Honest opinions please (for someone who doesn't like boats!)

[Clare]

OK, I really want to do a Disney cruise (only a mini one though!), but I'm not good on boats - ever since I had a terrible Dover-France crossing when I was younger I won't get on a boat (minus a fireworks cruise of course lol) again.

I've been reading trip reports and seeing pictures and the Disney cruises look amazing, so I'm considering tagging on a mini cruise at the end of my Dec 2010 holiday (assuming of course there's one then).

Can I have honest opinions please - as someone who doesn't like boats and gets terribly 'travel sick' do you think I'd be OK?

[Maz]

I don't get 'horribly' seasick, but have had to take meds on a cross travel ferry crossing a few times. I was very worried about our first cruise, but had read that the first night is the worst on the Disney cruises due to the stretch of water the ship goes through. I got myself some Bonine non drowsy as recommended and took some as a precaution. I did feel the movement that evening, and was a little tense, but after that it was fine and didn't take the tablets any more. Seems a fairly calm area of sea they cruise on on the short cruises. The ships have great stablisers.

I would say go for it Clare. You aren't planning a trip in hurricane season(unlike us in a few weeks) so that helps. Also the ship looks fantastic dressed up for Christmas.

[ANGEL]

Well Clare, I have spent the last few years trying to persuade my travel-sick sister to do the same and try a cruise. She's like you and really doesn't like sea travel (or travel of any kind very much!) We are hoping now to do a mini cruise next year to try it out, and I'd say go for it! As Maz says the first night is apparently the 'worst' but its so calm compared to boats like ferries etc. These ships are really more like floating hotels... and you would sooooo love the Christmas decorations on board!

Admittedly its easy for me to say as I don't get sea sick, but you'll be sailing in a clamer season so it should be great for you.

[Jools]

Clare. I've been on countless ships and boats, from when Bill was in the merchant navy. The cross channel ferries were always the worst for causing sea sickness. Although I have not been on a Disney cruise, the sheer size of the ships must mean they are amongst the most stable you can get.

Being horribly sea sick myself at times though I can well understand your reservations

[Macmac]

I would tend to be a little cautious, the ships are relatively stable but it depends how sensitive you are. My wife has never really suffered from travel sickness in the past, other than a slight episode of nausea on a Hull to Rotterdam overnight ferry, but she suffered really badly on a 5 day carnival cruise a few years ago. Couldn't get her back on a cruise ship for love nor money nowadays.

[Guest]

I have read that it is worth taking ginger supplements when on your cruise, start at least 2 days before you sail and continue throughout the cruise itself. I feel this must be better than filling yourself up with medication (although I will take some Stugeron as a back-up!) so I am definitely going to give this a try for our first cruise in October.

For a short trip I would say give it a try...nothing ventured nothing gained so they say...

Diane x

[kevbrydon]

Hi there,

SNAP! I was absolutely terrified of boats and the sea, especially going on a cruise! I am 48 years of age and until last year, I decided I was gong to do a 'Bucket List' and one of those listed was to go on a cruise, Kev booked us on a 4 night cruise with Disney. It was absolutely fantastic! You could not tell you were on a ship in water it was so smooth. You are treat like royality I would definetley recommend it, GO FOR IT Diane, you will love it!


Gill

[W3LUM]

A lot of the sea sickness depends on the weather or the speed of the ship. As other posts say you can get plenty different supplements but the only advice i would give you is to get plenty fresh air and dont look down at the water at the side of the ship, rather look at something in the distance like an other ship or land.
Never been on a mini cruise on the Wonder but been 3 times on the Magic, i would guess that the Wonder does not need to do fast speeds to get to its destinations as they are all near each other.

[jdybnsn]

I was sooooo sick on a 24 hour crossing to Northern Spain I thought I'd never set foot on a boat again ! ..I even got the most terrible migraine just with the stress of the thought of the journey back !

We've done two cruises in mid February now and I can tell you the Caribbean waters are nothing like the seas around our coast !

However, a note of caution : When you first leave Port Canaveral you cross the Gulf Stream, and the sea can be quite rough on the way out - but by the morning its normally a mill pond and normally stays that way for the rest of the cruise. As you can see by my signature this is certainly not an occurrence that has stopped me from re-booking again (twice).
If you are very sensitive then I would definitely recommend a verandah if you can stretch to one - fresh air makes any rough sea more tolerable !

[Bats]

Judy is right about the Gulf Stream .. it does rock the boat a bit on the first night. I was facing the window in Parrots Cay for dinner and I had to draw the blind as the motion and view made me feel a bit queasy.

Apparently there are 2 bits of water that meet and it creates a bit of a 'wash' around the boat. The stabilisers really help though and once we out of those waters (about midnight), it was fine.

Funnily enough, I didn't notice it on the way back even though I was awake for that bit of the journey. Oh, mayhave been because I was sat on my veranda! lol

Clare .. give it a go .. the Wonder sails on Thursdays (at the mo). Try for a veranda definitely. Go for room 6638 as this is a secret veranda room .. you pay for a class lower but get the nice balcony .. plus you get the most amazing view of Castaway Cay (see my trippie below).