How do I beat motion sickness on my cruise?

You’ve planned everything and you are on the deck, excited and ready to have a great time. Then it hits. You feel dizzy and nauseous. Your cheeks turn green and you begin to sweat. You can’t believe your first day on your anticipated cruise starts with motion sickness! What do you do?

First, find the center of the ship as the movement is less there. If you cannot get there, sit and rest your head on a headrest then look at an object far out in the sea – maybe the horizon. Do not fix your eyes on the horizon, just look at it and try to relax. Also, do not fix your eyes on near objects. Avoid rolling your eyes and moving your head. If you have any ginger root candies, suck on them. You can also eat some crackers to help your queasy stomach and sip carbonated drink.

Stay away from other people with motion sickness or people who are talking about it. You do not want to aggravate the symptoms. Talking and hearing about it won’t help. Do not read or watch TV.
During your cruise, eat light, more protein and small portions of food. Avoid too greasy or spicy foods and excessive alcohol. You can still have a great time. Cruises serve food around the clock so you won’t miss out. Just pace yourself. Keep yourself busy, stay on deck where you can see the horizon as much as possible and try not to dwell on it too much.

If you have not yet gone on a cruise and not sure if you will have motion sickness, bring ammunition. It is better you come prepared than not. There are many motion sickness aids available – pills, patches or wristbands. Some are over the counter and some are prescription only. Antihistamines such as meclizine can help but they may cause drowsiness. Not sure which one to choose from? Speak with your doctor about it and don’t forget to ask him about the side effects of each one.

Want to go natural? Ginger root is likely very effective. They come in capsules, powder, as candies or just fresh ginger. Make sure your use the ginger 1 – 2 hours before boarding. Take care of your digestive system before going on a cruise. Eat light before boarding and avoid drinking alcohol the night before the ship departs.
Have an enjoyable trip and come tell us about it!

For more cruise planning information, you can visit our site
http://www.planmycruisevacation.com We have cruise specialists who will be happy to help you on a one on one basis. You can also participate in lively discussions at our cruise vacation forum. We would also like your feedback and comments about this report and how we can make it better.