Stop Worrying – You Can Overcome Seasickness And Have A Great Cruise
Seasickness just isn’t that big a problem and at times getting seasick is just a fact of life. With this article it is certainly not my intent to scare people away from cruising but rather to offer some simple ways to overcome it. Some people seem to get it worse than others but you should not allow your fear of getting seasick keep you from experiencing one of travels most amazing options.
Afraid of Getting Seasick?
Maybe you would love to try cruising but have a big concern about getting seasick? If you are worried about taking a cruise because you are prone to seasickness, or motion sickness, you are not alone but you need not worry too much. There are thousands of people that have faced that fear and have gone on to become enthusiastic and frequent cruisers.
What Causes Seasickness?
Seasickness is caused by a conflict between the inner ear, where the human balance mechanism resides, and the brains visual perception regarding its surroundings. The inner ear where balance is controlled, has small hairs bathed in fluid that detect changes in both up-and-down and side-to-side movement. With movement at sea the body moves along with the ship causing the balance mechanism to register motion while often your eyes see your surroundings as a relatively stable scene. Confused by this perceptual incongruity, the brain responds with a cascade of stress-related hormones that often cause nausea, vomiting, and vertigo.
Working to settle the stomach is the initial approach to overcoming the symptoms of seasickness. Two old navy standbys are ginger ale and crackers along with spending time out on deck. First the fresh air helps but also staring at the horizon is a way of reconciling the brain to the movement of the ship and the unmoving horizon.
Try Ginger Root
My wife had a serious issue with small boats and getting seasick and for that reason was very concerned about cruising. We were planning to take our first cruise and had selected Alaska, something she really wanted to do. If her seasickness got the better of her, at least she had gotten to see Alaska.
She had gone to her doctor to get a prescription for the patch and while he wrote the prescription he suggested she first try ginger root. He said he had a terrible time with seasickness and recently on a trip to Australia the Aussies told him to take ginger root. After two days out on the Great Barrier Reef hebacame a convert. On his advice she started taking ginger root capsules and she hasn’t had any real problems since and we have weathered a number of storms at sea over the years. While she had the patch she has never used it.
We have a friend who cruises a lot and she was getting acupuncture treatments on the ships to help with her seasickness. On our recommendation she started taking ginger and now no longer needs those treatments. The recommended dose is 550mg taken with meals. Don’t take it alone or you’ll probably taste the ginger for hours afterwords.
Select The Right Stateroom
If you’re prone to bad episodes there are also some other things you can to reduce the risk of getting seasick. The problem is actually a severe form of motion sickness. It is particularly severe on ships because during higher seas the motion can be unusual and persistent. The good news is it rarely lasts for long. If your concerned about how well you’ll do consider booking a cabin that can reduce motion. The staterooms less prone to feeling the ships motion are located in the center of the ship half way between the stern and the bow and near the waterline. Think about a seesaw where the riders go up and down but the center stays relatively still. If you do suffer a bad episode a nap can be just what the doctor ordered.
Bon Voyage and smooth sailing!
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