me again - 2 new questions

[gpamitc]

Okay, I have 2 more questions from a 1st time cruiser - ones I'm sure will have you seasoned cruisers grinning!

1. While reading some posts on the showers...someone wrote about the difficulty involved when the ship is swaying a lot. Reading this...I started getting nauseous - while safely seated at my desk at work. One of my fears is that I'll get seasick. I was told "don't worry" you'll never feel anything on these cruise ships. Soooo, tell me honestly, how much Dramamine should I be taking??!! And does the wrist band really work?

2. Here's another one...I can't swim but want to try snorkeling. How deep is the water you're in typically. Does the life vest REALLY keep you up well? I HATE going under.
Is the "beginner snorkeling" from the beach a total waste?

[the2ofus]

Hi, welcome to the wonderful world of cruising! Trust me, you will be hooked on cruising before you finish your first cruise.

I can't help much with question #1, as I am one of the lucky folks who doesn't succumb to seasickness. However, my husband used the Sea Bands on our first two cruises, because he had always struggled with car sickness. He felt that the Sea Bands did help. He felt a bit queasy occasionally but never got seasick. Because of certain medical conditions and other medications he takes, he did not wish to try using Bonine.

Question #2: Most of the snorkle excursions I have seen will take you into deep water. However, there is nothing to prevent you from using a mask and snorkle in shallow areas where you can stand up if you wish. I would caution anyone who can't swim against depending on a life vest for recreational swimming in deep water.

[gpamitc]

Thanks for the info.

[jhannah]

I suggest you try meclezine (generic form of Bonine.) It works well and is a non-drowsy formulation. Take one the night before you get on the ship then one per night and you should have no problem at all. I've never used the Sea Bands, but a number of folks here on the board have and swear by them.

[JSeals4316]

I would recommend putting the sea bands on 1 hour before sailing. They help me unless it gets real rough, then I add Dranamine. I usually don't need the Dranamine until evening when it can get rougher. There are many cruises that I don't use anything.

I am a total non swimmer and up untill a few years ago there was no way that I was going to stick my face in water. I heard so much about the snorkeling with the sting rays in shallow water in Grand Cayman that I really wanted to try it. I did get to stick my face in the water with a mask and snorkel and snorkel vest that I went home and bought my own equipment. I never have gotten to the point of actually floating.

I have also snorkeled at Half Moon Cay. There I have taken a bag of rolls from the ship and the fish will come up and eat the bread from your hand. I only stay in water that I can stand up in. I have used my snorkel vest a lot. It is much easier to blow up than to blow up an air mattress and it is a safety measure because some beaches the waves have created holes or sudden dips.

I have had some problems with getting sea sick while snorkeling so you may want to wear your sea bands. I don't know if it is from your eyes seeing the waves or the fact that you get water in your ears.

The beach next to Coral World ( I think it is Coki Beach) is another good place to snorkel in shallow water.

Have a nice trip and don't worry about getting sick. I always carry my dranamine and my see bands with me everywhere I go on the ship, because if i am going to use them I want them fast.

[grannynurse]

sailed with us on our Zaandam New Year's cruise. She is an adult who has problems even in elevators.
She had forgotten to put her patch on 4 hours before sailing, but put it on when we boarded at 1pm. The first night was a little rocky for her as we sailed out of Canaveral in the rain, but she began feeling better, took the patch off after 72 hours, put another on that night, and was fine for the remainder of the cruise.
The transderm scope patches (script only) are good for 3 days, however it is recommended that you really watch the alcohol, as they can cause drowsiness and mouth dryness.

The sea bands work well for migraines for some people . We have them but don't ever need them, so I can't vouch for their effectiveness for mal de mer.

The girls mentioned motion in the shower but didn't really complain, just said they were reminded they were at sea.
GN

[Sea Island Lady]

I suggest you try meclezine (generic form of Bonine.)
I second that! We take the Meclizine the morning of the cruise. With so many under our belt, We now just take it on the first day or if the seas get REALLY rough. Lately, we have been taking only half a tablet (they are chewable) because it does make me a little sleepy if I have had a full day.
Another hint: Take the Meclizine before going to an amusement park. Great for those rocking, rolling rides. :D It is also goos to take half a pill for a few days after you return from your cruise as it helps with those few days of rocking you retain once you are home (you'll see!:p )

[RuthC]

gpamitic, if it was my post on another thread that frightened you I do apologise. I did make reference to rough seas and the bathroom floor dropping out from below your foot as you go to step out.
As I typed that I was picturing the seas as we sailed out of Nuuk, Greenland in 45' swells. For 38 non-stop hours. :eek: The Caribbean---which apparently is your destination---is quite calmer. Be not afraid.


