I'm wondering if anyone that is sensative to motion sickness on cruise boats has had any problems on the PG. I hear that this is an extremely smooth cruise. I usually have to take medicine before I go on cruises and its a bummer because it always makes me tired. My wife and I are booked for the sept. cruise and it would be great to not have to medicate myself. Does any past PG cruisers have any info.-Thanks

Hey Darbie. Welcome to your first post. You will get lots of answers from the folks here.

Darbie - Welcome to LCT!!! Great to hear from you. And thanks for bringing this subject up.

I've never been on the PG or been in French Polynesia. But I do suffer from motion sickness very easily. When I was on the Radisson Navigator, which is bigger than PG, but still a smaller ship, I did get sick but only in rough seas. However, I did take dramamine daily, from the very beginning of the cruise - twice a day. So I don't know if that helped or not. I've always been lucky in that it doesn't make me too sleepy to take the dramamine like it does to you.

For added input, I did sail on a 37' sailboat in the calm waters around the U.S. Virgin Islands and I didn't take any dramamine the first day and did get seasick even though the waters were very calm. So from that time on, I've been afraid to not take my dramamine no matter what type of ship I'm on. When I get on the PG in May, I fully intend to take my Dramamine twice daily, just to be safe. It's never fun to be seasick. Hopefully, some of our past PG'ers have our problem and will give us their personal input on this.

The legs from Papeete to Raiatea and from Bora Bora to Moorea can be quite rough. We had very rough seas from Bora Bora to Moorea in June 2003. The PG is very shallow draught. Most times it's a smooth ride though.

Darbie, I am seasick prone, but I was lucky that our seas were very calm, and I didn't take anything. However, on other cruises even on the bigger ships, if I see whitecaps on the water, out comes the dramamine for night time, and then during the day I use whatever the ship's reception desk dispenses. On the Voyager, it is meclizine, and this one doesn't make me drowsy like dramamine. Fingers crossed here, I have only been sick once, and that was when I didn't take anything the night before.

And a big welcome to LCT! I hope you will post if you have other questions about the PG. There is such a big thread for PIP going that you should go there to read it.

Darcie,

I am also very prone to motion sickness-it was one of my big concerns prior to my first cruise. I have been on the PG twice, and although I brought along Bonamine (or Bonine) both times, I only actually took one tablet, and that was during a storm between Taha'a and Bora Bora. The ship was really rocking that night, but I fortunately did not feel a thing.

The trip back from Bora Bora to Moorea is in open seas, and the ship can rock quite a bit. Again, I did not feel a thing.

I have seen other people who have suffered, have seen those wearing scope patches, and wrist bands. I have been told that the Bonine is a very safe medication, and doesn't make you drowsy like some others, nor is it really heavy duty like Scopalamine.

I was surprised at how well I got my sea legs. I'm betting that if you take some kind of medication with you, you will find that you probably don't need it at all.

What is the shot that the ship's Dr. can give you? I have heard that it makes you feel better right away. Is there side effects like the awful scope patch? I don't handle Dramamime or Bonine very well, either.

Editing to add, I experienced no seasickness while on the PG :)

Don't know what shot that they use onboard, but suspect that it's probably Phenergan (promethazine). It's a very common anti-nausea medication - can be taken orally, by suppository, and by injection. Common side effect is drowsiness. Compazine (prochlorperazine) is another common anti-nausea medication with similar side effects.

Newer versions of these medications include Tigan and Zofran - often used with cancer patients.

Oh, and welcome to Darbie!

Masaki

I like Bonine, which I think is meclizine, but I take just a tiny fraction of the recommended dose or else I fall asleep. Just a quarter of one tablet at bedtime is all I need. I also start taking it about two days before the trip starts and that seems to help as well. I think my doctor recommended starting ahead of time.

I wasn't taking it on the PG and I had a rough evening on the way to Moorea. So now I take it even if I'm not sure I'll need it.

We have found that the wrist bands are absolutely terrific and work wonderfully. We have the cheap version (under $10) and any form of seasickness immediately goes away. I know Kimmi bought an electronic version and had nothing but wonderful things to say about it.

We found the PG route was smooth. We had a storm and didn't feel too much rocking and rolling.

When I got seasick on the Navigator, I went to the ship's doctor for the shot (don't have a clue what it consisted of). I felt better almost instantly! I highly recommend it if you are already seasick. Once sick, the Dramamine takes forever to kick in. Don't know about Bonine. I've always been afraid to switch to Bonine since I know Dramamine works for me.

