Tips on Preventing Motion Sickness While on a Cruise

Seasickness or ‘mal de mer’ can unfortunately spoil a well planned cruise. Motion sickness on a cruise is typically triggered by the rocking motion of ships caused by large waves. This causes an upset in the harmony of the inner ear balance canal system which promotes a sense of nausea and imbalance.

Seasickness occurs due to the reaction of our inner ear’s balance system to the unfamiliar motion of the ship we are sailing in. Since we are accustomed to seeing pillars and floors as stationary building parts, our brain creates the same impression when our eyes spot them on the cruise. However, as they appear in motion with the bumpy cruise, a conflict in our ‘eye and body coordination’ sets in. With such confusion, our balance system is challenged and nausea sets in.

Remedies for Cruise Motion Sickness/Seasickness

There are a few things that travelers can do to prevent motion sickness and motion related dizziness:

* Ginger: This is the most common home based treatment. People with a tendency towards motion sickness can chew chunks of ginger or can try ginger flavored lozenges

* Meclizine: although it may cause drowsiness, Meclizine can be helpful for preventing and mitigating dizziness and motion sickness

* Sea bands: These bands are supposed to work by inhibiting the nausea inducing nerve signals to the brain

* Avoid reading: Reading while on a cruise can increase the conflict between what the eye sees and the body feels and may induce motion sickness

* Request a room towards the center of the boat where there is less rocky movement

* Look towards the horizon and if possible focus on a single point in the distance

Another well known remedy for motion sickness is the herbal supplement available at http://www.dizzystop.com/. This supplement has helped numerous travelers counter their seasickness without side effects such as drowsiness.