Let’s face it. If you’re a straw on a cruise ship, life sucks (sorry… had to)!
We’ve been asked many times, “are cruise ships banning straws?” The simple answer is, “YES.” Although, the extent and timing of their straw banning policies are very different across cruise lines.
First, lets imagine how many straws are used every day on cruise ships around the world. By our estimates, roughly 60,000 people depart on a cruise ship every day. Let’s say that the average cruise length is 7 days long. That would mean that on any given day, there are 420,000 people out there cruising the deep blue seas.
Now consider your average cruise day. Let’s take a straw poll (ugh). How many straws do you use? Do you pop into the coffee shop for an iced latte? Grab a soda at the specialty dining restaurant? Bar hop from deck to deck trying the different frozen concoctions? Let’s throw a conservative number out there and say that the average cruise passenger uses five straws per day. That’s over two million straws used on cruise ships every day and over 750 million every year!
The cruise industry is especially concerned with straw pollution. The discarded plastic ends up in the the water where it kills marine life, litters ocean surfaces, and pollutes the beautiful beaches at our cruise ports.
Times are changing, though. You might say "that this is the last straw." There’s a significant movement to reduce our plastic usage and its impact on the environment. Starbucks is one major leader in this movement. The global chain vowed to eliminate straws years ago. That prompted the cities of Seattle and San Francisco to follow suit.
And soon after the cruise lines jumped on board to support this environmentally conscious movement. Cruise companies have always struggled in their attempts to be viewed as “eco-conscious,” but haven’t missed the boat with straw-bans.
Below you’ll find each major cruise line’s recent policy regarding straw bans.
Straw Policy by Cruise Line
Azamara
Owned by Royal Caribbean, Azamara Cruise Line will adhere to the same policy as its parent. All plastic straws have been eliminated. Customers will be provided with a paper straw on request.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Lines stopped automatically adding a straw to your soda or cocktail when ordered. The exception is frozen drinks. Your bartender will still serve your Miami Vices (etc.) with a straw to avoid any potential frozen-lip liability. If you’d like a straw in your soda or cocktail, your server will give you one upon asking.
Celebrity Cruise Line
Owned by Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruise Line will adhere to the same policy as its parent. All plastic straws have been eliminated. Customers will be provided with a paper straw on request.
Cunard
Owned by Carnival, Cunard Cruise Line will adhere to the same policy as its parent. Your server will not automatically provide a straw with sodas or cocktails. They will, however, still provide a plastic straw with frozen drinks. Plastic straws are still offered at the passenger’s request for all non-frozen drinks.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line has eliminated all single-use plastic straws from their fleet of ships. They’ve taken an extra step to get rid of plastic stirrers, refillable plastic cabin items, shopping bags, and more.
Holland America
Owned by Carnival, Holland America Cruise Line adheres to the same policy as its parent. Your server will not automatically provide a straw with sodas or cocktails. They will, however, still provide a plastic straw with frozen drinks. Plastic straws are still offered at the passenger’s request for all non-frozen drinks.
What if I still want to use a straw?
There are options! You can bring your own.
Portable Paper Straws
Bring a bag full of these portable paper straws if you want to have a disposable option on hand.
Portable Silicon Straws
Cruise Straw Options! The silicon straw is another option, and probably our favorite. It's re-usable, portable, and lightweight. It washes easily and is literally flexible to use.
Metal Reusable Straw
Cruise Straw Options! The metal, foldable straw is definitely the most hardcore and technical option out there. It looks the coolest, though, for sure.
Straw Policy by Cruise Line
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten Cruise Lines has eliminated single-use plastic straws from their ships. Passengers will be provided with metal straws in place of plastic. They’ve gone further to eliminate drink stirrers, plastic glasses, coffee lids, and plastic bags.
MSC
As of 2022, MSC Cruises has eliminated single-use plastic straws on their ships, replacing them with paper straws and metal straws in some locations. This is part of their efforts to reduce plastic waste and minimize their environmental impact.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line has eliminated all plastic straws from its fleet. Plastic straws are gone from NCL’s fleet, and staff are offering paper and wooden straws on request.
Oceania
Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania adheres to policies set by its parent company. Oceania has banned all plastic straws from its ships. Currently, passengers are offered paper and wooden straws.
Princess Cruise Line
Owned by Carnival, Princess Cruise Line adheres to the same policy as its parent. Your server will not automatically provide a straw with sodas or cocktails. They will, however, still provide a plastic straw with frozen drinks. Plastic straws are still offered at the passenger’s request for all non-frozen drinks.
Regent Seven Seas
Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent adheres to policies set by its parent company. Regent has banned all plastic straws from its ships. Currently, passengers are offered paper and wooden straws.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has eliminated plastic straws on all of its ships. The cruise line will provide a paper straw at the passenger’s request.
Seabourn
Owned by Carnival, Seabourn Cruise Line adheres to the same policy as its parent. Your server will not automatically provide a straw with sodas or cocktails. They will, however, still provide a plastic straw with frozen drinks. Plastic straws are still offered at the passenger’s request for all non-frozen drinks.
What do you think about the straw ban on cruise lines? Are you sailing one of these lines soon and do you plan on using a straw?Leave your thoughts in the comments section below and let us know, does this suck?
Also please use the share buttons to help spread this straw drama to your fellow cruise passengers!
