How to Feel Better at Sea: Top Seasickness Remedies for a Cruise

• Prevention is Key: To minimise motion sickness, choose a cabin on a lower deck in the middle of the ship where movement is least felt.

• Natural Remedies for Quick Relief: If symptoms (dizziness, nausea) begin, act fast by going out on deck to focus on the distant horizon, as this helps realign the signals from your eyes and inner ear.

• Cruise Ships Minimise Movement: Seasickness is caused by a sensory conflict due to the ship's rocking motion, but it is less likely on large modern cruise ships designed to glide smoothly.

The prospect of a cruise is really exciting! However, if you have a niggling worry at the back of your mind that seasickness might limit how much you can enjoy your time onboard, we're here to help.

In this blog, we're looking at seasickness and cruises and sharing some of the best sickness remedies to help make your cruise holiday as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.

Do You Get Seasick On a Cruise?

Seasickness is a form of motion sickness that many people experience when travelling. It could be by car, train or plane and can also happen when you're on a cruise ship. 

The feeling of seasickness is caused by confusion between what your inner ear is detecting and what your eyes see. On a cruise ship, this "disagreement" can be caused by the ship's rocking motion, which your ears sense but your eyes do not necessarily process. 

When you get seasick, the typical seasickness symptoms you experience can include dizziness, nausea and headaches.

However, the good news is that the larger the vessel, the less motion sickness you will likely feel. Cruise ships are designed to glide through the water and provide a smooth sailing experience, quite different from the experience you may have had on other smaller vessels. 

The other important thing to note is that seasickness symptoms usually don’t last, so it’s unlikely you’ll feel like this for the whole of your cruise holiday. Nonetheless, let's take a look at some preventative seasickness tips to ward off the onset of these feelings, as well as a few tried and tested remedies.

How to Prevent Seasickness

What is the best thing to stop seasickness? Prevention is better than cure when it comes to seasickness on a cruise - you want to enjoy your holiday from the very beginning!

The choices you make even before getting on your ship can impact whether you feel unwell or can fully enjoy those first few hours and days onboard.

Here are some of the best things you can do to stop seasickness from occurring:

Book a Cabin in the Middle of the Ship

The choice of your cabin position on the ship can significantly affect whether you experience seasickness on your cruise holiday. If you select a cabin in the middle of the vessel, where there is reduced sway, you'll feel less movement.

You'll also find that cabins on the lower decks closer to the water line are more stable. And less movement means a reduced chance of experiencing seasickness symptoms.

Use Travel Sickness Wristbands

When looking at how to prevent seasickness, another great option is wearing travel sickness wristbands.

Also used as a natural remedy for seasickness, if you begin to feel ill, these travel bands use acupressure on your wrists and have been shown to help stop you from feeling nauseous without needing to take medication.

Stay Hydrated & Eat Light

What you eat and drink will also determine how you feel on the ship. Make wise choices to help prevent seasickness from occurring. 

Staying well-hydrated is essential, as dehydration is known to make seasickness worse. Furthermore, having something in your stomach will help avoid seasickness – but nothing too heavy or spicy. Instead, choose small meals that contain light, starchy foods.

Seasickness Natural Remedies

If you begin to notice seasickness symptoms, the best thing to do is to act fast; try some of the seasickness remedies below to potentially stop you from feeling any worse.

Stare at the Horizon

It may sound simple, but staring at the horizon when you begin to feel a little seasickness on a cruise is a fast and effective way to alleviate your symptoms. So, get out onto the upper deck and find a spot on the horizon to focus on.

This process helps the signals from your mind and body to become realigned, and you have the added bonus of taking in the views!

Get Some Fresh Air

Going with the tip above, the fresh air you get from being out on deck is also an excellent natural remedy for seasickness. Breathe deeply and feel the cool breeze; it will help you to feel much better.

Ginger & Seasickness

Other natural remedies for seasickness that have been found to work are ginger and peppermint. As well as ginger tablets or sweets, you can also try this seasickness remedy in the form of ginger tea, ginger ale or even ginger biscuits!

Similarly, peppermint, in the form of sweets, tea or smelling peppermint oil, is a natural seasickness remedy that can help you to feel better. 

Onboard Support

Remember that if you're feeling unwell, the crew onboard your cruise ship are experienced in dealing with seasickness, so they are well-equipped to help you. Therefore, don't hesitate to speak to the medical staff if you need further advice or support.

Seasickness doesn't have to ruin your cruise holiday. There are several proven strategies and natural seasickness remedies that you can try to prevent its occurrence and help you feel better should you start to get symptoms. 

So, if it’s something you’re worried about, be prepared. Choose your cabin position wisely, pack a few remedies in your bag and remember to get out on deck to gaze at that endless horizon. In most cases, you'll quickly feel better and be able to enjoy your cruise holiday experience fully!