Sea sickness prevention
Discussion
So I was planning a bike trip through Spain and France and thought it might be nice to take the ferry to Bilbao. I envisioned it as a lovely gentle cruise before enjoying the European roads on my bike.
The Brittany ferries website even enticed me into signing up for the extra cost of the executive lounge where plenty of free food and soft drinks are always available.
Then a friend pointed out that free food would be far from my list of requirements if it was a rough crossing as I would be seasick for the entire 36 hours on board.
Does anybody have any experience on what these Bilbao ferries are like?
And I guess more importantly does anybody have any recommendations for medication that I should have on hand or take before I depart?
The Brittany ferries website even enticed me into signing up for the extra cost of the executive lounge where plenty of free food and soft drinks are always available.
Then a friend pointed out that free food would be far from my list of requirements if it was a rough crossing as I would be seasick for the entire 36 hours on board.
Does anybody have any experience on what these Bilbao ferries are like?
And I guess more importantly does anybody have any recommendations for medication that I should have on hand or take before I depart?
A993LAD said:
So I was planning a bike trip through Spain and France and thought it might be nice to take the ferry to Bilbao. I envisioned it as a lovely gentle cruise before enjoying the European roads on my bike.
The Brittany ferries website even enticed me into signing up for the extra cost of the executive lounge where plenty of free food and soft drinks are always available.
Then a friend pointed out that free food would be far from my list of requirements if it was a rough crossing as I would be seasick for the entire 36 hours on board.
Does anybody have any experience on what these Bilbao ferries are like?
And I guess more importantly does anybody have any recommendations for medication that I should have on hand or take before I depart?
I do a lot of sea travel, if there's a cabin available I would take that, even during the day they are a must, the ships are pretty big and can cope with huge seas, you'll be fine, I recommend stugeron tablets if you're worried about yakking, around 40 mins to an hour before depart.The Brittany ferries website even enticed me into signing up for the extra cost of the executive lounge where plenty of free food and soft drinks are always available.
Then a friend pointed out that free food would be far from my list of requirements if it was a rough crossing as I would be seasick for the entire 36 hours on board.
Does anybody have any experience on what these Bilbao ferries are like?
And I guess more importantly does anybody have any recommendations for medication that I should have on hand or take before I depart?
Edited by mcelliott on Thursday 17th April 21:15
I have been sea sick on ferry journeys. It's so bad I wanted to die . I have tried a lot of chemist remedies. Pills , wrist bands everything.
Eaten before, eaten when I got on did not eat .
I had a cabin once got on and almost immediately went to bed . Lying down massively improved matters . Most sea sickness pills make you very sleepy.
It is not guaranteed it will be choppy and modern boats are better than old ones . If it is choppy I recommend lying down .
Eaten before, eaten when I got on did not eat .
I had a cabin once got on and almost immediately went to bed . Lying down massively improved matters . Most sea sickness pills make you very sleepy.
It is not guaranteed it will be choppy and modern boats are better than old ones . If it is choppy I recommend lying down .
We did that crossing a few years ago. As we arrived at the terminal waiting to get on, a chap came over and gave us a massive bundle of meal vouchers that they hadnt been able to use.
Wife said thanks very much and we got on the boat. Booked a nice meal and off we went.
My wife and son are not blessed with sea legs. They spent most of the crossing confimed to the cabin, and we realised why the meal vouchers had been spare.
My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, we spent most of the ride through Biscay sat up front in the observation deck marvelling at the massive wave breaking over the bow.
We strongly considered ditching the return trip and driving back but kept an eye on the weather and it looked much better for the way back, it was like a millpond, with no issues at all.
Cant help with meds, we had all the usual over the counter stuff from the pharmacy. Wife needed to use a presciption anti emetic that she has for migraine in the end
Wife said thanks very much and we got on the boat. Booked a nice meal and off we went.
My wife and son are not blessed with sea legs. They spent most of the crossing confimed to the cabin, and we realised why the meal vouchers had been spare.
My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, we spent most of the ride through Biscay sat up front in the observation deck marvelling at the massive wave breaking over the bow.
We strongly considered ditching the return trip and driving back but kept an eye on the weather and it looked much better for the way back, it was like a millpond, with no issues at all.
Cant help with meds, we had all the usual over the counter stuff from the pharmacy. Wife needed to use a presciption anti emetic that she has for migraine in the end
I find the seasick wrist bands work fine for me
https://amzn.eu/d/7yRhf84
They go on your wrist about where your watch goes.
Wear long sleeves and no one will notice.
I have family that live in Orkney so have experienced most types of weather on the crossing over the Pentland Firth whilst wearing them.
I went to Shetland in January for Up Helly Aa 2 years ago. A 14 hour crossing.
I had a 3 course meal and a bottle of wine.
The boat was rolling 45° inevery direction and I kept my dinner all night and got up and had breakfast before disemarking all whilst wearing the wrist bands.
As long as you can get to sleep you will be fine.
https://amzn.eu/d/7yRhf84
They go on your wrist about where your watch goes.
Wear long sleeves and no one will notice.
I have family that live in Orkney so have experienced most types of weather on the crossing over the Pentland Firth whilst wearing them.
I went to Shetland in January for Up Helly Aa 2 years ago. A 14 hour crossing.
I had a 3 course meal and a bottle of wine.
The boat was rolling 45° inevery direction and I kept my dinner all night and got up and had breakfast before disemarking all whilst wearing the wrist bands.
As long as you can get to sleep you will be fine.
sherman said:
What are these then? I'd have immediately discounted these as tat if they were some online advert.
But as you're extolling their virtues I'm intrigued.
Any medical reasoning for what they do?
EmailAddress said:
sherman said:
What are these then? I'd have immediately discounted these as tat if they were some online advert.
But as you're extolling their virtues I'm intrigued.
Any medical reasoning for what they do?
It does seem to work for me.
Stugeron for me as well. I can get sea-sick on a canal boat, but those tablets made the whole crossing bearable. Felt a bit sea sick at dinner, but that's because I couldn't see the horizon.
If you are going for the Club Lounge (and I can certainly recommend it), then no need to book dinner as the quality/quantity of the food and drink is more than enough (and the view out of the window, watching for whales and dolphins certainly helps pass the time)
If you are going for the Club Lounge (and I can certainly recommend it), then no need to book dinner as the quality/quantity of the food and drink is more than enough (and the view out of the window, watching for whales and dolphins certainly helps pass the time)
I find it helpful, Stugeron notwithstanding, to try to be able to see the horizon whenever possible. The worst scenario for me is being in an enclosed space such as a dining room with no real sight of the outside. The curtains sway, the water in the jug on the table moves, your inner ear balance organs tell you you're moving but the rest of the room is stationary. It is the conflicting information that tells your brain that you must have ingested a poison - hence the vomit. If I can reconcile the differing information from eyes and balance organs and I feel far better.
If it's any consolation Horatio Nelson was a sufferer too!
If it's any consolation Horatio Nelson was a sufferer too!
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