Sea-sickness question

[tonibear]

We are sailing on Nov 30th on the Westerdam and are first time cruisers. My husband gets sea-sick on small boats(live-a-board's). We were wondering if he would get sea-sick on the ship? Trying to decide if he should go to the dr and get something for it or not. Our room is 4078 on the Upper Promenade-so about the middle/lower part of the ship. Thanks in advance for any help!

[wingit]

I too get sea sick on small boats. On my first trip on a cruise ship I got sick. I went to the sundries shop on board and got the accupressure wrist bands. They did the trick for me. I've never gotten seasick on any of my subsequent 5 cruises. I always bring my wrist bands along though, just in case. Some folks recommend medications, others ginger root, etc. This is what worked for me. Have a great cruise!

[kalliekae]

I can't ride a ferris wheel so I was very concerned about seasickness on our first HAL cruise. However, it never happened. I did buy the wrist bands and take them on each cruise. The only time I got seasick was on an Alaskan cruise when we came across some very rough seas. Most of our tablemates could not finish their dinner that night so I wasn't the only one. The NL concierge recommended green apples and an anti-nausea pill along with the wrist bands. I slept through the night!

[BettyPC]

When we went on our cruise in June - I brought the patch with me (on me actually), bonine, accupressure bracelet and Ginger Gum.

We went on a catamaran to St. John's - i thought I was going to die. Popped a piece of ginger gum and within 3 or 4 chews i felt SO much better. I thought at the time it was a miracle:D

[RuthC]

Your cabin is in a very good location to have the smoothest ride possible. Remember to get fresh air, and to look off toward the horizon, too.

And, also remember, the ship rides a lot smoother than a little boat, too. Have your husband start on Bonine a day or two before you sail, just to get it in his system. He should keep taking it during the cruise. As time goes on he might feel like reducing it, so taking it at bedtime might suffice.

[rebeljohn]

I get sick just looking at a merry-go-round. I take Bonine and Ginger tablets during the cruise, and have only gotten sick during HEAVY seas in the Atlantic. These big ships are sooooo smooth.......

[Willsot]

My DW swears by the seabands. We used to take ginger capsules before and during the cruise and no longer feel we need to do that, but if there are rough seas I normally pick up some ginger on my way out of the dining room after dinner.

[jtl513]

Sea-Calm (Meclizine) is available free at the front desk and the infirmary. I suggest you go to the infirmary if there's a line at the front desk, as you can usually just walk right in to the infirmary. Free aspirin, acetaminophen, and band-aids are available there too, in big bins.

On the Westerdam the infirmary doesn't show on your pocket deck plan folder. It is down on A-deck, via the far forward stairs or elevator only.

[funlovin'cruiser]

Don't forget that that front office has Sea Calm too - I recommend taking it as soon as you think that you might be feeling "weird". It's meclazine (sp?) which according to the ship's doctor, dries out your inner ear canal and gets rid of vertigo. I swear by it and so does the crew (there's a big candy bowl of it outside the crew infirmary entrance right next to the other bowl of....hmmm) Sometimes they say that it might make you drowsy - I just take it in the morning with my cup of coffee!! Maybe that cancels out any drowsiness that I feel. So, original poster, if you didn't want the bands or the ginger root (which is delicious) you will not have to pay for the doctor's version :D Just go to the Front Desk.

[jtl513]

... outside the crew infirmary entrance ...That's the "everybody" infirmary! :)

[funlovin'cruiser]

Except it's only open from 9-10am and 4-5pm :mad: It's the regular infirmary - just for crew hours. So, if you are working...well...that's why I no longer do it. Heehee. It was always fun to see however how fast the bowl of "non Sea Calm" goodies went. It usually would be full by 8 am and gone by 10pm. Heck, we didn't have anything else to do ;)

[tonibear]

Thanks everyone for all of your replies! I think we'll stick with the ginger and if he needs it, then go to the front ddesk or infirmary.

[Sleepladypalmdesert]

I get terrible motion sickness. For me, I took 2 Bonine the night before we embarked, then took one each night before bed. I had a wonderful time, even in rough seas between Seattle and Alaska. For me it worked like a charm. Since I took it before bed, I suffered no problems from drowsiness during the day.

