Cruise ships are designed to navigate through open waters and provide a comfortable and stable experience for passengers. However, there are several common reasons for excessive rocking on cruise ships, including weather conditions, which can affect the ship’s stability and resistance. Weather plays a significant role in how a cruise ship moves, and passengers adapt to the constant rocking motion during the cruise.
Rock climbing walls on cruise ships are constructed using sturdy materials to ensure durability and safety. Steel frames provide a strong foundation for these walls. There are six types of ship rocking: forward-reverse, updown, side-to-side, and heaving into the air during large waves. While some shaking or movement is normal due to friction between the water and the hull, it should not cause discomfort or seasickness for passengers.
The amount of rocking experienced on a cruise ship depends on several factors, such as the ship’s size, design, and the sea. In heavy weather, ships of all sizes experience movement, but larger ships experience less movement. Stabilisers minimize rolling motion, maximizing comfort.
In rough or severe seas, the amount of rocking depends on the weather. Some cruises experience no motion, while others feel it when the seas are above 10 feet high. While there are different types of ship rocking, guests rarely notice them and may experience motion sickness.
Cruise ships can easily handle waves over 12 feet high, but with waves of this height, passengers may begin to feel the ship rock. The old adage “the more you pay, the more you sway” refers to the fact that cruise lines charge the most for cabins at the highest price.
📹 Why Cruise Ships Don’t Sink
Why aren’t there more cruise ship sinking stories? It’s all in the design. Check out today’s epic new video that breaks down why …
How long does swaying last after a cruise?
Mal de débarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a rare vestibular disorder that makes you feel like you’re moving even when you’re not. MdDS is common after traveling, especially by boat. In most cases, MdDS symptoms go away within 24 hours. But they can linger for months or even years, in some instances.
How do you get rid of mal de débarquement syndrome (MdDS)?. There isn’t one surefire way to cure MdDS. Oftentimes, it goes away on its own.
In the meantime, there are ways to ease your symptoms, but treatments work differently for everyone. You may have to try several things before you find something that works for you.
- Medication.
- Brain stimulation therapy.
- Treatment exercises (vestibular rehabilitation).
How to stop the rocking feeling after a cruise?
Although difficult to treat proactively, as sailors have learned, there are steps you can take to minimize the symptoms and get back to normal more quickly.Keep moving. … Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol. … Rest and reduce stress. … Supplements and medication.
Bid a bon voyage to land sickness symptoms with these tips.
Here’s how to stop that swaying feeling after a cruise — Photo courtesy of iStock / welcomia.
I’ve taken my share of cruises over the years and can confirm that the concept of “sea legs” is real. While land sickness is milder than the more-serious condition known as mal de debarquement – or MDD (translation being the sickness of disembarkment) – the primary symptom of both is the phantom sensation of motion described as rocking, bobbing or swaying.
How to get rid of the rocking feeling after a cruise?
If you are wondering how to get rid of land sickness after your voyage, many of the same strategies may help:Keep moving and taking walks or car rides to provide the missing sensation of movement while you readjust.Stay hydrated and get enough sleep.
Working or traveling on big waters can be an amazing experience, once you get your sea legs. Our bodies and brains adjust to our environment. The rocking, rolling, and constant movement of ocean or big-lake travel becomes less of a problem. However, this process takes longer for some people than others. Returning to solid ground can require a similar adjustment after a long voyage.
Why do we experience motion or seasickness, and how can we speed up this adjustment process?
What Are Sea Legs?. We say someone has their sea legs when they stop having motion sickness and can move with confidence on a ship or vessel. This happens when the inner ear and the brain resolve what seem to be conflicting messages.
Where is the least rocking on a cruise ship?
We have some tips for you that can help you feel confident about going on your first cruise.. #1 – Choosing the Right Cabin. Choosing the right cabin can make a big difference when it comes to seasickness. You want a cabin where you’re less likely to experience swaying and movement from the waves. The middle of the ship and not too high is your safest bet. A mid-ship stateroom with a balcony for quick access to fresh air may be ideal. If not available, consider a room that is either lower or closer to the back, as the front of the ship tends to experience the most movement.
#2 – Choose a Cruise with More Ports and Fewer Days at Sea. Different cruises offer different itineraries. If you’re prone to motion sickness, you’ll want a cruise that visits multiple ports and spends fewer days constantly out to sea. For your first cruise, you may want to consider opting for a shorter duration overall. Choose a 2 to 5 night cruise rather than the 6 to 9 night option.