In the early days of my cruising life I took Bonine faithfully; it worked well. I would take it a couple of hours before sailing, again at bedtime, and repeat for a day or two.
I suggest you start it a few days before you sail---just to see if you have any problems with it before it interferes with your cruise. Then continue taking it until you feel you have your sea-legs.

Go and enjoy. You'll be hooked just like the rest of us are. :)

[bepsf]

I'm not a good swimmer and had never snorkeled in my life when we went on the Catamaran Sail and Snorkle excursion in Roatan - it was one of the best experiences of my life!


They gave us all the equipment we needed and took those of us who had never done this before aside where they trained us how to use the inflatable vest, etc.

I was hesitant about jumping in and almost lost my nerve, but there were guides in the water with us and the others were having such a good time that I couldn't not jump in!

The flippers make it easy to get around, the guides were there with us the whole time - helping us to see the coral and fish, etc. Maybe the water was deep - its hard to tell w/ the goggles on. All I know is that the fish that seemed within reach weren't.

The staff on the boat were lots of fun, very helpful and had nice nibblies ready for us to nosh on when we came out of the water. I wouldn't hesitate to go with them again!

I feel so much more confident now that I'm looking forward to playing w/ the stingrays in Nassau in a couple weeks!

Let us know what you decide to do!

[jbhcw]

So much good information. After 14 cruises I have never gotten seasick. Have felt a little funny at dinnertime on a few cruises. A pharmacist friend does reccommend Bonine. If you are prone to car sickness I would be sure to bring something with you. Hope you enjoy your cruise!

[ruthiegirl]

We just got back from the Westerdam from the Eastern Carribean. The seas were really choppy. The last cruise we went to the Western Carribean and really didn't have rough seas. Well, guess what? I felt sick the lst. nite, the daughter happened to have the patches, that go behind your ear, with her, so I took one and it worked great for me. The next nite my husband got really sick, and went down to the clinic and they gave him sea-sick pills, they were giving them out like candy!!! Everybody was getting sick! As far as the shower, the one I had had bars all around which really helped to hold onto when it got rough, I felt better knowing they were there. I hope I helped somewhat.

[lindleyjulie]

gpomitc dont worry, I have a sickness phobia and on these boards last year I think I drove people mad about being sick and I wanted people to tell me the sea would not be rough and I would not be sick, of course that did not happen I worried about it for weeks, we did a ten day eastern caribbean, as we boarded I went straight to the front desk and asked for some meclazine as people had said to do on these boards, I took it straight away, I took it every day at the same time and can honestly say I only felt a little queezy one day when it was quite choppy, it was quite funny sometimes we looked drunk walking around:eek: and I cant believe I did not feel sick. My mum used to be really sea sick but did not take anything at all and was fine. Enjoy:)

[Sea Island Lady]

its hard to tell w/ the goggles on. All I know is that the fish that seemed within reach weren't.
That explains why the fish are always so small in my photo's.:eek: I could never understand how such large, colorful beautiful fish tuned out to look so distant in my pictures. :o


I feel so much more confident now that I'm looking forward to playing w/ the stingrays in Nassau in a couple weeks!
bepsf - Are you by any chance doing the Blackbeards excursion? I hope not.:(

[sandij]

I always take Dramamine II with me, usually don't even remember to take it because most of today's ships don't move that much. The slight rocking makes it wondeful to sleep, never sleep that well at home.
As for the snorkling, we love to do it but I'm not that brave, generally stay in water that I can stand up in and my husband always teases me about never getting the top of my head wet.
We've been going somewhere every year for about 20 years and cruising is the only way to go.

[Ziggy7]

I'm not a good swimmer and had never snorkeled in my life when we went on the Catamaran Sail and Snorkle excursion in Roatan - it was one of the best experiences of my life!


They gave us all the equipment we needed and took those of us who had never done this before aside where they trained us how to use the inflatable vest, etc.

I was hesitant about jumping in and almost lost my nerve, but there were guides in the water with us and the others were having such a good time that I couldn't not jump in!

