Cruise Ship Tips: How to Avoid Sea Sickness

If you're considering going on a cruise and you're concerned about sea sickness, you might already have received very mixed advice on what type of cabin to book to minimize motion sickness issues.

Many people seem to think that rooms on the upper decks are better for those with motion sickness. Others believe that cabins located towards the front or bow of the ship are better for such passengers. However, in reality, neither the upper decks nor the front of the ship are the best places to be if you tend to get sea sick easily.

Most large, modern cruise ships are equipped with stabilizers that minimize any swaying and movement of the ship. In general, these stabilizers do an excellent job, and quite often you are not even aware that you are on a ship. Therefore, many people have absolutely no problem with sea sickness no matter where there cabin is located.

However, if you are like me and you have some issues with motion sickness, there are further ways to minimize any possible problems and allow you to enjoy your cruise without getting sick.

The best room location to minimize the ship's motion is actually in the dead center of the ship. On most large cruise ships, this spot is on the lower passenger floors, in the center inside cabins. In general, inside cabins tend to sway less side to side, due to their positioning directly above the line of pivot - the ship's keel.

Of course, even if you pick the optimal cabin, it is still possible that you will experience some motion sickness if you hit rough seas. In this instance, two natural remedies many people have found helpful are eating a green apples and taking ginger capsules. It might be worth a shot giving either or both of these natural remedies a try, especially if you cannot tolerate traditional motion sickness medication.

If you do prefer to stick with the standard medicinal approach, it is best to start taking Dramamine pills or the patch before you begin to feel ill, as the medications are more effective at preventing motion sickness than stopping it once it you are already experiencing symptoms.

Of course, should you become ill onboard, most large cruise lines have well-trained onboard physicians and medical staffs. Therefore, even if you should suffer any symptoms of sea sickness, you can be assured that you will receive proper care.

So if you are concerned about sea sickness, your best bet is to choose a cabin near the middle of the ship and to plan ahead, taking your medication before you get ill, or, in the alternative, bringing along alternative treatments to help combat any sea sickness that you may experience.

With proper planning, even those of us who are susceptible to motion sickness can enjoy a cruise largely free of symptoms.