Seasick.... Yes or No?????

[Toad]

As you all know I am really looking forward to crusing with my parents for the very first time! My husband and I have been on HAL nemerous times and finally convinced them to come along. However, my mother is more than a little bit concerned about seasickness. My parents are in their early 80's and have travel quite a bit along with crusing on smaller ships in Norway (recently) and across the Atlantic (after the War). They are both very healthy and not likely to complain, but this has been a concern. For myself I am never bothered by the ships motion, but would appreciate hearing from all of you. My mother does read the board, but is not a member. PLEASE fill her in! Thanks.

[RuthC]

Your mom crossed the Atlantic after the war? Before the ships were as large as they are now? Before stabilizers? The Atlantic! And they're willing to cruise?

No problem with the upcoming cruise then.

If you think there is a possibility of seasickness try starting on Bonine a day or two before the cruise. That way if there are any side-effects it's before you cruise. (If they take any other meds---or even if they think at their age they should---they might want to check with their doctor before starting Bonine.)

Go and have a good time.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I totally agree with Ruth, I get motion sick very easily so I start to take my Bonine usually the day before we leave then every morning. I actually skipped on morning on our Alaska cruise because we did have such calm seas. I would check with thier doctors or at least a Pharmasist to make sure the Bonine can be taken with any drugs they may already take. But I am guessing they will be fine.:)

[waterlogs]

I completely understand your parents' concerns.
But, if they sailed on those older ships they will probably be fine - could be more of a "balancing" act as they walk since they are older.

When we sailed on a smaller ship to Alaska - we hit a bit of rough seas (18-20ft!) and queasiness was a problem. That ship had a big bowl full of peppermints, or green (granny smith) apples, and oranges. Apparently the skin on the apples and the white part under the orange peel can really calm the tummy. I know it did for me!

The best remedy though is sea bands. As far as I am concerned, no one needs to use the patch or take pills if they put on the sea bands about one day prior to the cruise and use them the entire time they are on the ship. (Shore excursions you can take them off!) I was first introduced to them after I had a hysterectomy. When I woke up after surgery the hospital had put them on me to prevent nausea. They worked very well, and I use them on every cruise we take (have taken 14!) and on every flight I take as well!
They are not expensive, they do not contain drugs - just work off a body pressure points - and they really do work! Available at most drug stores, or you can buy them on line.
Hope this helps!

(PS - they don't look so great on formal night - but neither does a green face!)

[Esme]

I also take Bonamine (Bonine in US) and although I am on a lot of meds, I was fine with them. However, as suggested Yur Mom should heck with her doctor or pharmacist just to be sure.

Tried the seabands years ago and they sure didn't work :( but some people swear by them.

Happy sailing! :D

[damdamsels]

We have taken two different cruises. The first one I got a little sea sick so after checking the boards before the second one I took everyone's advice. I took Bonine and Ginger tablets too before the cruise and during. I also had the bands available just in case but didn't need them. My teenage kids didn't want to take my advise and take the ginger and Bonine but ended up using the bands. On our upcoming cruise in January I will definately start the Bonine and Ginger a couple of days before. I am traveling with 2 ladies that are 80 so I understand your concern. Good luck...

[michmike]

I've used the sea band now on 4 cruises and have never had a problem with sea sickness. Not sure that I would have been bothered without them but I figured why take the chance? They are fairly inexpensive and avoid the need for taking another med (have too many of THOSE already! )

[jazzsea]

First thing I do.... Pick up five or six packages of the Meclizine that is handed out at the front desk. I am never without one of the packages in my pocket or purse.

I take the first pill about three hours before we are scheduled to sail. Then I take a pill every 8 hours.

I also munch on candied ginger. Candied ginger works for me on trains and airplanes but the Meclizine is a must have when I cruise.

[Toad]

I guess I must be one of the lucky ones, because I never feel sick. Once we hit the tail end of a hurricane and I was fine, although my husband had a hard time sleeping with all the rocking and rolling! Thanks all for some good advise. For those of you who are never bothered please SAY SO!

[OCruisers]

I guess I must be one of the lucky ones, because I never feel sickThanks all for some good advise. For those of you who are never bothered please SAY SO!

Sorry Toad .... After being "flamed" so many times for telling people they have no reason to think they will get sea sick on Caribbean cruises ... I almost hate to give my opinion.

We've been on 40+ cruises, took our girls when they were young, and have sailed with family and friends -- none of us were EVER sea sick (even in some nasty weather) on a Caribbean cruise! Especially hate it when people drug their children just because they think they are prone to motion sickness.

--> To Toad's Mother: Really, you will be fine...it's a Caribbean cruise, not crossing the Atlantic. Go and have a wonderful time! Don't even think about being sea sick ... and you won't be !!!! Looking forward to Toad posting a great report of the fun all of you had on the cruise!

