Seasickness: prevention and myths

I might have the “needle” the morning before I board so that I don’t waste a minute of what sounds like a wonderful time aboard Pacific Dawn. Only 15 weeks and 1 day till I leave….but who is counting!

I’m lucky I dont get seasick!! Particularly since I’m allergic to ginger so I wouldnt be able to take the tablets

When on board Pacific Star in 2007, the Drs on board gave me a jab and then followed up with Avomine travel sickness tablets. Is this still so? You can actually purchase these tablets over the counter at Chemists at a much reduced priced than on board. May help to prevent the need for an injection.

Hello,
I am booked on the Cruise departing 23 January 2010 and am excited, it being my first cruise. I’m travelling with my cousin and her 12 year old daughter. Can someone tell me about the kids activities, what’s happening and so on, Also I’m into paper crafts (scrapbooking/ card making, etc), so anything happening then?
I’m searching through the P&O site but can’t find exact stuff that will be happening on this cruise. if it comes out later please someone let me know.

Hi Dell,

Kids activities include arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, pizza and ice cream parties, kids dance parties and more, see the blow link for more details
http://www.pocruises.com.au/html/pre-cruise-information.cfm#travelling-with-children
Whilst onboard you will receive a copy of the Pacific Daily newsletter outlining the activities available for the day. On most cruises we offer activities such as T-shirt painting, quilling, earring making and other crafts.

Enjoy your cruise.
P&O Cruises

Hi Can anyone tell me what does it cost to get a sea sick injection and does it come off your cruise card or can you pay on credit card.

Thanks

Hi Julie
When we cruised back in 2007 my daughter needed the injection. It cost us $85 then and was charged directly to our credit card as that is how we decided to pay for everything on the cruise. I know you pay the bill direct. Your travel insurance will cover it and you can lodge a claim when you get back. It took about 6 weeks but they reimbursed us for the whole amount.
Hope this helps, have fun.
Narelle

Hi Julie. The first cruise I went on, I needed the injection the first night. Unfortunately it was after the normal ship’s hospital hours and was about $125. That night there was about 115 others that also required the injection. We had it charged to our cruise card. It is worth trying the sea sickness prevention pressure wrist bands. Have a great trip!

Hi I am one of those lucky people that does not get sea sick,(lucky me), but i do feel very sorry for the people that do, just take the advice of the information given above, and I am sure you will survive, remember you are out there to enjoy yourself not to be sick, relax, don’t panic and don’t talk yourself into feeling sea sick, that can happen to, GOOD LUCK!!!

Hi all,I have been on six cruises and always got sick within the first 24hrs. But the last two times I have sailed on the dawn and haven’t had a problem I do take ginger tablets for the first 24hrs though. I do think the new superliners do make a big difference compared to the old ships. Jo

hi all im one that gets sick but i was told buy a3rd year medical student that was visting my doctors also she is in the navy to go to the chemist and get AVOMINE tablets. she said take one the day before i leave and then one for the next two days. i followed her addvise and had a very nice time no seasickness this time. unlike a lot of other people on board. i hope this helps, happy cruising. we are going agin 21st july since we had such a good time. yes i will be taking the tablets again $14 worth spending.

Hi Sue
How many in the pack? My daughter will probably need them as she was sick most of the cruise until we realised she could get a needle. My son got sick but after losing his brekkie seemed okay.

hi narelle
30 tablets. you can get them over the counter. they are the same as the needle but a lot cheaper. when do you go next?

Hi Sue
Thanks for the info on the Avomine. We were going to go to the doctor on board asap beforehand as someone suggested on the last cruise. My daughter tends to easily get sick. I think we’ll take the Avomine as you have suggested.
we are going in December on the 19th for the Christmas cruise, the first cruise from Brisbane on the Dawn. Really excited. We booked on the Sun originally and then were told the Jewell was replacing it which was really exciting. Initially disappointed when we were then told the Jewell was going to Sydney but from reading more about the Dawn, sounds ultra fantastic.
Can’t wait.

Narelle, Avomine is what was prescribed to me on the ship, so is a good choice. I too have fallen victim to seasickness and it is not nice. The injection will make your daughter want to sleep. Avomine tablets are a 1 a day tab. Perhaps two x half tablet doses may be better. Also try the sea sickness bands, although not very glamourous, may also be of help. They are readily available at pharmacies.

Hi Sue i to am going on a cruise the 21st July with 4 kids what ages can they take these tablets from? none of them have been on a ship before they are ages 12 7 and 6 years twins

hi cheryl
look forward to meetting you and your family. on the box it says over the age of 10. go see your doctor he or she will be able to tell you more.

