Preventing Motion Sickness on a Cruise

Take shipboard measures

Book an outside cabin on a large, modern cruise liner. These ships have stabilizers for smooth sailing. While aboard, minimize time performing head-fixed activities such as knitting, reading and working on a computer. Finally, remember that your body senses the movement of the ship relative to the earth at large, so viewing the distant land or the horizon will help you keep your balance and position centers in sync. If you start to feel queasy, stop what you’re doing and head for an exterior deck. Fix your eyes on the horizon, and take slow, deep breaths. If you reach a point where you need to lie down, lie on your back.

Practice mind over matter

Stay positive, and don’t expect to get sick. There is some evidence that psychosocial factors play a role in motion sickness. Expecting it to happen might just increase the likelihood that it will. In addition, you might want to practice a bit of willpower by skipping the buffet line and the bar once in while. Overeating and excessive indulgence in alcohol won’t help your goal of avoiding seasickness.

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