Do people get seasick on Lake Michigan?

The lake is so large that most of the time you'll feel as though you're out to sea; you can't see the shore, no matter which direction you look. One day this expanse of water can be totally calm, the next you're cruising on choppy, churning waters. (So, yes, you can get seasick.)



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The factors that contribute to motion sickness are not well understood, but susceptibility to the condition does seem to be partly genetic. When motion sickness occurs, it likely results from a mismatch in signals about movement coming from different parts of the body.

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Scientists might not classify the big lakes as seas, but they often study them as if they were. “The modelers here who work on things like currents and waves and ice use ocean models,” says Lauren Fry, a principal investigator at NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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Not all the fish species that call it home are native species—in fact, Lake Michigan is home to a surprising number of fish that came from the sea or are anadromous, meaning they can survive in both freshwater and saltwater.

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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.

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After motion sickness begins, it usually doesn't start getting better until you stop moving. But, most people who are on a boat for a long trip feel better a few days into the trip when they get used to being on the boat, but some people feel seasick for several days.

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