Hi Cheryl

I see you have 2 other children under 10. I was also told to take Avomine for myself and my three children, 13,12 and 9, but they don’t like taking tablets. I was advised for them to take Phanergan, this is Avomine but in liquid form believe it or not. We used it last time on the cruise with the wrist band, it worked wonders I was advised to take it one day before departing, once a day. Hope this works!

Hi Trish
Was the recommendation once a day for the whole cruise or just the first couple of days.
What are the wristbands and are they available at the chemist? Are they expensive? Do you keep them on the whole time?
Thanks

Hi

We were recommended to take it once a day for the whole cruise, but after two to three days we didn’t need it coz we all got our sea legs by then and the sea was smooth! The best place I got it from was Priceline, they cost me around $7 each, but that was 2 years ago. Me and my daughters kept them on for most of the trip. My son kept it on the whole trip coz he felt he needed it.

The wristband have like a metal button which applies pressure to an acupuncture point on the wrist, which is suppose to ease or stop the seasickness! I also had Kwells tablets and ginger tablets, these weren’t as effective though.

We a cruising again on the 4th June 2009, have all my supplies ready!!

Thanks for that Trish
One more question to you or anyone who may be reading. I don’t tend to get sick and neither does my husband. Last cruise we did was great weather, but my daughter gets sick easily so I’m not taking chances this time as she was sick for most of the cruise although it didn’t stop her loving every minute of the cruise. My son was sick for one day.They are both teenagers (late teens)
My question is, if we(us who don’t usually get sick) decide not to take anything before sailing is it too late if you get sick later?
Happy cruising Trish.
we have to wait until December.
Narelle

p.s does anyone know what December sailing is usually like. We went September last time – perfect.

Hi

When we cruised in Nov 08 it was great weather and smooth sailing. If you don’t normally get sick and you happen to on your next cruise, I suggest you go straight to the medical centre and get the injection. Thats what I did on our first cruise in August 2006, I was not prepared with sea sickness supplies, but my sister-in-law had been on cruises before and strongly recommended, the minute you feel sick go and get the injection. ! It worked wonders. My son tends to get sick and after he had the injection, he was fine for the whole cruise.
We also had a chance to chat with the Captain and he suggested eat plain bread and eat green apples. This was quite good as well, I also ate the banana muffins at breakfast, this seemed to settle my stomach as well!

Good Luck! Hope I was able to help

Hi

We were on the Pacific Dawn in April 2009, and we all took the usual seasick tablets, my wife however was seasick from day 2, a friend of ours travelling with us had some Maxalon perscibed by her doctor and after taking those 24 hours later she was as right as rain.

Had a fantastic cruise, now its only 316 days until our next one in March 2010

Hi Narelle,
Just having read ur blog about ur daughters seasickness. I suffer from it very bad, We have just come off our last cruise last saturday. In the past i have waited to see the doc on board. We had to fly in from Adelaide, as it was we spent the day in Sdyney before our cruise, so i found a doctor close by to where we were staying and told him how bad i get and if i could have a injection before we go on board the ship., He gave me a script for Maxalon, i went and got it from the chemist went back to him and he gave it to me. {he was the best doc for have seen for years i told him to come a live in Adelaide, very lovely man}. He bulked bill and the cost for the script was only $17. We had a 3 – 4 metre swell most of the time and i only felt quizzie one day and took a Avomine that morning and was fine. we have been on 5 cruise in the last five years and this one was the only sick free one. So i know what i will be doing in the furture. Enjoy your cruise hope this may help. Sue

Hi all, I’m absolutely beside myself with excitement as we are going on our first cruise on the Pacific Dawn in just 5 weeks and 3 days, I’ve never given sea sickness a second thought however my brilliant & wonderful husband has talked himself & our son into sea sickness (I must say they have both been sick in the past on a small fishing boat) and have had stemitil prescribed and packed for 2 months already. Our 2 daughters, almost son in law (who has been on a cruise & took kwells) and me (I suffer from a chronic ear problem) are left wondering should we get something as I don’t want to miss a second of my cruise. Avomine sound like the go and we have always got the boys medication to fall back on if needed. I’m wondering can alcohol be consumes whilst taking Avomine?

hi amanda
yes i drank while i was taking avomine on our last cruise in march last year. but i did not drink a lot while i was on them. we go on our next trip the 21st july and counting down the days, 55days.

