Coping with Seasickness

Seasickness is hardly fatal but with symptoms such as nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting, it can put a damper on your cruise fun. However mal de mer is not caused by choppy waters alone. Scientific studies have shown that some folks become seasick by suggestion. They simply convince themselves that being on a ship will make them ill. On the other hand for those who can forget about it, it's often smooth sailing.

Some people have a genuine proclivity for motion sickness and will undoubtedly suffer more during rough seas. According to medical professionals such as Karen Avery, travel resource nurse, at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, seasickness is more prevalent in young people between the ages and 3 to 12 and women. On the other hand, according to Dr. Ken Dardick, a Storrs, Connecticut-based expert in travel-oriented maladies, "Elderly people, 70 and over, are less susceptible."

If you have a propensity to motion sickness or are concerned that you might develop symptoms, Avery suggests arming yourself with preventative measures before hand.

One of the most widely recommended remedies is Transderm Scopolamine, a patch applied behind the ear, at least eight hours before exposure, that can last up to 72 hours. Available only by prescription, the Scop is preventative, not a treatment and can cause possible side effects such as dry mouth, blurry vision, drowsiness and dizziness.

Over-the-counter drugs used to deter and/or treat mal de mer include Dramamine, Meclizine or diphenhydramine (commonly known as Benadryl). On some ships these are dispensed freely. They are also sold in the sundries shop. Stronger, more effective prescription drugs can only be obtained from a physician (the ship's doctor can fix you up, but if often costs you the price of an office visit plus the pills, so you're better off going through your personal physician). These include Promethazine and ephedrine, which when taken together produce quick results as well as potential side-effects such as sleepiness. Another option is suppositories, administered by the ship's physician, which work magic for some people.

If you don't like to take drugs, strap on a Sea-Band wristband the minute you embark. The easy to wear, acupressure inspired product has a plastic bead that presses against the Nei-Kuan pressure point located on the palm side of the wrist. Efficacious in curbing nausea and vomiting without any side-effects, it comes in both adult and children's sizes and can even be used by pregnant women. Sea-Bands are available without a prescription at major drug stores.

You might also want to consider the homeopathic remedy, 'Easy Going.' Manufactured by A. Nelson and Company Ltd., and distributed in the US by Solgar, it helps alleviate symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

To acclimate yourself to shipboard life nurse Avery advises standing on the deck soon after you embark and looking directly into the horizon to gain your equilibrium. She also advises booking a mid-ship cabin where movement is less tangible.

It's also not a bad idea to take only port intensive cruises with fewer days on the open seas and to avoid itineraries where the ocean is bound to be rough such as North Atlantic crossings or the Caribbean during hurricane season.

Another wise option is to pick ships weighing 50,000-tons or more that provide more stability. Even better bets are megaliners such as 101,000-ton Carnival Destiny, Triumph or 102,000-ton Victory, the 110,000-ton Grand Princess, or the 142,000 ton Voyager of the Seas and her sister Explorer of the Seas.

To further guard against seasickness eat very lightly the first few days at seas or the minute you begin to feel queasy. Clear broth and saltines often do the trick. You might lose a pound or two but think of the extra desserts you can consume when you feel better. Drinking ginger ale or taking ginger capsules is a favorite all natural way to ease seasickness. Last but not least, think positive and focus on something else.

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