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How safe are luxury yachts? What to know after Mike Lynch yacht disaster left 7 dead

The Bayesian was a world-class yacht.

The 19th largest yacht designed by luxury Italian manufacturer Perini , it boasted a sleek interior design by French designer Remi Tessier, a double engine, and one of the tallest aluminum masts in the world. It won multiple awards, including for "best sailing yacht" the year after its release.

But, almost two weeks ago on Aug. 19, the luxurious vessel sank to the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Sicily in an internationally-followed disaster, dumping 22 people aboard into the water and leaving seven dead , including British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah .

"The impossible happened on that boat," Giovanni Costantino, the yacht manufacturer's CEO, told Reuters.

In the wake of the disaster, an ongoing investigation into possible criminal errors committed by the Bayesian's crew and lingering questions surrounding its design underscore the need for proper yacht safety measures and practical ship designs, according to experts.

Italian prosecutors from a nearby town have now widened their investigation into possible criminal actions by the ship's captain in the lead-up to the shipwreck to include two additional crew members, a judicial source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Tim Parker Eaton and Matthew Griffith are now under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck, days after news broke that investigators are probing whether Captain James Cutfield committed the same crimes.

Authorities are looking into whether Parker Eaton, a ship engineer, failed to protect the ship's engine room and operating systems. Griffith, a sailor on the ship, was on watch duty on the morning the ship sank.

Cutfield "exercised his right to remain silent" when investigators interrogated him on Tuesday, Giovanni Rizzuti, his lawyer, told Reuters.

"First, he's very worn out," Rizzuti said. "Second, we were appointed only on Monday, and for a thorough and correct defense case, we need to acquire a set of data that at the moment we don't have."

Rizzuti did not immediately respond to a request for comment emailed to him by USA TODAY.

Rescuers found the bodies of Chris Morvillo, an American citizen and lawyer for Clifford Chance, his wife, Neda Morvillo, Jonathan Bloomer, a non-executive chair of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, inside the ship two days after the wreck. Recaldo Thomas, the ship's cook who also went by Ricardo, was the first person pronounced dead in the disaster – his body was recovered on the day of the sinking.

Captains must follow safety procedures before storms

Costantino chalked up the boat's fate to a "series of indescribable, unreasonable errors" committed by the crew. The ship's crew made an "incredible mistake" in not preparing adequately for the storm, he said.

Costantino said the crew should have summoned passengers from their rooms earlier, as the storm picked up. The keel, a heavy weight under the ship to counterbalance the ship's large mast, should have been lowered, and portholes should have been closed – both factors that could influence whether the captain is found culpable, according to experts .

Captains should always check weather forecasts and look into local weather patterns, Mitchell Stoller, a maritime expert witness and captain, told USA TODAY . When in stormy weather, captains should also weigh anchor, so that a ship can float over unstable waters, he added.

"The general standard of care in this situation is to monitor the weather, exercise caution, have a night watch, have the engine going, ready to maneuver," he said.

More: Even heroes need a vacation: What to expect from the Disney Destiny cruise ship

Wealthy clients push for impractical designs, expert says

Costantino said the ship's design and construction was error-free. But one yacht design expert disagrees.

"There's so many other factors, and this huge, complex boat is part of it," said Tad Roberts, a British Columbia-based yacht designer who has worked in the industry for nearly 40 years.

The Bayesian's giant mast is part of a trend of bigger and bigger yachts, according to Roberts. He worked on the design of the Asolare, formerly the Scheherazade – at 154 feet long, the largest cold-molded sailing yacht in the world when it was released in 2003, according to its manufacturer, Hodgdon Yacht Services. "It's small today," Roberts added.

Roberts said problems emerge when yacht designers can't say no to wealthy clients' demands for more and more extravagant and overgrown designs.

"The clients are wealthy people. They are very used to getting whatever it is they want," he said.

But owners' requests can compromise security, he said.

"Owners are not naval architects," he said. "They don't understand the issues involved, and trying to explain to them may or may not work, but there are compromises being made all the time."

Yacht buyers are more likely to get a better boat than they would 50 years ago, since yachts are exported and built towards international standards, he said. Still, the worsening effects of climate change and extreme weather are growing risks to anyone sailing the high seas, he added.

"Be aware. That's the biggest part of it," he said. "There's a possibility that things could go bad, that there is risk involved."

