Worried about getting seasick on your first cruise? Most people are! Before our first cruise, I remember buying all sorts of remedies and taking them with us, just in case. Thankfully, no one in my family has ever suffered from seasickness, but I do still take a couple of these items along with me every time, just in case we hit super rough seas and one of us does eventually succumb. Obviously I can’t personally vouch for any of these products since I have never needed them, but these are the products I hear people mention over and over when discussing remedies.
Sea Bands
Sea Bands are acupressure wrist bands that apply pressure to a pressure point on your wrist that can help stop nausea. They come in both child sizes and adult sizes. Click here for pricing.
Bonine
Bonine is an over the counter motion sickness medication and the active ingredient is meclizine. It claims to be less drowsy than Dramamine, but I know of people who have become drowsy from taking this. The box says to not give this to children under 12 unless directed by a doctor. They used to make a children’s version of this, but not anymore. If you are interested in giving this to a child, you need to check with your pediatrician first. Click here for more details.
Dramamine
Dramamine is an over the counter motion sickness medication and there are several varieties to choose from. In the original formula, the active ingredient is dimenhydrinate. It is also available in a chewable form. In the less drowsy formula, the active ingredient is meclizine hydrochloride. There is also Dramamine for Kids, in which the active ingredient is dimenhydrinate, just like the original formula, only a smaller dose per pill. Finally, there is a natural version available which only contains ginger.
The Scopolamine Patch
The scopolamine patch is a small round patch you wear behind your ear and is only available with a prescription. The most common side effects are blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness and dry mouth. For some people, this is the only thing that works. Others have complained that the side effects are too unpleasant. If you do decide to try it, I suggest trying it out before your cruise to see how you will react.
Ginger
For an all natural approach, some people have found that ginger products give them relief from seasickness and nausea. There are lots of option out there, like these hard candies, this gum, and these chewy candies. You can also buy ginger root pills and crystallized ginger slices.
If you find yourself onboard and in need of a seasickness remedy, there are often individual packets of Dramamine or Bonine, free of charge, outside of the medical center on deck 1. They usually have it for sale in the gift shop as well.
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We were on a cruise where one out of four of us was affected by sea sickness. We were in the process of eating our dinner when our son threw up directly in the middle of his plate! Our most awesome server was at his side instantly, had it covered with one of those silver lids, and whisked it away so fast that nobody even knew what happened. You can bet that he got an extra tip at the end of that cruise! My husband took our son back to the cabin, we got him some Dramamine, and he was fine. The crazy thing is that while none of the rest of us were affected in the least, walking back to the cabin, there were people just “laying” up the stairways, clinging to the railings, and collapsed in the hallways unable to move. The motion of the ocean really affects all people differently.
What amazing service! I guess the servers are probably pros at dealing with seasickness. I am so grateful we have never succumbed (knock on wood)!
During one day of our cruise, we experienced some rough seas. It was our first cruise and early in the week, so we were a bit concerned. As we sat at dinner, we were starting to feel it. Our waiter recommended to just keep active and keep occupied, i.e. don’t think about it. He recommended not to rest or lie down through it. His advice was right on. We could feel the ship but we ignored it and just kept enjoying the cruise. It is the best motion sickness advice we have gotten.
Hi Mike! I have never heard that advice before, but it makes sense. Thanks for sharing the tip!
Cruise staff suggest Green Apples. There’s a reason they are always available at Cabanas. They will even slice them for you. And, from personal experience, they work!
Thanks for the tip! That’s great to know!
I was seasick our first cruise, so I purchased a ReliefBand for our next and had no issues at all. That trip was much more fun!