How to Avoid Seasickness on a Boat Trip in Thailand
To avoid seasickness on a boat trip, choose a calm-season date, sit in the middle of the boat with the horizon in view, skip alcohol and heavy food, and take motion sickness medicine before you board, not after nausea starts.
Why do people get seasick on a boat?
Seasickness is motion sickness at sea. Your inner ear feels the boat rise, fall and roll, while your eyes, fixed on a deck or a phone screen, report that nothing is moving. The brain gets two stories at once, and nausea, sweating and tiredness follow.
Some people are simply more prone to it than others. The CDC Yellow Book notes that susceptibility peaks between the ages of 7 and 12, that a history of migraine or vertigo raises the risk, and that lack of sleep makes symptoms worse. If you know you get carsick, plan for the sea the same way.
Where should you sit to feel less motion?
Where you sit changes the trip more than any other choice you make once aboard. The middle of the boat moves least, and the bow moves most.
Spot on board | How it feels | Why |
|---|---|---|
Middle of the deck, outside | Calmest | Closest to the point the boat pivots around, with fresh air and a clear view of the horizon |
Stern, facing forward | Fairly calm | Some movement, but you can watch where the boat is going |
Bow | Roughest | Rises and falls the most with every wave |
Cabin below deck | Often worst | No horizon to look at, so the mismatch between eyes and inner ear grows |
Wherever you sit, keep your eyes on the horizon or on land and put the phone away. Reading and watching screens are among the first things both the CDC and the NHS advise against.
Which day and boat are calmer?
Most of the sea's mood is decided before you leave the pier. On the Andaman coast the water is usually calmer in the dry months and rougher in the southwest monsoon, as we explain in our guide to the best time for a boat trip in Phuket. Closer to the date, look at wind and wave height in the sea forecast for your day and move the trip if the outlook is rough.
The boat matters too. A catamaran stands on two hulls and rolls far less from side to side than a single-hull yacht or a speedboat, which is why it is the usual pick for guests who worry about seasickness. A speedboat crosses open water fast and bounces more on the way. If you are unsure how you will feel, a half day close to shore is a gentler first trip than a long run to distant islands. Our comparison of yachts, catamarans and speedboats covers the other differences.
When should you take seasickness medicine?
The most common mistake is waiting to see whether you need a pill. By the time nausea starts, the stomach empties slowly and a tablet may barely be absorbed, so the CDC says medication works best when taken before the trip, not after symptoms begin. If you are prone to seasickness, take it before you board.
The CDC lists meclizine or dimenhydrinate for trips of up to six hours with mild to moderate symptoms. Both can make you drowsy, and promethazine, used for stronger symptoms, is the most sedating of all. Prescription scopolamine patches take six to eight hours to start working, so they suit long voyages rather than a quick decision on the morning of a day trip. Modern non-drowsy allergy tablets such as cetirizine or loratadine do not help with motion sickness.
Children need extra care: the CDC warns that over-sedating young children with antihistamines can be dangerous and that scopolamine patches should not be used for them. This is general information, not medical advice. Ask a doctor or pharmacist which medicine and dose suit you or your child, ideally before you travel.
What helps once you already feel sick?
Move to the middle of the deck, get your face into the fresh air and fix your eyes on the horizon. Slow, controlled breathing helps more than it sounds: in laboratory trials cited by the CDC it worked about half as well as anti-motion-sickness drugs, with no side effects. If you feel very unwell, lie down and close your eyes, and if you vomit, keep sipping water to replace the fluid you lose. On a private charter, tell the crew early and ask the captain whether a more sheltered spot is possible.
FAQ
Does ginger help with seasickness?
The NHS suggests trying ginger as a tablet, biscuit or tea, and many travellers find it pleasant to have on board. The CDC is more cautious and describes the evidence for ginger and other supplements as weak and contradictory. Ginger is unlikely to do harm for most adults, but do not rely on it alone if you know you get seasick easily. Plan your seat, your day and, if needed, medicine as well.
Do acupressure wristbands work for seasickness?
According to the CDC, laboratory trials show acupressure bands are no more effective than a placebo, and the NHS notes they do not work for everyone. That said, the CDC also points out that a placebo effect can be strong, so if a band makes you feel better there is no reason to take it off. Treat it as an extra, not as your main protection against nausea on the water.
Can children take seasickness tablets?
Some motion sickness medicines are made for children, but dosing depends on age and weight, and the CDC warns that over-sedating young children with antihistamines can be life threatening. The CDC also advises against scopolamine patches for children. Start with simple steps such as a middle seat, a view of the horizon and something to talk about or listen to, and ask a doctor or pharmacist before giving any medicine.
Is a catamaran better if I get seasick?
For most people, yes. A catamaran rests on two hulls, so it rolls much less from side to side than a monohull yacht, and its wide deck makes it easy to sit in the middle with a clear view of the horizon. It still moves with the swell, though, so a calm-season date and a sensible seat matter just as much as the type of boat you choose for the day.
Should I eat before a boat trip?
Eat something light rather than nothing at all. The NHS advises avoiding heavy meals, spicy food and alcohol shortly before and during travel, and the CDC lists alcohol among the things to avoid. A light breakfast, water and a plain snack on board are a safer plan than a big meal before departure or a cocktail on an empty stomach in the first hour at sea.
Why do I still feel the boat moving after I get off?
That rocking feeling on land is common after a day at sea. The CDC describes it as a normal, temporary sensation that rarely comes with nausea and usually fades within a few hours. Older travellers should take extra care with balance when stepping off the boat. If the feeling lasts for weeks rather than hours, it is worth seeing a doctor, who may refer you to a balance specialist.
