Husband surprised me with a cruise to Alaska in 3 weeks!!! What should I know?

^^ That’s true of all forms of seasickness remedy; they’re more effective if you use them before you get seasick.

OP, there are three different types of remedies you can use without a prescription:

  1. Medication -- Dramamine or similar. I think you can get non-drowsy.
  2. Wrist bands
  3. Ginger. I like the ginger candy, but you can also take it in pill form.

Any given remedy will work like a charm for some people and give no help at all for others, and there’s no way to know until you try them at sea. But the great thing is that they don’t interact, so you can use all three at once. Ideally, you’d start using them when you board the ship, which will be several hours before you sail. Use them all through the first full day (the day after you sail), then take them away one at a time over several hours on the second day.

The fourth type is the patch, which you have to get from a doctor. Some people swear by those.

But really, seasickness isn’t apt to be much of a problem, especially after the first day or two. These ships are so huge, and have such good stabilizing systems, that more likely than not, you won’t have any problem at all.

Helicopter and floatplane rides will generally be several hundred dollars for a short trip. IT’S WORTH IT. I still have photos up in my front hall from an Alaskan helicopter excursion I took in 1994. You will remember what you see for the rest of your life. The views are that extraordinary.

"If you want something for motion sickness get some Bonine (meclizine) rather than Dramamine "

Agree. Bonine is extremely effective and lasts all day. I use it when I have to work/read during a long car trip. You can use it every day.

@silverlady No advice to add, but wanted to add my congratulations. What a wonderful surprise! Happy Birthday!

Our H is very motion sick, so was a bit wary about going on a cruise to Alaska. He even got some medication from an aunt (retired pathologist). Fortunately, no one had the least bit of problem with the motion of the boat (honestly none of us noticed it much). It was a great trip.

Ginger–pill or candy is one of the easiest ways to consume , but as was said above works great for some and not at all for others. Mythbusters concluded that it was the only remedy that worked.

Alaska cruises on those huge boats are really pretty “tame.” H can’t handle Disney rides but had no problem on the Golden Princess to Alaska.

Ditto Hanna. The helicopter ride is expensive but WORTH it.

I am prone to seasickness and have taken many cruises over the years. In my experience Bonine (meclazine) is superior to any other remedy. When you do your research, focus on your cruise line and ship. Much of what you need to know is ship-specific.

Check the weather for the ports on the day you lack, a,d tweak your clothes accordingly. When I’ve been on Alaska cruises, the weather has been a lot warmer than I anticipated. But you do need rain gear, and a cold-weather option too. One day it was in the 90s, but we cruised into a glacier harbor, amd the windchill from the surrounding ice and the breeze from the cruise ship’s movement made it pretty cold. As soon as we left the harbor, it was back to short sleeves.

I also echo the value of cruise critic.com. We took the little train to the White Pass based on their reviews, and thought it was fantastic.

The bubble net feeding of the whales out of Juneau is one of the single most fascinating excursions we’ve ever taken. You can see whales just by being on the boat, but bubble net feeding is something special.

Hope you have a wonderful cruise, a,d a wonderful birthday!

Meclazine is very difficult to find anymore. My aunt sent some to H as a favor and can no longer find it either. We searched in many cities and pharmacies and couldn’t locate it anywhere. I believe it was being abused by folks who took huge quantities to get high. :frowning:

Have fun. I loved our Alaska cruise. Some days are shorts and tshirt days and glacier days I was glad I had a thin cotton hat and gloves and a patagonia down sweater. Camera is a must! I have never taken as many pictures as I took on this cruise. I also ag

DH took Dramamine rather than Bonine and slept the whole damn time.

Meclizine is easy to find in pharmacies here. The active ingredient in Bonine is meclizine, and Bonine is sold OTC.

CA, DC, OR and HI don’t seem to carry Meclazine, nor could I find it online to purchase. What area of the country is it available, @patsmom? My OR aunt wants to get more fo guests on her boat. Thanks!

“Meclazine is very difficult to find anymore. My aunt sent some to H as a favor and can no longer find it either.”

?? I’m surprised to hear this. I’m in IL and can always get Bonine at Walgreens, CVS, etc. It’s right next to the Dramamine, usually in the stomach remedies aisle. I can’t find any indication online that it is banned in certain areas.

I’ve looked at many pharmacies in LA, SF, DC, Oregon and throughout Honolulu. Can only find Dramamine. My aunt complained of the same thing. She swears by Meclazine and said it used to be easy for her to find in OR and CA, but she can’t find it any more and neither can we.

@HImom, perhaps the problem is that you are spelling it wrong. It’s Meclizine.

I found it online in Honolulu CVS locations:

http://www.cvs.com/shop/health-medicine/digestive-health/motion-sickness-nausea/bonine-tablets-prodid-144735#/pickupoverlay

Under “add to basket”, there is a “check availability” button. You can put in your location and find stores that carry it.

Meclizine–it is kept behind the pharmacy counter NOT on the shelf. You have to ask the pharmacist. You have to sign for it but it is available without prescription.

Bonine is on the shelf at my local CVS (south Florida).

We’ve asked many pharmacists–they didn’t carry it AT ALL… My Aunt couldn’t get it any more in CA or OR either. She previously never had problems getting it.

Perhaps if you ask for Bonine, you will have better luck: Allegedy, Bonine is found at the following CVS stores in Honolulu:

841 BISHOP STREET, HONOLULU, HI 96813
808-525-6410 Available
1088 BISHOP STREET, HONOLULU, HI 96813
808-536-5706 Available
1330 PALI HIGHWAY, HONOLULU, HI 96813
808-536-5542 Available
1030 KING ST, HONOLULU, HI 96814
808-591-8402 Available
1450 ALA MOANA BOULEVARD SUITE 2004, HONOLULU, HI 96814
808-949-4010 Available
1401 S BERETANIA STREET SUITE 110, HONOLULU, HI 96814
808-536-1775 Not Available
1441 KAPIOLANI BLVD SUITE 510, HONOLULU, HI 96814
808-946-2606 Not Available
1748 LILIHA STREET, HONOLULU, HI 96817
808-585-8472 Available
1481 S. KING ST. STE 111, HONOLULU, HI 96814
808-945-7875 Available
1620 NORTH SCHOOL STREET, HONOLULU, HI 96817
808-841-0724 Available
2470 SOUTH KING STREET, HONOLULU, HI 96826
808-947-2651 Available
2070 NORTH KING STREET, HONOLULU, HI 96819
808-845-8324 Not Available
2155 KALAKAUA AVENUE, HONOLULU, HI 96815
808-922-8790 Available
2750 WOODLAWN DRIVE, HONOLULU, HI 96822
808-988-2151 Available
1029 KAPAHULU AVE. SUITE 303, HONOLULU, HI 96816
808-488-7500 Not Available
3221 WAIALAE AVENUE, HONOLULU, HI 96816
808-735-2811 Available
848 ALA LILIKOI STREET, HONOLULU, HI 96818
808-833-2597 Not Available
4211 WAIALAE AVENUE, HONOLULU, HI 96816
808-732-0782 Available
4380 LAWEHANA ST, HONOLULU, HI 96818
808-441-3119 Not Sold At This Store
5156 KALANIANAOLE HIGHWAY, HONOLULU, HI 96821
808-377-9643 Available
98 1005 MOANALUA ROAD, AIEA, HI 96701
808-488-0958 Available
45 480 KANEOHE BAY DRIVE, KANEOHE, HI 96744
808-235-5805 Available
46 047 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY SUITE C, KANEOHE, HI 96744
808-235-4551 Available

I found Bonine available by delivery through Amazon.