Clyde always takes ginger pills found in any health store or supermarket. He once had the injection from ship's doctor when he was very sick and it was instant- he went to dinner and was fine but came back to the cabin and slept for 12 hours!! He seldom needs anything now so maybe getting older helps :D

YUP, DH got sick on the PG but he took dramamine as provided at the reception desk. He also got sick on Voyager but that was becuase he ran out of patches. Told the doctor he would be on the cruise 17 days but they only gave him 12 days use of patches. I didn't notice before we left or I would have given that doctor a piece of my mind.

I just wrote an entire post, and poof, it's gone. Where do these things go????
Welcome, Darbie!!! I have tried most every OTC and prescribed med mentioned above. They all worked for me, but I hated the sleepy side effect. I felt groggy all day. The wristbands that Andi mentioned may work for you. They are cheap enough, no drowsiness. I had limited success with them. But, I think I am probably an extreme case. I have said several times before that I can actually make myself sick while driving Maybe it's my driving.... On a Med cruise in 03 I thought I was going to die and purchased the "ReliefBand Device." It is worn like a watch and delivers a shock like pulse every four seconds. IT WORKS. I was so sick when I put it on, and normally meds don't work so well, if you're already in the throws of serious motion sickness. It worked within 15min. It is not cheap, around $80. But, I'll have it forever and I take it anytime I'm on a large vessel. No side effects, and I've probably paid $80 easily on all the other stuff I used to buy. That's kind of the top end and may be overkill for you. We will be on the PG in May and I am praying for calm seas. Good luck, have a wonderful cruise. Don't forget to report back about your experience!

Kimmi, I like the idea of the Relief Band Device. Is it OTC or prescribed? I'd be willing to pay $80 for something that works that well. You sound like you are our best test market :D I had to laugh. I make myself sick driving if I try to watch the pretty coastline go by. Those very quick looks to see (so I don't crash) are what do it. I've also been know to get motion sickness doing ballet turns. (in my younger days, of course) Oh, the pain of it all . . . . :)

Cyndi, it is OTC. Here's the site www.reliefband.com You can also purchase it at any marine/boating store or a BassProShops, I don't know if you have those out there. www.drugstore.com has it for $79.99. If you don't have it for PIP, I'll let you try it. But, if the seas get hinky, all offers are off :D :D :D

Thanks Kimmi!! I've added it to my growing list of things to get for PIP. I don't believe we have BassProShops, but we do have other marine/boating stores. Good place to get it!

Thanks for your offer, but I wouldn't dream of taking your lifeline from you :D :D :D

Isn't that a mouthful???????????

Welcome, Darbie. I haven't been on the PG, but I got really sick on the Navigator. I took Dramamine and went to bed for several hours and continued to take it twice a day. I will be prepared on my next cruise by purchasing a reliefband.

I have sailed on the PG five times and haven't been bothered too much by motion sickness. Truly it depends on the seas. Most of the time you are in calm waters other than the sail from Bora Bora to Moorea and part of that is at night. I have never had to use a motion sickness preventative on the PG. When I do need one on ships, I use Bonine and it doesn't make me drowsy at all. Ginger doesn't help me one bit. I think each person reacts differently so you just have to find the one that works for you. On the Antarctic cruise, I used the scope patch in the Drake Passage when it was rough and would never do it again. It made me way too drowsy. Hopefully the seas will be calm for you.

Thanks everyone, nice to know I'm not the only one with this problem. In November I was on my honeymoon, took royal caribbean's navigator of the sea, "one big a** ship!!"- I was on the scope patch but on the 2nd day I could really feel the movement on this ship and I was starting to get sick so I took the medicine the help desk had plus the scope patch it worked but boy was I loopy, and God forbid I have a drink. I probably would have fell of the boat. So hopefully with all your suggestions I will avoid that in Sept. on the PG. Thanks again everyone-Darec (Darbie)

I got the ReliefBand after Kimmi recommended it and I can attest that it seems to work well. If you don't have any of those stores nearby you, Sharper Image carries it as well ...

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productview.jhtml?sku=WS170

Masaki

Hi Darby, I got sick on PG (Sept) during the life boat drill. It was too much movement for me. I also get motion sickness very easy. I have been thinking about the relief band. I have read that it works for some, and does not help for others. I would hate to spend the money and then it might not work for me. I here it works for pregnant women, maybe I could pass it down if it didn't work for me.

