Going on a cruise is an amazing experience, and a great way to travel. However, there is a downside to travelling on the seas – the dreaded bout of seasickness. A cruise is a nearly all-inclusive getaway filled with exotic destinations, five-star dining and a full daily calendar of special activities. If you are prone to motion sickness, however, you might worry you’ll spend the entire cruise in misery.  For some seasoned travellers, it may not be a problem. However, for first-time cruise travellers and for those that are prone to seasickness, there’s always going to be something to put a damper on the journey.

What is sea sickness?

Motion sickness, also called seasickness, is a common disturbance of the inner ear. This is the area of the body that affects your sense of balance and equilibrium. Motion sickness happens when your brain receives conflicting messages about motion and your body’s position in space. The conflicting messages are delivered from your inner ear, your eyes (what you see), your skin receptors (what you feel), and muscle and joint sensors. For example, you might become seasick because your eyes cannot see the waves that are causing the ship to rock from side to side. Motion sickness can occur with any mode of travel: ship, plane, train, bus, or car.

Symptoms include dizziness, sweating, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms can strike suddenly, progressing from simply not feeling well to cold sweats, dizziness, and then vomiting.

How is seasickness or motion sickness treated?

Motion sickness or seasickness can be treated with over-the-counter and prescription drug products.

• Over-the-counter products: Antihistamines are commonly used both to prevent and treat motion sickness. Antihistamines to consider for this purpose include meclizine (Antivert^®, Bonine^®), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine^®), and diphenhydramine (Benadryl^®). The side effect of these medications is drowsiness. Meclizine is much less sedating, making it a preferred treatment. Nonsedating antihistamines such as fexofenadine (Allegra^®) are not effective in treating motion sickness.
• Prescription products: Scopolamine oral pills and skin patch (Transderm Scop^®) is another option. The patch formulation is applied to the skin area behind the ear and can help prevent motion sickness for up to three days per patch. Scopolamine may create an annoying dry mouth side effect. Certain patients with glaucoma and other health problems should not use this drug. Be sure to tell your doctor of your existing health problems so that he or she can determine which drug is best suited for you.
• Others: Aromatherapy with ginger or lavender may help, ginger or peppermint may soothe the stomach, and acupressure wristbands may prevent the feeling of nausea for some.

However, did you know, you can actually prevent it before you embark on your trip?

If you are prone to sea sickness then making the right choice of cabin or stateroom is very important. Opt for the lower decks, mid-ship – most people agree that this is where you’ll get the smoothest ride in any weather. It makes scientific sense, as this is the area closest to the ship’s ‘fulcrum’ (the point that is the very center of the ship, front to back, side to side and top to bottom) and therefore the area that experiences the least motion.

Are you prone to motion sickness? How do you deal with it?