If the only thing standing between you and an unforgettable cruise vacation on one of Celebrity Cruises’ premium ships is worrying about whether or not you’ll get seasick on a cruise, these tips about dealing with motion sickness will ease your mind and body so you can happily book your cruise.
What causes seasickness?
Seasickness is a form of motion sickness that results when what your eye sees is out of balance with what your inner ear senses. If your body feels motion but your eye doesn’t see it, your senses become confused and can cause symptoms like dizziness, nausea, headaches, and tiredness.
Motion sickness can happen in almost any mode of travel, such as cars, trains, or even on a roller coaster.
How long does seasickness last on a cruise?
If you feel seasick at the start of a cruise, the good news is that for the great majority of passengers, seasickness usually subsides once you get your “sea legs,” which means your senses adjust and your equilibrium returns.
For most passengers who feel seasick at the start of a cruise, taking over-the-counter remedies and using the techniques recommended in this article will help you feel better in a few hours to a day or two. In some cases, particularly in rougher sea weather, seasickness may last longer.
Can you feel the ship move on a cruise?
Celebrity Cruises’ fleet of innovative cruise ships are so well designed and engineered that most of the time you won’t even feel the ship moving. Each ship is designed to give you as smooth a ride as possible without compromising the multiple activities available onboard and the spectacular on-deck views.
Our ships have stabilizers to keep the boat from rocking. Even a tilting of 1% is considered unacceptable, and Celebrity Cruises uses advanced technology to make sure your ship stays stable and calm.
What kind of cruise ships are best to avoid seasickness?
If you’re concerned about being seasick on a cruise, it’s good to know that Celebrity’s Solstice-class ships, which include Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Eclipse, and Celebrity Reflection, are built for smooth sailing, with fin-like stabilizers mounted beneath the ship’s waterline to ensure smooth sailing.
To give you an idea of the size and heft of these ships, each is built in post-Panamax dimensions, meaning they are too large to sail through the locks of the Panama Canal. At 122,000 to 126,000 tonnes, they glide through the water at a comfortable average speed of 24 knots, or about 27 miles per hour. They are steel-hull constructed and built with the safety and comfort of passengers in mind.
Celebrity’s newest class of ships, the Edge class, which includes Celebrity Edge and sister ship, Celebrity Apex, are the largest ships in our fleet. At 129,500 tonnes and reaching average cruising speeds of 22 knots, or about 25 miles per hour, they, too, are steel-hull constructed with stabilizers to ensure the safety and comfort of the passengers they carry.
Where is the best place to sail to avoid getting seasick on a cruise?
If you know you’re especially susceptible to seasickness, avoid itineraries that spend a lot of time sailing in open water. Cruise itineraries that stay within a sea, such as European cruises that sail along the Mediterranean Sea or Caribbean cruises that depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico are often good bets for having relatively calm waters during cruises.
One way to test the waters if you’re concerned about getting seasick on a cruise is to book a short cruise on a large ship that sails in calm water. We offer 2-night cruises from Florida to the Bahamas on our Millennium-class ship, Celebrity Infinity, and our newly revolutionized Solstice-class ship, Celebrity Equinox.
You’ll have one day at sea in each direction in the usually calm waters between Fort Lauderdale or Miami and the Bahamas. When in port, you’ll have a day to relax and play in the warm sunshine, clear blue water, and white-sand beaches of Nassau.
Another way to minimize your chances of becoming seasick on a cruise is to book a cruise that sails on one of our largest ships, like Celebrity Edge or Celebrity Apex, with 10- or 11-night itineraries that sail within the generally calm waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Cruise from Rome on a 10-night itinerary visiting some of the most beautiful destinations in the Mediterranean, like Sicily, Naples, and the gorgeous Greek Islands. Or, sail an 11-night itinerary departing from Rome to Naples and Messina, Corfu, Greece, and up the Dalmatian Coast to Dubrovnik and Split, Croatia, and Trieste in Northern Italy.
On each of these sailings, you’ll only have two nights at sea, with the remaining time spent in port enjoying the glorious sights and pleasure of the Mediterranean.
When choosing an itinerary to avoid seasickness, consider the time of year as well. For instance, the best time to cruise the Caribbean is outside the hurricane season—the months of June through November—as they can increase the wave height and the ship movement you might feel while at sea.
What’s the best stateroom location to avoid motion sickness on a cruise?
To reduce motion sickness, choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship on a lower deck. You will feel any sway of the ship less in this section.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, if you’re worried about seasickness on a cruise, book a stateroom with a window or a veranda. Fresh air access and a horizon view will help alleviate seasickness symptoms.
If lower levels are already booked or you’d like to be on a higher deck for an elevated view or to be closer to the activities on the top decks, book a stateroom in the middle of the ship and avoid staterooms near the front or back (bow or aft) of the ship.
The ships’ deck plans will help you pinpoint the best stateroom location for your needs.
Read: Cruising While Pregnant
What remedies are available to alleviate seasickness on a cruise?
Rest
One way to avoid seasickness on a cruise is to get enough rest. Lack of sleep and exhaustion can make you more susceptible to motion sickness.
Motion sickness medication and natural remedies
If you think you might experience motion sickness on a cruise, it’s best to be prepared. There are several over-the-counter, natural, and doctor-prescribed remedies that can help. Be sure to pack whatever seasickness remedy you choose in your carry-on bag, and take as directed, which may mean a few hours prior to boarding your ship.
If you have a doctor-prescribed transdermal patch (scopolamine), apply it as directed at least four hours before boarding your ship. The patch is active for three days, so if you’re traveling on a longer cruise, you should pack replacements.
Don’t panic if you forget to pack motion sickness medication. At the guest relations desk onboard, you’ll find tablets that will help combat seasickness.
There are also some tried and true natural remedies to alleviate the symptoms of seasickness. Ginger, whether in pill form or as a candy, is easy to keep handy as you cruise. Sucking on peppermint candy or smelling peppermint oil is also helpful.
Acupressure & acupuncture
Wearing an acupressure band around your wrist is another natural way to alleviate sea sickness. If you want to take pressure-point therapy one step further, forego the band and seek out an acupuncture specialist. Our onboard spas have acupuncture technicians who will help you relieve your motion sickness.
Fresh air
Though being seasick on a cruise may make you want to curl up in your stateroom and stay there, you’ll be amazed at how dramatically better you’ll feel if you get out and breathe in some fresh air. At the very least, step out on your veranda, take a breath of fresh air, find a spot on the horizon, and keep your eyes on it.
Make an effort to get up to the top deck and do the same. Breathing in fresh air while keeping your eyes on the horizon helps your mind and body get back in sync and may alleviate your symptoms.
What should I eat and drink to avoid motion sickness on a cruise ship?
It may sound like the last thing you want to do, but keeping your stomach full by eating small meals and snacks throughout the day can help ward off nausea from seasickness. At the very least, regularly sipping ginger ale and eating crackers may do the trick for the first 24 hours.
If you’re prone to seasickness, be cautious of your alcohol intake as alcohol can increase dehydration and exacerbate the effects of motion sickness.
Staying hydrated during your cruise is vital, as dehydration can make you feel more seasick. Our Zero Proof drink package includes unlimited bottles of sparkling and still water, such as San Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, and Evian.
Now that you know how to combat seasickness, browse our cruise itineraries, view cruise accommodations, fights, and activities all in one place or speak to one of our cruise vacation specialists at 1-800-852-8086.
