Seasickness: causes, remedies, and prevention

Seasickness is the number one anxiety preventing travelers from taking their first cruise. The reality is that modern mega-cruise ships are floating cities engineered specifically to neutralize ocean swells, and for the vast majority of guests, motion sickness never happens at all.

How modern ships stay steady

Today's ocean liners weigh between 100,000 and 250,000 gross tons and measure over a thousand feet in length. Beneath the waterline, ships deploy computer-controlled hydrodynamic fin stabilizers that extend horizontally from the hull like aircraft wings, counteracting wave motion and reducing vessel roll by 85% to 90%.

Furthermore, captains actively route around adverse weather using satellite Doppler forecasts. Most Caribbean, Bahamas, and Alaska Inside Passage routes sail over remarkably calm, sheltered waters.

Stateroom selection for sensitive travelers

If you know you are prone to motion sickness in cars or on airplanes:

• Book midship on a lower deck: Decks 2 through 6 near the center of the ship experience the least motion. This is the fulcrum of the vessel where pitching and rolling are minimal.
• Avoid high forward staterooms: Rooms located high at the front of the ship experience the most vertical up-and-down movement during rough seas.

Proven remedies available in the U.S.

Motion sickness is far easier to prevent than to treat once symptoms begin. If you suspect you may be sensitive, begin taking your chosen remedy before the ship casts off lines from the pier.

• Meclizine (Bonine or Dramamine Less Drowsy): The gold standard over-the-counter antihistamine for motion sickness. Taken once every 24 hours, it offers reliable relief with significantly less drowsiness than older antihistamines.
• Dimenhydrinate (Original Formula Dramamine): Highly effective for acute nausea, but can cause substantial sleepiness.
• Scopolamine transdermal patch (Transderm-Scop): A small prescription patch placed behind the ear several hours before embarkation. It delivers a slow, steady dose of medication over three full days. Consult your personal physician before your trip.
• Natural remedies: Ginger chews, real ginger ale, and green apples (the pectin and tartness settle stomach acids). Acupressure wristbands (Sea-Bands) stimulate the P6 pressure point on the inner wrist and are completely drug-free.

What to do if you start feeling queasy

1. Step outside into the fresh air: Stuffy indoor corridors and food aromas make nausea worse. Go out to the open promenade deck.
2. Fix your gaze on the horizon: Face forward and watch the horizontal line where the ocean meets the sky. This immediately synchronizes the signals your eyes send to your brain with what your inner ear feels.
3. Keep food in your stomach: An empty stomach is much more susceptible to acid irritation. Eat bland foods like saltine crackers, plain toast, pretzels, or a crisp green apple.
4. Stay hydrated: Sip ginger ale or water; avoid alcohol, caffeine, and heavy citrus juices.

The shipboard medical center

Every cruise ship features a fully staffed medical facility with emergency physicians and registered nurses. Reception desks frequently hand out complimentary meclizine tablets upon request.

If severe symptoms persist, the medical team can administer an injection of promethazine (Phenergan), which generally cures nausea within twenty minutes so you can return to enjoying your vacation.