More: Investigators seek answers to why luxury superyacht Bayesian sank in storm

Yacht owners install million-dollar, AI-powered security systems

Piracy on yachts is even rarer than sudden storms – only two cases were reported between 2019 and 2023, according to the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre . Still, superyacht owners are investing in James Bond-esque technology in an effort to protect their vessels.

"There's definitely increased concern," said Frederik Giepmans, managing director of safety and security at MARSS, a technology company that offers high-tech surveillance and security systems for superyachts with a price tag "from the hundreds of thousands into millions," he said.

NiDAR, a software program manufactured by MARSS to provide protection for superyachts, can pick up on objects approaching a yacht from the air or water "while underway, at anchor and in port," according to the company's website.

The surveillance system uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to handle data from sensors monitoring all sides of a vessel. The AI system provides "constant, long range monitoring of the air, of the surface, of the underwater, to try and give the crew as much response time as possible," said Giepmans.

That way, yacht owners can pick up on any manner of approaching objects, from "small, fast craft approaching on the surface" to divers and submarines under the water.

But if a threat is detected, a yacht owner's "options to respond are limited," Giepmans said. "You can get out of the way. You can bring people to safety. But, for instance, a more military response is not available to you."

Giepmans pointed to a recent increase in attacks on commercial ships, like attacks carried out by Houthi rebels on ships cruising through the Red Sea. "There's a gap there in terms of security," he said. "Because there isn't really, right now, a way for commercial or private clients, to respond, perhaps, in an appropriate way to these threats."

Luxury yacht owners cruising off the coast of Monaco, for instance, shouldn't be as concerned about a direct threat to their security, as compared with boats sailing through other locations, he said. "It really depends on that, as to what extent they will go to protect their ship."

The greater danger could come from adverse weather events, as the planet warms every year.

Meteorologists have pointed to a water spout, a tornado that spun up over the water amid the storm that hit the Bayesian, as a possible factor in its wreck.

Water temperatures in the area were more than three degrees higher than average that day, the perfect conditions for the spout to form and the likely result of climate change, Rick Shema, a certified consulting meteorologist and former member of the Navy, previously told USA TODAY.

"The water spout was an uncommon occurrence. But again, these things happen, especially in warmer water," he said.

Contributing: Reuters

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are luxury yachts safe? What to know after Mike Lynch yacht disaster

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10 Must-Haves That Will Make Your Yacht Trip Even Better

The list ranges from smart glasses to the world's best sunscreen, from bose headsets to an exceptional flask paired with a boutique gin. bon voyage, jaclyn trop, jaclyn trop's most recent stories.

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The last gasp of summer, which officially ends on September 2, is meant to be enjoyed on the water. Last week, we gave you a list of eight great books for the boat. This time around, we have items that you won’t realize are indispensable until you’re on the water and have left them behind.

Whether you’re taking a sunset cruise, beach excursion, or ocean voyage, supreme comfort and extreme fashion should be the two guiding mantras before Labor Day washes you back to reality.

We’ve put together a packing list that is certain to please. Here is the best of boat and beach accouterments, from sunscreen to swim trunks to suitcases. Throw in some toiletries and tech gadgets and the trip will be as stylish as it is restful.

Loro Piana Men’s Swim Trunks

The Italian textile brand that put “quiet luxury” on the map, courtesy of HBO’s sartorially-driven series Succession , is equally at home in the boardroom or on the beach. These super soft, fast-drying men’s swim trunks are crafted from technical fabric and feature a choice of three playful prints. Thanks to an adjustable drawstring waist and back flap pocket, the trunks are comfortable, practical and functional, from the Bahamas to Bora-Bora.

Buy Now on Bergdorf Goodman: $580

Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Smart Glasses

“Hey Meta, start my video call.” These multifunctional, tech-forward Ray-Ban Wayfarers do more than protect your eyes from the sun’s glare. The pair features an ultra-wide 12 megapixel camera and five-mic system to keep you connected at all times. The mobile app lets you use hands-free voice command to call and message, capture content, and manage media settings. Discreet, open-ear speakers toggle between your music, calls, and surroundings. The Ray Bans have four hours of battery life and a sleek, portable charging case.

Buy Now on Best Buy: $379

Matouk Paros Chevron Stripe Beach Towel

Why cart around a heavy beach towel when you can carry a lightweight, highly absorbent alternative? Matouk, a three-generation, family-owned brand in Fall River, Massachusetts, excels at making Turkish towels. Inspired by the traditional hammam towels used in Turkish baths, the pure cotton, quick-drying Paros towel stands out on the sand with a geometric chevron pattern and fringed edges. Choose from one of five pastel colors, or collect them all.

