Drake Passage Seasickness: How to Prepare and What to Expect at Sea

For many people considering Antarctica, the Drake Passage is the hesitation. They have heard the stories about the roughest sea crossing in the world and wonder whether two days of it will spoil the trip. It is a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer rather than reassurance.

This guide focuses on the practical side: how likely you are to feel seasick, what actually helps based on medical evidence, how ship design affects the crossing, and what happens when weather delays a voyage.

Why the Drake Passage has its reputation

The Drake Passage is the roughly 800-kilometre stretch of ocean between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands. With no land mass to slow it, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the westerly winds of the Southern Ocean flow through it largely uninterrupted, which is why swell can build quickly. We explain the ocean science in more detail in our article on the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.

Crossings from Ushuaia usually take around two days each way. Conditions range from what crews call the "Drake Lake", with gentle swell, to the "Drake Shake", where the ship moves noticeably for a day or more. Most crossings sit somewhere between the two, and forecasts are only reliable a few days out, so nobody can tell you months in advance which you will get.

Will I get seasick?

Some people do and some don't, and past experience is the best predictor. If you get carsick or have felt unwell on boats before, plan to take precautions. People who have a history of migraine, vertigo or inner-ear conditions may also be more prone to motion sickness (CDC Yellow Book).

The good news is that the body adapts. The CDC notes that habituation, the body getting used to the motion, is the most effective long-term countermeasure. Many guests feel worst on the first day of the crossing and noticeably better by the second.

What actually helps: the evidence

There is a lot of advice about seasickness, and not all of it holds up. Here is what the evidence supports, based on guidance in the CDC Yellow Book, a reference used by travel medicine clinicians.

Medication (talk to your doctor first)

• Take it before you need it. Motion sickness medication works best taken before the motion starts. Once you feel sick, tablets are absorbed more slowly.

• Scopolamine patches are commonly used for longer journeys. They take several hours to start working, so they need to be applied well ahead of time, and they are not suitable for everyone.

• Sedating antihistamines such as meclizine or dimenhydrinate are other common options. Drowsiness is the most frequent side effect.

• Non-drowsy hay-fever antihistamines do not work for motion sickness.

Because suitability and side effects vary, ask your doctor or pharmacist which option is right for you, and consider trying it at home before you travel.

Things you can do on board

• Look at the horizon rather than reading or looking at a screen.

• Stay low and central. Motion is felt least on lower decks and towards the middle of the ship.

• Get fresh air on deck when it is safe to do so.

• Breathe slowly and steadily. The CDC reports that controlled breathing can noticeably reduce symptoms, with no side effects.

• Sleep well and go easy on alcohol, as both poor sleep and alcohol can make symptoms worse.

• Eat small, plain meals rather than skipping food altogether.

What the evidence doesn't strongly support

Ginger and similar remedies have weak and inconsistent evidence. Acupressure wristbands have not outperformed placebo in controlled trials, although some people find them helpful and they carry no risk. If they make you feel better, there is no harm in wearing them alongside other measures.

How the ship makes a difference

Ship design affects how a crossing feels. Two features matter most:

• Stabilisers are fins that extend from the hull below the waterline to reduce side-to-side rolling. They are particularly helpful in beam seas, when waves hit the side of the ship.

• Hull form and size influence how a ship moves. No ship, large or small, removes motion entirely in a big Southern Ocean swell.

The route and timing matter too. Experienced captains watch forecasts closely and can adjust speed and heading to make the crossing more comfortable, or time departure to avoid the worst of a weather system.

What happens if weather delays the voyage

Occasionally, a storm system makes it unsafe or very uncomfortable to cross on schedule. When that happens, the captain may:

• Slow down or change course to ride out the weather

• Wait in sheltered water before starting the crossing

• Adjust the plan in Antarctica to make up time where possible

The trade-off is that time spent waiting out weather usually comes from time in Antarctica, and occasionally the return to Ushuaia may be affected. This is why expedition operators advise against booking tight flight connections on disembarkation day, and why comprehensive travel insurance matters.

Should you fly over the Drake instead?

Some operators offer fly-cruise itineraries, flying from Punta Arenas in Chile to King George Island in the South Shetlands and joining a ship there. This avoids the crossing, but flights depend on weather at a gravel airstrip and can be delayed by days, and these trips usually cost more. For many travellers, the crossing is also part of the experience: it is when you see albatrosses, attend lectures and get to know the expedition team.

How we approach the Drake on Terra Nova Expeditions voyages

Our Antarctic Peninsula voyages sail from Ushuaia aboard Terra Nova Adventurer, a Lloyd's Register 1B ice-class ship with retractable stabilisers and a bow thruster. Crossings typically take around 2 to 2.5 days each way, depending on conditions.

On board there is a doctor and medical clinic, and seasickness medication is available from the clinic if you need it. We also offer See-LEVEL headsets, a virtual-reality device designed to reduce motion sickness by giving the eyes a stable visual reference that matches the motion the body feels. Guests use them on board, and you can reserve one in advance. Independent research on this kind of device is still limited, so we suggest treating it as one tool alongside the measures above rather than a replacement for them. You can read more in our article on how See-LEVEL headsets work.

Sea days on the crossing are full: lectures, briefings, wildlife watching and time to settle in. Our guide to the Drake Passage covers what to expect and the best time to go.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to cross the Drake Passage?

Usually around two days each way from Ushuaia, and up to around two and a half days in less favourable conditions.

Is the Drake Passage dangerous?

Expedition ships operating in Antarctica are built and crewed for these conditions, and captains will not sail into weather they consider unsafe. A rough crossing can be uncomfortable, but discomfort is different from danger.

When should I start seasickness medication?

Before you reach open water, and in the case of patches, several hours before. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise on timing for the specific medication.

Which cabin is best if I get seasick?

Cabins on lower decks and towards the middle of the ship usually experience the least motion.

The bottom line

The Drake Passage is part of travelling to Antarctica by sea. Prepare for it: talk to your doctor about medication, use the practical measures that help, choose a ship with stabilisers, and build buffer time into your travel plans. Most travellers find it far more manageable than its reputation suggests.

If you would like to talk through the crossing or cabin options, speak with our team, or explore our Classic Antarctica expedition.