Motion Sickness · Cruises

Scopolamine patch for a cruise

By Bidwell Cranage, APRN, FNP-C, Member, International Society of Travel Medicine · Clinically reviewed by Ashley Cranage, APRN, FNP-C · Reviewed June 18, 2026

The scopolamine patch is the most effective way to prevent seasickness on a cruise, and you can get one online before you sail. One patch behind the ear lasts up to 3 days, so it covers most sailings. Bidwell Health prescribes it through a $45 visit (no video) for adults in eligible states, sent to your pharmacy when clinically appropriate. Apply it the evening before you board.

$45 flat visitNo videoNo subscriptionSent to your pharmacyPack a spare

Get a patch before your cruise, $45 ›

Why the patch is ideal for a cruise

A cruise is a multi-day exposure to motion, which is exactly where a 3-day patch shines over a pill you re-dose every few hours. Scopolamine also tends to be less drowsy than original Dramamine, so you can actually enjoy the ship.

Option	Lasts	Drowsiness	Prescription?
Scopolamine patch	Up to 3 days per patch	Usually less	Yes ($45 online visit)
Meclizine (Bonine)	~24 hours	Less than Dramamine	No (over the counter)
Dramamine	4 to 6 hours	More	No (over the counter)

When to apply it (timing is everything)

Apply behind one ear at least 4 hours before you need it, ideally the evening before boarding.
One patch lasts up to 3 days. For a longer cruise, remove it and apply a fresh patch behind the other ear.
Wash your hands after applying, scopolamine on your fingers can blur your vision if it reaches your eyes.
Pack a spare. Patches usually survive the pool and shower, but if one peels off mid-sailing you want a backup. See how long a patch lasts.

Cruising from a Florida port?

Florida is the cruise capital of the world, Port Canaveral is the busiest cruise port on earth, followed by PortMiami and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, plus Port Tampa Bay and Jacksonville. The visit is online and the prescription goes to your local pharmacy, so it works for a cruise out of any of them. The one rule: you must be physically located in a state we are licensed in at the time of your visit (we serve 11 states, including Florida).

Bidwell Cranage, founder of Bidwell Health, at a lake in the Italian Dolomites

From the founder

I am an avid traveler across 26 countries, and I built Bidwell's travel medicine line around the things that actually go wrong on a trip. For a multi-day cruise, the scopolamine patch is the option I reach for first, and the whole point of doing this online is that you have it before you sail, not scrambling for a pharmacy in a port the morning you board.

Bidwell Cranage, Bidwell Health founder and avid traveler across 26 countries.

Who should not use it

Scopolamine is not for people with narrow-angle glaucoma, significant prostate or urinary problems, or certain other conditions, and not for anyone operating the boat. The intake screens for this, and if the patch is not right for you, we will point you to meclizine instead. Note that Zofran does not work for seasickness.

FAQ

How do I get a scopolamine patch for a cruise?

Scopolamine is prescription only. You can get it through an online visit before you sail: Bidwell Health offers a $45 asynchronous visit, no video, for adults in eligible states, and sends the patch to your pharmacy when clinically appropriate. Request it a few days before your cruise so it is filled and applied before you board.

When do I put the patch on before a cruise?

Apply the scopolamine patch behind one ear at least 4 hours before you need it, ideally the evening before you board, so it is fully working when the ship sails. One patch lasts up to 3 days, so a longer cruise needs a fresh patch behind the other ear.

Is the patch better than Dramamine for a cruise?

For a multi-day cruise, the scopolamine patch is usually better because one patch lasts up to 3 days and tends to be less drowsy than original Dramamine. Dramamine works and is cheaper over the counter but is shorter-acting and more sedating.

Can I get a patch for a cruise from Port Canaveral or Miami?

Yes, if you live in one of the states we serve. The visit is online and the prescription goes to your local pharmacy, so it works for cruises out of Port Canaveral, PortMiami, Port Everglades, Tampa, and other ports. You must be in a state we are licensed in at the time of the visit.