Buy Now on Matouk: $95

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Whether listening to an audiobook, joining a conference call or merely taking a moment of silence for yourself, there’s no better vacation companion than these Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. This over-the-ear set uses Bose Immersive Audio, world-class noise cancellation, and CustomTune audio calibration to optimize sound wherever you are. The sleek headphones, which fold flat into a compact storage case, can differentiate your voice from 360 degrees of ambient sound for crystal-clear conversations and voice commands.

Buy Now on Bose: $429

The Botanist Gin

Could it be that all good things come in sleek, stylish 50-milliliter packages? This premium Scottish gin, distilled at Bruichladdich distillery on the isle of Islay off Scotland’s west coast, is a delicious addition to any journey. The craft gin is comprised of 22 wild Islay botanicals that are hand-foraged locally and sustainably on the island. Rich and smooth, the Botanist can be served neat, or topped with tonic water and a sprig of rosemary for the ultimate refreshment.

Buy Now on Wine.com: $38

High Camp Parkside Flask 750

Sometimes, transporting your beverage of choice can be the hardest part of traveling. Carry your wine or chilled cocktail in style with High Camp’s Parkside Flask 750, aptly named for its ability to hold a full 750-milliliter bottle of wine. Available in a quartet of pleasing colors, this three-piece set includes a vacuum-insulated flask that maintains temperature for up to 24 hours and two stainless steel tumblers. All components feature electropolished interiors to retain the flavor of even your rarest vintage. The result is a perfect picnic for two, without the hassle of bringing breakable glasses or a heavy cooler.

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Rimowa Original Pilot Carry-on

Crafted from high-end anodized aluminum, this small yet durable Rimowa suitcase is ideal for carry-on essentials or as the main bag for short-haul journeys. Designed to be wheeled smoothly through the airport or down a gangplank, this top-loading classic design comes with a removable padded pouch for a 16-inch laptop and a pocket in the main compartment suited for travel necessities such as a water bottle or compact umbrella.

Buy Now on Rimowa: $1,550

La Prairie Skin Caviar The Mist

Whether relaxing in your yacht’s Jacuzzi or under a poolside cabana, an essential tool is La Prairie: Skin Caviar The Mist, a fresh summer breeze in a bottle. As the brand’s first caviar-infused mist, the limited-edition spray is derived from a cocktail of more than 300 nutrients, including a blend of Caviar Hydro Essence, Argan Oil, and Bulgarian Rose Extract. The 50-milliliter recyclable glass bottle, crafted in the Swiss brand’s signature cobalt blue hue, is both TSA and beach-bag friendly.

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Clé de Peau Beauté Sunscreen

Fans of this ultra-luxury Japanese brand have reason to rejoice. A recent addition to Clé de Peau’s lineup, this UV Protective Cream SPF 50+ shields your precious skin from UVA and UVB rays, as well as environmental factors including blue light, infrared rays, and air pollutants. The hyper-nourishing formula also uses a botanical complex of panax ginseng, mangosteen, beech tree bud, and chai hu to diminish the appearance of fine lines and visibly improve the skin’s texture for up to 10 hours. Best of all: no visible white cast.

Buy Now on Clé De Peau: $140

Lululemon Travel Yoga Mat

Whether you’re traveling via private jet or catamaran, keeping up with your exercise routine can be a challenge. Enter Lululemon’s new travel yoga mat, a suitcase-friendly version of the athleisure purveyor’s thicker classic mat. Half the weight of the original, the travel mat retains the grippy textured foam base layer that’s made Lululemon the go-to for yogis. Stain resistant and easy to clean, the top layer is made using a sustainably sourced, Forest Stewardship Council-certified natural rubber. 

Buy Now on Lululemon: $74

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Trading Porsches for a Houseboat and a Gentler Way of Life

Rocked by success, a “wallpaper guy” has found peace and a tolerable amount of society on a canal in Amsterdam.

Rick Vintage, a successful Dutch entrepreneur, pulled the plug on his glamorous lifestyle and now lives in a 75-foot-long old boat from 1895 on a canal in a quiet corner of Amsterdam. Credit...

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By Stephen Treffinger

Photographs by Kasia Gatkowska

• Aug. 28, 2024

This article is part of our Design special section about creating space with the look and feel for one person.

