Why even those prone to seasickness can sail happily – if they know these tricks

Test the waters (literally) with a river cruise, Go large, Choose your cabin carefully, Avoid rough waters, Think about your itinerary, Book a port-intensive sailing, Medication matters, Look at the horizon, The last word, About our expert, Sarah Keenlyside

Never have to say ‘no’ to the high seas again - Maridav/Shutterstock

If you’re subject to seasickness, the thought of spending a week at sea might fill you with dread. But here’s the good news: that queasy feeling brought on by the high tide doesn’t have to be a cruise ship deal-breaker.

With the right preparation, destination choice, and cruise line selection, even chronic sufferers can have a brilliant time on the water. As someone who inherited my father’s susceptibility to seasickness, I’ve learned that knowledge is your best defence.

Test the waters (literally) with a river cruise, Go large, Choose your cabin carefully, Avoid rough waters, Think about your itinerary, Book a port-intensive sailing, Medication matters, Look at the horizon, The last word, About our expert, Sarah Keenlyside

Seasickness can impact the best of us while on holiday - Sergio Monti / Alamy Stock Photo

Test the waters (literally) with a river cruise

If you’re new to cruising and nervous about seasickness, start with a river cruise. River routes (the Danube, Rhine, Mekong or Nile) operate on calmer, contained waterways where significant waves are virtually impossible. Look to lines like Viking, Riviera Travel, AmaWaterways, APT, Scenic, Emerald, Uniworld and Tauck, all of whom specialise in river cruising. Managed to ace it? Try a short, two-day sea cruise next.

Go large

What many seasick-prone travellers may not realise is that larger cruise ships are far more stable than smaller vessels, thanks to sophisticated stabilisation systems. Most mainstream lines now use advanced fin stabilisers to reduce rolling while the ship is underway.

Those who prefer smaller ships should look to yacht-style vessels like Celebrity’s Flora, or luxury brands such as the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, whose ships often feature “zero-speed” stabilisers designed to steady the vessel when at anchor too (ask before you book).

Choose your cabin carefully

If you’re like me, lying flat helps a lot (in other words, sleeping on cruises is fine) but it’s those waking hours that can be tricky if you’ve chosen a cabin in a more motion-prone part of the ship.

Test the waters (literally) with a river cruise, Go large, Choose your cabin carefully, Avoid rough waters, Think about your itinerary, Book a port-intensive sailing, Medication matters, Look at the horizon, The last word, About our expert, Sarah Keenlyside

A balcony view could prove most helpful for those struggling with seasickness - Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Experts agree that it’s best to book a mid-ship cabin on a lower deck, as close to the ship’s centre of gravity as possible. Avoid cabins at the front or rear, which pitch more dramatically, and higher decks with greater sway. Of course, if you’re the kind of person who feels better when looking at the horizon, a balcony with a view helps too.

Avoid rough waters

It is not just your cabin that is important, so is timing. May and September are the best months for a Mediterranean cruise as seas are at their calmest and the weather is most predictable, while Caribbean-seekers should aim to cruise between December and April when the hurricane season is over.

Alternatively, if you’re eyeing a Scandinavian cruise, June, July and August are best. In Alaska, May to early July is your best bet for inside passage routes – and in Asia, aim for the dry season between November and March.

Think about your itinerary

In general, open sea legs are the riskiest for queasy cruisers – so if you can avoid them altogether, then do. If you can’t, then just keep in mind that not all oceans were created equal. The Mediterranean, particularly in summer, is famously calm and routes around Italy, Greece and Croatia experience minimal swell.

The Caribbean and Mexican Riviera are similarly gentle during peak season. The big ones to avoid, particularly in winter? The Atlantic and northern European routes (the Bay of Biscay especially), as well as the Gulf of Alaska.

Book a port-intensive sailing

Another hack? Choose port-intensive itineraries from lines such as Azamara, Oceania Cruises and Viking, whose cruises often focus on longer stays in port during the daytime and include several overnights.

Test the waters (literally) with a river cruise, Go large, Choose your cabin carefully, Avoid rough waters, Think about your itinerary, Book a port-intensive sailing, Medication matters, Look at the horizon, The last word, About our expert, Sarah Keenlyside

Port-intensive cruises could be the way forward for those who struggle at sea - Arcady/Shutterstock

Azamara, in particular, encourages guests to explore a single destination in depth rather than country-hopping, and offers a vast array of shore experiences showcasing the culture and culinary traditions of the destination you’re visiting to help you max out your land experience.

Medication matters

I’ve often wondered if there’s anything better than good old Stugeron for on-board nausea. Remaining a reliable choice, its active ingredient is cinnarizine, an antihistamine, which helps calm the inner ear’s balance signals (where motion sickness begins).

Hyoscine hydrobromide is another trusted option, found in Kwells tablets (available over the counter) and Scopoderm patches, which naval officers famously swear by. The most important thing to remember: start taking your chosen remedy before you set sail.

Look at the horizon

It turns out “getting your sea legs” isn’t just a saying, it’s a real phenomenon. According to a survey conducted by The Yachting World, 83 per cent of seasick passengers see their condition improve within 48 hours as their brain adjusts to the movement.

Test the waters (literally) with a river cruise, Go large, Choose your cabin carefully, Avoid rough waters, Think about your itinerary, Book a port-intensive sailing, Medication matters, Look at the horizon, The last word, About our expert, Sarah Keenlyside

One of the best ways to overcome seasickness is to distract yourself out on deck - Michel Verdure

However, there are a handful of measures you can take on board to make yourself feel better in the meantime. Get on deck, focus on the horizon, breathe in lots of fresh air and drink plenty of water or ginger tea. I can vouch for ginger sweets too and always stuff a few packets in my suitcase. Avoid alcohol or oily foods as these can exacerbate feelings of nausea.

The last word

Seasickness shouldn’t prevent you from experiencing the genuine joy of cruise travel. Start with a river cruise or Mediterranean sailing in summer, choose your cabin wisely, and arm yourself with preventative medication if needed. Most people who think they can’t cruise discover they absolutely can – but you won’t know unless you try.

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About our expert

Sarah Keenlyside

She may be a travel industry veteran, but Sarah is relatively new to cruising – only recently overcoming her occasional seasickness (she blames her father for that inherited trait). Having discovered her sea legs after almost two decades specialising in shore excursions for adventurous sea-goers in Asia, she’s a convert to the “unpack once” lifestyle and the luxury of visiting different destinations on cruises.

Test the waters (literally) with a river cruise, Go large, Choose your cabin carefully, Avoid rough waters, Think about your itinerary, Book a port-intensive sailing, Medication matters, Look at the horizon, The last word, About our expert, Sarah Keenlyside

Telegraph Travel’s cruise expert, Sarah Keenlyside

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