Q – I enjoy your site and appreciate all of the valuable information I have encountered! I have not seen any questions on how to avoid motion sickness on a cruise. My husband and I will be first time cruisers celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. I have heard that motion sickness is not much of an issue on much larger ships, however we will be sailing with Regent. We have upgraded to a room with a balcony in anticipation of this. What steps, if any, would you recommend I follow prior to our departure or even during the trip should I have issues? Thank you for your time.
A – The research shows that a surprisingly large segment of non-cruisers and first-time cruisers see this issue as a real concern. Since 94.3% of first-time cruisers book a second cruise within 36 months of their return, we have to assume that for the vast majority of cruisers, seasickness becomes a non-issue. So please don’t be overly concerned.
Sea sickness is more likely to happen based on your itinerary rather than the design or size of your ship. There is a fair amount of urban myth concerning cabin placement and remedies you can take before hitting the high seas. But the primary determinant of sea sickness is the amount of rough water you will encounter based the time of year and the route the ship will follow. This is where your consultant will be helpful. We like to ease first-timers into an itinerary that is likely to produce smooth seas. You did not indicate your itinerary so we can’t be as specific as we would like to be.
The most important thing to know about sea sickness is that you really don’t need to put up with it if it occurs. Every one of the world’s top ten cruise lines has a fully staffed medical facility. There are shots, several developed in Europe, that the on-board doctor can administer, that will take away that queasy feeling within minutes. One of the reasons these magic shots are available is that no cruise line can afford to have their crew immobilized by seasickness. Your travel consultant will advise you if your line has the shot available to passengers. Regent Seven Seas does.
We’re not so keen on balconies during rough seas. You are likely going to be better off up on the top deck outdoors. The fresh air will be helpful.
In terms of known itineraries with potential churning seas we can point to any cruise around the tip of South America, cruises out of San Francisco Bay into the Pacific, the area on Panama Canal Cruises where the Gulf of Mexico flows into the Atlantic, and transatlantic sailings during shoulder season.
We do not believe in pre-trip anti-seasickness prep. If you like patching yourself up that’s fine but it won’t do much good. Some guests have success with Bonine, an over-the-counter motion sickness preventative. There are also advocates of ginger in its many forms. Toast and crackers are fine but we always try to avoid having a cassoulet during seachop.
A lower-deck, mid-ship outside cabin with a balcony is the safest place to be for handling sea turbulence. And yes, although we are strong advocates of avoiding obese mega-ships, with thousands of passengers, larger ships provide somewhat more stability. But don’t read too much into it hat because smaller vessels are more maneuverable.
There are other considerations regarding the manner in which your ship handles rough seas. Will the Captain fully engage bow thrusters should the seas get unpleasant? You would think always but, in fact, these thrusters burn a lot of extra fuel and on some budget lines cost is always a consideration. So just how dedicated your cruise line is to seeing to its guests comfort is an important factor when it comes to smooth seas. How likely is it that the ship you are sailing will change direction or ports to avoid rough seas? You will find a close correlation between customer care and cost.
We were once sailing with the legendary Princess Cruises Captain, John Young. We hit some strong seas off the coast of Scotland and he came on the ships PA system and explained that:
“Ladies and Gentlemen, you are currently ensconced in the bosom of the deep. And as you may be aware, bosoms tend to rise and fall. So please join me in lying back and making the most of this rare experience.”
