A cruise on a big, modern cruise ship with stabilizers is not the same as going out with your pal on his small boat. You won't feel the same movement so you are less likely to feel seasick.
Sternwheelers plying the legendary waterway include American Steamboat Company's American Queen and American Cruise Lines' Queen of the Mississippi.
(USATODAY.com) - A cruise on a big, modern cruise ship with stabilizers is not the same as going out with your pal on his small boat. You won't feel the same movement so you are less likely to feel seasick.
Still, there are some itineraries where water tends to be choppier than others, and even on a big ship you may find yourself downing Dramamine.
If you tend to get motion sick, you might want to test your sea legs with a short, two- or three-night cruise, seek an itinerary with fewer days at sea and more in port or start off with a cruise on a calm inland river.
Here are cruise itineraries where you are less likely to get seasick.
The Caribbean:Cruise in winter and you are unlikely to encounter much in the way of choppiness. Go on the latest ships of Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line or Carnival, and you may get so involved in onboard activities you won't even remember you're at sea. Those who are particularly susceptible to seasickness may want to avoid cruising in hurricane season – June to November – but even then the chances you'll be in rough seas for any period of time are slim.
Alaska's Inside Passage: The waters here are sheltered and nearly always calm. Most days you are either in port or watching a glacier thunderously calve chunks into the sea while your ship slowly cruises through a fjord or bay in bathtub-like conditions. One caveat: If you do encounter any roughness it will be on itineraries that include Sitka, where you are briefly in open ocean. Go with a larger ship, such as those operated by Princess Cruises and Holland America Line, or Disney Cruise Line for the family crowd.
Europe River cruises: Europe's inland waterways are nearly always calm and you have the opportunity to put your feet on land at least once a day. In key cities you may even dock overnight. Options include the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Bordeaux and other rivers – with cruises offered by companies including Viking River Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Uniworld and AmaWaterways.
South America and Asia River Cruises:On rivers such as the Amazon and Mekong you do have to avoid mosquito bites but you don't need seasickness meds. Your days will be spent exploring, whether wildlife or history, with the ship tying up at night. Companies that do the cruises include Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic on the Amazon and Aqua Expeditions on both rivers.
RELATED: 10 Reasons to cruise the Amazon
The Mississippi River: The Mississippi might be mighty, but for cruising purposes the river and its tributaries tend to be fairly calm. As with European cruises, you visit a different place or two every day. Sternwheelers plying the legendary waterway include American Steamboat Company's American Queen and American Cruise Lines' Queen of the Mississippi.
Greek Isles: There are pockets in summer where winds can cause trouble, but generally a cruise through the dramatic landscapes of these mythical islands includes smooth seas. Your itinerary will get you to places such as the medieval city of Rhodes, whitewashed Mykonos and the impressive caldera of Santorini. You may also have opportunity to visit the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey. Spring and fall are particularly good times to go. Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Seabourn are among lines on the route.
The Galapagos: Year-round cruises get you to tiny islands populated by blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, penguins, sea lions and Darwin's famous finches. The islands are close together and you visit another one every day. Go in winter or spring on ships such as Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Xpedition or Silversea Cruises' Silver Galapagos.
France's canals: Cruises on small, flat-bottomed barges are about slow boating, dining and camaraderie. On these floating B&Bs you do tastings at vineyards, visit historic chateaux and have opportunity to explore quaint towns in places including Burgundy and the Loire Valley. Best of all, the canals, rivers and lakes have nary a ripple. Cruise with companies including French Country Waterways, Belmond Afloat, European Waterways/Go Barging, CroisiEurope and Abercrombie & Kent.
The Baltic: Summertime cruises in this region get you to a wonderland of places, ranging from Old World to strikingly new. You cover a lot of ground, with itineraries ranging from the Scandinavian capitals to St. Petersburg, Russia, often with visits to Finland and Estonia, and sometimes Germany and Poland. Most days are port days and you're unlikely to encounter much in the way of rough seas. Visit on lines such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Cunard and Viking Ocean Cruises.
Tahiti/French Polynesia: Calm lagoons with crystal blue water make Tahiti a paradise found, even for those who fear seasickness. The islands are close together and you spend your days sitting on a pristine beach, snorkeling in a coral garden or taking a hike to spot tropical birds or get closer to dark volcanic peaks. Cruise on such lines as Paul Gauguin Cruises or Windstar Cruises.
