How long will I feel motion after cruise?

When you get back on shore, you need time to get your land legs back. That usually happens within a few minutes or hours, but it can take up to 2 days. With mal de debarquement syndrome, though, you can't shake the feeling that you're still on the boat.



The sensation of "still being at sea" after a cruise, known as Mal de Débarquement, typically lasts between 24 and 48 hours for the average traveler. Most people experience a subtle swaying, rocking, or "bobbing" sensation as their vestibular system (inner ear) readjusts to the lack of rhythmic motion on solid ground. This is perfectly normal and is often called "getting your land legs back." However, if the sensation persists for more than a week, it may be a sign of a rare condition called Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS). To help speed up the recovery, experts recommend spending time outdoors with a clear view of the horizon and staying well-hydrated. If you find the rocking particularly bothersome, performing light "vestibular exercises"—such as walking in a straight line while slowly turning your head from side to side—can help retrain your brain to recognize the stability of the ground. Most cruisers find that a good night's sleep in a stationary bed is the best cure for the phantom waves.

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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.

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“Landsickness” or “reverse seasickness” is familiar to many people who have taken long cruises — once the body has become accustomed to constant motion, the vestibular system, which controls balance, usually takes a few hours or days to acclimate to being on land again.

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The disorder is called mal de debarquement syndrome. “It is a phenomenon that isn't fully understood,” says audiologist Julie Honaker, PhD CCC-A, Director of Cleveland Clinic's Vestibular and Balance Disorders Laboratories. “We think it may have to do with the brain rather than the inner ears.”

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With mal de debarquement syndrome, though, you can't shake the feeling that you're still on the boat. That's French for “sickness of disembarkment.” You feel like you're rocking or swaying even though you're not. It can happen to anyone, but it's much more common in women ages 30 to 60.

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One reason people feel post-vacation fatigue is that they push themselves too hard when they're back home. If someone's effort to take care of as many home tasks as possible before leaving fell a little short, there can be an overwhelming feeling of “I need to catch up to get back on track”.

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Cabins at the Front of the Ship This is because the front of the ship is more exposed to the movement of the water as they plough through the rough seas. If you're prone to seasickness, it's best to avoid cabins at the front of the ship.

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To reduce motion sickness, choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship on a lower deck. You will feel any sway of the ship less in this section. Although it may seem counterintuitive, if you're worried about seasickness on a cruise, book a stateroom with a window or a veranda.

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Translated as “sickness of disembarkment,” mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is the illusion of movement after movement has stopped. It is caused by exposure and then removal of movement. Many people deal with MdDS after air or sea travel. Typically, MdDS resolves itself within 24 hours.

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I can easily gain 5-7 pounds in a week on a cruise but some of it just drops right off when I get home because it's really water weight. I don't salt anything at home when I cook, and I hardly ever eat salty snacks. So when I hit all that extra sodium in the ship's food, I start retaining water like crazy.

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