Dr Sarah Jarvis is the Clinical Director of the Patient Platform, an active medical writer, broadcaster, and the resident doctor for BBC Radio 2.
A cruise may feel like the height of luxury – new destinations every day, entertainment on tap, limitless food. But if the first few days of your holiday (or even more) are blighted by seasickness, your post-holiday memories can all too easily be ruined.
So what causes seasickness – and more importantly, how can you treat it or ideally prevent it in the first place?
What Causes Seasickness?
You maintain your balance through a combination of signals from your eyes and your inner ears. Your inner ear contains your cochlea, vestibule and semicircular canals. Your cochlea is mostly concerned with hearing, but your semicircular canals play a major part in balance. These semicircular canals are positioned roughly at right angles to each other. The fluid inside them moves when your head moves, stimulating delicate hairs which sense motion and send messages to your brain.
While your ship may look huge, it’s designed to move – and specifically, to move smoothly through water. And as it rocks, your brain detects both up-and-down and side-to-side acceleration as your body bobs along with the ship.
Your eyes also tell your brain when you’re moving. If your eyes send messages that you’re stationary – say, if you’re looking at a book or something inside your cabin – but your inner ears are signalling movement, your brain can become confused. It’s this mismatch which leads to motion sickness, including seasickness.
Who Gets Seasickness?
Almost anyone can experience seasickness under the right (or rather the wrong) conditions. You’re more likely to get it if you’ve had it before, or if you experience motion sickness in cars, buses or rollercoasters. Children are also more prone to seasickness than adults.
The good news is that your body will usually get accustomed to the movement of the boat within 12-24 hours. So unless you encounter really choppy waters, you should be fully recovered within a couple of days.
However, nobody wants to spend the first two days of their holiday with their head over a basin. So it’s worth considering strategies that can help you avoid it altogether.
How Can I Avoid Seasickness?
Land Ahoy: One of the best ways to avoid conflicting messages from your inner ear and eyes is to match them up. If you keep your eyes fixed on the horizon, your eyes will be moving up and down and picking up ocean swells with your peripheral vision. This allows your brain to make sense of the bombardment of messages from your inner ear. However, try to keep your eyeline a little above the horizon rather than on individual waves or boats passing by.
Keep it Closed: Alternatively, closing your eyes prevents them from sending any movement messages to your brain. This reduces the conflict of sensory messages and allows your brain to calm down. Even better if you start to feel sick is trying to sleep: as well as avoiding visual signals, your brain may be able to switch off from motion signals from your ears.
Minimise Movement and Maximise Fresh Air: The motion on a ship is least marked at the middle of the ship. Strong smells, including diesel fumes, can make seasickness worse – so stay on deck as much as possible.
Keep it Bland: Spicy or rich food may smell delicious when you’re not afflicted by seasickness, but it can be an assault on your senses when you are. Likewise, spicy, heavy and fatty foods can all worsen symptoms in some people. As with morning sickness, there’s limited evidence that ginger (in tea, biscuits or even crystallised) helps, but it’s worth a try.
Acupressure, Anyone?: It may be worth Sea-Bands® - acupressure bands worn on your wrists. While the evidence for them is limited, they don’t have any side effects.
Set Your Books and Films Aside: You may well have been storing up easy-reading novels for your holiday. But save looking at a fixed book or screen until your seasickness is well and truly settled – and even after it has, put them aside again if the weather gets rough. Instead, listen to music or podcasts with your eyes closed – this has the added benefit of distracting your brain.
How Can I Treat Seasickness?
Any of the tips above may help relieve symptoms of seasickness – although going out for fresh air on deck may be a challenge if you’ve already reached the vomiting stage! But there are also several medications available from your pharmacist (or in some cases your GP) if this isn’t enough. However, it’s worth being aware that they all work better if they’re taken before you have symptoms.
Hyoscine dampens down the confusing messages going to your brain, although it can lead to drowsiness, blurred vision and dry mouth.
Antihistamines can sometimes help. For children with seasickness, versions that cause drowsiness can be helpful. Ask your pharmacist.
With the right preparation and support, managing travel-related health challenges like nausea or motion sickness doesn’t have to hold you back. Whether it’s through practical steps, over-the-counter remedies, or advice from your GP, there are plenty of ways to ease discomfort and ensure your holiday is as enjoyable as it should be.
After all, your trip should be about making memories, not managing symptoms — so take the time to plan ahead, and you’ll be better equipped to travel with confidence and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Motion sickness can often be relieved by over-the-counter remedies, available at most pharmacies. It can also help to sit in a stable position — near the wings of a plane or the front of a bus, for example. If you're prone to severe symptoms, speak to your GP or pharmacist before your trip. They may be able to recommend some options to keep you comfortable while you're away.
Preparation makes a real difference. Pack nausea bands, ginger tablets, or any remedies that have worked well for you before, and keep your medications easy to reach during travel. If you have pre-existing health conditions, it's worth having a chat with your GP or pharmacist ahead of time — they can help you feel confident and ready for your trip.
There are several natural options worth trying. Ginger — whether in tablet, tea, or sweet form — is widely known to ease nausea. Staying hydrated, avoiding heavy meals before you travel, and using pressure point wristbands are also popular choices for managing discomfort on the go.