Which Seasick Remedies Work? - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

timwilloughby · 10-22-2009, 08:08 AM

Which Seasickness Medications/Treatments Actually Work?

Many cruise line fans experience mild to severe sea sickness at various times throughout their voyages. Often times, the severity of these bouts of seasickness can be depend on the weather and ocean conditions...but some folks are simply naturally predisposed to getting a little nauseous.

As a result, I wanted to take some time and catalog and discuss the best methods for avoiding, preventing and/or curing the dreaded sea sickness.

1. Over the Counter Medications: You can purchase over the counter remedies for seasickness. They include; dramamine, scopolamine, promethazine. They come in pill form, as well as transdermal patches applied directly to the skin. Many of these medications can have side affect, including drowsiness. You should check with your doctor, as well as read the labels carefully and decide what types of activities you are partaking in before you ingest something that might make you tired or sleepy.

2. Ginger: Ginger capsules are a great, all-natural remedy to seasickness, with no risk of drowsiness. That being said, Ginger Ale, ( I'm a Schweppes man, myself) can also rectify some minor to mild symptoms of nausea. You can purchase ginger in a variety of formats including crystallized ginger that you can simply chew and suck on, as well as ginger capsules to swallow with water.

3. Acupressure Bracelets: These bracelets place direct pressure on the P6 acupressure point on the inside of the forearm, three fingers' width down from the wrist crease.

4. Lie Down on Your Back with Your Eyes Closed

5. Keep Your Eyes Fixed on the Shore or the Horizon

6. Make Sure Fresh Air is Blowing onto Your Face

7. Block One Ear With Your Finger

8. Move to The Ship's Center Of Gravity

I think that the natural remedies, when used in conjunction with one another seem to have the best effect, but we want to know what we have left OFF this list...Do you have a favorite seasickness remedy that you want to share?

cruisin' chick · 10-22-2009, 09:46 PM

I used ginger on my last cruise. Ginger flavored Altoids (at the time, Target carried this flavor, but it's harder to find...Cost Plus does carry it) and candied ginger, which I found at my grocery store. The disadvantage to ginger is that if you are on any medication, you should check with your doctor to make sure there's no countindication (esp. with blood thinning meds). It can also have a strong taste. But the advantage is that it comes in so many different forms.

I guess the thing to do is try out different types ahead of time and then take a couple of remedies on board, just in case one doesn't work in actual practice. And one that works for you, might not work for your significant other.

Something else that may work for some with an iffy stomach: lemon lime soda. It's the carbonation that helps.

sue miller · 10-22-2009, 10:16 PM

Bonine for me, about $3 for a box at Wally. Take one the day or night before the cruise, then continue 1 a day or night approximately the same time as the first. No drowsiness and the Navy uses it

LuLu · 10-23-2009, 10:14 AM

A variety of high quality ginger (w/REAL ginger) candy is available in convenient travel sizes at ....

Cruise Ready -Cruise Accessories and Memorabilia

kirkz · 10-23-2009, 11:39 AM

I get seasick very easily and the acupressure bracelets worked for me, felt great while others were sick on cruise. Friends of mine introduced them to me and they swear by them too.

ziggysun · 10-23-2009, 12:50 PM

Liquor

When I start feeling the ship, I get an Amaretto & Coca Cola and it seems to work for me. If Amaretto is unavailable, I'll get a splash of Rum in Coca Cola and that will usually work too.

I tried the acupressure bracelets and bonine and neither of those worked for me.

Char · 10-23-2009, 02:48 PM

Since we all respond differently to the various remedies, I think it is a good idea to have a variety of options packed in your bag "just in case".

LuLu · 10-23-2009, 03:18 PM

Fortunately, I never been the least bit seasick ... but I do experience Mal de Debarquement Syndrom upon return home....

Maybe, I should try the ginger for that ....

nealberk · 10-25-2009, 06:56 PM

I find that a combination of ginger ale and the bonine tablets the ship provides work wonders.