Are you prone to seasickness? Wondering if it’s a good idea to go on a cruise? As someone who is prone to seasickness, I’ve been on over 25 cruises and have figured out how to manage it over the years. Surprisingly, cruising has become my preferred way of vacationing, even with my seasickness. Below we will discuss whether or not it’s a good idea to go on cruises if you easily get seasick and precautions to take on how to avoid it while on a cruise.
What Is It Like to Go on a Cruise If You’re Prone to Seasickness?
I’m going to be honest. When I first started cruising, I did everything wrong—I went on cruises during hurricane season and stayed in the most unstable cabin possible. Being prone to seasickness, these bad decisions made me incredibly sick on cruises.
In fact, in my early days of cruising, it was common for me to get so sick that I couldn’t function. I remember going on several cruises where I literally threw up in the hallway and was too sick to even take care of my toddler daughter- thankfully, my parents were there to help.
I remember being too unwell to make it to the main dining room for lunch. I spent sea days in bed. It was a terrible experience, and I was so traumatized that I took a break from cruising for a few years. I just didn’t think I could handle it.
What Changed?
Now, I’m back to cruising. I go on two to three cruises a year, and I love it! What made me come back to cruise vacations is that I’ve found ways to reduce my seasickness, so now I rarely experience it. I’ve learned some effective techniques to control and prevent seasickness, and I’m going to teach you exactly what I do to control my seasickness.
Don’t Let Seasickness Strike
The first thing you need to know is that the most effective way to combat seasickness on cruises is to proactively prevent it. Once seasickness sets in, you go into a downward spiral of feeling sick, and it’s tough to shake off the nausea.
That’s why the key is to stop seasickness before it even begins! There are a few things you can do to prevent seasickness; below, we will go over them one by one.
Go on the Right Cruise Itinerary
Make sure you don’t sail in choppy waters. It’s important to choose a cruise itinerary that avoids rough seas. Based on my experience, sailing in the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean tends to be rougher compared to the Caribbean Sea or the Mediterranean Sea.
For example, I tend to stay away from New England and Canada cruises because sailing in the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Canada usually involves encountering choppy waters. I’d also never go on an Antarctica cruise because I know it will have to sail past the Drake Passage, which is notorious for its harsh and extremely choppy waters!
Don’t Go During Hurricane Season
If you’re prone to seasickness, avoid going on a cruise during hurricane season. The waters can get quite choppy, and there’s a higher risk of encountering a storm. It’s best to skip Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, and Bahamas cruises from June 1 to November 30 because there is a higher chance that the waters will be extra choppy.
I understand it’s tough, especially since hurricane season coincides with summer vacation months. And sometimes, you have no choice but to plan your cruise around your kids’ summer break.
But know that cruising during hurricane season does not necessarily mean you’ll get rough seas. I recently took a Bahamas cruise from New York during hurricane season and was lucky to have perfect weather. It’s really hit or miss; sometimes, you get lucky.
But if you want to play it safe, consider other cruise destinations unaffected by the Atlantic hurricane season, such as Alaska and Mediterranean cruises.
Choose the Big Ships
If you want a smooth sailing experience, go for the larger cruise ships. These large cruise ships are equipped with state-of-the-art stabilizers that will keep the cruise ship stable even in rough waters. These ships are so steady that you won’t even feel the waves.
In fact, you’ll feel like you’re in a sprawling land resort rather than on a ship. When booking your cruise, choose the larger, more modern ships and stay away from the smaller, older ones. You’ll want to be on a cruise ship that can handle the most challenging waves with ease!
Mid-Ship Cabin
Your cruise cabin location is also important when you’re prone to seasickness. Choose a mid-ship cabin on the lower deck for a more stable experience since the ship’s motion is less noticeable and more steady in these cabins. Avoid cabins at the front or back of the ship; these areas tend to be the rockiest and can trigger seasickness.
Always Be Full
Believe it or not, staying full is one of the main strategies for preventing seasickness on cruises. Yes, you read that right, you need to constantly be eating. The good thing is that with the abundance of food options on cruises, it’s fairly easy to do.
Here’s my strategy for staying full on cruises. First, I make sure to have a substantial breakfast of eggs and oatmeal at home before heading to the cruise terminal. This is just in case there are long lines during check-in and I end up having a late lunch on the ship. I want to make sure that I don’t ever get to the point where I feel hungry!
Once on the cruise, I indulge in plenty of carbs like pasta, rice, and bread, along with proteins. I don’t just stick to salads. This helps me sustain fullness throughout the cruise without ever feeling hungry.
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Sea Days
Sea days are the worst when you’re prone to seasickness because that’s when seasickness starts. Especially when the ship is sailing through open waters like the Atlantic Ocean—it’s when the cruise ship feels choppy!
To avoid feeling seasick, I have a strategy that works well for me. In the morning, I take anti-seasickness medication, even if I’m feeling fine. I don’t wait until I’m feeling sick before taking my medications because, by then, it’s too late. The key is to take your anti-seasick meds before you start to feel sick because it can take some time for them to kick in and go into effect. This is what I always take to prevent seasickness. I also wear my anti-seasickness bands on sea days.
Then, for my meals, I’m strategic about where I go. I avoid the dining rooms in the front or the back of the ship because I always feel motion sickness when I’m in those dining rooms. I usually go to the buffet, which is usually in the middle of the ship.
I also avoid the windows because looking at the water and the waves can trigger seasickness. I eat constantly throughout the day and never reach the point of hunger. I will also bring some crackers back to my stateroom so I have them handy just in case I get seasick.
On sea days, I refrain from drinking alcohol and avoid activities that could make me feel queasy, such as working out in the gym.
By following these steps, I do a good job of preventing my seasickness. It has allowed me to enjoy many cruises without any discomfort. My goal is to avoid triggering my seasickness because once it sets in, it’s tough to shake off that feeling!
Port Days
I’ve noticed that I don’t really experience seasickness on port days because, by the time I wake up, the cruise ship has usually already arrived at the port! The sailing typically takes place at night while I’m fast asleep! That’s why when I’m booking a cruise, I try to choose one with more port days.
If I Can Do It, You Can Do It Too
I’ve been on more than 25 cruises, and I’ve figured out how to deal with my tendency to get seasick. The trick is to take steps to prevent it from happening in the first place.
It’s important to make smart choices when booking a cruise, such as choosing larger ships, the correct itinerary, and a mid-ship cabin. Avoid cruising during hurricane season and be extra vigilant during rough sea days.
Take all necessary precautions to avoid triggering that unpleasant seasick sensation. Learn how to prevent it so it becomes a non-issue. Don’t let seasickness stop you from enjoying cruise vacations! Check out I’ve Been on over 25 Cruises, Here are 17 Things I’ll Never Do on a Cruise
Don’t Do These 12 Things When You Feel Seasick on a Cruise