15 Ways to Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise

One of the biggest worries for first time cruisers is seasickness. If you are afraid of getting sea sick, there are plenty of preventative techniques and remedies that can keep you comfortable while onboard your ship. Cruise lines have gone to great lengths to make their passengers comfortable while at sea. This includes equipping ships with stabilizers that will minimize the rocking motion you might feel. Cruise ships also have top of the line navigational equipment to help the ship’s officer avoid weather systems that can wreak havoc. Despite all these innovations, there is still a s possibility you may get seasick while onboard a cruise ship. Here are 15 ways you can prevent seasickness while on your next cruise.

Book a Midship Cabin

The more centered your cabin is, the less likely you will feel the motion of the ship. Cabins located in the forward or aft part of the ship will feel far more rocking sensation. It is also wise to book a cabin on a lower deck if you fear getting seasick. This will also alleviate some of the motion that you feel.

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Ear Patches

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Motion sickness ear patches are a good way to help prevent motion sickness. These little patches look like a tiny bandaid and are placed behind your ear. You will notice these on fellow passengers all over your ship. If you do get them you will blend right in. The medicine in the patches will pass through the thin skin membrane behind your ear and work quite quickly.

Sea Band Bracelets

A good option if you don’t want to use medicine to solve your seasickness is to use sea band bracelets. These bracelets work naturally using acupressure on your wrist pulse point.

Dramamine

Dramamine has been around for years and is a good over the counter medical solution for motion sickness. It works differently on everyone so be sure to read the instructions and follow the directions carefully.

Sleep

One of the best ways to combat motion sickness is simply to get some sleep. Make sure that you get a good night’s rest each night leading up to your cruise and get plenty of rest while onboard. This will help regulate your body and leave you less susceptible to seasickness.

Drink Plenty of Water

One of the best ways to counteract the effects of motion sickness is to drink water. Staying hydrated will regulate your body and help it to fight the affects of seasickness.

Eat

It may feel counter intuitive to eat when you feel sick to your stomach. However, eating a non-greasy light meal will help your stomach feel better.

Avoid Alcohol

Who doesn’t want to grab a nice fruity drink, head to the pool and relax on a cruise? Of course that is what you want to do, but if you are feeling sick it is the last thing you should do. Stay hydrated with water and eat light meals until your other remedies have a chance to kick in. You will be so glad you did.

Eat Crackers

When I feel nauseous or sick one of the best remedies I find to help soothe my stomach is a packet of salty crackers. These should be readily available on your ship. You can probably get them in the restaurant or at the buffet near the soup line.

Drink Ginger Ale

This is another great way to start easing nausea you may feel. A small glass of ginger ale along with the crackers will help you begin to get over your nausea, but don’t overdo it.

Try Essential Oils

Essential oils like lavender and peppermint are another good way to help you feel better when you get motion sickness. Just dab a little on your wrist or behind your ears or diffuse it in your cabin. These scents are great for calming the symptoms of seasickness.

Stay Centered

Just like it is a good idea to book a cabin that is midship, it is also an idea to limit your activities to the middle of the ship if the ship’s motion makes you ill. Don’t decide to check out the new viewing area in the forward part of the ship at the very top when your stomach is churning.

Do Not Read Or Watch TV

Reading or watching TV when you are feeling sick can exacerbate the symptoms you feel. If you are seasick try walking around or getting some sleep until the symptoms subside.

Seek Fresh Air

You may not want to go up and walk out on deck when you are feeling ill, but the fresh air can be really good for you. The air can help dissipate the sea sickness symptoms that you feel. And you will get some of the freshest air while you are out sailing the ocean.

Distract Yourself

I know that feeling motion sickness is a horrible feeling. As best as you can while you combat the symptoms of it, try to keep yourself busy or distracted. This can be difficult to do if you don’t feel like moving around and you can’t watch TV or read a book. If you are up to leaving your cabin, go see a show or participate in an activity by the cruise staff such as a trivia game or bingo. Try to get your mind off how poorly you feel. You may be surprised how much better you will feel if you stop thinking about it.

There is never a guarantee that you will not get seasick while on a cruise, but you do not have to be miserable during your trip either. If you have never cruised before, make sure you are familiar with these remedies and pack the ones that you may use if you feel sick. If you wait to buy them in port or on the ship, you may pay twice as much for them.