#3 – Pack Dramamine®. If you regularly experience motion sickness, you are probably familiar with how effective Dramamine® products are for motion sickness relief. Dramamine® helps prevent and treat all four symptoms associated with motion sickness—nausea, dizziness, vomiting and queasiness. Try taking Dramamine® Original Formula 30 minutes to an hour before boarding the ship and then as needed and as directed on the packaging. To be extra prepared, consider taking Dramamine® All Day Less Drowsy a day in advance – relieves motion sickness symptoms with less drowsiness for up to 24 hours.
Is it normal to feel rocking on a cruise ship?
The feeling of rocking or sea sickness on land are actually the same thing which is probably the reason why people call it land sickness. The feeling of rocking is the most common symptom of land.
Is it normal for a cruise ship to rock a lot?
You may feel the ship move when on a cruise. Most passengers describe the feeling as a vibration instead of defined movements. The degree of movement felt does increase if the cruise ship is traveling through bad weather and you may be able to feel when the cruise ship is docking or pulling away from the port.
The amount of movement varies by cruise ship, cruising location and many other factors.
Cruise Ship Movement – In Good Weather. On most cruise ships you won’t be able to feel very much movement when travelling in good weather.
What to do when a cruise ship is rocking?
The swaying and seesawing of the boat will be most extreme on the outside edges, so head to the middle of the ship to alleviate some of the effect. You may even want to book a room in this area of the cruise ship so your nights are less rocked by the motion of the ocean.
Another popular method for decreasing seasickness is through wearing a wristband that will apply pressure to a spot on your wrist. Whether real or placebo, many people swear by this trick. If you don’t have a wristband on you – or you left it at home when you set sail for Mexico – you can try pressing your wrist with your opposite thumb for relief.
Looking for something to try before you travel to your destination? Some studies have shown a correlation between getting proactive acupuncture treatment and minimized seasickness. This method focuses on the same area as acupressure wristbands, but it could be useful if you want to try preventing seasickness before you even set sail.
How to stop rocking feeling after a cruise?
If you are wondering how to get rid of land sickness after your voyage, many of the same strategies may help:Keep moving and taking walks or car rides to provide the missing sensation of movement while you readjust.Stay hydrated and get enough sleep.
Working or traveling on big waters can be an amazing experience, once you get your sea legs. Our bodies and brains adjust to our environment. The rocking, rolling, and constant movement of ocean or big-lake travel becomes less of a problem. However, this process takes longer for some people than others. Returning to solid ground can require a similar adjustment after a long voyage.
Why do we experience motion or seasickness, and how can we speed up this adjustment process?
What Are Sea Legs?. We say someone has their sea legs when they stop having motion sickness and can move with confidence on a ship or vessel. This happens when the inner ear and the brain resolve what seem to be conflicting messages.
Is it safe for cruise ships to rock?
Can cruise ships withstand storms?. Cruise ships have thick steel hulls that can withstand the ravages of a storm. The vessel might list to one side, then the other, in a motion known as rolling. Alternatively, a forward movement might pitch down into the swells before rearing up again. None of this should cause concern, as every ship has been tested in simulated storm conditions. You might notice the swimming pool is emptied and outdoor decks closed off but, inside the ship, the well-trained crew knows what measures to enact to make passengers safe and comfortable.
What are cruise ships doing to protect themselves?. As operational safety is an absolute priority, cruise lines are increasingly one step ahead in forecasting bad weather. They have the latest meteorological equipment, as well as an arsenal of weather charts, satellite images of storm activity, and even computer models from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the US. Royal Caribbean Group, as an example, has a “storm centre” at its Miami headquarters, where, during hurricane season, a wall of screens is monitored by the company’s chief meteorologist, James Van Fleet.
One man who’s been at the helm when nature throws a tantrum is Captain Dag Dvergastein. With five decades of experience sailing the globe with Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn and now, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Dvergastein has valuable insight. “Each ship is constructed to a class standard such as Lloyds or Bureau Veritas to certify safety,” he says. “Ships of all sizes will experience movement in heavy weather, but the larger the ship, the less the movement. Stabilisers minimise the rolling motion, thus maximising comfort.
Is it normal to feel a little dizzy after a cruise?
If you’ve ever spent some time at sea, you may have noticed that you felt a little wobbly once you were back on land. This wobbliness is “mal de debarquement.” This condition makes people feel like they’re still standing on the deck of a ship despite the fact that they’re safely ashore. It feels like the world is still moving around them, even when they’re holding still. In addition to feeling like you’re still at sea, it can have other symptoms too:
While the effects typically clear up in a few hours after returning to land, they can last for as long as two days. Symptoms can also return, or increase in intensity, if the condition is triggered. For some people, it does not go away without medical intervention.
