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Original poster

Ferry to France - should I worry about kids' seasickness?

26 replies

Ferious · 01/12/2025 17:31

As a child I went on the ferry to France (Plymouth-Roscoff) quite a few times and often felt a bit sick but this was OK after going out on deck and didn't put me off going on the ferry (and my brother who got more travel sick than me did actually puke a few times).

I've not been since I was a teen and planning to go next summer with my primary-school age kids. One gets a bit car-sick but is generally positive but the other is really worried about feeling sick (he's quite anxious) and if he has a horrible time I know he'll be stubborn about the return journey and will get really upset.

Do your kids get seasick, is there anything that reduces it and am I silly to worry about this? It is actually pretty awful feeling sick for several hours but I also think his anxiety might make it worse. On the other hand they might be so distracted by the novelty of it it might be fine! Any tips welcome...

OP posts:
Sillysoggyspaniel · 01/12/2025 18:05

I'd get some anti sickness meds just in case. And it doesn't really matter if he's stubborn does it, you're hardly going to leave him in Europe.

Ghhhn · 01/12/2025 18:09

Can you do a shorter more sheltered crossing? Dover-Calais? Or book a cheap daytime cabin so everyone can get some rest.

Iloveagoodnap · 01/12/2025 18:17

My daughter occasionally gets travel sick. We did the Dover to Calais ferry crossing when she was six. It was a fairly rough crossing. Gave her a travel sickness tablet and she was fine. At 8 she’s pretty much grown out of being travel sick but we were at a workshop about the brain a while ago and the person teaching it said the best thing for travel sickness is the glasses with the liquid in the rims. Put them on when you start feeling sick and take them off when the feeling stops. We have got a pair for the car since then but I think she’s only needed them once, but she said they did work quite quickly on that occasion. So they’ve might be a good thing to get for your journey, as a placebo if nothing else.

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Bobbybobbins · 01/12/2025 18:19

Dover-Calais would be best as a really short crossing so not too long to feel ill.

tanstaafl · 01/12/2025 18:27

The channel tunnel might be an alternative?

But if sailing, don’t give them sugary food or drink before the sailing.

bellocchild · 01/12/2025 18:28

Modern ferries are very well stabilised. By all means, take seasickness pills with you, but you probably won't need them. We do Portsmouth - Bilbao every year without problems - although the Bay of Biscay can be a bit heavey, hard to manage balance.

Badslipperluck · 01/12/2025 18:29

Just get out on deck at the back - wear your waterproofs!

Original poster
Ferious · 01/12/2025 19:51

Going from Devon to West France so many more hours of driving in both countries to do Dover-Calais!

I've never heard of those liquid glasses - thanks!

And it doesn't really matter if he's stubborn does it, you're hardly going to leave him in Europe.

Well yes but he's the type of kid to get get preoccupied with it so he could be worrying about it all holiday.
I think we won't know until we try it.

OP posts:
Paaseitjes · 01/12/2025 21:07

I get horribly car sick but never get really seasick, even an the flat bottomed ferry to the Isles of Scilly! I just feel a bit hung over and normally fell ok on deck. The Scilly ferry is cruel because they serve pasties and sausage rolls to the cheerful unsuspecting tourists in Penzance. Sea sickness tablet, bands, glasses and plenty of money to spend on tat in duty free will hopefully act as placebo

Dorrieisalittlewitch · 01/12/2025 21:31

How old are they?

I find sea sickness pills make a huge difference but the ones I take (that definitely work) aren't recommended for children under 10s. Being able to lie down has always helped me as well as does being able to see the horizon/go outside.

I've always been very sea sick. My mum refused to fly (afraid) so my childhood was measured out in cross channel ferries and sick bags as we went back and forward between family in the UK and home multiple times a year. Neither of my children have ever been sea sick yet and we sail regularly (Newcastle to Ijmuiden next week) so hopefully yours will be fine as well.

FinallyHere · 01/12/2025 21:36

Get them up on deck where they can see the horizon, won’t feel sea sick when looking at the horizon.

if that doesn’t work, then the shuttle is probably your best bet. DH used to get sea sick from expecting to feel sea sick so we gave up and went for the channel tunnel. sigh

AdventAnnie · 01/12/2025 21:36

I get seasick and I can vomit literally for an entire Channel crossing. It’s brutal and I hate boats. The idea of going on a ferry would make me deeply miserable.

