Prevent Motion Sickness at Sea

Having a motion sickness on board does not only make you feel unpleasant but will let down your whole vacation more than anything else on board.

Cruise lines and travel agents say that the cruise ships have built-in-stabilizers for balancing over the waves. If you choose the mega-ship or the large ships to cruise, it is large enough to avoid rocking motion.

The answer is yes and no. During the years of my cruise experience, constantly on board and living at sea, motion sickness does matter. It ruins our vacations. Motion sickness is very common and happens to many people because we are at sea. The fact is that we are surrounded by sea, waves and constant motion!

So what can you do with motion sickness on board?

The problems are that the different people have different symptoms of motion sickness, and the remedy is totally different to each of us. It is important to do a bit of research and find the best way for you.

If you do a research online, you can easily find a lot of information about how to prepare or prevent motion sickness by medication.

You can find:

• Motion sickness patch
• Motion sickness pills
• An injection at a clinic
• Motion sickness bands

In addition, whether you believe or not, there are strange glasses or magnet!

If you are like us not fancy to take medicines and pills until it is really necessary and are looking for some alternatives, then keep reading. But then, prepare in advance and bring motion sickness pills with your self. It is the must item for cruise packing.

In this article, you will find one of the useful cruise tips. Learn the cause of motion sickness. You can prevent it in advance.

Find out what to do if the motion sickness happens to you on board. It is important to notice the initial symptoms as soon as possible and act on it quickly for remedy. Whether or not you know what to do with motion sickness on board, your cruise will be changed differently. Find out how!

What is Motion Sickness?

It is important to notice the initial symptoms before you get motion sickness and really feel nausea and vomiting. By knowing this in advance, you can react properly and start some remedies before it gets serious.

The signs and symptoms of motion sickness usually begin with a feeling of uneasiness. Then cold sweating, some tension around face and dizziness may be noticed. Some people may exhibit pale skin, having saliva production on a mouth and depressing appetite. Feeling headache and fatigue would be noticed. The strong symptoms of motion sickness are nausea and vomiting. At this level, cruising is no longer enjoyable anymore.

Why Motion Sickness Happens

Motion sickness does happen simply because of the movement of the cruise ship. So why does motion sickness happen with the movement? If you know the mechanism of motion sickness in advance, you can avoid the situations.

1. Mixed information to the brain

Semi-circular canals are located in the inner ear system and keep a balance of our bodies by sending signals to the brain. If you spin around and then stop, the brain continues receiving the message that you are still spinning while you are not. That’s the reason why you feel dizzy after roller coaster rides.

Motion sickness is caused when the semi-circular canals send a mixed signal to the brain. If someone cannot feel the motion with his or her eyes see, the brain will receive the mixed signals. Then the person will develop some symptoms of motion sickness.

2. Lack of sleep or poor physical condition

Sleep well and let go tiredness and stress before you set sail. It is also important to avoid excessive alcohol for 24 hours before you join the ship. It is so exciting when you think of a cruise holiday, especially if it is your first cruise. You might not be able to sleep well a day before you set sail or the first sailing day because your mind is stimulated by a lot of information. Try to sleep enough at least for 8 hours.

3. Unpleasant smells

Make sure you have plenty of fresh air. It is true sometimes the air does not feel fresh due to the poor ventilation systems on the ship. Even the system is well functioning, imagine, the average numbers of the passengers could be numbered 3,000 and around 1,000 crews. The extra-large mega-ships contain more than 6,000 to 8,000 passengers and plus more crews.

On a sailing day (the first day), the passengers are excited and would like to explore the ship. It looked like everyone is out of their cabins. It is overwhelming indeed. Have some fresh air at an open deck or at your private balcony. Perfumes or smoke also can exacerbate motion sickness symptoms.

What to Do when Motion Sickness Really Happens

1. Balance your sensory perception and body

If you’re getting motion sickness, get back to your stateroom and lie down on a bed. This helps your sensory systems become congruent with the body.

