Let’s talk about what everybody is concerned with in a cruise. Seasickness.
I was confident that I will not be sick on this voyage, thinking about all those years of traveling by ship from Cebu to Manila and back during college days. What could be more turbulent than an angry sea during monsoon season in the Philippines. I was fine then, I should be fine now. All I had to worry about were the two boys. So i packed some tablets recommended by my doctor just in case.
Well, I was wrong. I was the most affected by motion sickness! The boys were in between. Surprisingly, the hubby who hails from Luzon was the fittest of us all. His brain must have told him that he had to remain healthy so he can look after us!
It took us two sea days to reach the New Caledonia islands. The second sea day reintroduced us all to maritime lingo. The ship was rolling, pitching and rocking. Once you feel nauseous or funny in the stomach, stop eating. That’s what the ship doctor advised. The children will be fine for skipping a few meals, just make sure you keep them hydrated. Normally, there will be no vomiting just dizziness. This you can sleep off inside your stateroom, and everybody gets to sleep all day. If it gets worse and vomiting occurs, keep your child rehydrated with the electrolyte juice that you hopefully brought with you. More often than not, one will be fine by mid afternoon and the body adjusts. If you are lucky, your kids will be one of those who are continually roaming the ship unaffected.
I can just hear my “special mum” friend Nelia asking, “How was Migo?” My eldest who has intellectual disability will have trouble telling me what he feels. Miguel was truly upset with the rocking and rolling of the ship. He goes “whoa” every time we hit a big wave. But I was unsure if his grunts were due to nausea or that he was just unaccustomed to it all. I decided to think the latter. We promised him that we were going to see an island the next day. So on and on he went “Oh, tomorrow we will go to an island!”
If you cannot keep your food down, take a tablet recommended by a doctor. There is also an injection costing $100+ if you are really bothered. I think the injection is only a last recourse if you do not want to miss a shipboard event such as a formal night. Usually, there will be two formal nights in a 12 day voyage so you can attend the second one instead. The main thing is to resolve not to spoil the holiday! After all, it’s part and parcel of getting away from your mundane life (yes, that’s what I tell myself). And here’s a thought. I could not hold down my food on Day 2. This means losing a few pounds to make room for lots more!
Note that there is less pitching in staterooms located midship.
FREE RANGE KIDS
Cruising as a couple is a divine experience as my friend B will attest. Cruising as a family can be divine too because your tweens or teen agers can go free range. The entire ship is their playground. Trust your children. I remember when I was a kid how I totally enjoyed roaming the bapors even at night when most people are asleep.
Our experience as a family with a special needs child is different. Not bad, just different. Miguel can never go free range. The Free Kids Club is open from 9am to 10pm with meal breaks in between but there is no one-on-one supervision. It is important to sign up your children and get them to join the Club on Day 1. Friendships are established on the first day. Once your child finds new friends, they will be out of your hands as much as you will allow them. Suddenly you actually have time to “sit still and smile all the way to your liver”.
For those already planning their own cruise, here’s a good read from the Sydney Morning Herald.
TO BE CONTINUED … yes there’s more!
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