Motion Sickness on a Cruise: How to Prepare Before You Sail

A cruise can be an exciting way to travel. Between exploring new destinations, relaxing by the water, enjoying onboard entertainment, and spending time with family or friends, there is plenty to look forward to. However, if you are prone to motion sickness, the thought of spending several days on a moving ship may make you a little hesitant about setting sail.

Motion sickness can happen when your brain receives conflicting information about movement from your eyes and inner ear. On a cruise ship, you may visually perceive your surroundings as relatively stable while your inner ear detects the ship’s movement on the water. For some travelers, that sensory mismatch can result in dizziness, nausea, sweating, fatigue, or vomiting.

Fortunately, being susceptible to motion sickness doesn’t necessarily mean you have to avoid cruises. Preparing before you leave home can help you feel more confident and ready to enjoy your vacation.

Know Whether You’re Prone to Motion Sickness

If you’ve experienced motion sickness in cars, airplanes, smaller boats, amusement park rides, or other moving environments, it is worth preparing for the possibility that you could experience it on a cruise.

Everyone responds to motion differently. Some travelers may barely notice the movement of a large cruise ship, while others may feel uncomfortable when the water becomes rougher.

Consider your previous experiences before traveling. Knowing that you’re susceptible allows you to plan ahead instead of waiting until symptoms have already begun.

Choose Your Cabin Carefully

Cabin location may be worth considering when booking your cruise.

Movement can feel different depending on where you are on the ship. In general, areas closer to the ship’s center and on lower decks may experience less noticeable movement than cabins positioned high up or toward the front or back of the vessel.

Of course, cabin location is only one consideration when booking. Views, accessibility, price, and proximity to onboard activities may also influence your decision. But if motion sickness is a major concern, asking the cruise line or your travel professional about cabins where movement may be less noticeable could be helpful.

Spend Some Time Where You Can See the Horizon

Visual information can play an important role in motion sickness.

If you begin feeling uncomfortable, looking toward the horizon may help your eyes better recognize the movement your inner ear is already detecting. Spending some time on an open deck where you can see the water and horizon may feel more comfortable than remaining in an enclosed interior space.

Fresh air can also be welcome when you’re beginning to feel nauseated.

If possible, find a comfortable place where you can sit, minimize unnecessary head movement, and look toward a distant, stable reference point.

Be Careful With Screens and Reading

Relaxing with a book sounds like a perfect cruise activity, but reading isn’t always comfortable when you’re prone to motion sickness.

Looking at a book, phone, tablet, or laptop can create a sensory mismatch. Your eyes are focused on an object that appears stationary while your inner ear detects the ship’s movement.

If you’re feeling completely comfortable, reading may not be an issue. But if you notice early signs of motion sickness, consider putting the screen or book away and looking outside instead.

Listening to music, an audiobook, or a podcast can be an alternative that doesn’t require focusing your eyes on a stationary object.

Pay Attention to Food and Hydration

Cruises are famous for having plenty of food available, but you may want to think carefully about what you eat before and during periods when the ship is moving noticeably.

Large or particularly heavy meals may feel uncomfortable if your stomach is already unsettled. Choosing familiar foods and eating reasonable portions can make sense, especially during your first day while you’re adjusting to being on the water.

Staying hydrated is also important while traveling. Between warm weather, excursions, walking around the ship, and spending time outdoors, it can be easy to forget to drink enough water.

Keeping water nearby can help you maintain your normal routine throughout the trip.

Learn Your Early Warning Signs

Motion sickness doesn’t necessarily begin with severe nausea.

You may first notice mild dizziness, fatigue, sweating, increased salivation, warmth, or an unsettled feeling in your stomach. Learning to recognize your own early warning signs gives you an opportunity to respond before your discomfort becomes more noticeable.

If symptoms begin, stop reading or using your phone, find a place where you can look toward the horizon, get fresh air when practical, and try to keep your head relatively still.

It can also be helpful to let your travel companions know that you’re susceptible to motion sickness so you don’t feel pressured to continue an activity when you need a short break.

Pack With Motion Sickness in Mind

Don’t wait until you’re already on the ship to think about motion sickness.

Add your preferred motion sickness supplies to your packing checklist along with sunscreen, travel documents, comfortable clothing, and other vacation essentials. Having what you need available in your carry-on can be especially helpful because you may not have immediate access to checked luggage when you first board.

If you use an over-the-counter motion sickness medication, read the label before your trip. This allows you to understand when it should be taken, how often it can be used, and any warnings you should know about before your vacation begins.

Prepare Before the Ship Leaves Port

If you know you’re prone to motion sickness, preparation before the ship begins moving may be particularly important.

Jet-Avert® contains meclizine HCl 25 mg and is labeled for the prevention and treatment of nausea, vomiting, or dizziness associated with motion sickness. For adults and children 12 years and older, Jet-Avert’s directions state that the first dose should be taken one hour before starting the activity.

Always follow the complete Drug Facts label, including its dosage directions and warnings. Meclizine can cause drowsiness, so pay close attention to precautions regarding activities that require alertness and interactions listed on the label. If you have questions about whether an over-the-counter motion sickness medication is appropriate for you, speak with a healthcare professional before traveling.

Preparing before departure means you won’t have to figure everything out while you’re already adjusting to the ship’s movement.

Give Yourself Time to Adjust

Your first few hours aboard may feel different from what you’re accustomed to on land. Instead of filling your schedule immediately, consider giving yourself time to settle in.

Explore the ship, spend some time outside, locate your cabin, and learn where the open decks and comfortable seating areas are. Knowing where you can go for fresh air or a view of the horizon can be useful later.

Some travelers may also become more accustomed to the movement after spending time aboard, although individual experiences vary.

Set Sail With a Plan

Being prone to motion sickness doesn’t mean a cruise has to be off your vacation list. The key is knowing your triggers and preparing before you sail.

Consider cabin location when booking, spend time where you can see the horizon, limit reading and screen use if they make you uncomfortable, stay hydrated, and recognize your early warning signs. Most importantly, don’t wait until you’re already feeling sick to start thinking about your plan.

For travelers ages 12 and older, Jet-Avert® can be a convenient addition to your cruise packing list for the prevention and treatment of nausea, vomiting, or dizziness associated with motion sickness when used according to the Drug Facts label.

With your bags packed and a motion sickness plan in place, you can spend less time worrying about the movement of the ship and more time looking forward to everything waiting beyond the next port.