10 Tips for Avoiding Seasickness on Your Next Cruise

I own a travel agency specializing in bespoke luxury trips, group vacations, and exclusive cruise experiences.

Unfortunately, I get motion sickness in cars and on buses, airplanes, and ocean cruises. I got married in Venice, Italy in 2000 and after over a week riding water buses (vaporetti), I started to get motion sickness when I was in a museum looking at a painting. I felt like the ground was moving!

Since then I've learned how to deal with my motion sickness and have talked to many clients about it as well. Here are several tips I've learned.

1. Try MotionEaze

I used to use a prescription medication (scopolamine), described below, for motion sickness on ocean cruises and Dramamine on airplanes until a friend told me about MotionEaze. MotionEaze is an all natural oil that you place behind your ear. It's ingredients are: lavender, peppermint, frankincense, chamomile, myrrh, ylang-ylang and, sometimes, birch.

I was skeptical this would work for me since I am so prone to motion sickness, but I used it on an ocean cruise with great success. I was amazed. I use it on airplanes now as well. I don't use Dramamine or any prescriptions for motion sickness anymore.

One of the best things about MotionEaze is that, unlike other remedies, it starts working within minutes after you put it on and it also works even after you begin to experience symptoms. I have used it on airplanes when I already feel sick and it solves the problem.

2. Get a Stateroom in the Right Location

An important factor when dealing with motion sickness on an ocean cruise is to get a stateroom in the correct part of the ship. Contact me and I will help you select the right location on the ship to avoid seasickness.

3. Book the Right Itinerary

There are several ocean cruise itineraries that are known for rocky seas. You should avoid these and choose a cruise with ports that are closer together. Using an expert like me to book your cruise will help you avoid famously tumultuous routes!

4. Try Dramamine

Dramamine works well for me on planes, in cars and on buses (although I now use MotionEaze instead). There is a non-drowsy formula which is great if you don't want to fall asleep. But the regular Dramamine is lovely on long plane rides if you do want to sleep.

Dramamine could work for you on an ocean cruise, but try it out first in other situations to see if it helps at all.

5. Try the Patch

"The patch" (scopolamine) works well for me and my clients who get motion sickness. The patch is a tiny round sticker containing prescription medicine that you place behind your ear and leave there for three days. You then place a new patch behind the other ear and continue rotating every three days. The patch is prescription-only, so discuss it with your doctor.

6. Test Drive Your Potion

I suggest getting a MotionEaze, Dramamine or a prescription for the patch well before your cruise and trying it out to see how it works for you and, in the case of Dramamine or the patch, if it causes side effects and if they subside. For me, the side effects of the patch sometimes ceases after a couple of days, and sometimes lasted longer.

You may also want to see if your choice actually works for you before your cruise by doing something that normally causes you motion sickness.

7. Start Early

With the patch, I found it necessary to put it on about 3 days before I got on an ocean cruise (even though the manufacturer claims it is only necessary to apply it 4 hours in advance) because I wanted the side effects gone before I go on vacation. 

8. Continue for 3 Extra Days

NOTE: It is very important to continue treating yourself for around three days after your cruise to give your body time to readjust to being on land.

The first time I used the patch, I made the mistake of removing it as soon as I got home. I was then seasick for the next three days! I have since spoken to clients who had the same experience.

Thereafter, I left the patch on for three days after I got home, and that worked like a charm. Since I now use MotionEaze, I continue using it for three days after I get home as well. No seasickness.

9. If Using the Patch, Bring Extra

It's also important to get a lot of extra patches because they fall off. The maker of the patch claims it will stay on for three days, even in the shower, but mine always fall off. When it falls off, you are supposed to put on a new one (not reuse the one that fell off). Once when I was on a cruise I ran low on patches and had to skip snorkeling because I couldn't risk losing anymore! That was a bummer.

Take extras!

10. Take a River Cruise

If all else fails, go on a river cruise. River ships barely move at all, and I don't need the patch, Dramamine, or anything else for motion sickness when I'm on one. Yay.

—Daria Dimitroff, updated July 2025

Contact me to customize your next trip. My specialities are bespoke luxury vacations, group trips, and exclusive cruise experiences.

Booking through me is better than reserving on your own because I’m an expert. I do this every day and have local contacts all over the world. I provide a stress-free experience and save you time. I give you personalized advice. I get you a better value, including perks. I have clout and connections. I customize your trip, and I’m a real human who delivers exceptional service and takes care of you before, during, and after your journey.

Contact me at daria@journeysofalifetime.biz or 415-939-5773 or schedule a call here.