Seasick on Carnival?

[E&B]

We've booked our third cruise on the Carnival Magic this summer. Our first was on Norwegian Spirit (fairly small) and second was RCL Freedom of the Seas (very large). Our experience both times is that we very rarely even noticed we were on a ship. Only the last day on the Freedom did we notice, and only because we were racing a hurricane back to port.

 

Both times I haunted Cruise Critic before the trip and barely noticed any mention of seasickness. Not so this time. It seems like on the Carnival board I'm reading story after story about rough seas and/or seasickness. I may be exaggerating, but it is definitely mentioned more frequently than I recall on the Norwegian and RCL boards. Has anyone sailed all three and noticed more motion on Carnival ships? I feel bad because DD's boyfriend was hesitant to go with us (his first cruise) because he was worried about getting seasick after he had a bad time on a small fishing boat last summer. We all assured him that he'd barely notice he was on a ship so he agreed to join us.

Edited January 30, 2016 by E&B

[Missileer]

We are Carnival cruisers almost exclusively our experience has been like yours in that we have never been bothered by motion even in sound rather wild seas. For the gent who is concerned there are wrist bands and patches to counter motion sickness.

Enjoy

[CruisinCrow]

I've also gotten very seasick on fishing trips and on small boats. But in 30 cruises, I've only been seasick one time. Mostly I barely feel the movement and even when I do, I don't mind it. I think the boyfriend will be fine but take Bonine with you, just in case. And if you notice any motion, have him go ahead and take it. It works better if you take it BEFORE you feel sick. Bonine doesn't make you sleepy.

[RuthlessBoss]

We've booked our third cruise on the Carnival Magic this summer. Our first was on Norwegian Spirit (fairly small) and second was RCL Freedom of the Seas (very large). Our experience both times is that we very rarely even noticed we were on a ship. Only the last day on the Freedom did we notice, and only because we were racing a hurricane back to port.

 

Both times I haunted Cruise Critic before the trip and barely noticed any mention of seasickness. Not so this time. It seems like on the Carnival board I'm reading story after story about rough seas and/or seasickness. I may be exaggerating, but it is definitely mentioned more frequently than I recall on the Norwegian and RCL boards. Has anyone sailed all three and noticed more motion on Carnival ships? I feel bad because DD's boyfriend was hesitant to go with us (his first cruise) because he was worried about getting seasick after he had a bad time on a small fishing boat last summer. We all assured him that he'd barely notice he was on a ship so he agreed to join us.

 

Most are depending on sea conditions. Then once someone posts they had sickness there tends to be follow up posts even though it includes different ships, different times of the year, and also different years. It makes it seem like many are sick because of the variations, but really not that many.

[fair-winds39]

We've booked our third cruise on the Carnival Magic this summer. Our first was on Norwegian Spirit (fairly small) and second was RCL Freedom of the Seas (very large). Our experience both times is that we very rarely even noticed we were on a ship. Only the last day on the Freedom did we notice, and only because we were racing a hurricane back to port.

 

Both times I haunted Cruise Critic before the trip and barely noticed any mention of seasickness. Not so this time. It seems like on the Carnival board I'm reading story after story about rough seas and/or seasickness. I may be exaggerating, but it is definitely mentioned more frequently than I recall on the Norwegian and RCL boards. Has anyone sailed all three and noticed more motion on Carnival ships? I feel bad because DD's boyfriend was hesitant to go with us (his first cruise) because he was worried about getting seasick after he had a bad time on a small fishing boat last summer. We all assured him that he'd barely notice he was on a ship so he agreed to join us.

I'll be doing my 21st cruise in the next few weeks. My first introduction to being on the sea for any length of time was a long time ago, and of all things it was a transatlantic crossing on the QE2. It was April, and it was rough., and I was sick as a dog. I swore I would never go on another ship. Well, 20 cruises later, and I love it. I think by now I have my sea legs, but....I always take Bonine before we embark, and sometimes during the cruise I might take half a tablet, just to be on the safe side. All of our cruises except the QE2 have been from the Northeast, and the most movement I've felt was rough weather that lasted about 3 hrs. coming home from the Bahamas last year on the Carnival Pride.

