Guide · Health

Avoiding Seasickness on a Whale Watching Tour

A whale watching tour from Tromsø is a long day on the water, and not every stomach handles waves well. The right seat, good preparation, and a few tricks help against seasickness on the whale watching tour.

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Editor's note: tromsowalbeobachtung.deUpdated on October 3, 20266 min read3 sources

This tour belongs in the guide Tromsø: Whale watching in a hybrid-electric boat 4.5 (6,644 reviews) 9 hoursHybrid-electric boatWheelchair accessible from$209per person Check availabilityFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

In short

01The Risk: On the way to the whales there can be waves, and some guests get seasick.
02The Best Seat: In the middle of the boat you feel the movement the least.¹
03The Duration: The tour on this page takes around 9 hours.
04Prevention: Eat lightly, get plenty of sleep, and take medication beforehand.
05On Board: Fresh air, a view of the horizon, and the crew's tips.

Why Seasickness Is a Topic on a Whale Watching Tour

A whale watching tour from Tromsø is no short harbor cruise. The trip usually lasts a full day, and a large part of it takes you over open water between fjords and islands.² Right at the tip of the Lyngen Peninsula, where the fjord opens to the sea, the water can get choppy. If you are prone to seasickness, you should take that seriously when planning.

Seasickness occurs when your sense of balance and your eyes send different signals to your brain. The inner ear feels the rocking, but the eyes see a calm cabin indoors. This contradiction triggers dizziness, paleness, and nausea. It is unpleasant but harmless, and it usually passes as soon as you are back on land.

The operator of the boat on this page openly states that there can be waves and that guests may get seasick. The crew gives you tips on board on how best to handle it. Seasickness is also a recurring topic in guest reviews, especially on windy days. With good preparation, you can significantly reduce the risk.

Your day

Stay fit all day

The evening before

Sleep in

Little alcohol, light food, and enough sleep.
In the morning

Light breakfast

Bread or oatmeal instead of fatty foods.
Before departure

Take medication

If needed, take it in good time and tested beforehand.
On Board

Seat in the middle

There you feel the movement the least.¹
On the Way

Look at the horizon

Fresh air and a fixed point for your eyes.
With the whales

Enjoy calmly

The boat slows down, and it often gets calmer.

The Best Seat on Board

The most important tip is also the simplest: sit in the middle of the boat. There the movement is the gentlest, similar to sitting in the front seat of a car to prevent motion sickness.¹ At the bow and at the stern the boat moves up and down much more, and that is exactly where sensitive guests feel sick the fastest. Remember this seat as soon as you board so you can find it when you need it.

Height also plays a role. On the upper decks the boat sways more than lower down near the waterline. If you start to feel queasy, go down a deck and choose a seat amidships. Hold on to a fixed point so your body can better compensate for the movement.

Many people feel better outdoors in the fresh air than in the warm interior. The boat on this page has three spacious outer decks where you can keep the horizon in view. Especially when the whales are still far away, a spot on deck facing forward is a good choice, as long as you are dressed warmly enough.

Boat choice

Boats and seasickness at a glance

Duration	Boat	Duration	For sensitive stomachs
Tour on this page	Hybrid boat with indoor cabin	9 hrs	Good, look for a seat midship
Catamaran safari	Large catamaran	8 hrs.	Good
MS Gabriele	Ship	6 hrs	Good, shorter day
RIB boat from Skjervøy	RIB, bus round trip	12 hrs	Only for seafarers

Duration according to the offer; how much a boat rocks depends mainly on wind and waves.

Three seats

Where you sit on board

Best choice

Midship, indoors

Least motion

Motion: low
Warmth: warm
View: through windows

Watch whale safari

If you feel nauseous

Outer deck

Fresh air and horizon

Motion: moderate
Warmth: cold
View: open

Watch whale safari

Only for seafarers

Bow

Exciting but rough

Motion: strong
Warmth: very cold
View: toward the front

Watch whale safari

Decision helper

How sensitive is your stomach?

Plan according to your experience.

I will never get seasick I sometimes feel queasy I get seasick quickly I want to stay flexible

Every boat, including the RIB

The RIB tour from Skjervøy lasts 12 hours.

