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6 natural seasickness remedies

<p>Don’t let motion sickness stop you from enjoying a cruise. While there are lots of over-the-counter medications available to stop sea sickness, these natural remedies also work wonders.</p> <p><strong>1. Ginger</strong></p> <p>Ginger is loaded with health benefits but it has been proven to be highly effective in preventing seasickness. If you know you are prone to motion sickness, include ginger into your diet the days prior to leaving on your cruise and while you are out at sea. Drinking ginger tea is an easy way to incorporate the powerful herb into your diet.</p> <p><strong>2. Herbal tea</strong></p> <p>Herbal tea is a great beverage that will help settle your stomach and prevent vomiting that is caused by seasickness. Herbal teas are also packed with antioxidants which are effective anti-ageing agents and they also improve digestion.</p> <p><strong>3. Apple juice</strong></p> <p>Drinking a glass of apple juice before departure can help settle your stomach. Although sugary foods are not always good for motion sickness, non-citrus juices will help feelings of queasiness.</p> <p><strong>4. Ice</strong></p> <p>Ice has been found to help queasiness for motion sickness – it’s even a remedy that works for morning sickness. The ice is cold, refreshing, hydrating and the water dilutes excess stomach acid. You can also opt for an ice block if you are in the prevention stage of motion sickness.  </p> <p><strong>5. Peppermint</strong></p> <p>Having peppermint either through tea, lozenges or peppermint oil, can help prevent nausea. If you are travelling with family, peppermint is great to prevent children from getting sick due to its pleasant taste.</p> <p><strong>6. Dry crackers</strong></p> <p>Dry crackers are an easily digestible snack that can help prevent nausea and vomiting. Crackers are high in starch and help absorb gastric aid. Crackers eliminate hunger without having a strong smell or taste that could increase the nausea.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Cruising

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Here is where you MUST go to beat seasickness on a cruise ship

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cruise ship holidays are one of the best ways to travel if you are looking for a mostly-inclusive trips with multiple perks and a relaxation guarantee. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However , there are unfortunate side effects with being out on the water that some passengers may experience and this is sea sickness. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Motion sickness is caused by repeated movement while travelling including bumps in a car or moving up and down in a boat. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doctor Ben MacFarlene has revealed the best place to go on a cruise when battling pesky sea sickness in his book </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cruise Ship SOS. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doctor MacFarlene recounted an experience while aboard a vessel with particularly difficult weather which caused a number of cruisers to report signs of seasickness. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“‘You know the other thing we should prescribe?’ Kiri [a nurse] says in one quiet patch as [Doctor] Edward stars extolling yet another of his ancient mariner sea sickness cures,” he wrote. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"‘A couple of hours in the casino. [Casino worker] Kieran says it’s designed to be the most stable room on the ship.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“'They don’t want to compromise the roulette ball. Nor do they want any seasick passengers heading back to their cabins and interrupting a losing streak.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“'If you’re feeling queasy on board then Kieran reckons the casino is the only place to be.'”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The next place to go if there is no casino present on your cruise ship, experts recommend finding fresh air on a deck, or looking straight at a fixed point (such as the horizon), closing your eyes and breathing slowly. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doctor MacFarlene noted however medical staff can pick out those trying to pass a hangover as sea sickness. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Seasickness is a very convenient illness,” Macfarlane’s medical colleague told him, he writes in the book. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You’ll notice that the people who suffer the most are the ones who were in the bar knocking back mojitos at 2am the previous night.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You’ll also see that these people never have hangovers. They come to us with sore heads in the morning because they’re prone to ‘migraines'.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They feel sick when they wake up because of the air-conditioning in the staterooms, not because of all the vintage port they consumed at midnight.”</span></p> <p> </p>

Cruising

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5 ways to deal with seasickness on a cruise