[Drazil65]

We cruise 2 or 3 times a year (7 or 8 day) always book midship, usually Empress deck, balcony (fresh air when we want/need it) and DH always starts the cruise with a motion sickness patch from his doctor as he is more prone.

 

DS and I are not bothered by motion and have not experienced anything that did bother us. If the seas are rolly we stay away from the back of ship (like the MDR) that day. We have been all different times of the year and maybe we just luck out but I do not find much difference as far as when we cruise.

 

We did have relatives on the Pride out of Baltimore last Thanksgiving week and their trip home from the Bahamas was rough. From what they said, most of the issues were in the back of ship especially in dinning room (things flying off of tables etc.). They are all experienced cruisers and it bothered a few of them to the point they needed to lay down.

Edited January 31, 2016 by Drazil65

[Capo Capitan]

Dramamine® is your friend.

[ShakyBeef]

OP, I have been on all 3 cruiselines you mentioned, as well as Celebrity. I don't believe one cruiseline's ships are more likely to induce seasickness than any other.

 

We have had slightly rough seas for parts of some of our cruises, but no one in my family has ever had seasickness - but then we don't get it on small boats on very choppy water, either, so we would not be good examples of normal, I guess:o.

 

The worst I can remember as far as rough seas was on RCI, on Grandeur of the Seas in 2014. DH and I had no problems (other than trying to walk in a straight line, sometimes:p), but the seasickness bags had been tied out on railings all over the ship and they were being put to use by several people that we saw.

 

It can happen on any ship, depending on the sea conditions and the sensitivity of the passengers.

 

I agree with others: be prepared - take seasickness remedies with you, just in case. DD's bf could also be proactive and start taking ginger capsules everyday for a few weeks before the cruise, and during the cruise. They are totally natural, might help, and can't hurt.:)

[golfb4cruzing]

We always start Bonine 2 days before leaving. We were green once prior to Bonine plan.

[cccer]

I have never taken anything for seasickness and have never had a problem except one time. In Alaska the weather was pretty bad and I was in the casino. I felt fine but when I looked out the window I could see land appearing and disappearing and the boat rocked. This make me really sick. If I closed my eyes or looked away I was fine. Doctor said case of vertigo not seasickness. Never happened again. But if you are worried about it take some meds as others have mentioned. It can only help.

[marcimm]

My daughter gets seasick on small boats and ferries, even a short harbor cruise. So on her first cruise on Carnival Dream two summers ago, she used the patch prescribed by her doctor and she was fine. We even went on a speed boat in Cozumel with no issues at all. We took Bonine with us just in case but she never needed it. She's going on another cruise and expects no problems with seasickness with the patch. Good luck!

[swscruiser]

Totally dependent on the weather and sea conditions

[Micahs Grandad]

Only problem is about 35 cruises was on a cruise to Panama where we were subject to heavy winds and rough seas.

 

Generally sea conditions are not a problem.

[RaiderFaninNM]

Well just off the Dream last week and the 2nd to last night was the worst I have ever had on the seas, WOW...........:eek:

 

The gulf was one angry body of water, man it was rocking and rolling, it was scary as one could hear the ship creaking and making noise and people were sick all over the place. Thankfully it only was that night as it was impossible to sleep, and the Dream is a HUGE ship, it is all dependent on the seas, one night in 4 cruises is not bad at all, but in each of our cruises there is at least one night when one can feel the ocean.....

[Indytraveler83]

As far as the Posts bring more frequent with Carnival, that is easily explained.

 

Carnival has more first time cruisers than the rest of the lines, so people report seasickness much more often. RCI and NCL Rock just as much in the waves, but they have fewer first timers who don't know if they will get seasick yet.

