Packing for a cruise can be quite intense, considering how many activities and events you’ll have to be prepared for. However, if you usually suffer from motion or seasickness, anything that can prevent the symptoms should be at the top of your mind to ensure a happy and peaceful journey.
Luckily, among the most common kitchen essentials, there is a simple item that might just save your holiday – and you can easily find in almost any supermarket. While over-the-counter tablets, patches, and pressure bands are common go-to solutions, this is a gentler, natural remedy. Cruise and travel expert Yasmin Peckel from Blue Cruise explained why peppermint tea is such a good addition to any first aid kit.
“It’s a well-known trick amongst sailors that seasickness – or other motion sea sickness – can be settled with a calming cup of peppermint tea,” she said.
“I recommend always having a few bags in a handbag, just in case the travel provider doesn’t stock them.”
While most cruises are all-inclusive, the specialist recommends taking your own peppermint tea stash, in case the kitchen doesn’t stock it.
It is light, easy to carry, and incredibly inexpensive, at just 4p per bag at most supermarkets, such as Tesco and ASDA.
Other natural remedies include ginger in its various forms: ginger biscuits, infusions, tablets or even raw slices can give relief to unsettled stomachs.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “ginger and its metabolites appear to accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract and exert their effects by relieving pain through anti-inflammatory effects, soothing the digestive system through carminative effects, and alleviating nausea.”
Dr Benjamin Shore, chief medical consultant at Royal Caribbean, also highlighted the power of this natural remedy.
He said: “Anecdotally, ginger seems to be helpful, and some people find various aromas, like anise, basil, chamomile and peppermint, or eating dry crackers, even after the onset of seasickness can help.”
But if even a mug of herbal comfort and a few gingernuts aren’t enough, passengers are advised to move to the centre of the ship – the most stable point onboard – to minimise the sensation of motion.