Most of our Disney Alaska cruise was incredibly smooth… but this is where some of our group got seasick.
- Kelly Maples
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
One Alaska cruise tip I don't see talked about nearly enough...
Even as someone who’s been on quite a few Disney cruises, Alaska is still the one itinerary where I never leave home without motion sickness remedies.
The reality is that seasickness can happen to anyone.
Disney Cruise Line currently sails to Alaska aboard the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic, its two classic ships. While I absolutely love them, they do tend to have a little more noticeable motion than Disney's newer, larger ships when the seas pick up.
The good news is that most of an Alaska cruise is spent sailing through the protected Inside Passage, where the water is often very calm.
During our recent cruise, only a couple of people in our group of 18 experienced any mild seasickness, and that was primarily during our brief time in the open Pacific.
In my experience, the bigger consideration isn't the cruise ship—it's the smaller excursion boats. During our recent cruise, the Disney Wonder was very calm on Glacier Day. However, a couple of members of our group felt much more motion once they boarded the Glacier Explorer excursion boat to get closer to the glacier. The same can be true for whale watching and other small-boat excursions.
📸 This photo was taken aboard the Glacier Explorer. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, but unfortunately not everyone in our group was feeling well.
I’d do this excursion again in a heartbeat, but it’s a good reminder that smaller boats tend to move more than the cruise ship. The same can be true for whale watching and other small-boat excursions.
That’s exactly why I always recommend packing motion sickness remedies before an Alaska cruise.
They’re one of the best dollar-for-result purchases you can make. A small investment now can help you spend Glacier Day enjoying breathtaking views like this instead of worrying about whether the motion of the boat is going to make you sick.
If you’ve ever experienced motion sickness, you know it’s incredibly difficult to enjoy the moment when your stomach has other plans.
A few other tips if you’re prone to motion sickness:
• Choose your stateroom carefully.
Lower decks and midship staterooms generally experience the least motion. If motion sickness is a concern, I’d avoid far forward and the highest decks whenever possible.
• Plan ahead for excursions.
Glacier viewing boats, whale watching, and other small-boat excursions usually have more noticeable motion than the cruise ship itself. If you normally take motion sickness medication, consider taking it before these excursions rather than waiting until you feel sick.
• Take medication before symptoms start.
Medications like Bonine work best when they’re already in your system.
• Pack some ginger.
Ginger chews, ginger candies, or ginger capsules are another simple option that many travelers find helpful for mild nausea.
These two items have become Alaska cruise essentials for our family.
✅ Bonine (Meclizine)
Bonine is a motion sickness medication that many experienced cruisers pack for Alaska. If you know you’re prone to motion sickness, it’s generally recommended to take it before symptoms begin so it’s already working when the ship starts moving.
✅ Sea Bands
Sea Bands are a completely drug-free option that use acupressure rather than medication. Each band has a small plastic stud that applies gentle pressure to the P6 (Neiguan) pressure point on the inside of your wrist, which is traditionally associated with helping relieve nausea. They’re inexpensive, reusable, and many cruisers like wearing them throughout their trip—especially on glacier excursions and days when the seas are a little rougher.
Personally, I always pack both. Hopefully we never need them, but if we do, they’re already in the bag.
I’ve linked the exact ones we use below if you’d like to add them to your Alaska packing list.
👉 Sea Bands:
👉 Bonine:
Have you ever experienced seasickness on an Alaska cruise? Or do you have another remedy that’s worked well for your family? I’d love to hear what everyone packs before sailing! 🌊🛳️
One last tip: If you’re booking your cruise and motion sickness is a concern, I always help my clients choose staterooms with location in mind—not just price. Lower, midship staterooms can make a noticeable difference for some travelers, especially on Alaska sailings. Reach out if you'd like to start planning your Alaska cruise with me. platinummouse.com/kelly