If you’re prone to motion sickness, you may think that a cruise isn’t for you.
Whether you’re travelling by train, plane or cruise liner, you might find yourself feeling queasy even thinking about moving. What you might not know is that there are lots of ways you can deal with motion sickness on a cruise. As cruise experts, we know a thing or two about sailing, and that includes avoiding sea-sickness ourselves. That’s why we’ve made this post passing on our simple tips and tricks!
1) Avoid reading or using electronic devices
One of the best things you can do is avoid reading or using electronic devices. The motion of the boat can make your motion sickness much worse, so it’s best to steer clear until you feel better. That’s because you’re angling your neck and head downwards, which affects your feeling of balance.
Putting your focus somewhere else can actively help with your sea-sickness. Looking in the direction of travel towards the horizon is best. So, put away your phone or book and take in the view!
2) Eat light, and avoid greasy foods
When you’re feeling queasy, it’s best to stick to light and easy-to-digest foods. That means avoiding greasy or fried foods, which are harder for your stomach to process. Avoid any kind of food that will sit heavily in your stomach, and instead, try eating small meals throughout the day instead of big ones. Aside from that:
- Avoid spicy foods
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid big morning meals in particular
Besides that, make sure you drink lots of water, too! While drinking far too much can leave you feeling sloshy, not drinking enough—especially if you’re out all day in the hot sun—can leave you feeling sick on top of your normal sea-sickness.
3) Try ginger: sweets, biscuits, tea or soda
Ginger is a great way to calm an upset stomach, and it can be especially helpful against motion sickness. There are lots of different ways to eat or take ginger so find the one that works best for you.
Some people find that eating ginger in sweets or biscuits form helps them feel better. Taking your time and nibbling on a biscuit or sucking on a hard sweet is particularly helpful.
If you’re not a fan of the taste, you could try having ginger tea or even drinking ginger ale or soda mixed with something. Ginger comes in many different forms, so there’s sure to be one that you find palatable and helpful against your motion sickness.
4) Close your eyes and breathe slowly
Another thing you can do when you start feeling motion sick is to close your eyes and breathe slowly.
The reason this helps is that focusing on how you feel can make you feel worse. Of course, it’s easier said than done to avoid this. But when you’re sat feeling miserable, only thinking of how bad your motion sickness is, it amplifies its effects and makes it worse.
Instead, finding some way to relax and take your mind off it is good. If you’ve ever done yoga or meditation, closing your eyes and breathing slowly is ideal. If not, then perhaps try listening to some calming music.
5) Stay in the middle of the ship, and/or on lower decks
Another great way to avoid motion sickness on a cruise is to stay in the middle of the ship, and/or on lower decks. This is because the higher up you are on a boat, the more movement you’ll feel from the waves.
If you’re feeling sick, try to find a spot near the centre of the ship where the movement is minimised. And if you have your choice of cabins, the best room on a cruise ship to avoid motion sickness is in the middle of the lower deck.
6) Take over-the-counter or prescription medication
If you’re still feeling sick after trying all of the above tips, or you’re looking for a cure for motion sickness after a cruise, then it might be time to take medication to help.
There are lots of different medications available, so it’s important to speak to your doctor or pharmacist beforehand and find out which one is best for you. The most common/best motion sickness medicine for cruises is either promethazine teoclate, cinnarizine or hyoscine. Some pharmacists even prescribe antihistamines for motion sickness.
There are both tablets and patches available, so if you don’t like pills, you have other options. There’s also something called an ‘acupressure band,’ although these don’t work for everyone.
Some people find that prescription medications work better for them than over-the-counter ones, so it’s worth checking with your doctor to see if they can prescribe something for you.
Contact Zantium Travel Today
If you’re looking for a great deal on a cruise holiday, be sure to check out our offers at Zantium Travel.
Zantium Travel offers an unparalleled coastline experience with our bespoke selection of small ship cruises that will provide you with a lifetime supply of unforgettable memories. With our exclusive cruise experience, you can immerse yourself in the beauty of Croatia’s coastline over eight days of luxury island hopping, and treat yourself to an unforgettable vacation. Contact us today to find out more!