These days, the Dutch entrepreneur Rick Vintage lives alone on an old boat, a 75-foot-long vessel from 1895 called “Vrouwe Jacoba” (Mrs. Jacoba, in Dutch) on a canal in a quiet corner of Amsterdam. It is moored in front of a 4,800-square-foot garden that contains a tiny house, now inhabited by his daughter Lux, 18, who comes on board mornings for coffee before dashing off to school. He lives with his dog, Moos. There are no passers-by, and he often dines alone on the deck. “I’ve always been a bit of a hermit,” he said in a video call from the Netherlands.

But it was not always so for Mr. Vintage, whose life was strikingly different only a few years ago. He founded his wallpaper business NLXL in 2010 with his wife, Esther Vintage, starting with images of wood planks for their beach house. “I put planks on the scanner, made prints and installed it in our living room,” he said. “I could smell it: This was going to be a worldwide success.”

But he worried that the design was too similar to work by Piet Hein Eek, whom he described as a design hero. “So I decided to send him a message to ask if he’d be interested in working with us.”

They became partners on the design, called Piet Hein Eek Scrapwood Wallpaper. “I always make sure, in advance, that with whom I work it’s fun to work with and might be a friend. It turned out to be one of the most joyful collaborations till now and we’re friends now,” said Mr. Eek in an email.

The Vintages expanded their offerings, adding digitally printed trompe l’oeil patterns, including embossed tin and weathered concrete, and the company became an overnight success. “We acquired 3,000 resellers in 70 countries in one year and a half. And I became rich,” he said. He got to meet many designers he admired, including the English fashion luminary Paul Smith, who said upon being introduced, “I know who you are. You’re the wallpaper guy.” (Mr. Smith would later put NLXL wallpaper in the windows of his New York store, as would Saks Fifth Avenue.)

At the time, he lived with his wife and two daughters in an 18th-century farmhouse in Voorburg, outside of The Hague. But the money and the fame turned him into, in his own words, “a bit of a prick.” The orders — and the cash — kept pouring in, and the company won numerous awards.

The Belgian designer Job Smeets recalled the time, in 2014, his company, Studio Job, and Mr. Vintage shared an Elle Deco International Design Award for their collaboration on a hallucinatory wallpaper, called Industry, patterned with skulls, machine cogs and missiles. The awards ceremony was in a luxury hotel in Milan, and the audience was filled with design legends like Alessandro Mendini and Gaetano Pesce.

“Rick took the mic,” Mr. Smeets recounted, “and instead of giving a speech, he spontaneously started to sing, in a really beautiful baritone kind of voice, a phonetic Italian song that sounded totally Italian, but all the words were made up. And the whole crowd went crazy, everybody standing ovation, and it was like the best thing ever.”

In those days, many people told Mr. Vintage he was special. “And I guess I started to believe that I was,” he said. He bought expensive cars — three Porsches in one year — and was flying around the world. It was time for a change, but not necessarily the one he had intended.

In 2016, he and Esther divorced and Mr. Vintage moved into an apartment in an ornate 1830 building in The Hague. It was boldly decorated with miles of designer wallpaper and clusters of trendy furniture, including a sleek Koen sofa by Piet Boon and Tree Trunk chairs by Mr. Eek. (Both Piets are Dutch designers and NLXL contributors.) There was also the ultimate display of bachelordom — fake plants, dominated by a surrealist Gufram cactus . The eye-catching space was written about extensively .

“Two years later I drove to a party in Rotterdam in my brand-new Porsche 911 GTS with my 20-years-younger girlfriend next to me,” he recounted. He was scared of the person he had become, he said, a man who didn’t know where his own daughters were. “This is when I really pulled the plug on all the traveling and all the glamour. And I started to live a different life. That’s how it all began.”

He split up with the girlfriend and spent the rest of the year on his Koen sofa, alone, with occasional depression and anxiety attacks. He wondered who he was without all the applause. “Somewhere, in the back of my head, I knew that I had always been very good at being alone, but I just didn’t remember how.”

Meanwhile, NLXL was losing a lot of money. Not only had Mr. Vintage taken a long hiatus from work after the divorce, but big and small companies had begun copying the collections. He sold his assets — including cars — to pay the bills and pared down the staff to just two people: he and his ex-wife.

Then came the pandemic; he contracted Covid. But somehow the enforced isolation become a comfort. “There I was — alone, broke, with Covid, no applause — and feeling better than ever,” he recalled.

He began to reconnect with his daughters. In 2020, Lux had just started studying music in college in Amsterdam, and he looked for a place in that city, but found everything in the central area “crazy expensive.”

