Bertram's logbook

Sick of seasickness

So let's just get them over with, the same questions I'm always asked when people want to know more about my everyday life as a cruise journalist.

Question 1: "Have you never been bored on a ship like this?" And question 2: "Have you never gotten seasick?" My standard answer to both questions: "No, not yet - and I hope it stays that way!"
But while I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of cruisers answer question 1 in exactly the same way as me, I also know that 9 out of 10 sea travelers have not felt quite so well (not to say sick!) on board at least once. And that brings me straight to question 3: "Do you have any good tips against seasickness?" Here, too, I have a standard answer: "Yes, I do!"

1) If you also get sick quickly in the car, train or plane, then choose a route that passes close to land for your first sea voyage. This is good for the psyche and it also helps if you can focus your gaze on a non-moving target when the sea is moving. Recommended: an archipelago cruise along the Norwegian coast.

2. avoid sailing areas where experience has shown that things can get "rough". These include the North Sea, the Mediterranean between Corsica and Sardinia, the Atlantic in the fall and the Drake Passage in the European winter. The Red and Black Seas, the Arabian Gulf and the Baltic Sea are usually much calmer.

3. choose a ship that is as large and modern as possible with stabilizers that are as large and modern as possible. These ensure that your cruise liner remains stable even in higher waves. Thanks to its first-class stabilizer system, the Queen Mary 2 was able to cross Hurricane Sandy on its voyage from New York to Southampton in 2012 without any problems, while all other shipping companies had to either cancel or reroute upcoming cruises in the sailing area at short notice.

4. even if the suites are mostly located at the top and either at the front or the back: It is better to choose a midship cabin in the lower half of the ship. You will feel the swell the least there.

5 If your ship is moored in a small harbor, think twice about whether you really want to go ashore with the tender. The small feeder boats are not only extremely nimble and maneuverable, but also extremely susceptible to waves.

6 As strange as it may sound, avoid red wine, parmesan and salami. All three increase the histamine content in the blood and this is one of the triggers for feeling unwell.

6 And if you do get caught out, it is best to fixate on a point on the horizon from the lowest outside deck or from the balcony or window of your cabin. This will help to restore your sense of balance.

Some cruisers also swear by ginger sweets, plasters for travel sickness or acupuncture needles. A recent study with very high doses of vitamin C has also produced promising results. And if none of this helps, there's always the friendly on-board doctor with the syringe - and he always has his floating practice on the lower decks, where it's the quietest anyway.

Sick of seasickness

Jörg Bertram

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