Going to Hawaii; How rough is "rough?"

[talosian]

I put off cruising for literally decades because I tend to get motion sickness, and for those of you that don't know; it ain't fun.

I finally gave in and did a cruise to Mexico 14 months ago and loves it and have since done 4 more, but they were all easy water.

Now we're going to Hawaii (I agreed in a weak moment) and I read the the water can be "rough" at times. Considering there are four sea days each way, I am not more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

So if you have done the trip, how rough is "rough?" I keep having visions of the scene in "The Caine Mutiny" when the Caine is in a typhoon; it also didn't help when I saw the youtube video (security camera) when a cruise ship hit rough waters and furniture was sliding from one side of the room to the other; looked like a disaster movie.

And I assume there is a difference between "rough" and "choppy."

Yes, I plan on taking Ginger (the pills, not the girl) and Bonine PRN if needed.

Any encouragement out there?

Thanks.

[mr green]

We have been twice and the seas were calm. Now I understand that while it can get rough, it is called the Pacific Ocean, because of the calm seas.

john

[cb at sea]

Anything goes when you're in the middle of the ocean! As long as the seas are below about 10-12 ft., you'll be fine...those ships are large enough to "ride over" seas that high. If seas get higher than that, you are going to feel it, even tho the ship is NOT in jepardy from rough waters!

[cruisebum50]

We went in November 2005 and the first night out of L.A. we were rocking a lot. All of the next day we had 12' to 14' waves. Lots of rocking and rolling. I took seasick meds and I was fine. My mother on the other hand even with meds was "green". After that is was calm seas the rest of the way over and back.

[Cruisin' Chick]

There is a current that you cross out of Los Angeles that may cause a lot of rolling. Surf conditions at the time of your sailing could also cause a lot of sea movement (our Hawaiian cruise started while there was record surf for that date). That said, some sailings are pretty smooth, some start out rough (but not furniture moving about rough), some end rough. Ours started with "rough seas" per the navigation channel, but after a few days was relatively smooth. Some passengers weren't seen out of their cabin for a couple of days.

As the one in my family who suffers from motion sickness, I was prepared with various forms of ginger, which were well used. Didn't bother my 8-yr-old (must be that prenatal cruise she took) nor my hubby.

I wouldn't recommend this cruise for any first timers to cruising until they try out their sealegs.

[Valeen]

My experience was about the same as Cruisin' Chicks. The 1st day out of LA we were aware of motion, and heard of some being troubled by it, but after that all was OK. Rough water can be nearly anywhere.

[scottbee]

Originally Posted by talosian

I put off cruising for literally decades because I tend to get motion sickness, and for those of you that don't know; it ain't fun.

I finally gave in and did a cruise to Mexico 14 months ago and loves it and have since done 4 more, but they were all easy water.

Now we're going to Hawaii (I agreed in a weak moment) and I read the the water can be "rough" at times. Considering there are four sea days each way, I am not more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

Was just fine on our 15 day out and back over Christmas.

[kitty9]

You have to realize that what's rough for one person would be smooth for another. I don't get seasick, so for me, the swells would have to be over 20ft before I would feel it. For others, swells of 5 ft cause trouble. But like others, I think the first day and a half is usually pretty rocky out of LA and the same heading home---pretty choppy the last two days. Of course this all changes if there is a tropical storm.

[navybankerteacher]

Asking how rough is rough is sort of like asking how long is a piece of string. The Pacific can be like a mill pond or a scene from "The Caine Mutiny" -- but unless you are one of the very few with real inner ear problems, you become essentially immune to virtually any wave motion after a few times at sea. As shown by the experience of first-time sailors in the Navy - who get over it in a few days because they need to, most sea-sickness is actually self induced by people who convince themselves they have it.

[beachchick]

There's no way to tell you how rough it might be. For example, you'd be hard-pressed to find me crossing the Pacific to Hawaii right now! So far the Pacific tropical storm and hurricane season has been far more active than the past few years. Last year at this time, there was a tropical storm that "brushed" Hawaii and resulted in some rough waters around the islands and a few cancelled ports. The year before, the summer ocean waters were generally smooth and nice, except where you cross the main currents. That is going to be noticeable no matter what.

Here's a general analysis: You are more likely to have stormy or rougher crossings in winter (December through March) and in late summer (August and September), but you are just as likely to have nice smooth cruising during those times. It varies so much from week to week, month to month, season to season, and year to year that navybankerteacher is pretty much right on that it's an impossible question to answer accurately.

As to how "rough" rough is on the Pacific, kitty9 makes an important point. My mother doesn't consider it truly rough unless the ship is pitching and yawing to the point where glasses and dishes are flying. I consider it rough when the pools have noticeable "surf." My DH is somewhere inbeween us. My brother considers it rough if he can tell he's on the water! But as been mentioned, the ships are designed for heavier seas. They are large enough to handle fairly high waves and rough conditions. Most have stabilizers too.

If you take the ginger capsules and then supplement with a Bonine (meclazine) at night, you should be fine in most conditions. Certainly you should be fine unless the ship cruises right into a hurricane--which will not happen because the captain's do know how to move around them. I do suggest that you consider taking 1/2 a Bonine every night starting 2 nights before your cruise. It will give you an "edge" against any motion sickness without knocking you out for hours. (And you can drink alcohol while taking it...Just in case that's something you need to know.) If you decide not to take the Bonine as a preventive, it will still work, but you'll feel lousy while you wait for it to kick in. (What I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't listen to those who say motion sickness meds "won't work" if you wait until you are already feeling queasy. They will, you'll just wish you'd taken them sooner.)

beachchick

[STARFISH*4]

did hawaii in nov 2004 flew over and cruised back over to ensenda well cruisers that were veterans of this travel say WORST they had seen...bad enough that when you are eating and all of a sudden you find yourself sliding and entertainment the dancers falling....warnings out to be very careful walking on the ship...hold on and SICK people everywhere--i cant remember how high the swells were but they were high...up and down and up and down...ohhhhhhh makes me SICK now.....it was ROUGH that was my 4th cruise and i wasnt sure i would cruise again......but i am ready to take my 9th so i guess i SURVIVED...but i would say it can be ROUGH and you just never really know when and where you will hit IT and like so many have said what is ROUGH for YOU wouldnt be for THEM!!

[ehfl]

Notice: Welcome to the 21st Century!

With today's medicine, there is no need for anyone to suffer from motion sickness.

There are lots of effective remedies. So stop using motion sickness as an excuse, and start enjoying life.