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[Himself]

I think Sea Sickness is a concern for one who is just starting cruising or cruised in the pre-stabilizer day. The Front desk has pills that should aleviate it. Some people have difficulty with any swell of the water. I have been on a number of cruises over the last 8 and a half years and I have been in some rough weather but I never had a problem with it---YET! (Knock on wood~) However I have been in situations where many did not show up in the dining room on a given night. But that has only happened two or three times. I have also gone 14 striaght days and nothing but smooth seas.
HImself

[Toad]

Ocruiser:

Thank you for your encouraging words! Those are the posts we need to see! I will certainly let you know about our trip. I really think it is going to be a blast, and that my parents may decide that it is the ONLY way to go in the future!

[CDRMark]

<--loves heavy weather.
DW on the other hand gets queasy in a chop. She has taken Bonine to good effect. (and red wine on a particularly nasty channel crossing. {not with the Bonine, instead of})

[the2ofus]

I have never been seasick on 9 cruises, including an Atlantic crossing. DH, who occasionally used to get carsick unless riding in front, was worried about cruising and seasickness. In 7 cruises he has only been queasy one day in the Caribbean near Costa Rica during the week following a major hurricane. He wore the sea-bands on the first two cruises and then abandoned them.

[RaffinOrganGrinders]

Our recent trip to Hawaii last February on the Statendam was a little rough on the way out with winter storms having passed the California coast a few days before our departure. We had three days with fourteen feet waves, the DW did feel poorly on the morning of the second day out. Funny thing, all I felt was extremely hungry while she was taking her medication. After that she was fine the rest of the trip.

The last time I felt sea sick was on a really smooth cross of the Baltic ('82 from Denmark to Sweden) with a slight swell across the bow. Was OK once on the deck with a breeze in my face.

George

[canoeny]

We are both in our late 60's. On our first cruise we were on the tail end of an Atlantic huricane and had no problems (except walking down the corridors without bumping into someone or stumbling through open cabin doors). Another time was out of San Diego where we cruised one day behind a land falling huricane on the Mexican riviera. My wife has the propensity toward a quesy stomach but was not bothered. The ships have stabilizers and generally will not roll from side to side. The motion in rough seas tends to be a slow bow to aft up and down. This motion is far less disturbing than side to side motion, at least that's what my friends who have seasickness problems tell me. I think your parents should be fine given their past history of not having any symtoms.

[jazzsea]

I believe that my problems with seasickness can be traced back to the many, many ear infections that I had as a child and young adult. I was a swimmer in high school and college.

Over the years I have learned a few things about motion sickness and have tried lots of different remedies.

Do not allow your stomach to get empty. You are less likely to feel queezy if you eat every four to six hours. Keep an apple or two in your cabin and maybe grab a few packages of saltines at the Lido Restaurant. Both are good to munch on between meals or first thing in the morning before breakfast.

Candied ginger or ground ginger capsules can quickly settle your stomach. Just like ginger ale.

Meclizine is a stronger version of the Bonine that you can purchase without a perscription. I have been told that this pill interrupts the message between your inner ear and your brain. Not sure if that is true, but the Meclizine really works well for me. It is handed out at the front desk and the infirmary aboard ship.

Most people that I know do not get seasick.

[Druke I]

Only seasick once, back in Nov 86, on the little Golden Odyssey, a 10,000GRT vessel, in China Sea, trying to outrun back-end of a typhoon.

Screws out of the water, green water over the bridge, inclinometer pegged, etc. That was rough. Halsey's Fleet lost three destroyers to capsizing in those same waters, ending days of WW2.

Now, if ever feeling even slightly queasy, drink a ginger ale, and I am fine! Saltine crackers help fill the stomach for those queasy feelings, also.

[Roboat]

I just got back from Western Car on the Zuiderdam and was amazed at how smooth it was! I did not even feel the ship MOVE more than 5 minutes the entire cruise!

A year earlier, on the Eastern Caribbean route, same ship, we had abnormally rough seas a couple of days, and DW was queasy a few times in our inside cabin (though I was unaffected.) I think being on deck or in an outside cabin is helpful because you can see the horizon from time to time. That means your ear and your eyes get the same input. Some people get queasy when when their ears sense movement but their eyes don't.

I agree with the advice about ginger, and avoiding an empty stomach. (I myself haven't had one since I was 3 years old.:) ) The bands didn't do much for DW. I also agree with taking the seasick pills - at least the non-drowsy Dramamine, at least a couple of hours before going aboard just as a precaution.

Your Mom could boost her confidence by avoiding heavy eating or drinking for the first 24 hrs or so, just to see how she's doing, which will probably be "Just fine! When's dinner?"

She might stay away from really unusual (for her) foods for the first day or so, again, just to see how she's doing. If heavier seas are forecast, or at the first sign of queasiness, eat a couple of crackers, pop a pill and drink a little ginger ale immediately - then don't dwell on it. Go lounge by the pool, or to the casino, or somewhere where there is some distraction and movement. She'll be absolutely fine.

Bottom line: she'll probably be fine without any aids, but if she needs them or wants them, they're there. The boat will be chock full of folks who have had the same apprehensions - and are now avid cruisers.

Bon voyage!

[Toad]

Thanks to all for alliviating some concerns! When can we begin the count down for our Feb. 4, 2005 cruise?