I'm another Bonine user. I discovered it after problems with Dramamine (drowseyness) and no help from either ginger capsules or writstbands. Bonine works great for me with no side effects. And thanks to Masaki I learned prior to our trip on the PG last year that the Meclizine that the ship hands out for free is the generic form of the same medication. I needed to use it 4 times (the first night each week and the evening from Bora Bora to Moorea - Wednesday) during our 2 weeks. (We did a back to back.) Even my husband needed it when we went from Bora Bora to Moorea and he does not usually have a problem. Within half an hour after taking the pill the queasyness went away.

Kathy, I'm with you. I carry it with me every trip, and then throw it away when it expires. I've only ever used 1 tablet on three cruises. So everybody think positive--take all the precautions you like, but fact is, you may not need them at all.

Editing to say, this is Kim (I really should ck. which one of us is logged on...)
Just to clarify, there are two types of devices that are commonly referred to as Relief Bands. One is the set of wristbands that you wear on your wrist over your pulse. They work off that pressure point and are cheap and do not require batteries. Those are the ones that Sedona and her husband use (with success). I have used them in the past with limited success. Mounds, are those the ones you are referring to? Maybe try those first. You can purchase them anywhere, Walgreens, CVS, etc. very cheap. I have used everything with limited success. The "ReliefBand Device" actually looks like a watch and requires batteries. I have several "fisherman" friends who go from here to Bimini often and they use the watch. They swore by it for years. It sends out a pulse every four seconds that interrupts your equillibrium. In theory, it should definitely work for motion sickness. Since Masaki is a Dr., perhaps he could better explain it! All I know is nothing ever worked for me and it does. I really don't care how it accomplishes this!! But, like you said it is pricey, I would try the other methods first.

Kimmi, is this what you are talking about?




Relief bands at Ebay

That is it, my most prized possession. Of course, not including the Frosty I have in the frig. right now ;) ;) ;)

I also wonder how it works, my understanding is that it is an inner ear thing, some kind of balance thing. I know when I get sea sick I get the worst Headache of my life then shortly after my stomach goes in reverse, does the electrical impulse keep your mind pre occupied or something????

Kim, I have tried the inexpensive pressure bands, along with ginger,sick sick pills and everything else that has been mentioned. All I know is not to fight it and to lay down. It is funny how we all love to cruise and it makes some of us sick. Mexico was the worst time for me. Very rough water. The ship ran out of sea sick vomit bags. Yuck, it was terrible. But at least I wasn't by myself. Everyone was hurling!!

Whoops, I meant sea sick pills.

The Sea Bands and the ReliefBand both work off of acupressure principles. Unfortunately, it's Eastern medicine instead of Western medicine which is what I'm trained in so I really have no idea on how it works either. But it does ... :)

Masaki

I know someone who worked out how to manage the seasickness caused by the inner ear phenomenon. He went into the pool and felt well very quickly. In fact, so well, he stayed in the pool most of the afternoon. Unfortunately, the third degree sunburn bothered him the rest of the cruise.

I will tell you thatI don't get seasick, however I was once fishing in the Keys in 4-6 foot seas in a 35 foot boat. I was green within an hour. I put the Relief Band on and within 10 minutes I was in the tuna tower and felt fine. I usually don't believe in these type of things. Now I'm sold.
When you put it up to 5 it will shock you, which is kinda cool.

Hey, yes I did buy a relief band kind of expensive $100 with shiping, so I hope it works. Need to try it out before PIP PG, If it does work then it's worth every penny. Mabee I could go to an amusement park and get on a tilt a wurl if it works on that it will work on anything or anywhere.

I think you did the right thing if you know you get seasick. Kimmie is like the ultimate cruiser for telling it like it is from her view point. For me, dramamine worked even through the night in the Bass Straits as I slept through it all on a dramanine. However, I will probably get this product in the future just to make sure!

All of the oral medications work for me but they really tranqulize me. I meen Im out, so I hope the band works.

Darbie, it's still true that on the PG you may very well not need anything. I have gotten seasick on ferries and sailboats anchored in the harbour, and I have not been sick on the PG, twice.

John - kind of like your own personal taser. :)

Masaki

"When you put it up to 5 it will shock you, which is kinda cool."

John, a truly sick boy....