cruises

[kylie_0607]

hi i am being offered a cruise at the end of next year but am dreading it. I am so terrified that i will get sea sick. What is everyones view on this? have any of you been on a cruise? where u sick?

[beadgirl]

Ew, I'm more concerned about other people getting seasick. I have heard horror stories about v* and cruises. You wont get seasick if you take dramamine or that seaband thing. Personally, I would never go on a cruise. It's like being on a plane... NO WHERE TO RUN! Where is the cruise going to?

[liriodendron]

OK, going on an airplane.. fine. But going on a cruise is just asking
for trouble if you're an e-phobe. Haven't you heard of all the
outbreaks of illness on those? Motion sickness is probably the least of
your concerns. I'm not saying getting sick is a sure bet, I'm saying
you will not be able to relax. Ebay the tickets.



They do not refund money even if the whole ship is sick the whole entire time and can't leave their cabins.

[harmonygirl72]

Not to be rude, but I don't think it's healthy for people to be recommending "avoidance" to others. For yourself, fine, but I thinkKylie should go for it! Anytime you do something that seems "risky", and you end up fine, that is a huge accomplishment!! I have never been on a cruise, per say, but I was on a large ship that went from Oslo, Norway to Kiel, Germany (about 19 hours, I think?) and I was fine. I didn't feel sick, OR see others get sick.There are plenty of motion sickness things you can take. I know there have been some others on here that have been on cruises and been fine. Maybe they will chime in?


So, good luck and try not to let your own fears and especially the fears of others get in your way!


Mary

[babygap5]

I went on a cruise and I was fine. The ships today have massive stabilizers to help prevent the ship from rocking. As for the norwalk virus, it is highly contagious, especially on a cruise ship, everyone is so close together. BUT, I think that if you do what you've always done, wash hands, keep hands away from your face, carry purrell, I think you will be fine. If you are worried about the sea sickness, speak with your doctor, you can get the patch that goes on behind your ear. Also, if you feel sick on the ship, the ship's doctors have stuff to help you feel better. In fact, they can give you the anti-vomit medication, like compazine to stop you from vomitting. I say GO FOR IT!!!

[liriodendron]

Not to be rude, but I don't think it's healthy for people to be recommending "avoidance" to others.

You're right, ordinarily I wouldn't do that for things one HAS to do
like go to work or go to school or go to the store or a restaurant or
take care of their kids. But this is supposed to be a vacation, is it
not? A time to relax and not worry about things. Not a time to prove
you can do something brave because this is costing someone a lot of $$.
I'm sure for many of us, we know it may be safe but just the thought of
how many people have v* in the cabin would be too much for me to relax.
So I say, if you're going to worry, and from the sounds of it, you
already are, then don't go.



We worry about what we worry about not because it's necessarily
justified but for other reasons. You can look up to see what cruises
have reported outbreaks and when in a link will post below.



I've been on a lot of cruises long before I knew about the various
illnesses. There's sightseeing cruises and then there's the carribean
cruises that I've been on which are for designed for people who want
two things: To eat, eat, eat and eat some more (because you get all the
food you want included) and gamble, gamble and gamble some more. They
can be a lot of fun but generally aren't very relaxing and although the
entertainment is usually very good, especially on the New Years Eve
cruises, and they usually stop at various islands and let you off to
shop and go to the beach, they stick to a very tight schedule and wake
up the passengers very early each morning. So most people walk around
very groggy and tired because they were up late the night before in the
casino. There are usually a lot of activities on board if you have
children too. Another drawback is that the accommodations are usually
very small cabins. And I do mean VERY small. And you get an inside
cabin with no window, well god help you. Because that made me and the
people I was with one time queasy and we had to switch rooms. If you're
lucky enough to get an outside room, things aren't always much
better... You might have a port hole or two to let you know you're
still afloat. The 3 or 4 day weekend cruises can be enjoyable but the 7
day cruises are too long for me as they usually have a day or two with
no port of call and you're on the high seas all day with emetophobia
and claustiphobia.



So to sum things up: Sightseeing, eating, gambling, shopping. But not
really a lot of relaxing and taking things easy. The cruise directors
want to keep everyone very busy and spending money and I guess having
fun.



Knowing what I know now and what's happened in recent years, I wouldn't
do a cruise anytime soon. You can bet your bottom dollar on that. But
then again, I can just pick up and go to vegas if I want to gamble and
if I want to take it easy, there's mountains nearby. I can go out on my
own boat here on the lake. And many other relaxing things to do where I
don't have to have thoughts of vomiting cruise ship passengers going
through my head. Don't let me talk you out of it. But I do have
experience with this topic and I'm not trying to dissuade you from
attempting to beat the phobia and have an unpleasant trip in the
process. I'm just being realistic. You have enough cheerleaders in here.



What you can do to minimize worry are things to do TODAY:

Get a copy of the intinerary.

Search online for the sanitation score of the cruise. If it's a cruise
that docks in the US, they are inspected by the CDC
(http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/default.htm) and not local reastaurant
inspectors. You can also see if there are outbreaks of any illnesses.

[liriodendron]

In case I forgot to say it, no I didn't get seasick on the cruise long
enough to V* but did come close to it and wound up skipping dinner on
one night that we had an inside cabin.



If you want to do it, do it. If you don't want to worry, don't do it.



There' I'm finished.

[aguerra29]

I have only been on one cruise and it was great. I was very nervous to go. Same thing ,worried about seasickness. I went to a doctor and got this dramimine patch that you wear behind your ear. I remember the first night laying in the tiny bed feeling the boat rock. BUT, I DID NOT FEEL SICK. It was weird. I could feel it moving, but it didn't bother me.

