Cruising in the wild landscapes of Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Picture standing on the deck of your expedition vessel, or even from the balcony of your cabin, watching icebergs float by as your lungs fill with the crisp Antarctic air. It’s a truly invigorating and exhilarating experience.
But what if those Southern Ocean waters leave you queasy? For some travellers motion sickness (or to put it more simply, getting seasick) can happen on any body of water. So the idea of crossing the Drake Passage to get to Antarctica can often cause worry. Some travellers choose to avoid this altogether by taking a plane to the Peninsula on a Fly & Cruise trip. For those who don’t want to miss the crossing but are worried about their sea legs however, help is at hand. As seasoned Antarctic cruise experts, the Swoop team knows first-hand how seasickness on a cruise can affect guests. So we’re sharing our tips on the best natural remedies for motion sickness, accumulated over years of Antarctic exploration. Naturally, we’d always encourage you to seek professional advice after reading this article to make sure you get the right care and guidance for you.
What is seasickness and what are its symptoms?
Motion sickness is a physiological condition caused by a misalignment between the senses and the signals that are sent to the brain.
Both your eyes and your inner ears play an important role in regulating spatial orientation and balance. So, when you’re onboard a cruise vessel, your eyes perceive that you’re stationary, but your ears sense the cruise’s movement. This sensory conflict can lead to the symptoms of motion sickness.
AAs many as 1 in 3 people are affected by seasickness. Even experienced sailors can get it. But given what’s known about it and the many natural travel sickness remedies and modern medicines, there’s no reason to let that put you off sailing to Antarctica.
Typical motion sickness symptoms include:
- Feeling nauseous
- Feeling dizzy or experiencing vertigo
- Headaches or migraines.
- Feeling lethargic or fatigued
- Cold sweats.
- Excess salivation.
These symptoms of motion sickness can vary from person to person, and may ebb and flow. But most travellers adjust to the ship’s movements within 24 to 48 hours – period it takes their brains to acclimatise to its motions on the water.
Will I be affected by seasickness on a cruise in Antarctica?
While many passengers are perfectly comfortable during their sailings, there is still a chance that you might be affected by seasickness on a cruise in Antarctica.
During the famous ‘Drake Passage’ voyage – an exceptional journey that acts as the gateway into the White Continent from South America – you may be more likely to experience symptoms of motion sickness. This is because the 48-hour voyage can sometimes be rocky, which is where the infamous term the ‘Drake Shake’ has been dubbed from.
But, don’t let this nickname fool you, as most of the time the Drake Passage offers a smooth sailing experience, so don’t feel worried about seasickness during itineraries that involve travelling to the continent via this crossing. In many cases, anyway, passengers who worry about seasickness surprise themselves and find their sea legs quickly onboard!
And in our current day and age, as tourism to the White Continent has steadily grown more advanced, there’s good news; Modern Antarctic expedition vessels, particularly those that cross the Drake Passage, feature advanced underwater stabilisation systems, which significantly reduce motion, while vessels with X-Bow hulls reduce wave motion even more so. So, you’ve got technology on your side, too!
In other words, don’t let the thought of seasickness on a cruise in Antarctica deter you from visiting one of the last true frontiers in adventure travel, especially as crossings like the Drake Passage are only a small part of your Antarctic trip! But, for those who are especially prone to seasickness, it is possible to embark on a Fly and Cruise itinerary to Antarctica, taking you to the heart of the continent without having to sail through the Drake Passage, if you don’t mind taking in its dramatic landscapes from above!
Natural remedies for motion sickness in Antarctica
So, if you want to prevent yourself from experiencing seasickness on a cruise in Antarctica, or ease any symptoms you may experience during your voyage, we’ve compiled an assortment of seasickness remedies for cruisers that will help you enjoy a smooth sailing.
Choose what you eat wisely
One of the best natural remedies for motion sickness is being careful about what you eat. Ensure you’re keeping your stomach full by eating snacks and small meals more often throughout the day. Avoid rich foods where you can. Plain, starchy food, like crackers or bread, can help absorb excess stomach acid, which can make people feel nauseous, while Ginger in any form (whether candies, in capsules, or even in a tea) is considered one of the best natural remedies for sea sickness.
