NauticalNotebook.com

Site Map    

© 2010-2020 Lisa Plotnick and NauticalNotebook.com

Please contact us with any questions or comments

NauticalNotebook Home.Journals.Features and Editorials.Cruise and Port Reviews.About.

By Lisa Plotnick

 

 

When friends and colleagues learn that I am planning a cruise, several of them will tell me, “I’d love to go on one, but I’m afraid of getting seasick.”

 

Although today’s ships are large—most exceed 800 feet in length—the occasional wind storm can still make for some modest motion. Most notably, some water-based shore excursions and some port visits may require the use of smaller boats, on which the motion of the sea is more detectable.

 

Even so, I’ll let you in on a little secret: I occasionally have that same concern. Yet, as one who loves being at sea, I have learned to combat it, often successfully. They key is to be prepared. The remedies and preventatives I will describe below do not work for everyone (as personal experience avows), yet may give the reader some ideas to test for themselves. I must also provide a disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Therefore, please note that any medications and other treatments, including those available over the counter, should be discussed with your own physicians. Additionally, I do not endorse any medications or devices mentioned or implied in this article.

 

That said, let’s go into the causes of seasickness, ways to prevent it, and methods to treat it.

 

The Science of Seasickness

 

Seasickness, or any kind of motion sickness for that matter, is brought upon when the vestibular system and visual system do not correspond, confusing the brain in the process. In other words, your inner ear detects motion, but your eyes don’t see it. According to several of my college textbooks, the feelings associated with seasickness are the brain’s responses to these mixed signals. These feelings might include nausea, fatigue, headache or, in more severe cases, vomiting. It has been postulated for a long time that some underlying conditions, such as migraines, may make one more susceptible to seasickness, and more recent research points to genetic factors. In any case, seasickness, while usually not harmful to the body, can potentially interfere with the enjoyment of a cruise vacation.

 

Fortunately, there are ways around it.   

 

Pre-emptive Strikes

 

Let’s start at the beginning. Your location on the ship can often reduce the feelings associated with mal de mer. Ideally, you would want to be in the most stable part of the ship—that is—the area that experiences the least motion. Generally, this is amidships on a mid-to-lower deck. My grandfather, who was a jack-of-all-trades, gave me a rule of thumb that has yet to be proven wrong in my experience. Picture in your mind (or even draw it out) a cross-section of your ship, viewed from the side. Draw a large letter X over so that the center of the X is located in the center of the diagram. The area of least motion is at this center point. Anywhere along the X should also be alright, keeping in mind that the further away from the center, the more likely you are to experience symptoms. Move away from the X at your own risk.

 

Don’t be concerned if your cabin is located outside of this supposed comfort zone. Whether or not this is the case, walk around the ship until you find a location where you feel more settled. I recall one particular cruise in the North Atlantic where we were experiencing fairly rough seas—a tropical storm had been in the vicinity hours before. It was a sea day and, rather than hang out in my cabin or on the lido, I went to the middle part of a middle deck, where I found a rather comfortable chair. I curled up there with my book, oblivious to the waves in our midst. Eventually, the ocean calmed, and I was able to move about the ship with no difficulty.

 

Medication may be an option for some, especially those who have experienced motion sickness on ships or boats in the past. I don't use medication (and I am not qualified to recommend it), yet there are several over-the-counter and prescription medications (including an adhesive patch worn behind the ear) that have been developed to prevent the symptoms of motion sickness. The secret is to take them before you start feeling seasick, which would be prior to boarding a small vessel (such as a ship’s tender) or prior to the ship’s departure from a port of call. Please talk to a physician or pharmacist to ascertain any contraindications, including beverages to avoid while the medication is in your system.

 

 

Remedies


So you forgot, or it came on suddenly. My worst episode of seasickness came while gazing out the window of a forward-facing lounge soon after we left Bermuda for the east coast of the U.S. The Atlantic was quite active, causing our ship to lift her bow slightly and then drop, repeatedly. At first, it was fun, akin to being on a roller coaster. Within a few minutes, the effects started to take their toll. And, they were long-lasting. Although the worst I suffered was nausea and extreme dizziness, I was not up to eating dinner that night. That made two big mistakes right there.

 

Mistake number one was watching the rolling surf while my feet were planted firmly on the ground (or, more precisely, a ship’s deck). My eyes were taking in plenty of motion, yet my ears were not sensing it as my body was not moving relative to itself. This is why we often hear ship’s crew tell us to look at the horizon—it supposedly makes the eyes and ears match up, reducing the visual-vestibular confusion. As such, I learned my lesson the first time.

 

Mistake number two was not eating. Even though I was not in the mood for a large meal, a carefully selected snack might have helped to counteract the effects. Ginger is well-known for being an anti-nauseant—I recall that ginger tablets were readily available on our Queen Elizabeth 2 crossing for that reason. (Note: Ginger ale does not contain enough ginger, if any, to be effective.) Yet, what works best for me is an apple. I have since learned that apples contain pectin, a dietary fiber that can help alleviate the symptoms of seasickness. Fortunately, apples are plentiful on cruise ships, are free, and—for most people—have no side effects. Other foods containing relatively large amounts of pectin are oranges, apricots, guavas, and gelatin. Crackers or dry cereal can also help, as these are easily digestible.

 

 

Some people have success with acupressure wristbands. These are available in most drug stores for about $10-$15. The wristbands are to be worn so that the pressure point—a small plastic knob protruding from the band—is against the inner wrist. To properly position it, make two imaginary lines, one leading from the thumb when the fingers are spread, and one from the middle of the palm. The intersection, somewhere below the wrist is where the pressure should be applied. (See photo.) In the absence of the acupressure wristbands, you can apply the pressure with the fingers of your other hand. More expensive are wristbands that use an electronic pulse to stimulate the nerves around this acupressure point. I have never tried these.

 

What Not to Do

 

Whether gleaned from personal experience or from the literature, the following are to be avoided when attempting to alleviate seasickness symptoms: alcohol, greasy foods, fasting, or staring at the ocean (as opposed to the horizon) or reading.

 

In most people, the symptoms of seasickness will eventually subside as the brain becomes adjusted to the underlying cause. However, should symptoms persist, or become severe, do not assume that seasickness is to blame—a visit to the ship’s doctor may be in order. If more serious conditions are ruled out, the medical staff may be able to provide an injection of an anti-nausea medication.

 

Yet, no matter what remedy or preventative works best for you, the sooner the onset of mal de mer is addressed, the sooner you can enjoy your cruise vacation. Apples, anyone?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The topic of this article was suggested by one of our readers. If you would like to submit a topic for consideration for a future Reader’s Choice article, you may do so by email or via our fan page on Facebook.

Reader’s Choice

Combating Mal de Mer