TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Hmmm. Thoughts from those w experience

So. Turns out my son’s girlfriend (who is joining us on our land vacation on Virgin Gorda ) gets motion sickness. I had two trips plannned. One is the ferry to Anegada (last year our ride was choppy!) and another is a day with Elaine island hopping. This is concerning. I don’t want to spend all that money if she is going to be sick. I have zero experience with motion sickness and would value opinions. I don’t know that she’s been sick on a boat but apparently gets sick on long car rides. I feel like these are two different experiences but maybe I’m wrong. Doesn’t most motion sickness on a boat come from when the boat isn’t moving and just “sitting?” Which wouldn’t be the case for our day. I would love to hear people’s experiences or thoughts. I’m responsible for this young woman so don’t want things to go sideways on her first trip out of the US. TIA

Bonine or Meclizine from her DR and take it before she gets on a boat, my friend who actually races sailboats with me weekly gets horribly seasick and tried EVERY home remedy on the planet including, ginger pills, gummies, wristbands etc etc at the end of the day the only thing that worked was drugs and the Bonine doesnt make her tired like Dramamine can. Also she needs to stay off her phone while underway, trying to read a phone makes people prone to motion sickness very ill.

Thank you for that info!!! 😎😎😎

I have found the ginger tabs, ginger ale, ginger cookies all help in controlling seasickness. Also never go below, always stay in the sea breeze.

My wife swears by ginger tablets. Keeping them out of the cabin and watching the horizon helps some folks.

I can tell you from personal experience that being seasick while trapped on a boat for a long time is absolutely awful. It's a great curse of my life that I love being out on the water, but am susceptible to seasickness.

I've never been seasick on our bareboat charters. Part of the reason is that we're in control:

• Too rough motoring straight into the waves? Bear off at 45 degrees for an easier motion.
• Big swells coming from the north? Head into the shadow of Great Dog Island for some relief.
• Had enough for the day? Change destinations.

On the other hand, I have been seasick on the ferry from St. Thomas. Never while out in the open air, only when below deck. But at least it's all over in an hour or so.

So you might be ok going to Anegada -- she could have a lousy ride, but then recover and have a fun time. A day of island hopping, however, where you're committed to being on the boat for an extended time, could be risky unless there's an exit strategy.

And yes, I agree that the worst motion on a boat is when you're rocking on the waves and not under way, so that may be something you want to completely avoid.

Good luck!

Dan

I think it depends on the "how" and the "why" of her motion sickness. My husband gets very bad motion sickness triggered mostly by 1) not sitting facing forward in motion 2) side to side motion 3) Being unable to see the horizon.
Despite feeling queazy he did manage to survive the Anegada ferry last year on extremely rough seas because it was forward, constant motion and he sat by the window. It was also one trip, followed by a day on land to settle.
However, he did NOT do well going out with Elaine. Her boats are small and you stop quite a bit for snorkeling so the boat rocks constantly. I will never take him on her excursions again.
He has tried everything known to man (including prescriptions, patches, wrist bands, Bonine, dramamine on and on.....) and if it's a trip that is going to make him sick, nothing helps.
If your guest reports that she gets very sick and nothing she tried helps, I would suggest skipping Elaines boat. DiveBVI has a much bigger boat and you can sit up top. My husband, while queasy by the end did manage to survive a day out with them.

The goal is to prevent seasickness, once it occurs you won't feel better until you're back in the anchorage no matter what you try. The best way to avoid motion sickness is to prepare for it the day before. Applying your scopolamine patch or taking 25mg of meclizine the evening before will give you a sufficient blood level to start your day. Take an additional dose of meclizine with breakfast to maintain your blood level for the rest of the day. Include all the tips above, and remember, it's important to stay aft to lessen the movement. I keep those usually afflicted close to the helm and ask them to be lookouts, being occupied while aboard helps.

