What Causes Seasickness and How to Prevent It
Seasickness is not about your stomach but your inner ear. Your eyes say "I am still" while your inner ear says "I am moving"; when the brain cannot reconcile the two, nausea begins. The good news: it is rare on a Bosphorus cruise, and it is preventable.
Why it happens
Your sense of balance works through fluid in the inner ear. When the boat rolls, that fluid moves and tells the brain the body is moving.
If your eyes are meanwhile fixed on the wall of an enclosed cabin, the visual signal says nothing is moving. The brain reads these contradictory signals as a sign of poisoning and triggers nausea as a protective reflex.
That is why seasickness peaks indoors, while looking at a phone, and when sitting backwards. Someone outside watching the horizon is far less likely to feel it.
The risk is low on the Bosphorus
The Bosphorus is a sheltered waterway, not comparable to open sea. Most of the chop comes from ship wake and passes quickly.
In practice seasickness shows up mainly on afternoon cruises, when traffic is heaviest. On morning and night cruises it is almost unheard of.
If you know you are prone to it, a departure between 08:00 and 10:00 is the safest choice. The water is at its flattest then.
What to do on board
- Look at the horizon and force your eyes to agree with your inner ear. Fixing on a stable landmass is the fastest fix.
- Sit amidships. Bow and stern move most; the middle of the boat moves least.
- Stay outside. An enclosed cabin makes it worse.
- Put the phone down. Reading or focusing on a screen widens the conflict.
- Do not board hungry. An empty stomach makes nausea worse. Eat something light, avoid heavy or greasy food.
- Face forward. Sitting backwards noticeably raises the odds.
Tablets and other remedies
Tablets work, but timing is critical: most need taking about an hour before departure. Swallowing one after boarding is largely too late.
Most of them cause drowsiness. Factor that in if you are planning a celebration or a business lunch.
Among drug-free options, ginger and acupressure bands are the best known. Results vary, but with no side effects they are worth trying. Alcohol works the other way: it disturbs balance and makes nausea worse.
Do not let the worry stop you
Seasickness is rare on a Bosphorus cruise. Choosing a morning slot, watching the horizon and sitting amidships is usually enough. If someone in your group is prone to it, tell us in advance and we adjust the route and speed.
Frequently asked questions
It is almost unknown under the age of two, and somewhat more common between three and twelve than in adults. Keeping them outside and looking at the horizon is the most effective measure.
If needed, yes. Piers are close on both shores, so getting ashore takes at most 10-15 minutes. Do not hesitate to tell the captain.
Check a date
Tell us your date and what the day is for, and we will put together a programme for you.