[cary1306]

the problem with sea sickness lately on all ships is the storms that have been at sea. just came off carnival glory last week and we hit 60 mph windys causing half the ship to be sick. so from three thousand cruisers you are going to hear a lot of people reporting. I wore bands on arm and was half fine. I walked around feeling slight queezy but not sick.husband didn't do so well. but was only one night. out of storm next day.

[SkyMaster]

Lots of good points above. It occurred to me that we've had some really rough weather in the Caribbean in the last few weeks, and obviously, that will cause problems for ALL the lines,,,not just Carnival.

I too, have sailed all the ships you mention, and I too will agree that there is very little, if any, difference in the "ride" of those ships.

As suggested above, take some Bonine, and don't worry about it. ;)

 

"SKY"

[SadieN]

We sail West Coast. All the cruise ships have the same issue going Northbound against the current. The Pacific is a misnomer. She's not peaceful at all.

 

Has more to do with the size of the cruise ship than the cruise line.

[snowskier]

Dramamine® is your friend.

 

Strongly disagree. I don't believe drugs taken to have fun are a friend, prescription or OTC. I gave up drugs to have fun in the 60s.

 

It is a personal decision but if I had to take drugs to cruise I wouldn't cruise.

[Capo Capitan]

Strongly disagree. I don't believe drugs taken to have fun are a friend, prescription or OTC. I gave up drugs to have fun in the 60s.

 

It is a personal decision but if I had to take drugs to cruise I wouldn't cruise.

 

Oh boy.

[Cushing985]

Strongly disagree. I don't believe drugs taken to have fun are a friend, prescription or OTC. I gave up drugs to have fun in the 60s.

 

It is a personal decision but if I had to take drugs to cruise I wouldn't cruise.

 

I'm also anti-drug (I grew up in the 60's) but there is a vast difference between an anti seasickness pill and the stuff I used to take for recreational purposes. If I was prone to seasickness I wouldn't have a problem with either a patch or a pill as I enjoy cruising and nothing can keep me off a ship. My wife, on the other hand, tends to get sick so we normally get an outside cabin, amidship and on the lowest possible passenger deck. She also wears a wrist band and takes ginger. On a cruise a few years ago on Celebrity to Bermuda with a storm following us nothing would work for her so we went to medical and got her a shot. Not sure what it was but it work wonders for the rest of the trip.

[RuthlessBoss]

Strongly disagree. I don't believe drugs taken to have fun are a friend, prescription or OTC. I gave up drugs to have fun in the 60s.

 

It is a personal decision but if I had to take drugs to cruise I wouldn't cruise.

 

Your post does not make a bit of sense, it's just sarcastic.

[riffatsea]

Actually the "drug" that many of us used in the 60s for recreation is now legal in California and is used by folks to prevent nausea when they are having Cancer treatments!

Back to seasickness now , if you are not prone to it then you don't understand the need for meds!

Why should DH and I stop cruising just because we need to take anti seasick meds to enjoy it???

It seems that some people get seasick and others don't.

For those like us who get seasick(on any ship )then we prevent it by taking the generic found in Bonine or Dramamine II, which is called Meclazine. We don't take ginger because it is hard to know the dosage necessary to prevent being sick. It is certainly not fun to be sick!

[RaiderFaninNM]

Sea-bands are just that, elastic bands that use pressure points below ones wrists. Sea-Bands may be used to relieve motion sickness, morning sickness and cancer nausea, no drugs needed, unless one had a fear of knitted elasticated wrist bands....:rolleyes:

I used them on the one night the seas were way too rough and they do indeed work, heck I should have bought 50 of them and I could have sold them...................:D

[golfb4cruzing]

There is an old sailor trick about staring at the horizon or maybe not to, can't remember totally. Might have been that Dramamine in the 60s. But someone will jump and and explain that trick.