Boating for the nervous
Discussion
I have a boat phobia. If I was meant to go on a boat, why did God make me a good swimmer.
Anyway, the OH persuaded me we needed a holiday in Cambodia and Vietnam and the booked it up months ago. I've just discovered the tour includes a night on a boat up the Mekong. There is no way I can sleep on a boat, especially with the news from Sicily this weekend. At best, I will be on the top deck all night as I was on the overnight Portsmouth to Le Harve.
Has anyone done similar? Is it scary and how can I overcome my phobia? I can just about manage on deck, but still trough up for England. I have even been sick on the Thames when moored up and I wasn't even drinking.
Anyway, the OH persuaded me we needed a holiday in Cambodia and Vietnam and the booked it up months ago. I've just discovered the tour includes a night on a boat up the Mekong. There is no way I can sleep on a boat, especially with the news from Sicily this weekend. At best, I will be on the top deck all night as I was on the overnight Portsmouth to Le Harve.
Has anyone done similar? Is it scary and how can I overcome my phobia? I can just about manage on deck, but still trough up for England. I have even been sick on the Thames when moored up and I wasn't even drinking.
Bill said:
Is it the sickness or fear of sick was that's the issue? Or does the anxiety cause the sickness? Stugeron is brilliant for sea sickness if so.
I think it is just motion driven. I didn't have such a bad phobia as a kid, but was sick as Sicky McSickface. I managed to feed the fish seven times on a Dover to Boulogne crossing when I was at primary school. I got a Champion puker award from my school friends. Stugeron is really good IME. You sound like my brother, can't look at a body of water without feeling queasy but after a stugeron he's fine. I've even taken him sea kayaking. I'm better but will still chuck up if I can't see a horizon. I took them when I did my day skipper ticket and at one point I was down below plotting a course with the boat heeled over in a force six with 3 metre swells and absolutely fine.
The odd thing is that I feel less ill when it is a bit rough. I am more likely to be sick on calmer waters. Plus for days afterwards my balance is totally shot. I have suffered with Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo previously and this has sometimes been triggered by being on a boat.
Definitely going to get some tablets
Definitely going to get some tablets
Sounds like the boat trip will be a low light of the trip for you and could potentially ruin subsequent days for you. Why not just miss it out? Load your wife and luggage onto it and see if there is not some cool alternative means of travel. When I last traveled in Vietnam, admittedly a few years back, motorcycle cruises were a thing where a chap would turn up and whisk you away on a tour, something similar in that area? Or maybe a classic car. Just travelling by train would be fun…
You are not obliged to do anything.
If going on the boat will both ruin your enjoyment of the holiday before boarding because you're concerned of getting ill and or distressed, and then potentially ruin the rest of it because these things occur, it seems that staying on terra firma will be your best bet.
It's only for one night. There's plenty of other ways to spend your time while your wife bobs along the Mekong.
I assume that she is aware of your concerns? If so it shouldn't be too difficult to persuade her.
But, if she insists then divorce is straightforward nowadays.
If going on the boat will both ruin your enjoyment of the holiday before boarding because you're concerned of getting ill and or distressed, and then potentially ruin the rest of it because these things occur, it seems that staying on terra firma will be your best bet.
It's only for one night. There's plenty of other ways to spend your time while your wife bobs along the Mekong.
I assume that she is aware of your concerns? If so it shouldn't be too difficult to persuade her.
But, if she insists then divorce is straightforward nowadays.
I get seasick.
I use these travel bands. They have completley stopped me even feeling sick onboard.
I have used them on the North Sea multiple time and no ill effects.
Also because you are not taking anything theres no side effects at all.
It just uses a pressure point and ime works brilliantly.
https://www.boots.com/boots-adult-travel-bands-1-p...
I use these travel bands. They have completley stopped me even feeling sick onboard.
I have used them on the North Sea multiple time and no ill effects.
Also because you are not taking anything theres no side effects at all.
It just uses a pressure point and ime works brilliantly.
https://www.boots.com/boots-adult-travel-bands-1-p...