He spotted an ad for a houseboat with a garden on the edge of town. With Lux and his other daughter, Ella, now 21, who lives with her mother in Voorburg and studies nutrition, he went to have a look. Twenty-four hours later, he owned it.

Life on the Vrouwe Jacoba wasn’t always accommodating, Mr. Vintage said: “The toilet didn’t flush, the heating didn’t work and there was leakage everywhere. The interior — which I had decided not to change — was mainly yellowish ’70s wood strips, and the kitchen didn’t even have a stove.”

So gradually, he made adjustments. Though he aspired to live without luxury, he still wanted a hot shower. He had the plumbing fixed and installed a wood-burning stove himself. “I invested in some good tools and started working,” he said. He eventually got proficient enough at DIY to build a comfortable kitchen. Because the boat is made of steel and lacked insulation, it was cold in winter. To combat this, he covered the floors with vintage rugs. There is, he said, “really an incredible difference between not having this on the floor and having these rugs on the floor.”

Much of the designer furniture, including the Gufram cactus, was too big for the boat, so he put it in storage and moved the Tree Trunk chairs out to the garden. He saw no reason to part with the Koen sofa on which he had spent so many hours; he simply cut off the side and back frame to make it fit. “I took a photo and sent it to Piet Boon to congratulate him on his newest sofa design,” he said.

Far from offended, Mr. Boon described Mr. Vintage in an email as “an entrepreneur who enjoys life to the fullest and has a knack for seizing opportunities. His trendsetting sensibilities mean he consistently brings fresh ideas to the table.”

Mr. Vintage said he misses having a girlfriend, but conceded that it can be difficult to find someone he can be alone with.

“I am grateful for the past relationship and current friendship I have with my ex-wife, Esther,” he said, “since she is the only one I can still be alone with.” Because he finds working alone much more challenging than living by himself, he and Esther meet to work together two mornings a week.

Still, he is hardly antisocial. “In summer, I cook outside on the deck,” he said. “Sometimes friends come over since my ship is the best place to have dinner when it’s warm. If it’s really hot, we jump in the water.”

Lux finds her living arrangement ideal. “I make music and write my songs here,” she wrote in an email about her 260-square-foot house on the shore. “I can sing as loud as I want. Living in a dorm, I wouldn’t be able to sing or play guitar.” In her father’s apartment in The Hague, there was always a lot of city noise, she recalled. “Here, I wake up to the sounds of birds — and I love it.”

In 2022, Mr. Vintage started a new company, Dorbll, an app-driven video doorbell. In the past, he was a workaholic, going to bed at 1 a.m., getting up at various times to answer emails from different world markets. Now he works more reasonable hours.

“I need time for me, my daughters, my friends, my dog,” he said. “I’m now 57, I make 10 percent of what I made before, I lead a comfortable, stress-less life, and I am very happy being by myself.”

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The best motion sickness remedies, according to doctors and NBC Select editors

If you’re prone to motion sickness, you know the feeling of panic that comes with the onset of symptoms like nausea, dizziness and an upset stomach. Motion sickness manifests in different ways and affects many people differently — for me, it hits me almost every time I’m in the passenger seat of a car , on a boat or a bumpy airplane ride ; for others, it can be on a train or in certain areas of a vehicle.

I spoke with four medical experts about how to treat symptoms and prevent them in the first place. I also rounded up my favorite products, as well as those of other NBC Select editors, to deal with motion sickness.

SKIP AHEAD What causes motion sickness? | Who is more prone to motion sickness? | What are the best ways to prevent motion sickness? | Do medications work for motion sickness? | Are there any alternative remedies for motion sickness? | Why trust NBC Select?

Our top picks for treating motion sickness

Dramamine Ginger Chews

Gin Gins Original Ginger Chews

Sea-Band Anti-Nausea Acupressure Wristband

UpNature Peppermint Essential Oil Roll On

Care Touch Alcohol Wipes

What exactly causes motion sickness.

Our body is made up of several sensory systems that work together to help us experience the world: The vestibular system, located in our inner ear, gives us balance; the visual system gives us sight and perspective; and the somatosensory system helps us understand where our body is, says Dr. Danielle Qing , internal medicine physician and assistant professor in the department of medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. But sometimes, the sensory inputs our brain receives don’t quite add up, and motion sickness usually occurs when the input from these systems is mixed or in conflict, experts say.

“For example, imagine you’re on a boat. The visual system is telling you that the room is still, while the vestibular system is telling you that you’re off balance, given the motion of the waves,” says Qing. “It works the other way too, such as feeling the balance of sitting still in a car but seeing the landscape pass you by quickly. This sensory conflict is where motion sickness develops.”