[Divi]

While we were in Australia two years ago, we went on a bus tour that included The Great Ocean Road. One of the Aussies on the trip suggested a remedy for anyone bothered with motion sickness.
The solution, a band-aid over the belly button. He told us that this idea had come from a cruise ship Captain.
I used it then and on every plane trip since then. While on our Baltic cruise last year, I wore one everyday.
We really only had one night of rough seas on that cruise but on that night and on every bus, van and train excursion I never had a bit of motion sickness.
This past summer while flying to Las Vegas we encountered a lot of turbulence. Other than having my life flash before my eyes:o, I felt fine.
I don't care if it's all in my mind or not, it works for me.
Okay, I've put on my flame resistant suit and I'm ready to be flamed.:)

[Nutrioso]

We have many cruises under our belt over the years. I have never been seasick except for the time on Princess when we caught the tail end of a hurricane and the Captain told us all to stay in our cabins. Food was delivered several times a day. But I still pack the Bonine and ginger pills anyway. ----Penny

[jtl513]

I don't care if it's all in my mind or not, it works for me.
Okay, I've put on my flame resistant suit and I'm ready to be flamed.:)I've never heard of that one! :) I did have a pharmacology professor tell me once that any relief you feel from green apples (which some ship's crew suggest) is just a placebo effect.

[ellbelle]

I swear by Bonine...I take one each morning and never feel tired during the day. If it is a little bumpy before bed, I take another. I was seasick once many years ago and the after effects of Dramamine was worse than a hangover. The name brand Bonine can be hard to find (i.e. Target does not carry it), but I have found it at two different grocery stores.

Happy Sailing!

[Love Cruises]

I swear by Bonine...I take one each morning and never feel tired during the day. If it is a little bumpy before bed, I take another. I was seasick once many years ago and the after effects of Dramamine was worse than a hangover. The name brand Bonine can be hard to find (i.e. Target does not carry it), but I have found it at two different grocery stores.

Happy Sailing!
CVS has their own version of BONINE and is less expensive. It is right on the shelf area where BONINE is. Just look that the ingredient says 25 mg meclizine.

[tonibear]

After reading all of the replies, I think that I am going to pick up some otc pills to take with us, just to be on the safe side. Thanks!

[navybankerteacher]

Because a fair amount of seasickness is psychological it stands to reason that an equal amount of the cure is psychological. Whatever works is good. After years with USN (in fair sized ships as well as landing craft) I still get the rare occasional twinge -only when ship has a very steady, repetitive roll or pitch -- then a saltine, a bit of green apple, or a piece of crystallized ginger does the trick (probably also psychological as well -but I do not knock what works)

[Scorpiorose]

Get the bonine 24 hour tablets.......take every morning including embartation day......rain or shine, that outta do it, it does for me and I get dizy on the escalators......Drink lots of water, don't allow him to get dehydrated......keep some saltines around and nibble......this plan, I've never had a problem, never did the patch.......

The only problem I had is on the Miracle, miss a couple days of my pills and hit rough weather. :( Now I take it regularly!!! Margarita

[luxurysailer]

Many people have advised you to take meclizine, which is good. But Ruth C is the only one who has given you a key piece of information: it should be taken prior to feeling seasick, preferably at least 12 hours prior to boarding the ship. This is especially true for someone as prone to seasickness as your husbad apparently is. If your husband waits until he is sick, he will have to wait some hours before he gets a good effect. If he is able to keep it down, that is. If he is unable to keep it down, it will have little or no effect. Remember, you want to prevent your husband from becoming seasick; not just treat him after he gets sick. And that requires that he begin taking meclizine at least 12 hours prior to being subjected to the motion that causes seasickness.

[rjm1cc]

I get sea sick on a small boat. No problem on a cruise ship. I also had a hard time telling if the seas were rough or not. However you could check the TV and they would tell you.
When I went on tour that included a boat I picked up some sea sick med's at the front desk and took one for safty. No problem. I think you will find out that the cruise ships are pretty stable. You might notice some motion when you go to bed so I would pick up the meds on day one so you have them if needed.

[jschm27]

While we were in Australia two years ago, we went on a bus tour that included The Great Ocean Road. One of the Aussies on the trip suggested a remedy for anyone bothered with motion sickness.
The solution, a band-aid over the belly button. He told us that this idea had come from a cruise ship Captain.
I used it then and on every plane trip since then. While on our Baltic cruise last year, I wore one everyday.
We really only had one night of rough seas on that cruise but on that night and on every bus, van and train excursion I never had a bit of motion sickness.
This past summer while flying to Las Vegas we encountered a lot of turbulence. Other than having my life flash before my eyes:o, I felt fine.
I don't care if it's all in my mind or not, it works for me.
Okay, I've put on my flame resistant suit and I'm ready to be flamed.:)

LOL That does conjure up a humorous image: imagine everyone at the pool wearing a band aid over their belly button! Or everyone one going to the beach on HMC! Some folks would be modest, not wanting to bring unwanted attention to themselves, so they would wear the “invisible” ones. Others, wanting to make a fashion statement, would wear “designer” band aids in bright colors. Some might even want to make a political statement by wearing a band aid supporting their favorite candidate or cause. Myself, I think I would want a lime green one with either Homer Simpson or Big Bird on it! :D:D:D

Divi – No flaming intended.

