Cruise passengers, at least ones that have cruised at least somewhat regularly, tend to have really deep opinions on things that seem pretty small. That's because at least part of cruising, for many people, is the ritual.
Maybe you always come onboard and get a drink at the pool bar, or maybe it's a beeline for Sorrento's (Royal Caribbean) or Pizza Pirate (Carnival) to grab a slice. Whatever your cruise routine is, most frequent sailors have certain things they like to do, and any changes can be jarring.
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Sometimes these changes can be a deal. Royal Caribbean (RCL), for example, recently changed all its main dining room (MDR) menus. That wasn't a small change, and it's actually understandable that people were up in arms about it. Similarly, Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) recently began charging guests for a third entree in its MDRs in order to cut down food waste, and consumers were similarly enraged.
It's not only big changes that get people talking. People endlessly debate small things like when Royal Caribbean tested cans rather than bottles of water on some ships last summer. That shouldn't be too big a deal, but people onboard and in social media cruise groups all seemed to have an opinion on it.
Now, Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald is addressing a small change that both cruise lines have handled differently that raises a bigger passion in people than one might logically expect.
Image source: Carnival
Carnival and Royal Caribbean Deal With Plastic Straws
Because they operate on the open seas, cruise lines have faced more concerns about their environmental impact than many other industries. Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have taken major behind-the-scenes steps to deal with that while also making smaller more visible moves like getting rid of plastic straws.
Royal Caribbean eliminated all plastic straws in 2018 (its onboard Starbucks locations held out a little longer). It has replaced them with paper straws and has tested biodegradable straws on some ships. The company also got rid of plastic drink stirrers.
Carnival has made similar changes but is also using edible straws in some situations. In other cases, it has gone without straws and that led to the following note being sent to Heald on his Facebook page.
Name: K---
Message: Hey!!!!! Question about straws. Off and on I read or watch a review and see that the edible straws are not given out or sometimes they are. Why? Why so inconsistent. Why don’t you do paper straws like----------? The candy flavor edible ones are OK but why do we not always get one. People always want straws. Nobody enjoys a cocktail or martini type drink with NO STRAW.
So, ignoring that you should not drink anything served in a martini glass with a straw, Heald's response and the ensuing poll got 3,200 comments in the first five hours since it was posted.
Thanks “K” and you are correct, for the most part we only offer the edible straws with frozen drinks. We do have stainless steel ones available to buy and I know some bring their own straws. We will not be returning to plastic or paper straws. Let’s see what others have to say about the “ Nobody enjoys a cocktail or martini type drink with NO STRAW.
Do you always need a straw when you purchase a cocktail or drink a soda on board?
A. YES. ALWAYS
B. SOMETIMES, NOT ALWAYS
C. NO, NEVER
This post shows a clear difference between the two cruise lines. Royal Caribbean has paper or otherwise environmentally-friendly straws in all situations. Carnival has the "fun" edible straws but has essentially eliminated straws in many situations where they were once used.
Reusable straws, while popular on land, are less viable on cruise ships where the small sinks in your cabin make cleaning them a challenge (though your shower works in a pinch). It's also debatable whether reusable straws actually solve the problem as it can take a lot of water to properly clean one.
Neither Royal Caribbean nor Carnival has found the exact solution here (as Royal's paper straws dissolve in an iced coffee fairly quickly and Carnival not giving straws with many drinks isn't an answer either). Cruise fans, however, will likely debate every change and never be fully satisfied until someone invents a better environmentally-friendly straw (and maybe not then).
