If you are going on a cruise for the first time and are concerned about feeling seasick then do read my first article on the subject, Cruising - Seasickness Part 1, which should give you some tips for avoiding it.
So what do you do if all this fails to help and you still feel nauseous? Well, there are plenty of things that you can take to alleviate the symptoms. Be prepared and purchase some travel sickness tablets before you go, but make sure that they are not the ones that make you sleepy – after all, you don’t want to sleep away your cruise. Dramamine is a common drug used for travel sickness. I use ‘Seabands’ an elasticated wristband with an acupuncture ball which applies pressure on the acupuntcure points on the writs. I have found them to be fantastic – I first used them for pregnancy sickness and they have always worked a treat. They are readily available in places like Boots in the UK, and as they are non-invasive they are safe for any member of the family to try. However, all of these remedies need to be taken BEFORE the nausea starts, so if you are worried wear the seabands as soon as you get on board the ship, or take a tablet before the ship sails. As you find your sea-legs you will be able to abandon the tablets or seabands.
You can also purchase patches which you put behind your ear, and which last up to three days, but these should be used with caution as they contain a drug called scopalomine. They should not be worn by children as the dose is designed for adults. They may make you drowsy or dizzy, give you a dry mouth or they may irritate the skin. It is always wise to consult a doctor before using these patches. They should not be used by anyone who has glaucoma, and you should not drink alcohol when using them.
Should none of these things work for you then you really must go and see the ship’s doctor. They are very used to treating seasickness and can offer an injection which will make you feel better quite quickly. All of my family, apart from me, succumbed to seasickness on that fateful cruise across the Bay of Biscay, and had to have the injection. I was very lucky, the doctor gave me an injection as a precaution, and within a couple of hours I was back in the restaurant eating my breakfast!
So don’t suffer in silence. Be prepared, take the tablets or wear the seabands BEFORE the ship sails, and if all else fails go and see the doctor.
Lastly, attitude of mind is definitely a factor. If you worry about feeling seasick then you might well do so, and if you board the ship thinking you might feel sick and constantly think about it then you may end up talking yourself into feeling nauseous.
Happy cruising, and I am sure that you will probably never even think about seasickness – you will be far too busy enjoying yourself!
So what do you do if all this fails to help and you still feel nauseous? Well, there are plenty of things that you can take to alleviate the symptoms. Be prepared and purchase some travel sickness tablets before you go, but make sure that they are not the ones that make you sleepy – after all, you don’t want to sleep away your cruise. Dramamine is a common drug used for travel sickness. I use ‘Seabands’ an elasticated wristband with an acupuncture ball which applies pressure on the acupuntcure points on the writs. I have found them to be fantastic – I first used them for pregnancy sickness and they have always worked a treat. They are readily available in places like Boots in the UK, and as they are non-invasive they are safe for any member of the family to try. However, all of these remedies need to be taken BEFORE the nausea starts, so if you are worried wear the seabands as soon as you get on board the ship, or take a tablet before the ship sails. As you find your sea-legs you will be able to abandon the tablets or seabands.
You can also purchase patches which you put behind your ear, and which last up to three days, but these should be used with caution as they contain a drug called scopalomine. They should not be worn by children as the dose is designed for adults. They may make you drowsy or dizzy, give you a dry mouth or they may irritate the skin. It is always wise to consult a doctor before using these patches. They should not be used by anyone who has glaucoma, and you should not drink alcohol when using them.
Should none of these things work for you then you really must go and see the ship’s doctor. They are very used to treating seasickness and can offer an injection which will make you feel better quite quickly. All of my family, apart from me, succumbed to seasickness on that fateful cruise across the Bay of Biscay, and had to have the injection. I was very lucky, the doctor gave me an injection as a precaution, and within a couple of hours I was back in the restaurant eating my breakfast!
So don’t suffer in silence. Be prepared, take the tablets or wear the seabands BEFORE the ship sails, and if all else fails go and see the doctor.
Lastly, attitude of mind is definitely a factor. If you worry about feeling seasick then you might well do so, and if you board the ship thinking you might feel sick and constantly think about it then you may end up talking yourself into feeling nauseous.
Happy cruising, and I am sure that you will probably never even think about seasickness – you will be far too busy enjoying yourself!