John

[lazey1]

Dramamine is the only thing that works for me.

[aggie_gal]

I've found that regular (non-drowsy) Dramamine works great for me for an over the counter product. I can't ride thrill rides and I get motion sickness on a train. We were on the Alaska train a couple years ago and I was feeling sick so I got some Dramamine and a coke and within an hour or two, I was feeling better.

The Transderm Scope patch worked wonders for me after a surgery. I have terrible reactions to anesthesia (makes me really sick to my stomach), so they put one of the Scope patches behind my ear and I could wear it for up the 3 days. On the evening of the 3rd day, I took it off and got sick that night.

For both Dramamine and the patch, I would highly recommend starting the night before or at least the morning of your trip. I took Dramamine when we went on a Disney cruise and we hit some really bad seas the first night. We were eating at Palo (like Pinnacle Grill for HAL) and people were getting sick left and right. I, however, did not. :)

[RevNeal]

The Transderm Scope patch worked wonders for me after a surgery. I have terrible reactions to anesthesia (makes me really sick to my stomach), so they put one of the Scope patches behind my ear and I could wear it for up the 3 days. On the evening of the 3rd day, I took it off and got sick that night.

If you tolerated the Transderm Scope patch, you might find that Scopace -- the pill form of the drug, taken orally -- works even better. Taking it orally allows one to control the dosage a little better per-body size. The last time I had any real motion problems aboard ship was during the 45 foot seas we were experiencing near the Fauklands this past January. Knowing that the very high seas were coming, I took a Scopace pill the night before and, on schedule, during the days (once in the morning, once in the evening), and I had very few problems during our two days of very high seas (I had more problems with the table in my cabin tipping over ... yes, our yawing and pitching was that violent and extreme).

A British drug that works just as well (for me) is called Stugeron. Stugeron contains Cinnarizine which I find much more effective than Meclizine.

[garykool81]

The last time I had any real motion problems aboard ship was during the 45 foot seas we were experiencing near the Fauklands this past January. Knowing that the very high seas were coming, I took a Scopace pill the night before and, on schedule, during the days (once in the morning, once in the evening), and I had very few problems during our two days of very high seas (I had more problems with the table in my cabin tipping over ... yes, our yawing and pitching was that violent and extreme).

Totally off-topic, but WOW...45-foot seas is quite nasty for a cruise ship of any size. The worst I've experienced was 30-foot seas during a transatlantic crossing aboard Oceania's Regatta (twice, actually). The motion of the ship was bad enough to make chairs tip over, etc., but I think most entertaining was our bed surfing around the room. I couldn't help but laugh at the situation, even though I was not feeling too hot at the time.

Back on topic -- Different things seem to work for different people. Everyone's body reacts to medicines and treatments in slightly varying ways. What works for one person might not work at all for another.

For example, I've always found that Dramamine actually makes me feel *worse.*

I've had success with combining Bonine (similar to Dramamine) with a daily ginger tablet (see your local GNC store).

[RevNeal]

Totally off-topic, but WOW...45-foot seas is quite nasty for a cruise ship of any size. The worst I've experienced was 30-foot seas during a transatlantic crossing aboard Oceania's Regatta (twice, actually). The motion of the ship was bad enough to make chairs tip over, etc., but I think most entertaining was our bed surfing around the room. I couldn't help but laugh at the situation, even though I was not feeling too hot at the time.

The Rotterdam handled the seas like the champ she is. We were undergoing hurricane force winds, the ship was experiencing a 20-25 degree list to port, and we were slamming so hard that water was splashing the crows nest. It was a lot of fun. Nevertheless, I would have preferred getting into Stanley rather than having to skip the Falklands. :(

[fireman845]

Get the bonine 24 hour tablets.......take every morning including embartation day......rain or shine, that outta do it, it does for me and I get dizy on the escalators......Drink lots of water, don't allow him to get dehydrated......keep some saltines around and nibble......this plan, I've never had a problem, never did the patch....


