Seasickness. The sneaky enemy of every fun cruise adventure. It is never a fun experience for anyone, and it might even cause vomiting to some.
The number one fear of many of our guests is getting seasick while on the boat. Seasickness is your body’s initial reaction to imbalance or the unfamiliar motion of a ship or a boat. The boat follows the movement of the water, making it shaky and will therefore stress the balance system of your body. This will then lead to dizziness and a sick stomach, one of the worst things you will ever have the misfortune to experience. That is why it is important to know what to do for seasickness before you embark on your cruise.
If you are one of the sailors who often experience seasickness, or a first time sailor who wants to get ready for anything that might happen on board, then lucky for you, we have listed 9 tips on how to prevent seasickness.
1. Get some fresh air
The first, most effective way to prevent seasickness on a cruise ship is to get out of any closed space and get some fresh air. Lay on your back and relax to get your mind off being sick. Anxiety is a big factor in seasickness, so try to focus on other things.
If you expect to be sick while onboard the boat, then there is a greater chance that you will be seasick. Have a plan before going on this adventure. The more prepared you are, the more optimistic you will be. Putting your mind at ease will help to relieve seasickness as well as prevent symptoms before they even start.
2. Keep the Horizon in Sight
Staring at the water for too long will surely cause you seasickness. The best way to avoid it is to keep the horizon in sight. You need to glance at the skyline every once in a while, not staring too hard, but just looking at it continually. Whenever your body feels and adjusts to new movements, use the horizon as your point of reference to keep your head stable.
The easiest way to do this is to face in one direction only. Keeping your eyes pointed forward on the boat, or to one side, is a sure way to help your body stay balanced. If you cannot keep looking at the horizon, you can also close your eyes to reduce the conflicting signals in your eyes and inner ear.
Keep your eyes from any stress by not staring at things you think are stable. Avoid using binoculars or cameras as these will encourage dizziness and stress.
3. Prepare with a Good Diet
Before going on a cruise, make sure that you eat the type of food your body can handle. Look out for spicy, acidic, and fatty food and avoid drinking alcohol before going on board. Eating and drinking may seem like a good idea to have fun on a cruise, but you eventually regret it when you are too dizzy to enjoy the rest of the adventure.
Eat lighter meals before going on board and bring peppermint and ginger to enjoy on the cruise as these ingredients are known to be effective for seasickness prevention.
4. Avoid Direct Sunlight
In any type of adventure, you wouldn’t want your body uncomfortable and overheated, so stay out of direct sunlight and keep yourself hydrated. The sun gets stronger as you get closer to the equator, so keep your body safe by drinking water or juice. Dehydration can bring symptoms of seasickness so keep the liquids close by.
5. Stay Far from Strong Odors
If you notice someone with a strong perfume or odor, get as far from them as possible. Being exposed to strong smells can make you nauseous. That is why you need as much fresh air as possible to avoid any sort of strong smell from lingering.
6. Don’t Forget to Bring Medicine
Prior to the sailing adventure, ask your doctor how to prevent seasickness on a cruise ship and know the medicine you can prepare to help you manage it. The most common medicines to bring with you are Bonine and Dramamine. These remedies are available over-the-counter. You can take one of these 24 hours before going on a cruise, because the medicine will be more effective if it is already in your bloodstream.
7. Keep Yourself Hydrated
As mentioned above, keeping yourself hydrated is the best thing you can do for yourself to avoid seasickness. Dehydration makes your body prone to motion sickness, so always keep a bottle of water by your side. Drink plenty of water before boarding the ship and avoid any sort of alcohol because it contributes to dehydration.
8. You Will Never Go Wrong with Ginger
Ginger is considered to be one of the most powerful remedies for nausea. It is known as the best seasickness prevention. There are a lot of products out there that use ginger as their main ingredient. You can take one with you on your cruise. It comes in a lot of forms, usually as a candy, capsule, tea, etc. You can also chew on a raw ginger to get the most natural effect of it.
9. PSI bands
PSI bands are acupressure wrist bands that can help relieve nausea and vomiting. These adjustable bands are really effective and are recommended by most people. Try to find one that works for you, but be prepared with other remedies just in case.
Now that you know exactly what to do for seasickness and what to prepare for your cruise ship adventure, maybe you are wondering where to book you and your family an exciting dolphin cruise at St. Pete Beach.
Well, look no further, because Sunshine Scenic Tours offers the most amazing dolphin and pirate cruise package. We are located in Madeira Beach, but also offer services in St. Pete Beach, FL and the surrounding area.
