First timer... situation

[David M]

Take the ship and don't worry too much about it. They have stabilizers which help to reduce the roll. The ship will pitch and roll a little but not nearly as much as the ferry you came across on. Eat some ginger before departure and if someone starts to feel queasy then get them topside in the fresh air and focus on the horizon. Go in the morning if you have that option so you can see the horizon all day long. That's the best option you have without taking medications or flying.

Good luck with it. I think you and your family will be fine.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

I mean, what do you think we can do, make the sea calm?

The Force be not strong with you it is.

[boatsail]

Originally Posted by Alecadi

Jedi, don't you have a stick with which you can strike the waters and make them disapeared?

silly comment.....we all know it is a wave of the hand!

The stick is to beat a dead horse perhaps, we need an anchor or gun thread to pull out the stick

[markpierce]

I've met some passengers on 900-plus-foot cruise ships who are sensitive to any motion. Fortunately, I'm not sensitive on big ships because the roll/movement is much gentler as compared to smaller boats where I have become seasick.

Twelve-foot seas should cause little movement on a large ship although you will sense some motion. Perhaps it is time to test whether your family is capable of ship travel.

Cruising is fun. (This time leaving San Francisco for SE Alaska.)

[tbodine88]

If she can't sleep, bundle up and take her top side, have her watch the horizon.

[ReMetau]

Since your options are limited, I would suggest the cruise ship. The motion will be a lot slower and easier. As suggested above, eat some ginger, and take some ginger snaps with you to keep munching on, and go topsides to get fresh air and watch the horizon which helps a lot. If the pool is heated, I would think that would even be better.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by ReMetau

If the pool is heated, I would think that would even be better.

You mean watch the pool, or get in it? The cruise ships I've been on, they've closed the pool unless it was nearly flat calm. The one time I was on a cruise ship when it was significantly rough, they closed it and drained it.

[motion30]

The rule for us small boaties is,,,if there is wind out of the north do not cross Wind from south fine goooo

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Don L

The Force be not strong with you it is.

The things they ask me to do

[boatpoker]

Ginger beer (like ginger ale but with real ginger) is common in the Bahamas and every bit as effective as any other method and perhaps more palatable than some. As someone already mentioned, staying on deck and keeping an eye on the horizon is also an effective means of mitigation.

I have seen seasickness and it is a horrible and scary thing. We once had to keep a lady in the pilot house by force because she wanted to go overboard and end the misery. I wish you well.

[Boracay]

Most of the above may help to some degree.

Seasickness is the conflict between what the balance organs in the ears detect and what the eyes see, combined with anxiety about an unknown situation.

Staying on deck and looking towards the horizon has always worked for me, though I'll admit to not liking roller coasters or aerobatic aircraft. Keeping focused and activly engaged may also help.

This Wikipedia article lists several different types of medicine to control motion sickness. I've never tried any but understand that some (if not all) need to be taken several hours before stepping on the boat to get their full effect. They do have side effects.

I'm surprised none have mentioned rum, maybe because they've tried it and it hasn't worked.

[chris_gee]

Trip advisor has some reviews on this boat which is a cat and results in most people being sick in any significant sea.
As others have said keep your eyes on the horizon and the motion is less near the centre of the ship. You also have to accept that the ship will move making it difficult to walk, so sit still. The kids may tolerate stugeron or similar beforehand. Your wife could try an accupressure wristband.