How Can I Avoid Mal de Debarquement?. If you’re prone to dizziness and motion sickness, getting on a boat is probably not an activity you look forward to anyways. However, if you are susceptible to mal de debarquement, you should know that there are more triggers than just being on the water:
Is it normal to still feel swaying after a cruise?
It can be normal for this feeling of motion to continue for a few seconds or up to 3 days after exposure. However, when the rocking or swaying continues for months or years, it may be due to a condition called mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS).
Mal de debarquement syndrome is a disorder that causes a person to feel like they’re moving when they’re not. Sometimes triggered by exposure to passive motion, like sea travel, it can be difficult to treat.
Whether riding in a car or traveling on a train or boat, you encounter passive motion on a daily basis. For some people, the sensation of movement may continue after disembarking.
It can be normal for this feeling of motion to continue for a few seconds or up to 3 days after exposure. However, when the rocking or swaying continues for months or years, it may be due to a condition called mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS).
📹 How ‘Back To Normal’ is a Cruise?
Cruises changed a lot since 2020, but many of the protocols and policies implemented in 2020 and 2021 have been rolled back.
We think there is still a problem with service due to the overwhelming task of replacing so many personnel. The staff are mostly very friendly and eager to please, but this doesn’t always translate into great service. Also, we have noticed shore excursions are not back to pre-Covid “normal”. I am confident these will continue to get better over time.
We spent Nov 8-27 on Rhapsody of the Seas from Barcelona to Barbados transatlantic and an island hop. All access and entertainment tours were back, coffee with an officer every morning (at sea), shared dining tables were an option again. The only thing I noticed was that the senior staff was not as present as compared to pre-covid times. Shore excursions were back to meeting in the theatre as opposed to on the dock but not as full as prior. The staff was very good at getting people to sanitize before entering windjammer and dining rooms. Ice cream was back to self serve. I love the new muster process and slotted arrival times and the drink vouchers for Diamond members. My only complaint was the same old shows need to be overhauled (piano man and Ballroom fever) and the food quality has gone downhill as compared to the past. But I’m happy for new menu options like the daily Indian dishes, they were fantastic.
Hey Matt! We just finished two cruises on Royal in less than six weeks on the allure of the seas! I love all of the changes! We just hit platinum status! We were surprised at all of the benefits that come with the loyalty program! We are well on our way to diamond status, and cannot wait! Our next cruise is this April! I wish I had known about articles like this, when we first started cruising years ago! Your tips have been a game changer for the enjoyment of our cruises! Thank you and keep up with the great content!
I dislike crowds, so never wanted to take a cruise. Ironically, my first will be a 10 night cruise early 2023 that includes a stop in Columbia. My enthusiasm is completely dimimished now because so many people are ignoring logical steps to avoid spreading germs. I don’t want to cancel but I also don’t want to catch a bug. I don’t think there’s a win in this situation.
Latest cruise was Thanksgiving week on the Allure. We were on for a family / friends cruise, as were many others! 🙂 Observations: 1. Staff seemed to be at full capacity. This may be since this was only Allure’s 2nd revenue cruise since she repositioned to Galveston. The ship was definitely packed since it was a holiday cruise. 2. All shows were very well attended. Really needed to make sure you were there early for optimum seating. 3. With ship sailing at full capacity, once again, the Windjammer for this size ship is woefully under sized. Stayed away as much as possible! 🙂 4. One thing that has not reappeared is the Tutti Salad Bar at lunch in the main dining room and the self standing buffet options some ships would also have at lunch in the MDR. 5. Our cruise was the first time to see the reappearance on the Allure of the “Crazy Quest” as it was noted in the Compass and app. 6. There is no longer a sandwich menu posted on the wall at the Park Cafe. Pre-made sandwiches are displayed in a glass case and that is how you request what you want with the exception of the kummelweck (roast beef) sandwiches. Salad bar pretty much the same. 7. Noticing online, many shore excursions than I previously remember are showing as sold out.
I disembarked Ovation on the 14th here in Sydney my first RCI in over 2years there were quite a few changes they struggling with staffing issues in the MDR slow service also Diamond members and above don’t have their own lounge. At Captains Corner it was explained there are so many members Diamond and above we even had someone that had reached double Pinnacle however I was pleased to be back booked again in March.