Book a night in the fanciest hotel in Phnom Penh(Raffles Hotel Le Royal looks nice), then if the pills don't work when you get on the boat you can get straight off and enjoy a bed that doesn't move. It doesn't sound like you have a boat phobia, just a high propensity to motion sickness; there are a few different anti-motion sickness treatments available, best to try all of them before the holiday to see which if any work best for you and whichever you pick use it as directed(usually several hours beforehand), swallowing the pills as you step on the boat or start to feel sick is generally too late.
Stugeron and the travel bands. Both really work for seasickness
My family have always sailed so we are used to sea sickness and it’s cures, we measure sea sickness as follows:
Bad: you are worried you might die
Really bad: you are worried you might not die
If you are going to chuck up when on deck, do it on the downwind side of the boat. It’s amazing how many times I have seen people get a face full of their own vomit by doing it upwind!
Seriously though. Stugeron is almost a miracle drug and travel bands really help.
My family have always sailed so we are used to sea sickness and it’s cures, we measure sea sickness as follows:
Bad: you are worried you might die
Really bad: you are worried you might not die
If you are going to chuck up when on deck, do it on the downwind side of the boat. It’s amazing how many times I have seen people get a face full of their own vomit by doing it upwind!
Seriously though. Stugeron is almost a miracle drug and travel bands really help.
Thanks all.
I've done a bit more research and this is the boat
https://bhayacruises.com/the-au-co-cruise
Looks like the cabins might have doors straight onto the deck and not an internal corridor which should help a little.
I will be getting the wristband and drugs.
At least it is early on in the holiday, so I can enjoy the rest without stressing.
I've done a bit more research and this is the boat
https://bhayacruises.com/the-au-co-cruise
Looks like the cabins might have doors straight onto the deck and not an internal corridor which should help a little.
I will be getting the wristband and drugs.
At least it is early on in the holiday, so I can enjoy the rest without stressing.
If its sea sickness.... the various seasickness tablets can help. But you need to start taking them probably the day before or something. Not when you feel it.
Patches apparently work too.
I get it bad but as long as I can either lay down or sit somewhere with a view of the horizon I can cope. Failing that just go on the biggest ship you can then it doesn't matter so much.
But if its fear of being trapped in a sinking ship or whatever, well, there probably isn't anything for that! Again bigger ships... more time to sink, list, roll over or whatever. Gives you more time to get out. Mekong is quite sheltered and you'd not be that far from land at any point. More of a concern is probably the upkeep of the vessel.
Patches apparently work too.
I get it bad but as long as I can either lay down or sit somewhere with a view of the horizon I can cope. Failing that just go on the biggest ship you can then it doesn't matter so much.
But if its fear of being trapped in a sinking ship or whatever, well, there probably isn't anything for that! Again bigger ships... more time to sink, list, roll over or whatever. Gives you more time to get out. Mekong is quite sheltered and you'd not be that far from land at any point. More of a concern is probably the upkeep of the vessel.
Slow.Patrol said:
I have a boat phobia. If I was meant to go on a boat, why did God make me a good swimmer.
Anyway, the OH persuaded me we needed a holiday in Cambodia and Vietnam and the booked it up months ago. I've just discovered the tour includes a night on a boat up the Mekong. There is no way I can sleep on a boat, especially with the news from Sicily this weekend. At best, I will be on the top deck all night as I was on the overnight Portsmouth to Le Harve.
Has anyone done similar? Is it scary and how can I overcome my phobia? I can just about manage on deck, but still trough up for England. I have even been sick on the Thames when moored up and I wasn't even drinking.
I would suggest you see a counsellor, because this is more than just seasickness.Anyway, the OH persuaded me we needed a holiday in Cambodia and Vietnam and the booked it up months ago. I've just discovered the tour includes a night on a boat up the Mekong. There is no way I can sleep on a boat, especially with the news from Sicily this weekend. At best, I will be on the top deck all night as I was on the overnight Portsmouth to Le Harve.
Has anyone done similar? Is it scary and how can I overcome my phobia? I can just about manage on deck, but still trough up for England. I have even been sick on the Thames when moored up and I wasn't even drinking.
Presumably you travel in cars an aeroplanes, both of which can kill you, so it just needs a mental reset somehow, and perhaps consideration as to how the phobia started.
I can't swim which is why I have a boat
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