The flippers make it easy to get around, the guides were there with us the whole time - helping us to see the coral and fish, etc. Maybe the water was deep - its hard to tell w/ the goggles on. All I know is that the fish that seemed within reach weren't.

The staff on the boat were lots of fun, very helpful and had nice nibblies ready for us to nosh on when we came out of the water. I wouldn't hesitate to go with them again!

I feel so much more confident now that I'm looking forward to playing w/ the stingrays in Nassau in a couple weeks!

Let us know what you decide to do!bepsf, I did the snorkel with the stingrays in nassau, it is in a deep hudge penned area, with stairs you walk down in to get into the water, the vest holds you up, It was my first swim with stingrays and it was wonderful! They love to be rubbed, we even got to feed them with the help of the guide, you wull have a great time! In May we are going to Grand Caymen to snorkel with the stingrays in the sand dunes, I'm so excited !!!

[Sea Island Lady]

Ziggy - Your experience sounds somewhat different of the one we had at Blackbeards. Where did yours take place? The stingrays were pinned up (so sad :( ), but we walked right into the ocean from the sand, not steps. Their were too many screaming people and we all had to line up and let the stingrays swim through between two lines. The squid looked old and nasty and the water was murky. We stood shin deep and were forced to wear life jackets, making it hard to bend over and see into the water. The SR were smaller than the stingray in GC and not very friendly (because they were not hungry.)
Grand Cayman is a much better experience and we have been there twice. The sand bars are gorgeous as is the snorkeling.:)
My DH and I had been to Stingray City in GC without the children and we had such a wonderful experience, that we could wait to take the children. Well the next cruise went to Nassau instead, so we booked the Blackbeards excursion. The children hated it and said they would never swim with the SR in GC!
Well, last summer, we took the children to GC and forced them to go to Stingray City. They absolutely loved it and said it was their favorite excursion yet! :D

[Ziggy7]

Ziggy - Your experience sounds somewhat different of the one we had at Blackbeards. Where did yours take place? The stingrays were pinned up (so sad :( ), but we walked right into the ocean from the sand, not steps. Their were too many screaming people and we all had to line up and let the stingrays swim through between two lines. The squid looked old and nasty and the water was murky. We stood shin deep and were forced to wear life jackets, making it hard to bend over and see into the water. The SR were smaller than the stingray in GC and not very friendly (because they were not hungry.)
Grand Cayman is a much better experience and we have been there twice. The sand bars are gorgeous as is the snorkeling.:)
My DH and I had been to Stingray City in GC without the children and we had such a wonderful experience, that we could wait to take the children. Well the next cruise went to Nassau instead, so we booked the Blackbeards excursion. The children hated it and said they would never swim with the SR in GC!
Well, last summer, we took the children to GC and forced them to go to Stingray City. They absolutely loved it and said it was their favorite excursion yet! :D

Sea Island Lady, I took the Blue Lagoon Stingray snorkel excursion tour , it was on Paradise Island, we took a ferry to the island and went snorkeling with the rays, these rays were very spoiled, pets to the guides and the pen is really really huge, also all natural with fish and starfish and conch on the bottom. Then we had time to swin or sun bath on the beach, there was a bar but not food available, we took the last ferry back about 3 pm, It really was nice but I have heard Grand Caymen is so much better, and we are so excited to get there J:)

[Sea Island Lady]

That does sound better and I hope bepsf is doing the same.;)

[viennacruiser]

Okay, I have 2 more questions from a 1st time cruiser - ones I'm sure will have you seasoned cruisers grinning!

1. While reading some posts on the showers...someone wrote about the difficulty involved when the ship is swaying a lot. Reading this...I started getting nauseous - while safely seated at my desk at work. One of my fears is that I'll get seasick. I was told "don't worry" you'll never feel anything on these cruise ships. Soooo, tell me honestly, how much Dramamine should I be taking??!! And does the wrist band really work?

2. Here's another one...I can't swim but want to try snorkeling. How deep is the water you're in typically. Does the life vest REALLY keep you up well? I HATE going under.
Is the "beginner snorkeling" from the beach a total waste?

I have never had any problem woth sea sickness on the ship, but on a Catamaran excursion I was horribly sea sick..just wanted to die ..next time I took Bonnie and had no problems.
as far as snorkling, I am not a swimmer but have snorkled with a vest in both shallow and deeper water. My husand stays close by, but I have never had a problem.
give it a try you will love it!