My husband & I have been on four previous P & O cruises. Our cruise is on Pacific Dawn on 21st July from the beatiful harbour of Sydney, in a balcony cabin. The only down side is that only one of us suffers from seasickess (that would be me, Christine). I will be visiting our GP prior to the cruise, hoping I will not need to see the ships Doctor, but will not hesitate to have “the needle” at the first hint of motion sickness. Had it before, it really works. Even though I get sick, I still enjoy cruising and will have many more.
Christine and Gary
Gold Coast

I recently asked a friend how her cruise was. She said the children had a great time but she was full of seasick medication (don’t know which one) that her cruise was a blur.

I won’t be taking any but will take some and put it in the safe incase my children & husband need it.

I will ask the chemist which seasick medication has the least side affects.

Has anyone had any issues with seasick medication?

Hi Jen
Was on the Dawn in May we got Avermine from the chemist for $6 before we left.Took one tablet each the night before we left and one at night for the next 2 nights no-one got sea sick.They also sell these tablets on the boat for $12.Hope this helps

Sandy

Hello, I suffer severe motion sickness and Vertigo, the only thing that helped me on my cruise was “THE needle” from the ship’s doctor. I tried all the “other” motion sickness remedies and NOTHING HELPED…the moment the ship set sail…so did my stomach! I tried to take all the necessary precaustions before boarding, including choosing my cruise route, ship and cabin wisely. I tried to make all informed choices but no amount of stablizers on earth were going to help me! I started medicating the day before the cruise and still felt very ill as soon as the ship moved!
I found dramamine, gravol and bromimine help with me with vertigo,air and car travel, but did not work for my sea sickness. The needle isn’t cheap but is worth every penny. So make sure to buy insurance…

Hi Jane, in 2007 we did a cruise and my daughter took the avomine and was still sick so the ships doctor gave her some stemitol to take with the avomine and that did not work. My daughter finally found out from the doctor that she has vertigo and the doctor said she was the third passenger she had seen in the last 3 years with the same symptoms and gave my daughter Zerc which she said she now keeps a supply of on board. It worked wonders. That was on the pacific star I do not know if the other ships carry it but my daughter got some last year for our cruise and is taking some this year also otherwise she said she would never cruise again if she had not been given that as she was so ill. She takes the avomine every 12 hours and the zerc every 12hours and uses the stemitol only as a back up as the doctor prescribed.

Hi Jen, Avomine 25mg is the best it is what P&O use and you only need to take it every 12 hours. My children took it and my daughter is now an adult and still uses it and it does not make her drowsey. It is a non prescription and it costs about $11 for 30 tablets.

Hi Sue
My husband, 2 kids and I cruised in March 2009 with 47 of our friends on the Sun and had an awesome time. I get motion sick (not allowed in our tinny) so a friend of mine told me about Avomine. Start taking it the night before and take it at night half an hour before retiring. Worked a treat for me I was hanging over the railings, looking down no worries. Don’t take it in the mornings or it will put you to sleep. Buy at the chemist before you go its cheaper. Am booking another cruise with the girls only for August 2010.
Have a great cruise.

Have been reading blogs on seasickness and went to chemist to get Avomine, when I looked at box it said that it can cause drowsieness and to avoid alcohol. Has anyone had any probs with them?? We cruise in 6 days!!! 31/08 and are sooo excited!!

Hi Michelle, we have been using avomine since 1983 and none of us from the children to adults have experienced drowsiness. The ships doctor prescribed them back then and he said to take one first thing in the morning and one at night. Every 12 hours while at sea. If on land the next morning no need to take that one only one hour before you sail. Two of my children were bad sailers the rest of us only needed them if the sea got rough. The packet says three times a day but no need to do that. Just go steady with your alcohol and see how it affects you. You did not say what sort of sailers you are. Maybe play a wait and see what happens. Happy sailing we are on the cruise after you. It is a large ship and cruises along well.

Hi Kay,

Am going to go buy them today. This is our first cruise but hubby used to go fishing on a friends boat and was sick everytime, I do realise it is a completely different set up but doesn’t stop you thinking about it. Just want to have a fab holiday and not let anything sabotage it!! Have been dodging the flu and that has been hard enough as it is everywhere!!!
Pacific Dawn 4 more sleeps and here we come!!!

buy your tablets before you go and have one while still on land ithey charge you for tablets onboard. cic cruises out of perth give them for free. ive never been sick touch wood an italian barman on fairfstar told me in 1979 to mhave a swig of cognac if you feel woozy booze always works for me

The ginger worked for me. However, I don’t think I am overly prone to motion sickness in the first place.

WE ARE GOING IN APRIL 2010 2 MORE MONTHS CANT WAIT!
(this is even better in a suite on the aloha deck!)

Take some ear plugs, very noisey on that deck.

If you write right handed, stick some cottonwool in your left ear. do the opposite if you are left handed. This will stop motion sickness within a few minutes. You will get a good nights sleep with this method.

