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Is the back of a cruise ship bad for motion sickness?

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.



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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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The back of the ship tends to be considered the next best cabin position after midships. Whilst the front of the ship gets the most movement the back also does get some. Whilst it's nowhere near as bad as the front of the ship, you may still notice some movement in rough seas.

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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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Eastbound cruises get the most sun on the port side; westbound on the starboard side. Watching a sunset over the ocean or seeing the sun slip behind distant islands can also be a reason for a side preference. To catch sunsets, you'll want to be on the port side on northbound cruises and starboard on southbound cruises.

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Get Some Air If you start to feel the telltale signs of nausea, head out onto the deck for some fresh air. This change of environment will alleviate the rise in your body temperature (save that for a day on the beach in the Caribbean), and the wind in your face will help reduce uncomfortable sweating.

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Cabins that are near the ship's anchor You might not know where the anchor is placed on the deck plans, but typically, it is on a lower deck near the front (or forward) of the ship. If you want to ensure a peaceful morning, try to avoid cabins that might be located near the anchor.

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Most of the time, you'll feel no different on the ship than you would if you were strolling across your own front yard. Motion sickness is least likely on larger ships and when you're moving slowly in calm waters, for example in the Alaskan straits, Norwegian fjords, or along the Mediterranean coast.

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In extreme cases of sea sickness that will not abate, a motion sickness injection is available from the ship's Medical Center (a fee applies). This is not offered as a preventative measure; only for cases where medical treatment is necessary. For more details on Medical Services available on your cruise, click here.

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You want to be as close to the pivot point as possible to feel the least movement. Avoid cabins near the front (bow) or back (stern) and on decks higher than the middle deck of the ship. So, on a ship with fourteen passenger decks, your best options are below deck seven.

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Midship staterooms on the lowest passenger deck are the most excellent spot to be on a cruise ship in this instance because you don't feel the vessel sway as much.

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Midship cabins The big allure of a midship cabin is its stability. You won't feel the rocking of the sea in a midship cabin nearly as much as you will in a cabin toward the front or back of a vessel. This is because ships are like teeter-totters. They pitch forward and back around a central axis that barely moves.

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A split bathroom is where the a bathtub and sink is in one room and the toilet and a sink are in another room. Standard inside staterooms have a traditional bathroom while almost every other stateroom has a split bathroom.

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In 2023, a decade-high number of cruise ships have reported an unwelcome passenger on board: norovirus. Outbreaks of the stomach bug have surged on cruise ships this year, reaching the highest levels seen in 10 years.

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