It is important to notice the initial symptom of motion sickness and act on it quickly. Motion sickness is an imbalance between what you see and what you feel. At sea, the ship is moving forward. However, your body is standing still. Such a small imbalance is what causes you to feel sick. Lying down is effective.

2. Make yourself comfortable and easy

Make your body relax. Breathing consciously and slowly normally helps this. Take off a belt or get off tight clothes. A life jacket also gives some pressure on your body. It gives you some stress. Take it out as soon as you finished a muster drill on the first sailing day.

3. Change your mood

It is not good emotionally always to lie down during a cruise. If you would like to change your mood, visit a lounge on the Promenade Deck. The mid-ship lower deck is the most stabilizing area to be around on the ship. On the same deck, you can easily access to the open deck for fresh air. If you feel nausea and do not feel comfortable to be around in a public area, you can always bring a disposable bag with yourself.

4. Gaze the horizon far ahead

Spend some time on the open deck or your private balcony. Have some fresh air, face up and see the far ahead. Use the horizon as a fixed point to gaze. This helps you feel better. The more you focus on sensory congruence, the less likely you feel dizziness.

5. Avoid smoking

Get plenty of fresh air. Short breathing can often contribute to motion sickness symptoms. Enjoy slow and deep breathing at sea. Avoid a smoking area. If you are a smoker, avoid smoking while hacing the symptom.

6. What to Eat

Foods with strong smells, heavily fat content and spicy meals may deteriorate the symptoms of nausea. Acid food is also not prepared such as lemon. Avoid a heavy meal before or during a cruise too. Eat small portions of plain and easily digestible food instead.

7. What to Drink

On my first day at sea, my super manager gave me a bottle of water and told me that I could be easily dehydrated on the ship. Dehydration is a definite trigger for motion sickness. So have plenty of water.

When you have some dizziness due to motion sickness, a dining staff may suggest coca-cola. Strangely, it helps. Ask not a diet cork but classic coke.

Try herbal teas. Chamomile and peppermint are the best for motion sickness. Chamomile soothes your stomach. This is the Greeks’ wisdom. Peppermint will refresh you. You can easily get them at a buffet which is normally situated on the Lido Deck.

Avoid alcohol if you feel motion sickness. It is a holiday, I know.. but only for a while. Later you can enjoy plenty.

8. Power of Ginger

Some scientific research supports the benefits of ginger (source). According to the research, ginger prevents the feeling of nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness. The best way is to have some pieces of ginger an hour before you get on the ship. But it is practically not convenient to have organic ginger before or on the ship.

You can bring a ginger tablet or powder, tea and candy with you instead. At least, taking ginger is not harmful. Other than ginger, green apples are often recommended to help with nausea. You can easily find them at a buffet at the Promenade deck.

9. Motion sickness wristbands and bracelets

There are wristbands that applied the effect of acupuncture to relieve the symptoms of motion sickness. You can have many choices of the bands. They have at least no side effect.

10. Tried everything but does not work, then medicate

If you experience severe motion sickness, you can always visit the medical centre on the ship. A doctor will give you motion sickness pills. They are normally meclizine. Some cruise lines provide an injection for motion sickness, but I do not think that anyone would be happy to pay a lot of money for the motion sickness injection.

The problem is that the medical centre’s opening hours are limited and certainly on the port days. You also have to make a queue at the medical centre. It is such a waste of your precious time.

You can bring motion sickness pills in a case if you really need. It is a must item for your packing list.

Motion sickness pills are easy to purchase at drug stores or ask your doctor to prescribe. You can avoid wasting your time at the medical centre. It is normally suggested to take the pill an hour before the ship sets sail.

Do you need to see a doctor to treat motion sickness?

Most people with motion sickness do not need to see a doctor unless the person begins to get dehydration by persistent vomiting. For most people, motion sickness slowly decreases and then disappear its symptoms.

You may enjoy reading more articles on motion sickness:

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What to Do with Motion Sickness on Board