7 Ways to Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise

Last updated on 03/27/2023

Seasickness on Cruise

Don’t let seasickness get in the way of the cruise of your dreams. Many travelers wonder "will I get seasick on a cruise?" and avoid taking the trip. Well, worry no more. With these 7 ways to prevent seasickness on cruises, you will be prepared to take on whatever may come your way once you set sail. Below we'll cover seasickness medicines, natural remedies, and choices cruisers can make to limit or avoid seasickness altogether. After all, it's your vacation so you'll want to have good time and feel your best.

How to Avoid & Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise

1. Over-the-Counter Medication

Many ships dispense motion sickness medications, such as Dramamine and Bonine, to prevent cruisers from becoming seasick. Although you can buy these seasickness medicines on the ship itself, it’s smart to start taking them 1-2 days before so they’re already in your system when you board. Of course, it is important to be careful with motion sickness medications by using them as directed and being aware of side effects. Always talk to your doctor before taking a new medicine, even if it’s over-the-counter.

2. Sea-Band

If you’re looking for a more natural way to reduce or avoid seasickness when on a cruise, you should check out the popular product, Sea-Band. While these motion sickness bands are on your wrist, they lightly press into the acupressure points. This light pressure provides you with a sense of balance, which alleviates and helps prevent the effects of seasickness.

3. Spend Time Outside

This may be surprising, but it is very important to stay outside of the cabin if you start to feel seasick or experience motion sickness. Spending time outside will provide you with the perspective of a balanced horizon and some much-needed fresh air. Many people might feel like they want to go lay in bed when they’re feeling seasick, but it’s important to get fresh air and to stare out at the balanced horizon. Try a lounge chair on the pool deck instead!

4. Choose a Large, Modern Ship

When it comes to choosing the ship you’re going to take your cruise on, try to avoid small, older vessels. Modern cruise ships typically weigh between 60,000-200,000 tons, which is very helpful in providing balance for cruisers. These large ships are better stabilized, making the motion of the ship much less noticeable. Less rocking motion means less seasickness while on the cruise ship.

5. Choosing Your Cabin

When booking a cruise, it is important to find the perfect cabin to sleep in during your trip. If you are prone to seasickness, you will want to choose a cabin located in the lower and central part of the ship. Avoiding a cabin close to the edge of the ship or high up on the ship will allow you to feel less of the motion involved on the cruise.

6. Choosing Your Itinerary

When determining your cruise itinerary, you can avoid seasickness based on how much time you spend on the water compared to on land. If you can choose a cruise that spends only 1-2 days at sea at a time before docking, you will be less likely to feel the effects of seasickness. Spending more time than that on a ship without being on land at all will increase your chances of becoming seasick or motion sickness.

7. Choosing Your Cruiseline

When determining the type of cruise you want to go on, it may be wise to look at which options include calmer waters. These include Alaskan cruises and Caribbean cruises when it isn’t Hurricane season. It’s no secret that more intense waters with strong or unpredictable currents will make for much more motion and increase the potential for seasickness while on the cruise. It is extremely important to choose all aspects of your cruise wisely before you set sail to prevent motion and seasickness.