Seasickness in Venice

Good advice from Steve. I agree you can do it, but you will be walking a lot more than others. Buy a really good map.

Have your dad and brother tried Sea Bands? You wear them around your wrist, and they push on a pressure point that alleviates nausea and sea sickness. They come in subtle colors like black, so you don't notice them. Even not on a vaporetto or taxi, I know people who get sea sick just looking at moving water (really), so they might want to consider something like that.

And LOL on the Griswald reference, we call my dad "Sparky".

I get seasick too but never in Venice; if they're that sensitive get Bonine with the ingredient Meclizine Hydrochloride, in chewable once-a-day protection; works for me.
It sells at any pharmacy for about $7 for 16 tablets.
Whatever you do don't use the patch; my Dr. doesn't recommend them especially after I couldn't read for 3 months after using one...never again.
Good luck,
Jean

I get really seasick as well but I did not notice it in Venice.

The Vaparetto is open which helps a lot (usually being enclosed is what makes me sick) and the Grand Canal is smooth aside from the boat wakes which the Vaparettos handle easily. I get really air sick and train sick (if you can believe it) as well.

Ginger tablets seem to work wonders for me. You can find them in the vitamin aisles at some pharmacies. Meclazine knocks me out completely so If I have to take it I take it the night before.

Since the Vaparettos stops are pretty close together you may want to try a test run and only go one or two stops. Seasickness usually dissipates after a couple of minutes on dry land.

Taking a Vaporetto in Venice is about the same as riding a boat on a lake. No reason to get seasick and much smoother ride than a bus or metro.

Even if you venture further out into the lagoon, it's nothing like the Pacific Ocean.

Most of the time they will be walking anyway as long as you're staying on the main island.

If a trip to Burano seems too risky, you can always take a train to Vicinza for a dry land day trip.

If you decide to use Bonine - get the Target generic brand. The ingredient Meclizine Hydrochloride is what you are looking for. Target brand costs about $5 for 100 tabs and works just fine.

On many cruises they have suggested ginger or green apples. Walking Venice is great; on our last short visit that's all we did.

Not a crazy question, I thought the same thing when I was going to Venice.

I also get seasick at the drop of a hat and nothing has ever worked for me. For me, it is usually when the boat stops moving that gets me sick. That being said, I did not feel sick going around on the vaporetto. It was more like a lake than the ocean and the boat stopped in the middle. We did go out to Murano and on the way back I felt a little nauseous on the way back about 2 minutes before we docked.

Maybe your father and brother could try a short ride to test it out.

Kimberly - I too suffer from severe motion sickness and so far no medications or other remedies have ever helped help me - I'm like one of those people CL mentioned that get nauseous just looking at moving water... That said, I also had no problems on the vaporetto in Venice. We rode it several times and not just on the Grand Canal.

Have a great trip!

Kimberly,

Travel on the Vaporettos is usually fairly calm as the Grand Canal is not really "open water". However, as with any boat there is some motion, so I guess the question is whether this constitutes "at the drop of a hat".

One solution might be to use the Vaporetto for the minimal time possible, and then walk part way. As I recall, travel from Venezia Santa Lucia to the Rialto Bridge is fairly short.

Two other "last resort" solutions - pack along a few seasickness bags or have your father and brother take some Dramamine prior to arrival in Venice.

Is there any possibility the slight motion on the trains will be a problem for them?

Happy travels!

The vaporettos move slowly and don't pitch about too much. You will always be in view of land so you should be able to keep your equilibrium. I wouldn't worry about it.

I don't know about "the drop of a hat" but I get queazy after about 2 minutes on a backyard swing and often on city buses. I never had a problem in Venice on the vaporetto, which I rode all the time.

One tip - the boarding/waiting area is on a floating dock and when the water is choppy, that can be a killer. So it's better to wait on the fixed ramp until the vaporetto arrives - you will still have time to walk the few feet through the waiting area.

Second tip - work your way to either the open front or open rear for the fresh air (and the amazing view).

I just returned from 3 days in Venice, and I also get very sick (air, sea, whatever) from anything moving. That said, I felt like I was constantly moving all 3 days, like a cruise ship or large boat would feel. I took the Alilaguna boat into Venice and wouldn't do that again. The water taxi was much more smooth. That said, we didn't get on a boat during the entire 3 days we were in Venice and never felt the need to either, and I didn't get sick enough to let it hinder me in any way.

Also, nothing works for me for motion sickness. I've tried it all! I wouldn't miss Venice due to being worried about that though. At the very least once they get to Venice, they should be fine (until it's time to leave again...)

Somehow people can Fly, yet get seasick on a boat? If they are flying, and pass that, there is nothing to worry about on the ferries.

I use ginger tablets effectively for seasickness. However if you are willing to walk alot your need for a water taxi or vaporetto will be nil if you lodge on Venice proper. Most of the sights are there. And you can easily walk from the train station to at least San Marco area, even with wheeled luggage, and it is fun and scenic.

Standing/sitting at the front or rear of the vaporetto is not a good idea if you are trying to avoid getting seasick (as previously suggested). The front and rear will pitch up and down more than if you just stick to the center of the boat. Again, you will be fine for the short time you will be aboard.

Hi Kimberly,
My husband and I were in Venice Sept 2009. I thought I might get sick on the vaporettos too but I didn't. I think it is more likely to get sick on the dock waiting for the boats to come in. My husband waited in line on the dock to secure our spot on the boat while I waited on shore. When the boats came in i joined him on the dock. I didn't get sick!