Tips to Beating Sea Sickness

Avoid sea sickness through diet, patches or medication to help you get the most out of your sea-going adventure. Use any of these proven and inexpensive methods alone or in combination to banish sea sickness from your cruise or other water adventure.

Proper diet

Avoid sea sickness by watching what you eat, starting 24 hours before your adventure. Stay away from acidic foods, including coffee and caffeinated beverages, and drink plenty of water. Coat your stomach with non-acidic food during your trip.

"The patch"

The motion sickness patch is very popular and is usable for a continuous 72 hours. Place it behind your ear four hours prior to boarding. Patches can cause blurry vision or thirst, but they reduce the possibility of sea sickness as the active ingredient is absorbed through your skin.

Medication

Motion sickness medication is available in many forms, including "regular" (drowsy) strength as well as less-drowsy versions. These are the same medications that are often taken to avoid car sickness; take them up to two hours before cruising.

Acupressure

Acupressure bracelets are inexpensive and non-invasive, and provide a very simple solution to prevent sea sickness. They are worn on your wrist, with the small magnet or stud within the bracelet aligned with a pressure point on the wrist. Two bracelets add proper pressure to both wrists, but one is often just as effective.

In addition to the above methods, other useful tips include remaining as close to the center of the ship as possible, eating salty snacks, using a fan and listening to music. All these methods, used individually or in combination, help you "override" your body's sea sickness signals, and make your water adventure a pleasant experience.