My mother suffers terribly from motion sickness but there was no way she was missing out on family boat days while in the VIs. She would agree with all of the advice given, especially the nevar37's mention of proper dosing levels with meds.

Non-boaty friends did full days with Dive BVI and they were fine. But again, they wanted to come along and didn't feel obiligated to attend.

What is the famliy dymanic? Is she expected (via your son) to come along and make the best of it? Or your family ok with letting someone do their own thing once in a while?

I would start with a conversation directly with the girlfriend. Tell her the group plans and let her decide if she wants to participate or not. If she does, send her here for questions and adivce!

I am very susceptible to motion sickness. I’ve found that Bonine helps, but I absolutely must sit where I can see the horizon. Sitting forward facing also helps. I’ve done both the ferry to Anegada and a Dive BVI snorkeling trip without any issues. Recommend taking ginger snaps or mints - especially helpful when you want to get the salt water taste out of your mouth after snorkeling. My husband goes out with DiveBVI for a dive at least once a trip - and I’m perfectly content to sit on the beach by myself. So make sure she actually wants to go.

I have dealt with sea sickness in my wife and many others over a hundred plus charters. The only thing I have noted that really works is the scopolamine patch. Everything else seems to be at best a mental crutch. The patch does work extremely well but it’s prescription only.

I would agree that the Scopalamine patch worn ahead of time is your best bet. It's worked on some other family members that suffer but sadly severe sufferers like my husband only gets "some" relief. He still threw up on Elaine's charter. Right over the Wreck of the Rhone. Lol

Hydration, hydration, hydration

All such helpful info. I shared this and her doctor gave her a script for the patch. (Easy!!). I also found out she’s never been on a boat. 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 hard to imagine but I guess if you’re from Arizona it’s more likely. So the sickness only ever came from a long car ride So. That said- if she applies the patch Tuesday and we take the 7:30 ferry to Anegada Wednesday - is there Bonine or anything ALSO? Or is it one or the other ? I will buy ginger candies and have them on the ready too. I think the Anegada ferry from Road Town (which will stop in Virgin Gorda on request) only has a below deck. Memory serves there wasn’t open air seating. I don’t want to over- drug her. 🤣🤣🤣that would be bad. 😝 Can she still have a couple cocktails ? Thank you so much. Oh- and Cleobeach- we would cancel the boat trips if she wasn’t going. Our family goes every year but the whole trip is an early graduation gift for them and since she’s never left the United States - it’s primarily for her. I wouldn’t want to leave her. So this info has been amazing and I feel a lot more relief

What is the best site for me to keep an eye on the swells ? Thank you all.

My friend is prone to motion sickness. We were driving them around Virgin Gorda in a large SUV when she got queasy. First we moved her to the front seat, then went to Hog Heaven, where she had a couple ginger beers. She said that helped a lot.

@Ratmanswife. I know!!! Now I’m all worried about the driving. That’s actually a concern! Or I just like worrying. 😫😫 we do have a jeep and hopefully the open air will help. Ugh. And she has that patch. Geez.

My husband is prone to sea sickness and the patches work really well for him, but there is still one day that he gets very tired and sleeps alot, even with the patch on, jaut an fyi. Every one is slightly different.

Has anyone tried these "glasses"? I purchased them for my d-i-l for her car sickness but she hasn't used them yet.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5XFMJST?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

You mention you will be on VG and going to Anegada ( assuming by ferry from Spanishtown ) There are a few ferries that do this route. The smaller one is rougher. Yes the wave motion if it is a choppy day may be an issue.

Like others have said sit and look forward, no phone, lots of water, eat light , avoid heavy alcohol day before etc.

Bonine works very well for me if needed. I rarely get sea sick but have gotten queasy on a few occasions.

Assuming you are renting from Elaine at Leverick to do the island hopping. She won’t go in unsafe seas but it may get choppy depending on weather. Same advice applies . Bonine is a 24 hr thing so first thing in the morning on “ boat days”