WHERE DO YOU FEEL A CRUISE SHIP MOVE THE MOST?

If you have landed here, perhaps yourself or a loved one may often get motion sickness. First of all, great job searching for the answer. This is an important marker for any great luxury travel advisor to be aware of. And it is important to share this information with your travel advisor as it can help clarify where you should be and what cruise or cruise line is best equipped to handle. There should be absolutely no shame sent your way over this, and I’m proud of you for trying to find a way to travel while handling what may occur during your cruise.

MIDSHIP, LOWER-DECK CABINS FEEL THE CALMEST

A ship moves around a rough central pivot point. Cabins located low and midship sit closest to that point, which is why experienced cruisers consider them the calmest place to sleep. The “motion of the ocean” feels less because of this. The one callout that we will make though, is the noise and grumbles may be louder. Packing ear plugs would be a great idea, just to be safe.

THE BOW AND STERN FEEL THE MOST MOTION

Cabins at the very front pitch up and down the most in ocean, since the bow meets waves first and often sits farthest from the pivot at the back of the ship. The stern brings a different mix of pitching and propulsion vibrations, like we mentioned above.

HEIGHT MATTERS AS MUCH AS POSITION

Upper decks, where pools and specialty restaurants tend to sit, rock side-to-side noticeably more than lower decks. A cabin on deck 4 midship and one on deck 14 midship can feel like two different trips for those with motion sickness. Now, often times those higher up cabins have better views, larger square footage and feel more luxurious. I will way that is true on the mega ships, but we prefer our smaller more luxurious ships which provide better staff to guest ratios, and often do not reach heights that feel that motion of the ocean.

The Answer to the Question:

The answer is that you feel the most motion at the very front (bow) and top decks of a ship, and the least motion in cabins located low and midship, closest to the vessel’s actual center of gravity and pivot point. We hope you enjoy the benefits of travel on your next trip and the many more to come!

Additional Resources:

Planning a longer ocean crossing? Read “Why Should I Do A Transatlantic Cruise“. Ready to plan your next luxury cruise? Reach out to CARTE ATLAS and let’s bring your luxury inspiration to life.