Jetting off on a boat trip around beautiful islands or around spectacular coastlines might seem utterly idyllic, but to some, it’s the definition of a nightmare. Not because they don’t enjoy the stunning scenery and awesome views while on a boat trip, but because they can’t concentrate on anything apart from the seasickness.
Motion sickness, seasickness, car sickness, etc is caused by our brains having a hard time figuring out if we’re moving or stationary. If you’re prone to feeling unwell while traveling, be sure to check out these top tips to prevent seasickness on a boat trip.
Wear something light and comfortable
Depending on where your boat trip is taking you will depend on the best clothes to wear. Of course, if you’re embarking on a cruise through the fjords in Norway in the winter, it’s likely going to be pretty chilly, so you’ll want to wear something cosy and warm.
However, if you suffer from seasickness, wearing clothes that make you feel warm and sticky aren’t a good idea, so you should try and avoid these where possible. If the climate allows, wear something light and comfortable to let your skin breathe.
Bring seasickness tablets or a prescribed patch with you
Some people are able to prevent seasickness symptoms with natural remedies such as the ones mentioned throughout this guide. However, there are some medications you may consider.
Many choose motion sickness tablets, a patch behind the ear or motion sickness bands that you wear on your arm.
Stay hydrated
Hydration is an important part of taking care of yourself to prevent seasickness, especially if you’re physically sick with it.
If you are actually sick, your body can soon become very dehydrated. It’s a good idea to sip some water, little and often, to help your body hydrate after throwing up.
Try and avoid sitting in a crowd
Boat trips can get incredibly crowded, especially on island-hopping adventures like to Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
This often means that you’ll be cramped next to many other people. If it’s a hot and sweaty destination, this will only make you feel worse. Try and avoid being right in the middle of people where possible.
Try to grab a seat away from others so that you have plenty of space and you’re not feeling claustrophobic.
Get plenty of fresh air to prevent seasickness
Following the point above, you should endeavour to get as much fresh air as possible on a boat trip. If you’re on a cruise, for example, try and head out onto the outside main deck as often as you can and spend some time taking plenty of deep breaths so that you can get as much fresh air as possible.
If you’re on a much smaller boat, it might not be quite as easy to get lots of fresh air. Try and take lots of deep breaths to try and prevent seasickness.
Yoga breathing can also be a great way to take in deep breaths and calm anxiety to prevent seasickness.
Eat something that’s kind on your stomach
While eating might be the last thing on your mind when you’re experiencing seasickness on a boat trip, dry foods such as plain crackers, salty pretzels and ginger ale are all foods known to help prevent seasickness.
You might not feel up to eating when you feel like you could throw up at any minute, but having a little bite to eat can really help to prevent seasickness and it will also give you something to concentrate on.
Avoid doing things that intensify your motion sickness
For some people, feeling sick while traveling is something that will occur regardless of the precautions you take. It’s important to remember that certain stimuli may make your symptoms even worse.
Avoid reading or scrolling through your phone which can make you feel worse if experiencing motion sickness.
