Here was my week of motion sickness:
(1) AIR - I traveled from New York to Tampa (and back) via plane. The ride down was fine (apart from the fact that I ingested a pound of strawberries, whipped cream, and champagne the night before). But the return trip was a little rough leaving Tampa. The turbulence began as 'choppy'—small bumps that made the plane appear to rumble— and escalated to 'wavy', where the plane seems to bounce in a huge arc causing the sensation that most of your major organs migrated to the bottom of your throat. In my opinion, air motion sickness is more about fear, since I've seen one too many dramatizations (LOST, Fight Club, etc.), and is usually able to be overcome mentally.
- - - I give it a Nausea-O-Meter rating of 7 of 10.
(2) SEA - Part A - After arriving in Tampa, we boarded our cruise ship for a loop of excursions around the West Caribbean (as shown above). The waters were most choppy at Grand Cayman, and near Costa Maya. Overall, the motion was not too bad when you were doing something active. But anytime we were still (either dining or lying in bed), we had the sensation of a buoy, bobbing from side to side in rhythm to the ocean. I didn't think this motion was as unexpected or jarring as air turbulence, but it was more about the repetition just gnawing at you. Like Chinese water torture. But there are lots of remedies to combat this annoyance (see the link at the bottom).
- - - I give it a Nausea-O-Meter rating of 6 of 10.
SEA - Part B - Just when we thought we had the ocean under control, my wife and I boarded a tender going from our cruise ship to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. While the cruise ship was steady in its motion, this boat was like an amusement park ride that had a couple bolts missing from the stabilizers. The motion was a combination of the unexpectedness of the air turbulence 'wave' combined with the sway of the sea. The dozens of people around me all had the same thought balloon of strangling the captain— that is, when we weren't having Dorothy's heel-clicking "There's no place like home" moment.
- - - I give it a Nausea-O-Meter rating of 9 of 10.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
excellent albeit disgusting story, thanks Mark. The worst form of motion sickness is the one you have!
2 - S.Rod.S
You should put a disclaimer at the top: Do Not Read this story while eating. I got flashbacks from the two worst days. Let's just say - Not a pleasant feeling.
3 - Mark Sahm
EO: You could say this is the evil twin post to your "Spoilers: Beware!". However, I feel all warm and fuzzy to be called "excellent albeit disgusting".
S.R.S: Face it, everything bothers your stomach. :o)
4 - Eric Olsen
I have some vivid memories: food poisoning from a roadside stand near San Antonio on my first honeymoon, the communal barf-fest on the way out to the Barrier Reef from Cannes, Australia back in 2000, the bedspins back in my serious drinking days, etc
5 - Mark Sahm
Perhaps there is some cosmic correlation between the strength of your marriage and the type of nausea you experience on your honeymoon. Seems like everyone gets sick then.
Luckily, I did not experience any such symptoms while at the altar.
6 - Krasimir [FilmDailies.com]
I've been on a ship just twice and I didn't feel ANYTHING. Maybe it has to do with your emotional state and of course ... the weather :)
7 - Mark Sahm
Kras: Were you a swinging single when you went on your cruises? Maybe that's the key to zero sickness!