Other factors that tend to lead to motion sickness include a history of migraines, hormonal changes (for example, pregnant women) and genetics. Allergies and congestion, for example, affect your inner ear due to mucus and pressure buildup, which can throw off sensory signals, says Dr. Barbara Bawer , primary care physician and clinical assistant professor at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Also, being dehydrated, hungover or sleep-deprived can all increase feelings of nausea or dizziness, says Dr. Terez Malka , a travel medicine physician at Duration Health, a telehealth urgent care platform.

Even mindset can play a big role, and stress and anxiety about travel or motion sickness can make symptoms even worse. “Often, those who expect to get sick are the ones who do,” says Dr. Natascha Tuznik , infectious disease specialist and associate clinical professor of medicine at UC Davis Medical Center. (More on anxiety-related motion sickness below.)

Who is more prone to motion sickness?

Some people are more prone to motion sickness than others due to various factors. For example, women are more susceptible to motion sickness than men, and people experiencing hormonal changes (during pregnancy, for example) may also be more prone to motion sickness, says Tuznik. Children under 2 years old and adults over the age of 50 are usually the least susceptible to motion sickness, while it is most common in kids between the ages of 2 and 12, says Tuznik.

People with a history of migraines or those with certain medical conditions that impact the inner ear or balance center in the brain, including hearing damage and tumors or masses, can experience motion sickness symptoms at a higher rate, experts say.

There is also a genetic component: If your parents get motion sick, you are more likely to experience motion sickness, too, says Malka.

What are the best ways to prevent motion sickness?

The most effective way to avoid motion sickness symptoms is to prevent it altogether. That means avoiding situations that can trigger nausea and dizziness, such as reading in a moving vehicle or sitting in the backseat of a car, according to my experts. However, if that’s unavoidable, here are some expert-recommended tips for preventing motion sickness in any situation:

• Use your environment: If you’re at sea, try looking at the horizon, or another stationary object or fixture if you’re in a moving vehicle, says Tuznik.
• Take any medications in advance: Malka says all motion sickness medications work best if taken 20-40 minutes before you start traveling.
• Avoid reading or staring at a stationary object: This includes putting down your phone or tablet, experts say. “Your eyes are looking at one thing, which is your screen or your phone or your book, but your ears are hearing things going past or your eyes are also moving,” says Bawer. “Let’s say you look up really quickly, and you see things whizzing by you. But when you look back down at the page, it sends mixed signals, and there’s a disconnect.”
• Where you sit matters. “If you’re on a boat, avoid the upper levels. If you’re in a car, try to sit in the front. If you’re on a plane, look for a seat over the front edge of the wing,” says Tuznik. 
• Stay hydrated and eat light: Make sure you drink water as you travel and avoid alcohol before and during traveling because a hangover or dehydration will make your symptoms much worse, says Malka. “Eating a light meal or frequent, easy-to-digest snacks like crackers so you are not too full or empty is typically best,” she says.
• Be prepared: “ Getting adequate sleep and making sure you are dressed comfortably for the weather and not too warm, can also help keep your stomach settled,” says Malka.

Do medications work for motion sickness?

Several over-the-counter and prescription medications can help relieve or prevent motion sickness. All of the experts I spoke to say that OTC and prescription medications are some of the most effective treatments for motion sickness, with the latter being the best way to relieve severe nausea, dizziness and other typical symptoms.

Keep in mind that most of the following medications are antihistamines, which means they can make you feel drowsy. They may also come with certain side effects. Our experts generally recommend avoiding medications if you have mild symptoms because the side effects tend to outweigh the benefits.

OTC medications

• Dimenhydrinate , also known by the brand name Dramamine , is a popular option to help reduce motion sickness symptoms like nausea. However, it is an antihistamine, which means it may cause drowsiness, dizziness and decreased mental alertness, says Tuznik. “Unfortunately, not much can be done to mitigate the side effects,” says Tuznik. “If you’ve taken it before, you should expect similar side effects each time.” You should avoid taking Dramamine while driving, according to experts.
• Meclizine , also known by the brand name Bonine , is similar to Dramamine, but is less likely to cause drowsiness since you take it once a day (while you should take Dramamine every four to six hours as needed), says Tuznik.

Remember that non-sedative OTC antihistamines like Zyrtec, Claritin and Allegra won’t be effective for treating or preventing motion sickness, says Tuznik.

