Monsters of Rock Cruise Tips for the Seasick
The Monsters of Rock Cruise is just around the corner, and for those of you worried about seasickness, let me share some advice from you from one of the most seasick prone people you will ever meet in your life. My caveat here is that I am not a doctor, don’t play one on t.v. and this advice is simply my suggestions based on my own personal experiences, and that you should consult your doctor before taking any medication.
Ok, so with that disclaimer out of the way, let me start with this. I tried the seasick patch that you wear behind your ear under the advice of a physician the first time I cruised. I am not saying that you should not use it, but for me personally, the side effects were not good. I actually had blurred vision for several days after the cruise and while on the ship as a side effect from this. I do know others who did not have the same problem.
I have settled on a number of other solutions. While these solutions don’t eliminate the seasickness for me, they definitely help make it tolerable so I can still enjoy the cruise.
First is Bonine. Bonine is an over the counter anti-nausea medication that has been VERY effective in reducing my symptoms. I find it to be much more effective than Dramamine. The one drawback is that it has the potential to make you drowsy, but it has never impeded my ability to function.
The next tip is Ginger, Ginger, Ginger. I take Ginger pills which you can buy at a vitamin store throughout the entire cruise and they ACTUALLY WORK better than anything else. I pop a few of the ginger pills every few hours. My stomach usually tells me when I am due for another dose. In addition to the ginger pills, some ginger ale can have a settling effect on the seasickness as well. The third way to get your ginger is to actually ingest ginger root itself. Now I have not tried this method personally, but a friend of our who was suffering on the last trip was offered some actual ginger root as a solution and found it to be effective. Where does one find real ginger on a ship? I have been told that most Sushi bars will have some and that it is possible to negotiate getting some there. Again, I have not tried this method.
The next bit of advice is to consider the elastic seasick prevention wrist bands. I know it seems like a strange idea, but let me tell you, I swear that these things really help me. How do I know? I first thought they were nonsense, but was feeling so bad on the first cruise I took that I was willing to try anything. Go figure…they actually seemed to work. Once I started to feel better I would take them off, and the seasickness returned. This has been true on every cruise I have been on. You can pick the wrist bands up at most drug stores.
Other tips:
Fresh Air is your friend. If you find yourself getting sick indoors, get outside whether on your balcony, or up on deck if you have an internal room. I highly recommend balcony rooms for the seasick prone, as it it much easier to get some fresh air at 4:00 a.m. by just stepping outside.
If you are on your balcony or on deck, try to focus on the horizon. It may seem like a bad idea at first, but it really does help.
Well, there you have it. K-rock’s unofficial survival guide for the seasick prone. I can honestly tell you that I am extremely prone to seasickness, but refuse to let it stop me from having the time of my life on rock cruises and I encourage all of you who are afraid to go for it and take the cruise. Believe me when I tell you, if I can handle it, most people probably can.
If you get on board and have not taken any of these precautions, ask the staff where the infirmary is. You can usually get some medication there and some more advice. The ship store will usually have Bonine, and the wrist bands although you’ll pay a premium price on board. So pack yourself a kit, and head on out to the high seas! I’ll see you on board!
K-rock
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