My First Bout with Seasickness: How Strangers Saved My Cruise

I've always been the type of person who prides myself on being prepared. I research everything, make lists, pack methodically. So when I booked my first Oceania Cruises voyage on the Riviera for a Mediterranean escape, I did what I always do: I researched every detail about the ship, the ports, the dining venues. What I didn't research? What seasickness actually feels like. The first day was magical. The Riviera is a smaller ship—only about 1,200 passengers—and I loved that from the moment I stepped onboard. It felt intimate and luxurious without being stuffy. My cabin was gorgeous, all warm wood tones and modern touches, with a beautiful veranda where I stood for hours watching us pull away from Barcelona. The ocean was calm, the sky was perfect, and I felt like I'd made the best decision ever. I had dinner at Ciragan, one of the ship's specialty restaurants, and it was exquisite. I was officially living my best life. Then came day two, somewhere between Barcelona and our stop in Marseille. I woke up and immediately knew something was wrong. The cabin felt like it was gently tilting—except it wasn't gentle. It was constant. The horizon outside my veranda window kept rising and fa…