In 1992, Dale and I were on what must have been about the last voyage of the old (I mean old!) Dawn Princess. Heading northbound on the way back to Los Angeles, the captain warned of an impending storm.  The words “strong winds” and “large waves” loomed prominently in these warnings, but we were too inexperienced to heed his admonition.

Dale and a few friends focus on the horizon after a very rough 24-hours at sea.

Someone advised that breathing fresh air while keeping eyes glued to the horizon helped stave off seasickness. Accordingly, we took up positions in chaise lounges on deck.  We had to avoid the swimming pool since the water sloshed up two and a half decks, finally leaving an empty blue hole. We wrapped ourselves in towels, trying to stay warm.  I fixed my gaze on ‘the sweet spot’ known as the horizon line. But the horizon line became lost as the waves grew larger. Passengers whose complexions resembled green goddess salad dressing crowded the public rooms, awaiting their turn for a shot of whatever the ship’s doctor was serving in his syringe. Whatever the doc had on offer seemed to provide little benefit to the chartreuse-hued sufferers.

Fortunately, this type of shipboard events occurs very rarely, but anyone planning a cruise should be aware of this possibility. This is one of those situations where it’s best to heed the Boy Scout motto of “Be prepared.” If you are prone to seasickness, take precautions before you start feeling nauseous. Once the queasiness begins, it just might be too late.

The New York Times recently ran an article reviewing the latest medical wisdom on motion sickness. Watch their video below so you will be prepared for your next voyage.