motion sickness advice? About This Page:

[ChrissEBon2]

Just planned a 4 night cruise on the Wonder for January 31-Feb 4, 2010 and will surprise the family soon with the news! I must admit I am excited & worried! I am prone to motion sickness (can't ride in car easily) & wonder what works for those of you who have sailed on cruises before? I hope I am not crazy to have planned a trip at sea thinking a "positive attitude" will help!?? Thanks for any advice!

[Disney Magic]

I would suggest any anti-nausea pills (Gravol, Motion Sickness, USA has one that starts with a D. I can't remember what it's called though...Sorry. But all cruises have a nurses quarters and they give free anti-nausea pills and worse case situations....injections. I

I hope you have an AMAZING time. I heard only great reviews about the WDW Cruise!!! Plus when you go on the cruise you get to go onto the Disney Island (which is designated for those who are on the cruise)

Good luck!

[Simba's Mom]

I don't know from personnal experience, but a friend of mine swears by eating a green apple. He insisted that it helps. I wonder if he was just pulling my leg though!

[MMMD]

I use SeaBands on my wrist. HAve fun!

[olendl01]

I use the motion sickness patch that sticks behind your ear....last for 3-4 days at a time and the box comes with like 6 in them. You have to get a script from your Dr. though. They work great!

[omd]

I use ginger capsules for motion sickness. I have never been on a cruise but they work when driving, planes and rides at WDW. You can get them at a health food store. I love them because there are not side effects like Dramamine and Bonine which make me very sleepy. Have fun on your cruise.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Sea sickness is a perceptual disorientation when the fluid in your inner ear moves with the water. I find it gets worse if I am inside looking at walls because my eyes tell me the world is still while the fluid in my ears tell me I am moving. As much as you can, keep your eyes on the water and the horizon so you can get your senses in synch.

In addition to the other suggestions, I find that sipping gingerale from a swizzle-stick straw helps me get past the initial nausea from rough seas.

I'm not sure about a positive attitude necessarily, but I do some rational reminders. I find that there is an initial wave of "wierdness" as I adjust to the movement of the water. I just remind myself that this is my body adjusting, and that it will be gone as soon as I am used to being on a moving surface. This really does seem to help the feelings to pass quickly. If I need to sit, I stay upright in a chair because lieing down seems to make it worse. If I am inside, I sit near a window so I can watch the water. Once my body adjusts, I can go back to reading, watching TV or whatever, but I don't believe you can skip the step of getting your eyes in synch with your vestbular system.

Once my body adjusts, I feel SO MUCH better, and even rough seas don't bother me.

Also, before you cruise I'd suggest spending some time in a hammock that does not have too-tight motion stabilizers. Swing on a swing or stand on a balance cushion. All the time you are doing this, just remind yourself that this is movement and you are fine.

One thing I don't suggest, though...if you are on deck near the pool on a day when the water is sloshing over the ends of the pool, that can really freak you out! Definitely just say no to that unless you can trust yourself to accept that this is a normal thing for rough seas.

Bon Voyage!

[Tracy M.]

My husband won't even consider going on a cruise because of his motion sickness.

[TMWIlson7196]

I am very prone to motion sickness. I use ginger root pills. You can get them at walmart. They work great for me. I can't even drive in the back seat of a car for a long period. I take them when I fly and on rides. I have never taken a cruise but I will take them if I ever do cruise.

[yalibrarian]

Ginger in most any form will help, as will keeping something light in your stomach like crackers. Looking at the horizon is good too. For medication, try meclizine, which is available OTC everywhere. This is what I take daily at WDW as any motion on rides can set me off. The cheapest versions can be found in Wal-Mart and Target, where 32 tabs will run less than 8 of the "name brand." This is also known as non-drowsy Dramamine--although meclizine is still an anti-histamine and will make some folks feel a bit sleepy (so take a nap already!). They used to give shots on ships, which I am sure they still do. I had one on an Atlantic crossing and found that it didn't take it away 100% but did make it into a background thing, so I could enjoy the food and activities with no fast runs to the restroom.

[Disney Magic]

Dramamine..that's what it's called! It helps!!!

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by Disney Magic

Dramamine..that's what it's called! It helps!!!

Once I had a Dramamine on a whale watch, then I drank a few beers without thinking.

Definitely put that on the "Just say no" list!

[ChrissEBon2]

Thanks everyone! Your tips are great...I will definitely use them! I will also avoid the beer and dramamine, Sandra! LOL

[Wantland]

My family owns a Scuba Diving Shop and we are always taking new students out on the water and they are usually nervous so that adds to get sea sick and we also recommend the Ginger Root Capsule. It is all natural and has no side effects, the wrist bands also work to, and you can use them together. We sell a lot of the wrist bands to pregnant women, it also helps with morning sickness.

[Teresa]

I don't have any to stop it, but to help keep it from getting worse - no citrus. Citrus will actually make the nausea worse.