The whole Norwalk outbreaks on the ships is a whole nother situation. Honestly, it terrifies me as well. But, even if their is an outbreak, not EVERYONE catches it. We emets are more diligent about washing our hands. Just make sure you bring some anti-emetic. I would also look into vacation insurance. I don't know what all it covers, but it's worth a try.

[mjewell]

ok, so there were a few Norwalk outbreaks on cruise ships that made the news. BIG FRICKIN DEAL! That doesn't mean it's going to happen on every cruise from now on! Don't you think cruises would be somehow stopped or restricted if it was really a public health threat?? Because of those few scares that did happen, the ships probably have a very strict policy now about cleanliness and ill passengers and what not.


I went on a cruise several years ago, and although I agree that it was not THE most relaxing vacation i have ever been on, you don't HAVE to get up when the ship sounds in the morning, and you don't have to participate in any activities you don't want to. Personally I made my trip into what I wanted. My mom and sister took off at every port to go sightseeing and shopping while my dad and I plopped down at the beach and snoozed all day at each port!


As for seasickness, one night we were in a storm and there were pretty high waves so some people onboard got sick, but I didn't. I was just really nervous about it, so I went out and sat on the deck in the cool night air and felt tons better. I didn't take anything for motion sickness either. Anyway, I think that kind of rocking is very rare. The rest of the time I didn't feel a thing.

[tezbear]

I have been on 4 cruises already...soon to be 5 next June! We love cruising w/ our 3 teen boys...it is the best vacation for everyone. I initially worried about the seasickness but also took Bonine as a preventive and we were fine. Sure, I think about the vomiting thing but I guess my desire to do things and vacation w/ my family is greater. Sometimes I just try to take the attitude that I am going to do it and I'll deal with it IF and when it happens. My family doesn't know of my fear that much...they know I don't like to be around it but that's it. Many people are like that but not Emets.


As for Norwalk, you can get that anywhere...at school, work, store, etc. Just cruise during the less common months if you're really worried....like Summer.


Go and have fun...as RCCL says...GET OUT THERE!!

[kylie_0607]

hi thanks for all your views it is a great comfort to know so many of you although worried have been on one and been fine!! i think im going to go on it as my boyfriend really wants too and i want to as well. i think it will help me if i dont v* and mayb i can go on another one after this one.

[liriodendron]

hi thanks for all your views it is a great comfort to
know so many of you although worried have been on one and been fine!! i
think im going to go on it as my boyfriend really wants too and i want
to as well. i think it will help me if i dont v* and mayb i can go on
another one after this one.

Ladies and gentleman,

I think we just had a breakthrough.



If it's something you want to do, then do it. Hopefully in that long
rant I posted, you saw the things you can do to calm your nerves
about the cruise. I've been told that avoiding things that make you
worry is not always a good idea. I would tend to agree with that if
it's something you want to do. I got the impression you didn't want to
go because you said you were dreading it.



So where does this cruise go and what kinds of ammenties are on board?

Edited by: liriodendron

[kylie_0607]

The cruise is around the caribbeann. The ship has many restaurants, swimming pools, spas, fitness rooms, entertainment etc. It is a luxury cruise but a small ship which is why i think it will be less stable. Hopefully when I have been on one there will be a break through and i will be recommending you all to go on one!

[kellybean]

I'm glad you're going to go!! Good for you, and I hope you have a great time!!

[centipede]

Iwork in the travel industry and have been on over 15 cruises and never got sick. Here is some advice to minimize your chances of getting motion discomfort.


1. Try to sail on one of the newer larger ships. They havelarger stabilizers (fins underneath the ship that minimize rocking) and the ships don't rock and sway as much as the older ships


2.Choose an itinerary that isn't known for rough water. Cruises across the Atlantic and cruises to Bermuda are two examples of cruising through rought water.


3. Choose an itinerary that has the ship in ports of call as much as possible. I'm cruising to the Caribbean in Feb and we are in a differentport almost everyday.In most cases ships sail from one port to the next during the night and arrivefairly early in the morning. If the ports of call are close to each other, the ship will sail at a slow pace which reduces the rocking.


4. Bring along motion discomfort remedies. They range from non-medical remedies like Sea Bands (wrist bands that work by accupressure), herbal remedies such as ginger capsules,over the counter medicine such as dramamine and bonine, and prescription medications you can get from your doctor.These remedies are effective providing you take them before you get sick. I recommendtaking any medication one hour before the ship sets sail


5. When selectingyour cabin, try to find oneas close to the centerof the ship as possible.

[wing]

I'm glad you're going. I went on a mini one (meaning it was not that long but still...any boat is scary lol) I think you really should go. You'll be surprised. The only way you will feel that you are on a boat is if you concentrate too much on it but if you're having fun (easier said than done but try to do something that you like) you won't feel anything at all. Like I said, I went on one this summer and that was a BIG thing for me. I was a leadership summitand on the 4th ofJuly that was our celebration. I told my group that I was not going! Two of my friends, one guy and one girl were trying to convince me. We were riding on a bus going back to the University and they were begging me to come. I still said no. I dont know exactly why but I started crying lol. I eventually gave in. I guess I was not worrying so much but then when I got on the phone to ask my mom to give permission for me to attend, I was like almost going hysterical asking my mom if i'll be fine. (Yes,pretty stupidfor my age but whatever) She reasurred me and I went. I was weary at first but Ievenate some food!! =X I came off and Iwas fine. You'll have lots of fun!Edited by: wing