High Seas; What Happens When Cruise Ships Face Rough Waters
Waves and swells are natural ocean phenomena that can significantly impact your experience on a cruise ship. There are now many different types of medication made for seasickness, it’s important to know why something like this happens in the first place.
Waves are short-term disturbances on the ocean surface caused by wind. They can vary in height and frequency, ranging from small ripples to large, rough waves.
Swells, on the other hand, are long, rolling waves that have traveled across large distances from the wind source, often appearing more smooth but still capable of affecting ships. Swells can come from large weather features out in the ocean.
Impacts of Waves on Cruise Ships:
Motion and Comfort: Waves and swells cause a ship to move up and down (pitching) or tilt side to side (rolling). This motion can affect passengers’ comfort, especially in rough seas. While modern cruise ships are designed for stability, severe waves and swells can still lead to seasickness for some passengers.
Safety: In extreme conditions, large waves and swells can pose a risk to the ship’s stability and structural integrity. However, cruise ships are built to withstand rough conditions, and safety measures are in place to ensure passengers’ protection.
How Cruise Ships Deal with Waves and Swells:
Design and Technology: Cruise ships are engineered with stabilizers—large fins or gyroscopic systems—that extend from the sides to reduce rolling. These help maintain smoother motion during rough seas.
Route Planning: Cruise lines carefully plan their routes to avoid the worst weather and ocean conditions. They use real-time data from weather forecasts and oceanographic sensors to navigate around areas with high wave activity.
Speed Adjustments: Ships may alter their speed or course to minimize the impact of waves and swells. Slowing down or adjusting direction can reduce the effects of large swells and make the ride more comfortable.
Communication and Safety Protocols: Crew members are trained to manage situations where rough seas are encountered, including securing loose items, instructing passengers on safety protocols, and ensuring the ship’s systems are functioning properly.
Products To Prevent Sea Sickness
While waves and swells are natural and unavoidable, cruise ships are well-equipped with the technology and strategies to ensure passengers remain safe and as comfortable as possible during their voyage. However, even the most tranquil trips can sometimes have the unexpected thunderstorm that make things rocky.
There are several products that we recommend that help prevent sea sickness on a cruise ship.
When turned on, this band releases a specific pattern of pulses that stimulate the median nerve under the skin. The pulses create a signal sent through the body's nervous system to the part of the brain that controls & normalizing nerve messages from the brain to the stomach and relieving the symptoms of vomiting. Reliefband works in 85% of consumers, according to our clinical trials.
- Wristband for nausea relief: Sea-Bands work by applying pressure to the P6 (Nei Kuan) acupressure point on each wrist; Applying pressure to this point has been proven to relieve nausea and vomiting.