I was on Anthem last week and noticed a handful of things….. the ships are full of adults and children again but the theater was always half full if that. While I had always noticed supervisors help clean tables in the Windjammer when it was busy, last week it seemed as though there were more supervisors than front line staff cleaning tables. Other then unsupervised kids, most of the adults seem a bit more contentious about what they touch in the different food venues. The app was kind of wonky, at times it took forever to load or would open and close again, then at other times it was great.
Just got off Grandeur yesterday (Dec 11) and I wanted to note something. Around day 4 we got a note saying that a few people were displaying symptoms of norovirus. Nothing really changed until around day 7 where the self service buffet was no longer self service. They never said anything specific to us, but I imagine that the numbers of people displaying symptoms was increasing. The only changes that were noticeable however to me was that they increased the emphasis of sanitizing and the buffet was now the crew serving us. Just wanted to throw that out there.
Out of all the changes they recently did. I have to say I liked the service in the Buffet where the crew helped you with the food instead of self serve. But i can see the Pros and cons of it. Pro and why I miss it. It’s a lot more cleaner in the Buffet. Went on a cruise in Aug after it went back to self serve and people were making messes left and right. When they helped, it was way down. Another pro was people (like myself XD) weren’t over doing it with the food as well. We all have to admit, when it comes to self serve, our eyes are bigger then our stomachs. And when the Crew helped put food on the plates. We are more restrictive on how much we should have on them. Con. It’s a lot more work for the crew. This one is pretty much explains itself.
I’m loving the back to normal cruise experience. I went on a cruise (Liberty) in November 2021 and while it wasn’t awful it was not as much fun. There were masks required, elevator restrictions and the worse was so few guests. I love meeting and talking with people from all over. I just completed my 4th cruise of 2022 and loving the near back to normal. I’ll be back in Feb on Allure.
I think so, was on Oasis for Thanksgiving, there were 6,427 passengers! My first cruise in 7 years, now I’m Platinum. Also Royal Up was worth it, from interior to right above the bridge in the spacious panoramic view, awesome view! I definitely liked the new E-Muster, but main dining room service wasn’t that great.
Did a Wonder of the Seas repositioning cruise October 30th from Spain to Florida for two weeks. It felt totally normal. Some people wore masks but they were in the minority. We tested 48 hours before boarding and we felt somewhat secure. It also helped that it was under capacity too I guess. It never felt busy except at shows.
For self service before Covid19 I remember the staff served at the ice cream station and roast of the day. sometimes because of norovirus this happened once on the cruise me and my parents went up for a couple of days, I prefer staff serving us on the buffet as it stops people putting their hands all over the food. The muster drill one of the cruises our flight was delayed so we had a mini one in the foyer this was at 1.30am, I like the style of e-muster better. but I will miss people carrying their life jacket around a few hours before the muster take place
We just got back from a 3-night cruise on Independence and what struck us is that the quality of service seemed to have downgraded since our last trip in 2019. We felt like the staff were not as attentive and not as eager to please compared to before. Overall, crew members were still friendly and nice but some didn’t seem passionate about being there. Hopefully, things will only go up from here for the cruise industry.
We recently returned (November) from a b2b2b cruise ( 30 day total) on Radiance OTS where the last leg was L.A. to New Orleans via the Panama Canal. The first two legs were terrific; the final leg was less awesome. A day or so out of LA I caught a cold. As I am immunosuppressed it got worse until I finally went to the medical center. They couldn’t have been nicer. While they cautioned me that a visit would start at $150, after examining me they said the treatment was free. My wife and I were tested for Covid (negative) but told that regardless, anything with Covid-like symptoms was treated at no charge. We were isolated in our stateroom for 24 hours until the second Covid test (also negative) and given free room service. Finally, we received a partial FCC (certificates now received) for our trouble. We always wear masks when we are out of our stateroom except when eating or drinking. My wife thought the 2-person tables in the MDR were too close together so we ate in the Windjammer or Park Café for the remainder of the cruise; we could pick a table there that was a comfortable distance apart. So all in all everything worked out very well. We did take a required RCL Covid test prior to the 3rd leg as there was a stop in Cartagena, Colombia, as you say in the article. And thanks for all your articles, etc as they are very helpful and much appreciated!
I did NOT have a good cruise experience on Royal Carribean South Islands cruise on Ovation of Seas. They need to rotate main dining room menus and let cruisers try various menus not almost same me menu for 10 days in a row!!! Buffet was good though. Also need to let 45yr old plus guests a different time slot for onboard activities eg bumper cars. The kids hog the lines every time. Also in Solarium people hog several seats and leave for hours and it’s limited seats. Also do more drink discounts
Can you clarify what you said about trans-Atlantic cruises? Initially you said that if the trans-Atlantic cruise originates in the US then you would need a negative test and later you just said you needed a negative test for a trans-Atlantic cruise (not specially one originating in the US). We are sailing from Civitavecchia in October 2023 to the US. As it stands now, would that require a negative test?
