried about it, their minds full of thoughts of vomiting, and it's hardly surprising that they start feeling sick as soon as they get on a ship. Patches, pills, etc, work largely by putting your mind at rest.
Travelling around the Greek islands can be a very enjoyable experience, especially if you stick to the bigger ships, rather than small fast craft.

It will be very difficult to convince anyone who has spent a misarable day on a boat that it's "all in your head."

Byrd

I don't think its pschological either. I've been on lots of boats in my lifetime and have never gotten sea sick until 2 years ago in Puerto Rico I got sea sick on the ferry from Vieques to Fajardo. Going to Vieques - no sea sickness. It is quite awful.

Jaisy; I lived on the islands of Mykonos, Naxos, & Samos for 13 years. At that time there were no planes to the islands( only Samos my last few years). I get sea sick in rough seas and also car sick on twisty roads. If I took Dramamine an hour before my trip, I’d be fine, even in pretty rough seas. You will know what the weather is going to be(well, usually). Don’t let it stop you from going and enjoying that beautiful country and people. I’ll be taking less drowsy dramamine for my up coming trip to Ireland. I have a feeling I may need it in Dingle. Have a great trip. Joan

My wife has had good results with the wristbands sold for sailors. They claim to be related to acupuncture.

I don't know what causes seasickness, but before the wristbands, she was okay on deck when she could see the horizon, but when she went below the motion was too much for her.

Even though the pills and patches work well for most people, I can tell you that there is only one positive cure for seasickness. I say this as a guy who has spent a lot of time at sea in small boats.

Here is the secret. The only thing that works every time is: OAK TREES!

You simply lay down under one and the sickness starts to go away almost immediately.

Since you are going to Greece, I suppose you could use Olive trees as a substitute.

Try dramamine and ativan, each day for the first three.

Before departing two dramamine - 50 mg each, and one ativan, one mg. Repeat with one dram and 1/2 ativan 12 hours later, or earlier if needed. Do this twice or three time a day for the following two days.

And watch your diet - easy of heavy foods, alcohol, spices. Lots of water. And do work to relax and trust the meds. You will not get hooked. You may feel a bit tired, and if so, take a short nap.

Jaisy,

Sorry if the preceeding message about Oak Trees seemed flippant. I know how miserable seasickness can be. Take comfort in the fact that it gets better with age. I now do not get ill enough to call for "Ralph" over the lee rail, just get "bitchy" for the first couple of days, and can always work the deck.

Having sailed Greek waters, and used the ferries, I have a few practical suggestions. First, either use the larger vessels, or minimize your exposure by taking the fast catamarans or hydrofoils. Second, choose the times you go. In the Summer in Greek waters the strong winds, the Meltemi, usuually come up in the afternoon and die off after the sun goes down. It can blow like hell late in the day, and then be like a millpond at night. Time your travel by sea accordingly. Many sailing folks spend the afternoons exploring the town, eat a good dinner, and motor over to the next island during the calm at night.

Time your short ferry trips in the early morning, or after dark. Watch the weather forcast, talk to local fishermen, and if the prognisis is for wind -- order another Ouzo and relax for another day. You are on vacation, after all, in an area that is made for kicking back.

Perhaps there is a psychological element caused by the anxiety generated from the fear of getting sick, but the inner ear reacts to the rocking motion, causing disorientation, and thus can create the nausea if your brain can't adjust to the internal sensations of imbalance.

I thank (most of) you for your encouraging words and advice. I do not beleive that my sea sickness began as a phychological thing - first time it happened I was in my glory snorkeling and suddenly I was throwing up in my mask. At this point, having experienced some of the worst hours of my life with my head over the edge of a boat - I would definitely agree that I can get sick just thinking about it! I made it through a helicopter ride in the rain on Kauai with Dramamine when others were getting sick. The problem with that was even with 1/2 of a anti drowsy formula I could barely keep my eyes open. I will work with my doc and see what she suggests. Again - thank you!

Another vote for Bonine. I went on my first cruise last fall and after researching opted for Bonine and seabands instead of Dramamine. We had very rough weather the first two days, I'll spare you the details. I had started the Bonine as directed and for added measure used the seabands when the boat was really rocking and rolling. I didn't get queasy at all. A deciding factor in choosing Bonine were the testaments to nondrowsiness and no contraindication reported for those who enjoyed an adult beverage or two. I had no complaints on either score. I have experienced overwhelming sleepiness with Dramamine use.

I am VERY prone to motion-sickness (I can't watch those 360 degree movies when they are filmed from cars and boats!) and had dreaded ever going on a cruise.

Get the Bonine.

I get seasickness badly!! But it has to be really rocking and then it is a horrible experience..When we took the Highspeed ferry from Athens to Santorini a few years ago i was fine for the whole trip until we were docking at Santorini..It was incredibly rough, I immediately had to puke (sorry)..It is not pyschological...I have not found anything that works when the water get's that rough..I have also got very ill when snorkelling on rough waters and anything similar...It is not fun...I have suffered with motionsickness/sea sickness since i was very young and it only gets worse..

sigh... I am so offended when anyone says that an illness is psychological. It is just so smug, impolite, and very unimformed.

Asthma used to be considered psychological. I wonder if a child who died from a blocked airway talked himself into it?