<p>If the thought of a cruise or bumpy bus ride makes your stomach flip, you need to know these tips.</p> <p><strong>1. Pick the right spot</strong></p> <p>Where you are in the car, bus or ship can have a big impact on motion sickness. In vehicles, it’s always best to sit up the front, where you’ll be looking straight ahead at the moving road rather than having it rushing along beside you. When booking a cruise cabin, choose one closer to the middle of the ship where you will remain more stable during the voyage. It’s also best to book a cabin with a window or balcony so you’re able to look outside.</p> <p><strong>2. Plan ahead</strong></p> <p>If you suspect that you will suffer from motion sickness, prepare yourself in the days leading up to the journey. Avoid heavy and spicy foods, and stay away from alcohol. You want your stomach to be feeling as calm as possible. Stay hydrated and get plenty of rest before you board. And even though you may feel like a few stiff drinks will make you feel better on the road, the opposite is usually true.</p> <p><strong>3. Look outside</strong></p> <p>If you’re feeling sick you might think that closing your eyes will help, but in fact the opposite is true. Look out of the window and focus on the road ahead or the horizon. Looking at the movement that’s happening outside will reorient your inner ear and alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness. That also means you should avoid reading a book or playing on a device.</p> <p><strong>4. Try natural remedies</strong></p> <p>Ginger is known to assist with digestion and alleviate nausea, so it’s one of the most popular natural remedies for motion sickness. You can grate up the root and use it to make a tea or try an herbal supplement. Some people also swear by acupressure, so you can easily try to work your own pressure points. With your thumb, press on the inside of your arm about three finger widths down from your wrist crease for a few minutes until your nausea subsides. You can also try motion sickness wristbands that have a small bead that presses on the right spot.</p> <p><strong>5. Hit the chemist</strong></p> <p>If you want to call in the big guns, there are a lot of good over the counter medications available that will help with motion sickness. Travacalm is the most common brand and easily available from the chemist. Many antisthamines, like Avomine or Phenergan, are also recommended for motion sickness, though check with your doctor. It’s best to take them before you start feeling sick and be aware that many of these medications will also make you drowsy.</p>

Cruising

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This new ship will cure seasickness

<p>If you love cruises but constantly miss out because of frequent seasickness, we’ve got some exciting news for you. Aurora Expeditions, a cruise company operating in the Arctic and Antarctic, has developed a cutting-edge new ship that may put an end to queasy stomachs once and for all.</p> <p>Due for launch in late 2019, the 104m ship is fitted with innovative technology designed to cut through rough crossings with ease.</p> <p>“The vessel is the first to use the patented X-BOW technology which has the ability to pierce waves with much greater stability, making open sea journeys – like Antarctica’s notorious Drake Passage – more pleasant for passengers than what is currently available from other small ships on the market today,” Aurora Expeditions managing director Robert Halfpenny said.</p> <p>The pointed nose of the X-BOW vessel, unlike traditional ships which rise on waves then drop abruptly onto the ocean’s surface, is less prone to jerky vertical movements caused by rough seas.</p> <p><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36781/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (297)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>It’s also fuel- and energy-efficient and features custom platforms for adventure-seekers wishing to kayak or dive in the icy seas. There will also be a 180-degree indoor viewing deck, plus all the things you’d expect from a luxury liner like a gym, sauna and spa.</p> <p>If this sounds right up your alley, keep an eye out for itineraries to be released later this year.</p>

Cruising

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Top tips to combat seasickness on a cruise

<p>Seasickness is like the Police Academy film series. Not fatal, but not a lot of fun.</p> <p>And it can be the death knell of an enjoyable cruise experience. So instead of bemoaning the fact that you’re feeling a bit queasy on your cruise (unless it has less to do with the sea sickness and more to do with the 20 prawn cocktails you ate at the buffet) take advantage of the remedies mentioned in this article and start feeling better.</p> <p><strong>Drug remedies</strong></p> <p>There’s a range of options available if you’re a serious seaksickness sufferer. Over the counter drugs that help fight seasickness include:</p> <ul> <li>Dramamine</li> <li>Meclizine</li> <li>Diphenhydramine</li> </ul> <p>Most ships will have versions of this freely available if you haven’t managed to get out to a pharmacy prior. When you’re taking these drugs though it’s important to remember there are side effects which can be exacerbated by alcohol.</p> <p><strong>Drug-free remedies</strong></p> <p>That being said, if you’re not a big fan of taking drugs you don’t have to be sad and sea sick on a luxury cruise. There are a range of useful drug-free remedies that many regular cruisers swear by, including:</p> <ul> <li>Sea-Band wristbands, an easy-to-wear acupressure-inspired product with a plastic bead that presses against a pressure point on the palm side of your wrist. It might sound a little bit kooky, but tonnes of regular cruise goers swear by the system.</li> <li>Ginger, which studies have found to alleviate nausea associate with motion sickness.</li> <li>Green apples and crackers. Again, sound kooky, but many cruisers swear by them.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Other tips</strong></p> <p>There are a number of tips also designed to help you acclimatise yourself to sea life:</p> <ul> <li>Spending plenty of hours on the deck at the start of your cruise.</li> <li>Booking an outside cabin in the middle of the ship – the natural balance point.</li> <li>Having a window that gives you a consistent view of the horizon point.</li> <li>Picking a large, modern ship or a cruise with a port intensive itinerary.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/cruising/2015/12/most-luxurious-cruising-suites-in-the-world/">12 most luxurious cruising suites in the world</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/cruising/2016/01/images-from-the-golden-age-of-cruising/">10 images from the golden age of cruising</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/cruising/2015/12/cruising-by-yourself/">8 reasons to go on a cruise by yourself</a></strong></span></em></p>

Cruising