We usually talk a lot about cruise ships here, rather naturally.  It’s part of our name. Cruise ships are pretty hard to miss too.  Even the smallest seems huge to those who have not seen one before. Today we go in the other direction to talk about tiny microorganisms, focusing on first-time cruise travelers.  That bunch has all kinds of worries, mainly because they have not done it before.  Still, even seasoned cruise travelers have their share of cruise ship fears. For both groups, we have a news of an interesting product making its way onto packing lists.

Cruise travelers commonly bring along a roll of duct tape, great for making a temporary fix on luggage or dress hems.
A few first aid supplies are a good idea, a few band-aids anyway.
A light sweater in case the showroom is cool is a good idea too as well as other commonly-recommended packing list items.
To minimize the odds of suffering motion discomfort, they put on a patch, wear bands or take pills.  But what else do they need to be concerned about?  Sure they can not touch the elevator buttons but what about things they take for granted when at home, like digestive health.

Huh? No, digestive health precautions/remedies/enhancement are not on the list of options to combat your cruise ship fears.  But maybe they should be.

The Unexpected Cruise Ship Fear

Probiotics are microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed. They are something our land-based diet may have plenty of but come up short on when traveling.  Well….hmmm…who would have an answer for this?  Megan Markle sure seems to, including probiotics as one of her favorite travel essentials. Markle, the soon-to-be Princess to Prince Harry posted a blog about her favorite travel essentials.  Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics were on her short list.

“Always travel with a high strain probiotic and hydrate like you’re dying of thirst,” wrote Markle, showcasing the product and linking to the company’s website.  “This dynamic duo of probiotics and agua will keep your gut health in check and honestly stave off jet lag if you’re globetrotting on your travails.”

A reporter for Bustle unearthed this royal advice last month. It was not a paid placement and the probiotic company didn’t find out about it for another 30 days. Apparently, Markle is not the only celebrity to have heard of this product.  Suzanne Somers, Kris Carr, Melissa Wood and many other health-savvy devotees have made similar unsolicited recommendations of Dr. Ohhira’s probiotics.

Dr. Ohhira’s is a celebrity-and-healthcare-practitioner favorite due to its remarkable fermentation process and because it’s the only probiotic supplement on the market today that is actually a fermented food, containing live cultures and postbiotics.  Perfect for travel, its probiotic power is contained in a small capsule, and presented in convenient blister packs that DO NOT require refrigeration!

“Goooo pro…biotics!” Markle says. Do we need to know more than this?  Fine, this infographic should help: