Cruises & ferries, Europe, France, Spain

Top tips to prevent sea sickness when sailing

It happens to the best of us. One minute you’re happily taking in the views, the next feeling like you want to reach for a bag. My first experience of nausea was on a boat from Port Douglas to the Great Barrier Reef although self inflicted so I totally have myself fully to blame!

A group of us were told to suck ice by the locals although that may have been purely for their entertainment! That nauseous feeling reared it’s head again after starring at the waves through a port hole on the hunt for a whale. On both occasions I’ve been lucky. We are however aboard a cruise ferry this summer with a crossing longer than I’m used to. So while it will be the most fantastic adventure, there’s nothing wrong with doing a bit of planning beforehand.

Get a good night’s sleep. Make sure you sleep well the night before sailing. Anxiety can certainly trigger sea sickness so the more restful you are before you leave, the better.

Avoid caffeine 24 hours before. With a high caffeine intake myself, this is certainly one to remember. It’s said caffeine can give you headaches which is not what you need if you do feel a bit off colour.

Limit alcohol intake. Likewise, it’s best not to drink alcohol before you board or at least until you’ve found your “sea legs”. Even a mild hangover can cause sea sickness so that’s worth bearing in mind if you have a sneaky one with your dinner.

Stay hydrated. Make sure you drink water regularly and lots of it to keep yourself hydrated. Carrying a bottle round is the best way to do this if you’re like me and forget sometimes! Try not to get too hot either.

Watch out for greasy and acidic foods. Acidic foods like salads often contain vinegar and fruit juices should be avoided too. Greasy food like a cooked breakfast can be replaced with porridge or cereal. Ginger is renowned for quashing that queazy feeling so ginger tea or biscuits are a good option. Generally speaking, bland food is the way forward and eat a little rather than gorging!

Young beautiful women dreaming on the deck of a yacht at Caribbean sea. Woman resting on the water. Summer cruise holidays

Take in the fresh air. Breathe in that sea air while you’re aboard and make sure you stay away from diesel fumes. If the boat is stationery, fumes may come back on board so find a good spot from the outset.

Limit camera usage. This is going to be tough particularly given how often I use my camera. I’m going to have to be very quick if there are dolphins and whales to capture en route.

Avoid prolonged reading. As a blogger, this is another tricky one to manage but focusing on something stationary convinces your eyes your middle ears are wrong. It’s a good excuse to relax, enjoy the atmosphere and take in all the views!

Keep the horizon in view – but don’t stare at it! Now this I never knew and it’s certainly one to watch as I’ve been guilty of staring at the horizon in the past. You only need to use it to maintain your stability.

Reduce the time spent below deck. Many ships still move even if they are stationery so try to limit the time you spend below deck, unless of course you have your eyes closed. A window is great too if you have the horizon in view.

What anti-sickness remedies are available? Having never taken any anti-sickness remedies, I’m keen to hear how effective those recommended are. There are patches available on prescription with over the counter solutions including Dramamine, Bonine or Benadryl. Natural remedies such as Sea-Band and Acuband which are said to work by pressure being applied to a spot associated with motion sickness.

It’s worth mentioning that the larger ships have stabilisers to provide passengers with the smoothest ride possible. But like any trip, it’s good to be prepared! Sea sickness symptoms include getting the chills, a headache and burping so we’ll be watching out for those. If you have any other suggestions, let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

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  • Dave July 25, 2016 at 2:12 pm

    Take nevasic with you on your mobile – just in case…