Keep hydrated and minimise your alcohol intake
Staying hydrated is a simple yet effective way to reduce symptoms of motion sickness. Whether it’s having some extra cups of tea to keep you warm or simply sipping a bottle of water throughout the day, keep an eye on your fluid intake during an Antarctic cruise.
However, while relaxing with a drink in hand is often part and parcel of a holiday, bear in mind that alcohol can worsen any seasickness symptoms, because alcohol can impact the inner-ear mechanism that senses motion. So while it can be tempting to raise an early glass to your Antarctica adventure, we’d suggest finding your sea legs before you get on first name terms with the bar staff.
Try seasickness bands – or aromatherapy
An affordable but effective natural remedy for seasickness is using motion sickness wristbands. They work by gently applying pressure to a specific acupuncture point on your inner wrist, which can help reduce seasickness symptoms like nausea.
Given that the symptoms of motion sickness are linked to your senses, it’s thought that aromatherapy can be a good way to engage your senses to alleviate certain symptoms. If this appeals, consider bringing some essential oils. Lavender oil is a calming scent with anti-nausea properties, while peppermint oil is soothing and can be applied to pressure points, too
Take a breath of fresh air and keep your eyes on the horizon
If you’re starting to feel the effects of motion sickness, sometimes the best seasickness remedies are the simplest. Step outside onto your cruise vessel’s shared deck, or onto your private balcony if you have one, and inhale deeply to get the crisp, Antarctic air in your lungs.
Another reason to step outside is to fix your gaze on the horizon in Antarctica. This gives your brain a secure point in which to calibrate itself, allowing it to better process visual stimuli, which in turn reduces motion sickness. This natural remedy for sea sickness couldn’t be simpler, and is a tried and tested method that keeps motion sickness at bay. It works just as well inside as well, spending time in the ship’s lounge by a picture window,
Keeping physics on your side is always a good natural remedy for seasickness. The centre of the ship is the part that move the least. means you’ll feel much less motion than you would in areas like the bow or stern of the ship. If you’re especially worried about seasickness when you’re booking, consider taking a cabin closer to the ship’s midpoint.
Stay in the centre of the ship when you can
Another natural remedy for seasickness involves keeping physics on your side. By staying in the centre of the ship, either by booking an internal cabin or staying centralised during transit in communal spaces, means you’ll feel much less motion than you would in areas like the bow or stern of the ship.
By staying central when you can, you’ll be less affected by the up-and-down movement of the vessel, meaning you’re less likely to experience seasickness symptoms.
If all else fails, try seasickness medication
While natural remedies for motion sickness have become more heavily used, sometimes conventional medication is the right choice for you. After all, there’s no award for dealing with seasickness symptoms when you don’t have to.
There are plenty of over-the-counter seasickness medications you can get prescribed by a doctor at home before you travel. Or, Antarctic cruise vessels have their own medical professionals onboard, who can offer you support and help you find the best seasickness remedy for your circumstances and symptoms.
Come Prepared
The best thing for seasickness is to be prepared so that if symptoms strike, you won’t be caught out! Here’s a brief pre-departure checklist you can use for your Antarctic cruise to help you be as prepared as possible:
- Pack your chosen remedies before leaving home, natural or not
- Start preventative measures before symptoms appear (particularly if you’re prone to motion sickness).
- Bring multiple options for reducing seasickness symptoms, as what works on day one might need supplementing later on in your itinerary.
It’s worth noting that some seasickness remedies can cause drowsiness, but in our experience, if you really want to know how to get rid of motion sickness, sleeping through it can often be your best option. But whichever treatment you opt for, always check with a medical professional before combining methods and treatments, to ensure they’re safe for you to take.
Getting your polar sea legs
Antarctica’s landscapes are worth every moment, so don’t let something like seasickness get in your way of experiencing the White Continent.
We’ve helped thousands of travellers through Antarctic waters, so rest assured that most find their sea legs quickly, and those who do experience seasickness on cruise ships often adjust faster than they first think. And by the time you get to Antarctica itself, you’ll be on fine form and ready to connect with the continent’s vast landscapes and its spectacular wildlife.
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