Totally agree with you! Bonine works great for ME as it does not cause the drowsiness...

[lizzielady]

I took 2 Bonine tabs a couple of years ago as I boarded my cruise. It made me somewhat drunk. I went to the spa introducttion in the theatre on the Prinsendam. Three times the program/flyer just "slipped from my fingers"--flying down the aisle in the lounge. I didn't feel drunk, but evidently there was some effect. On HAL trips I take 3 large pieces of candied ginger after every dinner as I leave the dining room. It does seem to keep everything in check.

[caribbean girl]

On our last couple of cruises, I brought along ginger lozenges and ginger tea, just in case. Luckily, I had no problems at all. After having experienced very high seas on the Maasdam one year, I think I've been cured of any sea sickness which might occur due to the normal movement of the ship. In any case, the ginger is a good thing to have for general good digestion, so I enjoyed my ginger tea from time to time in the Lido.:)

Have fun planning your cruise...I wish you a wonderful vacation!

[garykool81]

The Rotterdam handled the seas like the champ she is. We were undergoing hurricane force winds, the ship was experiencing a 20-25 degree list to port, and we were slamming so hard that water was splashing the crows nest. It was a lot of fun. Nevertheless, I would have preferred getting into Stanley rather than having to skip the Falklands. :(

I can't say the same for Oceania's R-Class ships. They certainly weather the storm, but are notorious for poor handling in rough waters. They bob like a cork in the ocean. If what I heard was true, I think on both crossings the ship sustained upwards of $20,000 in damages to broken artwork, pianos, liquor, glassware, lamps, etc. Certain cabins flooded with a decent amount of water via the balconies, etc...it was a mess.

That said, the line is fantastic, and I'd gladly do it for a third time! haha

[Kjjd4]

The answer is "yes" - he may get sea-sick. I have personal experience with this. But here is the solution - bring along a good antihistamine.

On our first cruise we had 10 foot waves and I was toast by dinner. Fortunately we sat next to the head of Pharmacology of a major hospital and his advice was to take an antihistamine like Cloratabs (you can get a generic version at Walmart or Walgreens) or Benydryl (same generic available). He said to forget the Dramamine or other motion sickness drugs (which are a form of antihistamine, but they make you really drowsy).

From what I gathered, they make you oblivious to the rolling of the boat because they dull your reaction time. You simply need to find the right dosage so that it doesn't make you sleepy (1/2 pill, 1 pill or 2).

It worked like a charm and I enjoyed the rest of the cruise.

I've also tried crystalized ginger, a wrist shocker, and those patches you put behind your ear. All have helped in a limited way, but the antihistamine was the key.

[cubzter]

We are sailing on Nov 30th on the Westerdam and are first time cruisers. My husband gets sea-sick on small boats(live-a-board's). We were wondering if he would get sea-sick on the ship? Trying to decide if he should go to the dr and get something for it or not. Our room is 4078 on the Upper Promenade-so about the middle/lower part of the ship. Thanks in advance for any help!

And not to cause you unnecessary concern but something you may want to be aware of is that some people, like me, get sea sick after LEAVING the ship. I think my inner ear and balance become so used to the motion that when it suddenly stops I suffer the same symptoms of sea sickness only from a reverse in the stimuli. I had a positively hellish disembarkation on my last cruise due to this weird anti-sea sickness. :eek:

[mexicomamma]

Where do you get ginger?

[azrose]

I got my ginger capsules at wal mart.....think $5 - ish.....works good....even the non drowsy bronine makes me sleepy.....so I take them at night.....

[docksider21]

Many people have advised you to take meclizine, which is good. But Ruth C is the only one who has given you a key piece of information: it should be taken prior to feeling seasick, preferably at least 12 hours prior to boarding the ship. This is especially true for someone as prone to seasickness as your husbad apparently is. If your husband waits until he is sick, he will have to wait some hours before he gets a good effect. If he is able to keep it down, that is. If he is unable to keep it down, it will have little or no effect. Remember, you want to prevent your husband from becoming seasick; not just treat him after he gets sick. And that requires that he begin taking meclizine at least 12 hours prior to being subjected to the motion that causes seasickness.

I agree. Prevention is essential. If sea sick prone, once you get it, it is harder to "cure". Merely feeling "dizzy" promotes more dizziness, and it is a vicious cycle -- or a vicious merry-go-round as it were.