Big boat, middle seat

That is where there is the least movement.¹

Choose a shorter trip

The MS Gabriele is out for 6 hours.

Book with free cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours before.

Reduce motion: sit in the front of the car or on a boat in the middle.

NHSTranslated from English · Source 1

Preparation the Evening Before and in the Morning

Preparation starts the evening before. Get enough sleep, drink little alcohol, and eat a light dinner. A tired body with an upset stomach is significantly more susceptible to seasickness. The day on the water is long, and you want to start it well rested, not with a heavy head.

In the morning you should not go on board with an empty stomach. A light breakfast with bread, oatmeal, or rusks is ideal. Avoid fatty, heavily spiced foods and too much coffee. An empty stomach often worsens nausea, but so does a very full one.

If you know you are sensitive, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about motion sickness medication before the trip. Many of these remedies work best when taken in good time before departure, and some cause drowsiness. Do not try a new remedy for the first time on the boat, but test it at home beforehand. Acupressure wristbands are a gentle alternative that some people find helpful, and ginger in the form of candies or tea is an old home remedy you can easily try.

Checklist

Pack something for motion sickness

Into the bag

Motion sickness medication, tested beforehand
Dry crackers or rusks
A refillable water bottle

Pay attention on board

Seat in the middle of the boat
Look at the horizon instead of at your phone
Warm enough for fresh air on deck

Video

Seasickness: tips that help

The video only loads when you tap Play.

What Helps on Board When You Start to Feel Queasy

When the first signs appear, act immediately and do not wait until you feel truly sick. Go out into the fresh air, focus on the horizon, and breathe calmly and deeply. The horizon gives your eyes a fixed point of reference that matches the movement your inner ear senses.

Do not read, do not look at your phone, and avoid looking through the camera while you feel nauseous. Small sips of water help, as do dry crackers or a piece of bread. On the boat on this page there is free tap water, and you can buy food and drinks on board.

Do not hesitate to talk to the crew. They experience seasickness on many days and know which seat is currently the steadiest. They will also help you if you want to lie down. And remember: as soon as the boat slows down near the whales, it often gets calmer, and the encounter with the animals distracts many people from the nausea.

Which Boats Ride More Steadily

Generally, larger boats ride more steadily in the water than small ones. A large catamaran with its wide double hull glides more stably over the waves than an open inflatable. In the inflatable you feel every wave directly, but on the other hand you are in the fresh air and always have the horizon in view.

The duration also matters. The trip on the MS Gabriele lasts 6 hours, the tour on this page around 9 hours. On the inflatable tour from Skjervøy you travel part of the way by bus and are only on the water at the destination; the total duration is 12 hours.

If you are prone to seasickness, it is best to choose a large boat with an indoor area and plenty of space amidships. If it is more the long journey than the waves that bothers you, a shorter tour may be the better choice. Also note that bus rides on winding fjord roads can affect the stomach just as much.

Keeping an Eye on the Weather

Wind is the most important factor for waves. In winter the weather in Tromsø is often changeable, and in December there are on average 12 days with at least 2.5 millimeters of precipitation.³ Check the weather forecast the day before, and if strong wind is forecast, prepare for a rougher ride.

In case of really bad weather, the operators cancel trips or shorten the route. That is annoying but sensible, because safety comes first. Thanks to free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, you can adjust your plans if the forecast looks poor.

If you have the choice, do not plan the whale watching tour for the last day of your trip but for one of the first days. If it is canceled due to weather or the forecast looks too stormy, you will still have time for a second try on a calmer day. A calm day on the water is not only easier on your stomach but also makes watching and photographing the whales significantly easier.

Seasick but still saw whales

Even if it gets to you, the day is not lost. Many experience their most beautiful whale moments right when they have readjusted to the fresh air on deck. The encounter with a humpback whale next to the boat often makes the nausea forgotten for a moment.

Be patient with yourself and do not push yourself. If you need to sit down, you will not miss anything, because the guides call out loudly as soon as whales appear. Ask your fellow travelers to keep you informed and save your energy for the moments that really count.

And if after the day you know that boats are not for you, you have still learned something. For your next visit you can choose a larger boat, a shorter trip, or a calmer month. Seasickness is a reason for good preparation, not a reason to forgo the whales.

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