Seasickness, a form of motion sickness, is a common concern for cruise passengers. Symptoms typically include nausea, dizziness, and a general feeling of malaise, which can detract from an enjoyable trip. Fortunately, seasickness is manageable. With the right preparation and strategies, passengers can significantly reduce their susceptibility to the ocean’s movement and ensure a smooth voyage.
Understanding the Cause of Seasickness
Seasickness is caused by a sensory conflict within the brain. This occurs when the information received from the eyes does not match the signals sent by the inner ear’s balance system, the vestibular system. The fluid-filled canals of the vestibular system detect the ship’s rocking motion, informing the brain that the body is moving. If a passenger is inside a cabin, their eyes see a stationary environment, telling the brain the body is still. This contradiction confuses the central nervous system, triggering the body’s protective response that manifests as motion sickness symptoms.
Environmental and Behavioral Adjustments
Selecting a strategic cabin location on the ship can immediately reduce the intensity of perceived motion. The ship’s center, or midship, and the lower decks move the least, similar to the fulcrum of a seesaw. Booking a stateroom in this area minimizes the sensation of pitch (front-to-back movement) and roll (side-to-side movement).
Once on board, seeking a visual reference point is a highly effective non-medicinal strategy. By going out onto a deck or using a balcony to look at the fixed line of the horizon, you provide the brain with a stable reference. This visual input reconciles the moving sensation from the inner ear, helping to harmonize the conflicting sensory signals.
Maintaining a supply of fresh air and avoiding confined, stuffy spaces also helps manage the symptoms. It is recommended to avoid activities that worsen the sensory conflict, such as reading a book or staring at a phone or tablet screen while the ship is in motion. These close-up activities lock your visual field onto a stationary object, exacerbating the mismatch with your inner ear’s perception.
Dietary choices before and during the cruise can also influence comfort. Avoid heavy, greasy, spicy, or acidic foods, as these can irritate the stomach lining and increase nausea sensitivity. Instead, focus on bland, starchy items such as plain crackers, dry toast, or bananas, which are easy to digest. Dehydration and alcohol consumption worsen symptoms, so maintaining hydration with water is advised.
Pharmacological and Supplemental Relief
Effective prevention of seasickness often involves the correct and timely use of medications or supplements. Over-the-counter (OTC) options are typically antihistamines, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Bonine or Dramamine Less Drowsy). These medications work by reducing the sensitivity of the inner ear to motion and blocking signals to the brain’s vomiting center.
It is crucial to take these preventive oral medications 30 to 60 minutes before the ship departs, as they are far less effective once symptoms have already begun. A common side effect of these first-generation antihistamines is drowsiness, though meclizine is often marketed as being less sedating. Passengers should be aware that alcohol consumption may intensify this drowsy effect.
For a stronger, longer-lasting effect, a prescription option like the scopolamine transdermal patch is available. This patch is applied to the hairless skin behind the ear and releases medication slowly over a period of up to three days. To ensure its full effectiveness, the scopolamine patch must be applied at least four hours before sailing begins. Common side effects can include dry mouth and blurred vision.
Ginger, taken in the form of capsules, chews, or tea, is a popular natural remedy that appears to work by settling the digestive system and reducing gastric discomfort. Acupressure wristbands are another non-drug alternative that applies constant pressure to the P6 or Neiguan point on the inner wrist. This pressure is thought to stimulate a nerve pathway that sends signals to the brain, helping to interrupt nausea messages.