How to Avoid Being Seasick on a Cruise
Avoiding seasickness for a cruise is initially a matter of knowing your own body as well as preparing in advance for the effects of sailing that can cause seasickness. With a tendency toward motion sickness, some new and seasoned travelers use medication in advance of a sail. Making a handful of choices before and during your cruise will improve your trip and minimize your chance of suffering from seasickness.
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Things You'll Need
- Dramamine or Bonine
- Ginger and Peppermint (ginger snaps)
- Drinking Water
- Crackers
- Soda
Instructions
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Prepare beforehand. Get plenty of sleep the night before your cruise. When your body is worn down, it is more likely to experience effects causing seasickness. Eat before you get on board, but choose less acidic fruits and juices such as apples, bananas or grapes along with milk and muffins or cereal. Avoid coffee and highly acidic juices (orange or grapefruit).
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Take motion sickness medication such as Dramamine or Bonine before you depart. These remedies work only before symptoms of nausea set in. Ginger, either as the root, raw form like restaurants serve, or in cookies or crackers, is a natural remedy that reduces feelings of nausea.
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Drink lots of water throughout the cruise to keep yourself hydrated. Before sailing, avoid alcohol, which can dehydrate your body and add to your disorientation, thus contributing to seasickness.
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Choose a cabin near the center of the ship rather than at the front to minimize your overnight sway. Sleep on your back to help keep your body calm. Leave your cabin during the day and enjoy the fresh air. A spot in the breeze and sun is better for you than the stuffy, enclosed space of the cabin.
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Look at the horizon. Standing, walking and being upright are actually more beneficial than sitting or lying down if you begin to feel dizzy or nauseated.
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Busy yourself with activities, from games to reading to walking or swimming on board the ship. If the ship hits rough waters, don't try to read or write until it settles. However, activity often keeps our minds occupied, reducing stress on our bodies.
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Tips & Warnings
Plain crackers like saltines reduce the acid in our stomachs that is stirred up by nausea. Drink a soda, which will help settle an upset stomach because of its carbonation.
If someone else in your party gets seasick, move away from him quickly as it can trigger a sympathetic response in your system and make you sick too.