Prescription medications

• Scopolamine patches: A prescription-only transdermal patch you can wear behind your ear at least four hours before travel and use for up to 72 hours to prevent or treat motion sickness, experts say. This is the most effective treatment for motion sickness, according to experts.
• Ondansetron, promethazine and cyclizine are oral medications and sedatives that treat nausea and vomiting. Like other anti-nausea medications I mention above, these are drowsy (sedating) antihistamines. They come with potential side effects, so talk to your primary care doctor or travel clinic about whether these medications are right for you.

Are there any alternative remedies for motion sickness?

If you have mild motion sickness or aren’t looking to endure the side effects of anti-nausea medication, there are several natural remedies to try. Keep in mind that these remedies, like aromatherapy and acupressure, have limited research showing effectiveness and whether they actually work usually varies from person to person.  

Aromatherapy

Research shows that bad smells, like car fumes or cigarette smoke, can worsen motion sickness, while pleasant smells, like peppermint essential oils, may help reduce nausea. No major studies prove essential oils are safe or effective at treating motion sickness; however, ginger and peppermint essential oils or extracts have shown some promise in small studies , says Malka.

Zoe Malin , NBC Select associate updates editor, uses the UpNature Peppermint Essential Oil Roll-On to reduce her car sickness. “I keep a little roller ball of peppermint essential oil in my bathroom and apply it to my wrists before I go on a car ride, which is when I tend to experience the most motion sickness,” says Malin. “If I start getting nauseous, I’ll smell the essential oil — after a few deep breaths, the scent starts to dull the nausea.”

It is important to remember not to ingest essential oils or apply them directly to your skin, and to keep them away from children or pets, says Malka.

Ginger extract

Ginger can be an effective and natural way of preventing and treating nausea, according to several studies . Smaller studies have also shown that ginger spice is effective at reducing motion-related nausea .

Ginger comes in several forms, including chews, candies, supplement capsules, teas and tablets. Though there is no ideal dose for motion sickness, ginger generally helps your digestive system and supports the release of blood pressure-regulating hormones to calm the body, which ultimately reduces nausea, says Tuznik.

For my motion sickness, I’m a fan of the Dramamine Ginger Chews because they have a subtle ginger taste compared to others I’ve tried (ginger can be intense, in my experience), are fast-acting and have a chewy texture that makes it feel like I’m eating regular candy. Despite the brand name, these chews do not actually have the dimenhydrinate medicine that we commonly associate with Dramamine, so it does not leave you feeling drowsy.

If you want a harder candy with a stronger taste, both Malin and I love the Gin Gins Original Ginger Chews . The strong ginger flavor stops motion sickness in the first place, in both my and Malin's experience. “Not only does the ginger taste of these candies make me feel less nauseous, but chewing them also gives me something to focus on other than how sick I feel in the car,” says Malin. “I’ve tried other ginger candies, but these are the only ones that have an intense enough flavor to dull my nausea.”

Acupressure

Some studies show that applying pressure on a certain point of the inner wrist may help prevent and treat nausea and vomiting, specifically at the pericardium 6 (P-6) acupressure point, which is three finger-widths away from the wrist, experts say.

Since I have severe motion sickness when I’m on a boat or in a moving car, I used the Sea-Band Anti-Nausea Acupressure Wristbands on each wrist during a vacation to Italy. Each band has a small plastic circle that presses on the P-6 pressure point, and they helped me avoid nausea and dizziness when on a tour boat in the Mediterranean ocean, on a ferry on the Amalfi Coast and in a small van riding through the hilly Tuscan vineyards.

While many people, including me, swear that pressing on an acupressure point at the base of the wrist or wearing bands that press on this area reduces motion sickness, research has not shown them to have much impact on symptoms. “But there is no harm in using them, either,” says Qing. ​​They are also safe and relatively inexpensive to try, says Tuznik.

Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol

Smelling rubbing alcohol can be a safe way to relieve nausea symptoms, and it’s sometimes as effective as some medications, says Malka. “Packaged single-use alcohol swabs are a safe, portable measure that you can bring with you to use as needed,” she says.

Frequently asked questions

Most motion sickness medications work best when you take them 20-40 minutes before you start traveling, so make sure to plan ahead, says Malka.

Avoid taking motion sickness medicines after the onset of symptoms. “Once you have the symptoms already, a lot of the anti-motion sickness medicines are not going to work as well because your stomach processing slows down, so the absorption of the medication you're taking at that moment is going to be decreased,” says Bawer. “It’s still going to work, but it just won’t be as effective.”

