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Avoiding being Seasick

(29 Posts)
Rosiebee Wed 17-Jul-19 23:34:00

We're booked on a Baltic cruise in a couple of weeks, sailing out of Newcastle. There are 5 days, not consecutively, at sea and I've heard that the sea can be quite rough. We've done quite a few cruises and I've only had sickness once on first day of first cruise, but it was dreadful. The sea wasn't particularly rough, but there was quite a swell. I don't want it to spoil this trip. Any suggestions appreciated. At the moment I'm visualising dosing up on tablets, sucking on ginger and wearing pressure bands on wrists to keep queasiness at bay. What really works?

tanith Thu 18-Jul-19 07:27:25

Kwells works for me available everywhere.

SpringyChicken Thu 18-Jul-19 08:14:01

Keep your stomach topped up with food. Not difficult on a cruise!

ninathenana Thu 18-Jul-19 08:57:17

A friend who can get seasick on the cross channel ferry says she feels better on deck looking at the horizon.

Nortsat46 Thu 18-Jul-19 09:06:25

Yes, I agree ... keep your sea sick pills topped up, pressure bands and gentle food intake. This worked for me last year when cruising the Norwegian Fjords.
My partner did not keep his sea sickness pills topped up and felt lousy on the evening of one of our special dinners!
I think it's worth expecting the need to acclimatise on the first day.
I am sure it will be fabulous, we're booked on a Baltic Cruise for 2020. It's something I have always wanted to do. Lucky you ? Have a wonderful time.

Sparklefizz Thu 18-Jul-19 09:17:15

The pressure bands really work. I easily get queasy and always have, but they worked brilliantly for me during an extremely rough ferry crossing from Roscoff to Plymouth, which had been delayed for 2 hours because of a Force 10 gale. It was still a Force 8 and furniture was flying all over the diningroom and huge grey sheets of water at the windows. It was horrible, but I amazed my husband by even eating a meal while all this was going on which I never would have envisaged. Good old sea bands. Apparently all the staff on the North Sea ferries wear them as that can be very rough.

EllanVannin Thu 18-Jul-19 09:25:14

I'd say top deck is the best place to be as you don't feel the roll the same as down below. Everyone seems to congregate below decks so it makes sense to stay on top where you'd probably find you'd have the place to yourself.
You should be alright, get a couple of brandies down your neck.

Jane10 Thu 18-Jul-19 09:25:41

The best advice I heard about preventing seasickness was to sit under a tree!
Seriously, I'm a martyr to seasickness or rather the fear of it. We did a Baltic cruise last summer and it was wonderful. Not a hint of seasickness. It must have been rough one night but we were in bed and enjoyed the pleasant rocking. Have a great trip.

TwiceAsNice Thu 18-Jul-19 10:19:27

This is why I never go on cruises ! And the fact I hate to see water all around me. I can get seasick on a ferry ( do this on sufferance as granddaughter won’t use channel tunnel and want to spend time with family) seabands do seem to work well though

merlotgran Thu 18-Jul-19 10:23:06

Stugeron!

Callistemon Thu 18-Jul-19 11:31:09

I found the pressure bands worked but make sure you find the exact acupuncture point when you position them.
Ginger is quite useful too.
We've travelled by ferry across the Baltic and it has been very calm at this time of year - I hope it is for you.

HildaW Thu 18-Jul-19 12:51:08

Have done both the Baltic cruise and one up past Norway to Arctic circle and had no problems with seasickness. Modern cruise ships are pretty well stabilised nowadays. I did use the bands for a few days but forgot to put them on one day and realised that I was fine! Mind you was glad to give them up as mine were a scruffy grey colour and I noticed some of the smarter ladies had sourced black ones to go with their evening wear! That being said I was severely poorly going on the old fashioned boat to Lundy mainly because we were unable to get a seat atop and were stuck below with everyone buying the freshly made bacon sandwiches from the little galley! A trip I shall always remember for the wrong reason. I find retaining contact with the outside world helps...either up on deck or at a window....its when you have to go below that it seems worse - hence we have cabins up top.

