Tips for planning a cruise for those who get SEA-SICK??

I've been told to cruise out of Florida, not NY.

What would be good destination options for best chance of smoothest sailing?

Go for a shorter cruise?

Other tips, in addition to sea bands, ginger tabs, meds...?

TIA!

Re: Tips for planning a cruise for those who get SEA-SICK??

I get terribly seasick. I did a short cruise with Royal Caribbean a couple of years ago from Miami to the Bahamas.

Bigger, newer ships are more stable. Rooms towards the bottom & middle of the ship rock the least.
Seabands didn't work for me.
For me, Dramamine & Bonine only work if I take it before I get sick.

Good luck!

Re: Tips for planning a cruise for those who get SEA-SICK??

Definitely rooms towards the middle and bottom rock the least. DH uses the seabands which sometimes work, if it's bad he takes Bonine.

I just saw in a natural store that taking ginger root pills before can prevent it wholly, we're going to try that next time we cruise.

Re: Tips for planning a cruise for those who get SEA-SICK??

we start taking Dramamine 2 days before we even leave for our cruises...then take it one time when we get on the ship. Neither my DH or I have gotten sick.,,*knock on wood*

Re: Tips for planning a cruise for those who get SEA-SICK??

My DH and my mom both get bad motion sickness. They both cruise and have a great time - the key is being prepared.

The smoothest tends to be cruises out of San Juan. My mom cruises out of both NY and FLL. She just is prepared before she goes. She takes meds before they leave port and she is fine. I know many people who use the patch but neither my DH nor my mother use it - it can give some bad side effects. Dramamine makes a Non drowsy one too.

It never hurts to have some ginger candies - but my mom and DH have never used them. You can always get ginger ale on the ship.

Actually the roughest cruise I have taken has been a Med cruise. I will let you know how it is to sail from NJ in a couple of weeks.

There are places on the ship that are more stable too - so try to keep that in mind when you book your cabin. The ships have stablizers these days so they are really pretty calm.

Re: Tips for planning a cruise for those who get SEA-SICK??

Take bonine from the day before you cruise, dramamine every night before bed.
Book a cabin mid-ship.
A balcony helps for immediate fresh air.

Re: Tips for planning a cruise for those who get SEA-SICK??

Thank you SO much for all of the great advice!!

Re: Tips for planning a cruise for those who get SEA-SICK??

You may also want to consider not cruising during hurricane season (June through Nov) so you'll have a better chance of calmer seas.

Re: Tips for planning a cruise for those who get SEA-SICK??

I don't have a huge problem with it, but I didn't have much experience before my first cruise, which was out of San Juan, in October.

I found that if I start to feel queezy, especially when the boat first leaves a port if I go out on deck seeing the motion of the water helps. It's like its makes more sense to my brain and then it can make sense of the feeling of the motion & doesn't makes me dizzy anymore. Or maybe its just the fresh air, but it helps!

Sea Bands didn't work for me, but a glass of wine did!

Message edited 8/11/2011 10:02:33 PM.

Re: Tips for planning a cruise for those who get SEA-SICK??

my hubby gets motion sickness but he was fine when we went on an RC cruise a few years ago on one of the larger boats. Def pick a cabin in the middle and center of the boat - there will be much less movement.
He was fine the whole trip - hopefully you will be too!!! have fun!!!!