For people with a history of mild motion sickness (which means that it does not interfere with your ability to function), experts recommend environmental modifications and natural remedies. Medications are usually not recommended because the side effects may outweigh the benefits, says Tuznik.

Though motion sickness is most common in children between the ages of 2 and 12, some motion sickness medicines are not recommended for children. Talk to your child’s doctor about medicines and correct dosing for motion sickness, and only give the recommended dosage, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

One of the most common motion sickness triggers is stress and anxiety, specifically anxiety before you even start your travels. “If you know that anxiety or nerves cause a lot of motion sickness for you, talk with your doctor or a therapist before you leave about some options to reduce anxiety like meditation, breathwork, journaling or, in some cases, medication,” says Malka.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Dr. Danielle Qing is an internal medicine physician and assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, division of General Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.
• Dr. Barbara Bawer is a primary care physician and clinical assistant professor of family and community medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. 
• Dr. Terez Malka is a travel medicine physician at Duration Health, a telehealth urgent care platform.
• Dr. Natascha Tuznik is an infectious disease specialist and an associate clinical professor of medicine and associate program director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship at UC Davis Medical Center.

Why trust NBC Select?

I am an updates editor at NBC Select covering a wide range of wellness topics, including sunscreen for kids , deodorants and antiperspirants , and rosacea treatments . For this article, I spoke to four physicians about the best ways to treat and prevent motion sickness, including OTC remedies and prescription medications. I also rounded up some NBC Select editor-favorite treatments for motion sickness.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Mili Godio is an updates editor for Select on NBC News.

Recommended

Paris hilton defends not putting life jacket on 1-year-old son phoenix while out at sea: ‘it’s a big boat’.

Paris Hilton hit back at mom-shamers who criticized her for allowing her 1-year-old son, Phoenix, to walk around on a boat without wearing a life jacket.

The “This Is Paris” star, 43, posted a sweet TikTok video Wednesday of her and husband Carter Reum ‘s little boy waddling around aboard a luxury Sunreef catamaran during the family’s summer vacation.

“Watching Phoenix explore the world has been so special to me! I am so grateful to be a #SlivingMom,” Hilton captioned the clip, which she set to Ed Sheeran’s 2014 hit “Photograph.”

While several fans flooded the comments section with supportive messages for the mom of two, who also shares 9-month-old daughter London with Reum, concerned netizens offered up some unsolicited advice.

“Momma, please have him wear a life jacket always on a boat!! Stuff happens. That’s why they’re called accidents. With love,” a social media user commented on the post.

“we are all here for the life vest advice right? Beautiful boat, beautiful life, still safer with the jacket,” a second person wrote.

“Please from one mom to another.. life jacket!” a third commented, with another adding, “My anxiety not seeing him in a life jacket! Can never be too safe on the water!”

Hilton replied to the trolls by explaining that the luxury vessel was very big and her son was nowhere near any danger.

“Hey Mamma’s [sic], thank you for the advice & always caring about my #CutesieCrew,” she wrote in the comments section of her post. “It’s a big boat & my husband and I are following him around everywhere & watching like hawks. My babies are my world.”

Several fans backed up Hilton’s assertion that her son was safe due to the size of the fancy catamaran.

“Guys this boat is way bigger than it seems in this video. A life jacket would be silly, and worst case scenario, they taught him to swim,” a social media user wrote.

“You do you xx pheonix is having a ball xx and 100% safe,” another supporter cheered.

“You are an amazing mama!! Your #cutsiecrew is lucky to have you in their corner,” one person gushed.

Sunreef Yachts is known for its opulent ships and grand boats that feature stylish designs and modern finishes for the wealthy.

While it is unclear which model Hilton and her family used, the company’s website describes its catamarans as being “constructed for enjoying yearlong transoceanic adventures in the deep blue sea.”

The site boasts that each electric vessel is “ultra-silent, vibration-free and fumeless” as well as “easily maneuverable [and] energy efficient … with immense living spaces for dining and lounging.”

The “Cooking with Paris” host and Reum, who tied the knot in November 2021, welcomed Phoenix and London via surrogate on Jan. 16, 2023, and Nov. 11, 2023 , respectively.

This isn’t the first time Hilton has sparked safety concerns for her kids. She was slammed for the way she positioned her kids’s car seats this past May, prompting her to admit that “no one is perfect.”

That same month, the “Stars Are Blind” singer was called out for allowing her son to swim in the water while wearing his life jacket backward and subsequently thanked her followers for informing her of her mistake .

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

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