Sprogonthetyne · 01/12/2025 21:40

We quite often get the overnight ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, DS has felt sick a few times (3 out of 8 crossings) and actually been sick one of those times, but it's never put him off going.

He's not sick for the whole 16h though, usually just half an hour or so if it gets more rocky.

SisterTeatime · 01/12/2025 21:40

I detest ferries for this reason. Even on the deck. Ghastly. Drinking tonic water helps.

Original poster
Ferious · 01/12/2025 21:49

Dorrieisalittlewitch · 01/12/2025 21:31

How old are they?

I find sea sickness pills make a huge difference but the ones I take (that definitely work) aren't recommended for children under 10s. Being able to lie down has always helped me as well as does being able to see the horizon/go outside.

I've always been very sea sick. My mum refused to fly (afraid) so my childhood was measured out in cross channel ferries and sick bags as we went back and forward between family in the UK and home multiple times a year. Neither of my children have ever been sea sick yet and we sail regularly (Newcastle to Ijmuiden next week) so hopefully yours will be fine as well.

He's 8 but the other one is 11.... what tablets do you take?
Tbh I'll probably feel rough myself but can deal with it!

OP posts:
gogomomo2 · 01/12/2025 21:51

I’m usually ok these days, the ships are better, stabilised etc. the ferry I caught this year barely moved despite the white water I could see

StrangePaint · 01/12/2025 21:55

Badslipperluck · 01/12/2025 18:29

Just get out on deck at the back - wear your waterproofs!

Yes, I have to be on deck, regardless of weather.

dicentra365 · 01/12/2025 22:00

We did Portsmouth to St Malo this summer, which is a great crossing for the west coast. Summer is generally calmer and I don’t think we could hardly feel the boat moving. My sister lives there and crossed back here in February and that was awful, so rough, they’re older teens/adults and were all sick.

ShrimpBoil · 01/12/2025 22:05

My son goes a bit green on ferry crossings to Ireland so we give him Kwells - they're excellent. I've handed them out to other sufferers too!

Dorrieisalittlewitch · 01/12/2025 22:08

He's 8 but the other one is 11.... what tablets do you take?
Tbh I'll probably feel rough myself but can deal with it!

Ones with hyoscine hydrobromide in them. I find they make a massive difference. I can't remember what brand mine are (they're in the first aid kit in the car ready for next week) but it's also the active ingredient in kwells. They have drowsiness as a potential side effect but they've never had that effect on me.

StarlightLady · 02/12/2025 05:43

With children, the situation with sea sickness is often exasperated by fear of being sick and worry.

I won’t repeat what has already been said (although agree Dover-Calais is non practical for where you are going) but in addition you might like to consider ear plugs, the lack of stability and balance on the middle ear can cause problems, earplugs reduce this.

You might also want to consider travel bands
https://www.boots.com/boots-childrens-travel-bands-1-pair-2-12-years-10112484?srsltid=AfmBOorCL87Aekj1dPYkGRgMzVc6DVO3q4RYBlz2Z8BNnYYOVb84pQpO
I have no idea if they really work, but they are not expensive and at the least may increase a child’s confidence.

cornflakesandtea · 02/12/2025 08:24

I suffer from seasickness and use kwells which have always worked well. They’re not too expensive either. We gave them to DD last time we went on a boat as she has suffered travel sickness in the past and she was fine with them, no drowsiness.

Velveletteslonleylonelygirlami · 02/12/2025 08:28

As a kid which was a long time ago,I never made it out the harbour🤮

Seeline · 02/12/2025 08:36

I get sea sick - fine for all other modes of transport. It takes a couple of days for me to recover as well, so not just putting up with the journey.
I'm usually driving a car on and off ferries so don't take tablets as they make me really sleepy.
DD found sturgeron (?) tablets worked well for her on coaches - take them before you actually start the journey though.

Lennonjingles · 02/12/2025 08:37

Sturgeon sea sickness tablets are for age 5 and over, I take these when I go on cruises. Most ferries and cruise ships have stabilisers that stop the ship from rolling too far, so it’s not as bad, even in bad conditions, but remember medication takes a while to kick in, so give it to DC at least 2 hours before. If you can, book a cabin.

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