How to Prevent Sea Sickness on a Cruise
Some people find out they’re prone to sea sickness the hard way, on their honeymoon where they spend the first three days in bed not doing what one is supposed to be doing in bed on their honeymoon. And by “some people,” I mean Mr. Cruise and I. But despite what was lost (mystery and the contents of our stomachs) on that cruise 11 years ago, I still managed to gain a love and passion for cruising that led me to eventually quit my job as a college professor to cruise and write about cruising full-time. But it also led to years of research and trial and error in a quest to find the best sea sickness solutions for myself and my family.
So the purpose of this post is to share and compare 5 of the most widely used sea sickness remedies, all remedies I’ve tried myself and several I still rely on today. While 4 of the 5 are available over-the-counter and while I’m technically a “Dr,” I’m not the kind of doctor that can give you reliable medical advice. And even if I were, I thought north was whichever way one was facing until high school and still have to check for a small birth mark on the inside of my arm to tell left from right, so I don’t think you’d want me performing any procedures requiring directional awareness. All that to say, speak with an actual medical doctor about the best options for your individual circumstances and needs. But hopefully this gives you a place to start in understanding your options.
Cruise Sea Sickness Remedies Compared
I’ll discuss each of these 5 popular sea sickness remedies individually, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages, but if you’re a visual person or have the attention span of a terrier puppy attending a training school adjacent to a Brazilian steakhouse, here’s a quick, visual overview:
Five Options to Prevent Sea Sickness on a Cruise
And here are more details about these five popular options I’ve tried to prevent sea sickness on a cruise.
Herbal Over-The-Counter Sea Sickness Patches
I use these patches available to purchase on Amazon, but most brands are very similar:
How do herbal over-the-counter patches work to prevent sea sickness on a cruise?
A unique combination of herbs absorbed through the skin prevent nausea and vomiting by adjusting the control of the vagal nerve leading to the gastrointestinal tract and expanding the capillaries of the skin to improve micro-circulation and increase the amount of oxygen getting to the brain. I have no idea what any of that means, but these patches have always worked great for me and I just picked up another pack for my next cruise:
Sorry for the weird photo. I’m not in witness protection or anything, I just didn’t feel like dealing with my brows so early in the morning. But can anyone spot the Norwegian Sun in the background?
Advantages of herbal over-the-counter sea sickness patches for preventing sea sickness on a cruise
- 100% natural and drug free
- Inexpensive
- Safe for kids
- Does not cause drowsiness or dizziness
- No prescription required
- Easy to apply and remove
- One patch lasts up to 3 days
- Safe to use with alcohol
- No large pills to swallow
Disadvantages of herbal over-the-counter sea sickness patches for preventing sea sickness on a cruise
- May not work well for some with a history of severe motion sickness
Sea-Bands
When I worked as a collage professor I used to take a group of students to China for three weeks every summer and was always fascinated by the medical treatments provided when myself or one of my students became ill or injured. While they seemed foreign and initially I was sometimes skeptical, they generally worked great and I reminded myself that billions of people have been successfully treated using eastern medicine throughout history. Which brings us to one of the most popular methods – drawn from eastern medicine, but used across the globe – for preventing and treating sea sickness: Sea-Bands.
How do Sea-Bands work to prevent sea sickness on a cruise?
A plastic knob sewn into the inside of a knitted elastic wristband exerts pressure and stimulates the Nei-Kuan (P6) acupressure point.
Advantages of Sea-Bands for preventing sea sickness on a cruise
- 100% natural and drug free
- Reusable
- Inexpensive
- Safe for children and available in child sizes
- No side effects
- No large pills to swallow
- Begin to work immediately
Disadvantages of Sea-Bands for preventing sea sickness on a cruise
- They are unattractive
- They get in the way of wearing a watch or jewelry
- May not work well for some with a history of severe motion sickness
Ginger Capsules
Ginger capsules, another remedy for sea sickness drawn from eastern medicine, have been very effective for me in both preventing and treating sea sickness. For many years they were my go-to until I started experiencing some heartburn and acid reflux with them. I still pack them (along with some antacids) for every cruise and use them along with herbal patches on extra rough sea days.
I use these Dramamine brand non-drowsy ginger capsules.
How do ginger capsules work to prevent sea sickness on a cruise?
While the effects of ginger are still be studied, it is believed that it treats nausea associated with motion sickness by preventing gastric dysrhythmias and the elevation of plasma vasopressin. I have literally no idea what any of that means, but it works and well-known and trusted western brands like Dramamine are now selling ginger capsules as a treatment for motion sickness.
Advantages of ginger capsules for preventing sea sickness on a cruise
- 100% natural and drug free
- Inexpensive
- Safe for kids 6+ (if they can swallow a large capsule)
- Does not cause drowsiness or dizziness
- No prescription required
- Safe to use with alcohol
Disadvantages of ginger capsules for preventing sea sickness on a cruise
- May not work well for some with a history of severe motion sickness
- Capsules are large and some may find them difficult to swallow
- Can cause acid reflux or heartburn
Bonine
While Bonine is marketed as “LESS DROWSY than Dramamine,” it contains a medication called meclizine which can still cause mild to moderate drowsiness. But if you want a non-herbal over-the-counter medicine, this is the best I’ve found.
How does Bonine work to prevent sea sickness on a cruise?
Meclizine, the active ingredient in Bonine, is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of histamine in the body.
Advantages of Bonine for preventing sea sickness on a cruise
- Small, chewable tablets are easy to take
- Very effective in both preventing and treating sea sickness in most people
- Inexpensive
- Available without a prescription
Disadvantages of Bonine for preventing sea sickness on a cruise
- Can cause drowsiness, dry mouth, and headaches
- Not safe to use with certain other medications, especially opioid medications, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, or medicine for anxiety or seizures. Be sure to check with your doctor.
- Not safe to use with alcohol
- Not safe for children under 12
Scopolamine Prescription Patches
If you have a history of severe motion sickness, you may want to discuss Scopolamine prescription patches with your doctor.
How do Scopolamine patches work to prevent sea sickness on a cruise?
Scopolamine is an anticholinergic medication and works by calming your stomach and blocking signals in the part of your brain that causes nausea and vomiting.
Advantages of Scopolamine patches for preventing sea sickness on a cruise
- Easy to apply and remove
- One patch lasts 3 days
- No large pills to swallow
- Can be very effective for those with a history of severe motion sickness
Disadvantages of Scopolamine patches for preventing sea sickness on a cruise
- Prescription required
- Not safe for children under 12
- Not safe to use with alcohol
- Can cause drowsiness, blurry vision, confusion, and dry mouth
- You must take it at least 4 hours prior to sailing
- It’s not effective for treating nausea or vomiting that’s already happening
- Not safe when taken with certain other medications (check with your doctor)
Which of these sea sickness remedies do you currently use when cruising?
These days I always apply an over-the-counter herbal patch behind my ear prior to boarding and switch it out every few days. I also pack ginger capsules which I occasionally still take at the first hint of (rare with the patches) nausea. I also pack Bonine as a backup, but haven’t had to use it in over a dozen cruises and it’s probably long expired by now. If you’re new to cruising, I’d suggest speaking with your doctor about your particular circumstances (any medications you’re already taking, etc) and packing several different options deemed safe for you. Everyone is unique and you’ll find many people fiercely loyal to each of the options I’ve discussed. Find what works best for you, but let me warn you, regardless of what you choose, you might disembark from your first cruise with a new addiction: to CRUISING! And with that…
Class Dismissed.
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