How come, for our Navigator cruise next month out of Los Angeles, they’re saying we have to wear masks In the cruise terminal and show up for a “health assessment” promptly at the beginning of our boarding time? Thought there were basically no requirements or masking anywhere (there wasn’t last week in San Diego for the DCL Wonder!)
I just finished my cruise 2 weeks ago. The main things I noticed were: 1. I’m not supposed to fill up my water bottle at a water fountain or water/ice machine according to the posted signs. Most people including myself ignored it and no one seemed to care. I can’t image there’s any sort of risk to filling up my water bottle verses the soda cup or someone drinking from the water fountain. 2. Character Breakfast for children is no longer held… 3. Child camp no longer picks up children during dinner and IT”S CLOSED from 5-7PM so you don’t even have the option to drop your children off after they eat so you can enjoy a child free dinner. Almost all families either each at 5:15 or the my time dinning that starts at 5:30. Eating after 7 with young children just isn’t an option and honestly isn’t a healthy option unless you plan on staying up late.
Our dining reservation says “5:30pm (my time)” I had assumed that meant we are ‘my time’ dining and can go whenever we like or make a different reservation time each night because that’s what we asked for, but when I go to make pre-book a reservation for the MDR it says we are ‘not flex guests’. We are first time cruisers for the RC line (thanks to Matt!) so the title of our reservation is confusing me and our travel agent is a dud, not much help she just said yes we’re ‘my time’ but from what I’ve read from others if Royal indicates you’re not a flex diner then it means you are locked into a time. =/ Any thoughts or advice?
I just disembarked the Disney Dream on Monday and they are back to the normal muster drill, and starting on our cruise staff were required to wear masks again. We are going on our first RCL cruise in January and hoping they still have their e-muster drill but once one line changes they will most likely all follow 😢
Just got off Oasis today. We did Allure exactly 3 years ago. I would say they’ve relaxed restrictions too much. We saw a lot of hand contact at shows (high fives with the audience). A lot of people don’t wash their hands when they enter the buffet. We felt food should not be self serve. Hundreds of hands using the same tongs seems like a recipe for disaster. I tested positive for covid yesterday, Saturday. I wish I had self quarantined instead of going to medical, but you had such a good experience, I thought they might be able to help us with post cruise arrangements. They didn’t seem much concerned about me at all. They acted inconvenienced & made us wait a long time before even taking my temperature. They were vague and hard to understand. We had to keep calling guest services (just dial “0” since there’s no designation for guest services on the phones themselves. A button for everything else..), anyway had to keep calling to make arrangements for food and get info for departure. They gave me NyQuil, Tylenol & Benedryl. They escorted us off the ship with about forty others at 745. I’m not sure who all had covid, but we’re guessing about thirty to forty others. They said there were a lot of COVID+ this cruise. We were led off the ship. We followed an officer of some sort for awhile until we got to the bus area and he just disappeared. We looked at each other and shrugged. ” I guess we’re done”. Ok. They did give my family good masks and we flew home. They told us most airlines are ok with it.
Hi matt, love your articles i am now in love with royal after 2 cruises and your advice is paramount and the few things i didnt listen to you on like pre booking drink dining and internet packages were the only regrets i ever have XD, But i do Gotta question, IS there any WAY that if you took too long to do your cruise survey (because those are very important) is there any way you can make up for that in a email or something?( thank you for all you do matt) <- and listen to matt everytime.
We recently disembarked the Grandeur of the Seas a week ago in Miami and immediately, a day later, we were diagnosed with Covid. The amount of people we witnessed sailing this 10 day cruise, coughing, sneezing, and simply ignoring public hygiene (disinfecting hands or covering their mouths while coughing) was staggering. We’re sorry to say but there was very little involvement and enforcement by the crew members to correct these situations. People were let into Windjammer without disinfecting their hands, or in their personal (dirty) bathrobes or worse, coughing into the air or hands and then proceeded to serve themselves. We are now on day 8 of self quarantining, not what we wanted to experience after getting engaged during the trip. All we are asking, is for Royal to please consider returning to the policy of having crew members serve passengers at the buffet or where ever food is served, versus the current condition of having the general public serving themselves, and ask crew members to engage with guests who obviously disregard basic public etiquette instead of ignoring them. This might help in reducing or stopping the kind of infection we’re currently personally dealing with.