M0nica Fri 19-Jul-19 10:11:37

EllenVannin cabins on the top deck roll further from side to side than those further down. The best cabins to have from the movement point of view are as low down in the ship as possible and in the middle.

I am prone to sea sickness, so avoid cruises, but we did do a winter Hurtigruten tour along the Norwegian coast several years ago. I missed the best Northern lights show because, despite sea sick tablets, I was lying on my bunk feeling very queasy.

I do the long ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Caen regularly and if I expect the sea to be rough, I take a seasick tablet as soon as I get on board and make sure we have a cabin. The seasick tablets, have something to eat and the tablets work like knock-out drops and I then sleep for the roughest part of the journey, from the time the ferry gets away from the protection of the Isle of Wight and before it has the protection of the Cotentin penninsula (the prevailing winds are westerlies).

petra Fri 19-Jul-19 10:21:00

EllanVannin
How do you think the theory of sailing works?

Ngaio1 Fri 19-Jul-19 10:22:47

Get a jab from the medical centre.

oldgoat Fri 19-Jul-19 10:29:53

Gin Gin ginger pastilles, available at Holland and Barrett, worked well for me on our Hebridean cruise.

Jane10 Fri 19-Jul-19 13:08:49

Ngaol yes but a jab of what?

lemongrove Fri 19-Jul-19 13:45:58

Haha
A jab on board the cruise ship, the doctor there will oblige you ( and may even give you something for the seasickness as well.)?
Seriously though, you can have an injection if you feel sick
( or even to prevent it) on the cruise, my DD did.
Salty food is supposed to help, so put some on your dinner, worth a go.

EllanVannin Fri 19-Jul-19 13:52:54

I've sailed many a time on the IOM ferries from Liverpool to the IOM with virtually no stabilisers until the more modern ones and also the cross Channel which is invariably breezy at the best of times. The Irish sea can have a swell even in calm weather and once past the bar you can expect anything. It has to be really chronic to stop both Manx and Irish ferries from sailing

Once you've had experience of the smaller ferries in rougher seas, cruise ships must be a dream.

I've been on river cruises in France but they're millponds in comparison. Superb.

D did the Hull-Rotterdam crossing a few years back during a gale but she was okay on top deck----alone.

sunnydayindorset Fri 19-Jul-19 14:03:35

We went to the Baltic in early July about 5 years ago. It was fine, hardly noticed the swell at all. Obviously someof the smaller ships will be more prone to movement.
If you are prone to sea sickness, try Stugeron, accupressure bands or there are some patches that you put behind the ear. I can't remember whether they need a prescription or not- but you do need to get advice about them as they can affect other medication . The NHS website is quite good about moton sickness advice.

Rosiebee Fri 19-Jul-19 14:06:35

Many thanks for all replies. I shall go hunting for a new set of bands as mine are looking rather ropey, I like the idea of a black set. Will also get some of the ginger pastilles.

BBbevan Fri 19-Jul-19 14:46:38

We came back from Norway a few days before the well publicised cruise rescue. We had quite a rough ride also. My DD felt sick as soon as the boat left Southampton. Luckily we had cabins, middle of the ship and middle level, which minimised the roll. Also we were told to keep away from the front of the boat. That with the addition of Kwells made things much more comfortable. The ship's doctor is always on hand and can give an injection in severe cases of seasickness. Just be prepared. It may never happen

jura2 Mon 29-Jul-19 14:51:59

Stugeron, etc, great, but careful with alcohol!
Some people react well to the acupressure points bracelets yout can get from Boots, etc.

silverlining48 Mon 29-Jul-19 16:42:56

The injections work well but be aware there will be a cost, it was quite expensive as I recall.
I find going outside with a horizon helps.
Have a lovely time.

jura2 Tue 30-Jul-19 11:02:06

same question as Jane, a jab of what???

Again, beware of alcohol and anti-emetic tablets.