Will I get sick on the voyage? This is a common question that the enrollment department fields leading up to any voyage. The answer is “maybe”.
Everyone reacts a little differently to seasickness, some more severe than others. The main symptom that worries people is nausea and stomach upset, though there are some other minor symptoms that can affect you. Some people will experience:
- headaches
- drowsiness
- nausea
- dizziness
- fatigue
Though many people will not experience any symptoms, the vast majority of those who do will only feel a bit “off” for the first few days of the voyage.
How can I prevent seasickness?
Discuss this with your doctor if it is a real concern for you. There is patch you can get and wear behind your ear that seems to do the trick for many people. You’ll need to get this from a physician. Other ways to prevent seasickness are to:
- be sure to have a little food in your stomach at all times (it’s actually worse to have an empty stomach)
- get fresh air frequently
- take some Dramamine or Meclizine right away when the captain calls for some rough seas ‚Äì don’t wait until you begin to feel sick
- Get some sleep!
It’s critical to your health and wellness on the ship to be sure that you are getting enough sleep. This can be tricky with all the exciting things to do on board the ship, new friends, challenging courses, in-port adventures to plan, and especially the time changes, but it is very important to be sure you are getting your rest.
What do I do if I do feel seasick?
The first and best thing to do is to get some fresh air. This can ward off feelings of nausea and help with the feelings of fatigue and dizziness. Next, you may want to take some Dramamine or Meclazine. The medical clinic onboard provides an unlimited (and free!) supply of these anti-seasickness medications. The earlier you take them, the better. Eat some saltines ‚Äì also an unlimited supply from the medical clinic and the Purser’s desk. Last get to the back of the ship where there’s less movement.
So hopefully these tips will ease your concerns about seasickness. If you still have more questions, feel free to get in touch with us or just leave a question in the comments and we’ll answer it.