I just got back from a fantastic trip on the Jewell and cured quite a few passengers with this method. It was pretty choppy on the way back.

My family are going on a cruise and my husband and I have been very reluctant to go with due to my extreme motion sickness. I get it druiving for short periods, sea sickness scares the hell out of me. What is the needle? what are they injecting? Is it really reliable?

Hi
was wanting to know has anyone cruised during april/may and could advise of the weather conditions for vila, wala, luganville etc.
Cheers

We are going on the Dawn in Sept. 7 Days, either Brisbane to Cairns or Brisbane to Islands . As I do get motion sick, Does anyone know if the seas are potentially rougher on either of these cruises? Cheers

Hi Dale,

I’ve cruised on the Dawn twice and have never experienced any rough seas out to the south pacific islands. in saying that , the seas were a little choppy as we hugged the NSW coastline (which is to be expected) on our return home and the wind was fresh (after relaxing out on deck in nice 24 – 26 degree weather).
Stablizers on cruise ships are a wonderful invention, you will often have to check & recheck to see if the ship is actually moving. The captain may have the stabilizers out for the entire cruise to give you a smooth ride or he can have them react to a certain degree of pitch or roll whilst out in open waters. Hopefully it won’t take you too long to get your sea legs and you will not notice a thing.

Hope this helps

I was really disappointed on our cruise to find hardly any movement and the seas were supposedly moderately rough! So different from days gone by. Also, I feel really, really cheated. I had NOOOO SWAYING when I got off.
What a let down!!! I like a ship to feel like a ship.

I have not taken a cruise before & am considering the 3 night Brisbane to Brisbane in August with my 9 yr old daughter. Any tips on choosing cabin location? and are the balcony rooms worth the extra cost?

Hey Charmsie,

The best cabin locations are “midships” these are slightly more expensive as they are in the most stable part of the ship. (extra $200 Approx), the cabins located forward / aft may experience a small amount of rocking / pitching motion
(depending on the seas) and of course slightly cheaper.

As you are thinking of doing the Brisbane to Brisbane cruise or affectionately “cruise to nowhere” they usually sail 100 nautical miles out ,anchor for the day/night and then sail home, so there is no real scenery (islands) to view…
The balcony cabins would be worth the cost if you were sailing to the south pacific islands what a view that would be, again these are a little more expensive.

No matter what cabin you decide on, you & your daughter will have a HUGE time, the staff and crew look after you so well and you will feel really spoilt, and become (dare I say it) a cruise addict and will be looking at what cruise you will be doing next.

Regarding seasickness: I read some feedback a few weeks ago on your Pacific Dawn facebook comments, that they used vicks vaporub in the belly button, with an elastoplast over it, as a remedy for seasickness. Apparently it is supposed to work a treat….Is this remedy true – has anyone else heard of it or used it and can vouch for it? I would like to try it, and just want to be sure when I go on Saturday 10th July to the Dawn cruise, that I don’t get seasick.

My wife and I cruise quite a bit and are usually good sailors. If the weather does get bad and we feel a little off we carry a supply of ginger. The type you get from health shops or even the supermarket with sugar on it. It beats taking tablets. We even take some ginger tea bags and have a cup of ginger tea.
It all works well if you don’t get too sea sick. Have a great trip.
Robin

Oohhhh” How can so many call the Dawn or the Jewel a ‘BOAT’ They are majestic vessels that deserve the proper name of ‘SHIP’
Cheers Gail

Just been cruising on the Pacific Sun Auckland to Brisbane July 3rd to July 7th, It was our first cruise, with the three youngest children. We had it a bit rough on the Monday, but none of us got seasick! I took seasickness tablets with me from the chemist shop, Travacalm Original with antihistamine 10 tablets in a box and they are $6.95. We only used 5 tablets for the whole trip and there were 5 of us. Only take of a night as they make you very sleepy, as we found out. We gave one to our 11 year old, at about 3pm and she slept for 7 hours, so only give of a night.. Pacific Sun Ship was fantastic, food unreal, staff are the best, our cabin steward Lionel Ricthie was the best, and David in the dinning Room they wait on you hand and foot!! We would rate our trip 10 out of 10. for everything!! Kids Club unreal everything very well organised. They offer so much for the children, you can do as much as you want, there is something on all the time. The Staff on these cruises make the Cruise, they are so happy and have so much fun. The choice of food, unreal you are never hungry. Even if you wake at 4am and feel like a cup of tea or coffee, you can get one. Can’t wait till next cruise, this time on the Dawn.

go to deck 5,always in the middle of the ship,about cabin 140 you are close to the lifts hope this helps john.