Cruise Jitters

Common misconceptions about cruising prevent many people from taking the plunge. With a bit of insider knowledge, you can choose the right ship to match your tastes and leave your worries on the quayside.

Will I be seasick?

Mal de mer can strike even the hardiest of sailors but it's unlikely that you will suffer on a modern cruise ship. All of them have stabilisers - underwater fins that can be extended to reduce the roll that can make you queasy. Cruise lines also choose calm waters for their itineraries.

If you are worried about seasickness, there are ways to minimise the risk. For your first cruise, look for something relatively gentle - not, for example, a voyage around South America's wild and windy Cape Horn. A transatlantic crossing stands a good chance of some big seas, as well, so stick to something less ambitious such as the Caribbean (avoiding the rainy season from September to November), a gentle coastal cruise in Thailand or Malaysia, or the Mediterranean from June to September. Pick something with as few days at sea as possible. If you're really concerned, remember that European itineraries tend to be tightly packed, with most days spent in port.

Another measure you can take to minimise movement is to book a cabin as close to the middle of the ship as possible - it's ironic that the most expensive suites are usually up high, forward or aft, which are the bumpiest locations. If you are prone to motion sickness, you should also take a preventative remedy before you board: it's better psychologically than trying to stop the onset of seasickness once the first twinges begin.

If you do have a rough ride, stay on deck and look at the horizon. Avoid alcohol and rich, spicy food. And if it all gets too much, head for the doctor's surgery and an injection - the quickest way to knock queasiness on the head.

Will everybody be old?

Cruise ships are just like hotels - depending on their style and location, they could attract blue-rinsed seniors or hip young professionals ... or families, gay parties and honeymooners. But fellow cruisers are a concern for first-timers and there are ways of predicting what your shipmates will be like.

Generally speaking, the more expensive the cruise, the more mature in years the other passengers will be. Cruise lines like Silversea, Radisson and Seabourn do tend to attract an older, wealthier clientele. Older people also have time for long cruises, so on a 30-day voyage, for example, expect to find a high percentage of over-60s.

Cruise ships aimed at the family market - those of Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Carnival will attract a much younger clientele during school holidays and a lot of children, although they all operate excellent children's clubs and many have adult-only areas for some respite.

Hip young professionals ("young" being 35-50 in cruise language) might prefer the informal but luxurious SeaDream Yacht Club, which has two 100-passenger mega yachts in Europe and the Caribbean with great food, sexy cabins and lots of gadgets to play with. Windstar Cruises operates elegant sailing yachts and is casual-but-chic, while Star Clippers has three gorgeous square-riggers, one of which sails in Thailand during summer, attracting more adventurous cruise passengers.

Will I be bored?

Highly unlikely. Although most Australian itineraries feature several days at sea, your ship will be a floating resort with at the very least a spa, gym, Internet centre, casino, movies, theatre productions, a choice of pools and numerous bars.

If you're cruising elsewhere in the world, most of the time will be spent in port, particularly in Europe and the Caribbean. On long ocean crossings, cruise lines offer "enrichment" lectures and courses to fill the days - anything from cookery to yoga to website design.

Also, cruise ship shore excursions have evolved from traditional coach tours to more imaginative offerings, including kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, wine-tasting, cookery demonstrations, scuba diving, helicopter tours and beach barbecues.

Do I have to sit at the same table every night?

A lot of cruise ships will assign passengers to a table and an early (6.00-ish) or late (8.30 to 9.00pm) sitting for dinner. Some people feel uneasy about this but it does seem to work out well and most passengers make new friends. If you want a table for two, request it early as these are few and far between. If you're cruising alone, ask for a big table, which are by nature the liveliest. If you really can't stand the people you are with, a discreet word with the maitre d' should result in a new table. People do this all the time and it's perfectly acceptable to ask.

Many ships now have smaller, reservations-only restaurants in addition to the main dining room - a steak house, for example, or Japanese or Italian. Book these early on your cruise as theyre usually popular. Some big ships - those of NCL and Princess, for example - offer open seating dining, which means you can eat when and with whom you like.Do I have to pack a bow tie?

Cruise ships usually have three evening dress codes - "formal", "informal" and "casual". The ship's daily news, which is left in your cabin during your turn down service the night before, tells you what the style for the evening will be.

Women tend to be quite dressy on cruise ships so it is easier for them to follow the dress codes. For men, however, cruising presents a big dilemma about whether to pack/buy/rent a tuxedo or hope to get away with one jacket and one tie. Essentially, "formal" means black tie. On a traditional cruise, there will be one or two black tie nights in a week and the more expensive the ship, the more tuxedos there will be, although you can wear a lounge suit if you want to.

"Informal" means jacket and tie on posh ships (and cocktail dresses for ladies) or at least a decent polo shirt and chinos on a more relaxed cruise. "Casual" means anything goes, within reason, but probably not shorts at dinner.

Cunard, Crystal, Radisson, Silversea, Seabourn, Holland America, the British P&O ships and Celebrity are all pretty traditional but NCL and Star Cruises promote Freestyle Cruising, which means there is no dress code as such. Princess, Carnival and Royal Caribbean have a dress code but a lounge suit is fine on the dress-up nights. Star Clippers, SeaDream Yacht Club and new cruise line Oceania are all tuxedo-free zones. And if worst comes to worst, theres always room service.

Fast Facts
Dr James Barnes offers his expert advice on how to tackle seasickness
What is seasickness?

Most of those who become seasick will suffer nausea at first, then vomiting, dizziness, weakness and lethargy.

What causes it?

Seasickness starts in the inner ear where the balance mechanisms of the brain reside. Normally they maintain our equilibrium and, along with our eyes, help us avoid crashing into things or falling over.

Rolling and pitching in small, unstable boats cause movements that lead to unpleasant sensations in the inner ear.

How to avoid seasickness

Think positive. Even the worst sufferer will feel better after the first few days.

Keep calm and relaxed before and during travel.

Avoid over-excitement with children, focus on distant objects and avoid close work.

Lie down. Rest the inner ear and reduce the urge to vomit.

Have a light, simple meal about an hour before the cruise. Avoid large meals, milk and fried or greasy foods

Pills and potions

Pharmaceuticals such as antihistamines, hyoscine, stemetil, tranquillisers and ginger have all been tried. Acupressure wristbands may also work. Try one or two until you find a method that works for you. The sedative effect of some pills may be good for children or some adults.

Antihistamines such as Phenergan (promethazine) are commonly used for allergy, but are also useful to prevent nausea and vomiting in motion sickness. They are non prescription drugs. Take one table the night before a cruise the sedative effects will wear off but the anti nausea effects will kick in by the time the ship sets sail. Take one twice daily if needed.

Stemetil (prochlorperazine) is a useful anti-nausea medication. You can take two tablets three times daily.

Prescription only.

Tranquillisers such as Valium (diazepam) are prescription-only, but may help those in whom anxiety about travel is a big component.

Clinical studies confirm the superior action ginger has in the prevention and treatment of travel (or motion) sickness. Ginger has no added sugar, salt, yeast, gluten, wheat, corn, milk derivatives, preservatives, artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners. Taken prior to travelling it may ease the symptoms of nausea and vomiting and will not cause drowsiness.

Acupressure wristbands exert pressure on points of the body, which may prevent motion sickness. These are a non-drowsy alternative to anti histamines, are safe for everyone and no prescription is needed.

Written by Susan Bryant - 17 Spring 2004