Health & illness
What happens if I get sick?
There is a qualified English-speaking doctor aboard all vessels, who is available to help with any minor ailments, sea sickness or other issues. However, the onboard medical equipment is limited. Any passengers taking regular medication must bring their own supply.
In the event of a serious medical emergency, the captain and expedition leader will decide on the best course of action.
Fitness
While being fit isn’t a prerequisite to travelling to the Arctic, being in good enough shape to get the most out of the daily excursions will increase your overall enjoyment of the trip.
Being able to get on and off the rubber zodiac boats is crucial. Staff will always be on hand to grab an arm and support you, but having a good range of movement is key to all your landings.
Sea sickness
Navigating the ice of the Northwest Passage
Seasickness can be a real problem for some. Whether it takes you one day or five to get your sea legs, a few quick tips can help the journey pass more smoothly.
We recommend drinking lots of water and eating small amounts regularly. There are some good anti-seasickness remedies that can really help, including tablets, patches and wristbands. Be aware that some brands of anti-seasickness tablets can make you feel very drowsy. Different people react in different ways, so it's worth taking time to do your research.
To prevent sea sickness, our recommendations are:
- Be well rested and avoid drinking alcohol the night before hitting open waters
- Eating ginger, dry biscuits or green apples
- Avoiding a fixed view, such as reading a book
- Look forward and not towards the stern
Other less scientific approaches that we’ve heard along the way include not showering for the first two days (based on the principle that it’s not good to be without an outside view), and mixing your ginger with brandy.
Northern lights over the Greenland Ice Cap in Spring
