Cruise travel offers incredible experiences, but for some, the gentle sway of the ocean can lead to unwelcome seasickness, also known as Cruise Travel Sickness. Understanding how to manage and prevent this condition is key to enjoying your voyage to the fullest. Fortunately, there are several effective strategies you can employ to minimize or eliminate cruise travel sickness and ensure a comfortable and memorable trip.
Preparing for Calm Seas: Rest and Remedies
One of the simplest yet most effective preventative measures against cruise travel sickness is ensuring you are well-rested before and during your cruise. Fatigue significantly increases your susceptibility to motion sickness. Aim for quality sleep in the days leading up to your departure and maintain a regular sleep schedule while onboard.
Woman packing seasickness medication and a first aid kit for a cruise to prevent cruise travel sickness.
If you are prone to motion sickness, proactively packing remedies is crucial. A variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications are available to combat seasickness. These are most effective when taken preventatively, so it’s wise to take your chosen medication a few hours before you board the ship, as directed on the packaging. Remember to pack these essentials in your carry-on luggage for easy access.
For those who require a prescription-strength solution, the transdermal scopolamine patch is a popular option. If prescribed this patch by your doctor, apply it as instructed, ideally at least four hours before embarkation. Each patch typically lasts for three days, so pack enough for the duration of your cruise, plus a few extra in case of accidental loss.
Even if you forget to pack seasickness medication, most cruise ships offer solutions at the guest services desk. You can usually obtain seasickness tablets onboard should symptoms arise unexpectedly.
Natural Solutions: Ginger and Peppermint
Beyond conventional medications, several natural remedies can effectively alleviate cruise travel sickness symptoms. Ginger is a time-honored natural remedy, available in various forms such as pills, candies, or even ginger ale. Keep ginger readily accessible and consume it at the first sign of nausea. Similarly, peppermint, whether in candy form or as an essential oil for inhalation, can also provide soothing relief. Sucking on peppermint candies or inhaling peppermint oil can help settle your stomach.
Natural remedies for cruise travel sickness including ginger candies, powdered ginger, and ginger root.
Acupressure and Onboard Spa Treatments
Acupressure offers another natural avenue for managing cruise travel sickness. Wearing an acupressure wristband, readily available at pharmacies, applies pressure to a specific point on your wrist believed to alleviate nausea. For a more intensive pressure-point therapy, consider acupuncture. Many cruise ships feature onboard spas with certified acupuncture specialists who can provide treatments to relieve motion sickness symptoms.
Relaxing spa bed with ocean view, offering acupuncture treatments for cruise travel sickness relief onboard a cruise ship.
The Power of Fresh Air and Horizon Gazing
When cruise travel sickness strikes, your initial instinct might be to retreat to your cabin. However, seeking fresh air can drastically improve your well-being. Step out onto your balcony or, even better, head to the open decks of the ship. Deeply inhale the fresh sea air. Simultaneously, fix your gaze on the horizon. This technique helps re-synchronize your senses, as your body feels motion while your eyes, if focused inside, might perceive stillness, contributing to the confusion that triggers seasickness.
Couple enjoying fresh air and ocean views from a cruise ship veranda, a natural way to combat cruise travel sickness.
By combining these strategies – adequate rest, preventative medication or natural remedies, acupressure, and exposure to fresh air and the horizon – you can effectively minimize the impact of cruise travel sickness and ensure you spend your cruise enjoying the journey and destinations, rather than battling nausea.
