What happens if you feel sick on a cruise?

If any of our guests or crew members ever feel unwell during their sailing, they can be immediately evaluated by medical staff, with an in-stateroom visit or by video tele-consultation. A multitude of evaluative tests can be conducted right onboard in our medical lab.



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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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As we mentioned, some passengers won't feel anything at sea, but for those who do, the good news is that seasickness usually only lasts a day or two. The effects tend to stop once the motion causing them does, or until we learn to adapt to the sensation.

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Benjamin Shore, Chief Medical Consultant at Royal Caribbean, to break down the basics and whether it's actually common for guests to experience seasickness while vacationing at sea. “Considering the large size of today's cruise ships, seasickness is rarely a problem,” says Dr. Benjamin Shore.

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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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Over-the-counter medications like Dramamine, Meclizine (also known as Bonine) or diphenhydramine (commonly called Benadryl) can also help prevent or alleviate seasickness. On some ships, these are dispensed freely or are sold in the sundries shop.

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Respiratory Illnesses. Respiratory illnesses are the most common medical complaint on cruise ships.

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What's the best stateroom location to avoid motion sickness on a cruise? 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.

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Cruise ship doctors work as independent contractors and may charge a basic hourly fee. There will be additional charges for medications and tests. All must be paid for at the time of service and will be billed to your shipboard spending account.

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Medical staff varies by ship size, but typically ships have a doctor and at least two nurses. The world's largest cruise ships may have two doctors and five or six nurses. River ships and small ships that hover close to shore have less staff since they can easily access health facilities on land.

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What Should You Do If You Contract Norovirus on a Cruise? If you feel ill, it's best to isolate yourself and let a fellow traveler and a crew member know about your situation. If you stay, you will likely be confined and cared for by the crew.

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Or maybe it's norovirus, a contagious virus that often keeps you at the toilet for several days. Some people know it as the “cruise ship virus” because it's often the cause of over 90% of diarrhea outbreaks on cruise ships, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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The investigation and inspections were initiated by FDA after three passengers who traveled in April 2021, September 2021, and September-October 2021 aboard the vessels were diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. Legionella bacteria can cause a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) called Legionnaires' disease.

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Here are some ways you can reduce the risk of becoming seasick:
  1. Be well rested before setting sail. ...
  2. Take antiemetic drugs. ...
  3. Get fresh air. ...
  4. Request a cabin mid ship and near the water line. ...
  5. Have a bite. ...
  6. Wear an acupressure wristband. ...
  7. Avoid stimuli that can trigger nausea. ...
  8. Choose your itinerary carefully.


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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.

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If you get diarrhea, drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. In serious cases of travelers' diarrhea, oral rehydration solution—available online or in pharmacies in developing countries—can be used for fluid replacements.

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“The virus is often associated with cruise travel simply because health officials are required to track illnesses on ships,” Shah said. “The CDC estimates only about 1% of annual U.S. norovirus cases happen on cruise ships.

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Most have a sedative effect which works to 'still' the body and reduce inner ear disturbance. These same pills usually also include a stimulant like caffeine to counteract the sedative effect. Some medications have all the above combined to bombard sea sickness with all cannons firing.

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