A cruise in the South Pacific is the adventure of a lifetime. Nothing can beat the excitement of travelling around this spectacular region of the world, stopping off at countries like Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji and experiencing fascinating cultures and stunning tropical scenery.
However, a dream cruise can soon turn into a nightmare if you suffer from seasickness. Although large cruise ships do not move as much as smaller boats, seasickness can still be a problem for some people. You should therefore always prepare for it, especially if you have suffered from it in the past.
So what can you do to avoid getting seasick on your dream cruise?
Choose Your Ship and Cruise Carefully
The first thing to do is choose the right cruise and the right ship. What does this mean? The larger the ship you travel on, the less likely you are to be affected by seasickness. Even small cruise ships are quite large, but if you travel on one of the really huge ships, you are less likely to be affected by the movement of the waves.
When it comes to choosing a cruise itinerary around the Pacific islands, you may want to choose one that stops off at more ports. That way you will spend fewer days at sea, so that if you do suffer from seasickness, at least you will spend a lot of your holiday on land.
Visit a cruise comparison site and look for P&O Cruise packages for instance and you will find a large option of cruises to choose from, all in different sized ships and with different itineraries. If you are really worried about seasickness, make your choice carefully.
Look at the Horizon
If you begin to feel ill when you are on your cruise ship, one of the best things that you can do is get outside and look at the horizon. Motion sickness is caused when your body feels the motion but you cannot see it, so by being outside you can help to get more balance and reduce nausea.
Choose a Good Cabin
The location of your cabin may also help to reduce the effects of seasickness. When you book your cruise, if you are worried about motion sickness, try to choose a cabin in the centre of the ship and low down. This is the area that is least likely to be affected by movement, which can help to keep nausea at bay in particularly rough seas.
Take Some Medication
There are various medications available for seasickness, some of which are available over the counter, and some of which you will require a prescription for. Whichever you want to take, always ask your doctor for their advice in advance.
Meclizine and dimenhydrinate are some of the most common medications that are often available over the counter. These are preventative drugs, so you should take them before you become ill. They can have a number of side effects, one of the most common of which is drowsiness. You can often buy them on the ship as well.
