Among the most common reasons people give for not taking a cruise vacation is seasickness. While it's true that you're on a moving ship, it's nothing like going on your friend's fishing boat: the movements are slow and much less pronounced. On newer ships you often don't even feel like they're moving.

Yes, you can still feel the motion of the ocean on a cruise ship during rough seas, although modern vessels are equipped with advanced stabilization technology to minimize swaying. These stabilizers act like underwater wings that counteract the roll of the ship. On a standard 7-knot day in the Caribbean, you might not feel anything at all; however, in notoriously choppy areas like the Drake Passage (en route to Antarctica) or the Gulf of Alaska, even the largest ships will experience some motion. If you are prone to seasickness, you will likely notice a "gentle vibration" or a rhythmic tilt during storms. To mitigate this, experienced cruisers recommend booking a cabin on a lower deck and in the middle of the ship (mid-ship), where the center of gravity is more stable. While ships over 100,000 tons are remarkably steady, nature’s power means that high winds and swells will still produce a noticeable "sea legs" sensation for most passengers.