Are passengers really SELLING straws on NCL ships???

[dexddd]

13 hours ago, slugg said:

I’m not selling straws, they’re free. I normally sell them for $5 a piece, but I’m giving them away for free. After a mandatory 20% gratuity fee, of course, but it’s free for the Ultimate Straw.

 

The Ultimate Straw is 5 inches long and very thin, commonly used to stir coffee. Enjoy an assortment of colors (subject to change without notice, while supplies last) included for free, plus mandatory gratuity. 

 

If you want to take it to the next level, you can upgrade to the Premium Straw package for just $10 per person per day (plus gratuity, required for all passengers in the same cabin, subject to change without notice, while supplies last, void where prohibited, batteries not included). These straws are longer and thicker, typically used to sip frozen drinks. 

 

Don’t hate me, I just provide perks so that you can have fun on your vacation. 

 

😉

Can I get these if I book a sail away category?

 

[DarbyDean]

I use these silicone straws. Cut them to the length you need. Can be tied onto your lanyard when not in use

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G4XJWT2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[arpie05]

On 3/13/2019 at 10:46 AM, ClevelandCruisin said:

For paper straws or plastic?

Plastic.  Paper are terrible and actually more expensive in my experience.

[ClevelandCruisin]

2 minutes ago, arpie05 said:

Plastic.  Paper are terrible and actually more expensive in my experience.

Why would you bring plastic on a cruise ship. Only paper is allowed.

[Sand and Seas]

Just now, ClevelandCruisin said:

Why would you bring plastic on a cruise ship. Only paper is allowed.

Only paper straws are offered by NCL.  Haven't seen any other straws confiscated 😉

People are bringing plastic, metal and silicone straws onboard.   

[ClevelandCruisin]

2 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Only paper straws are offered by NCL.  Haven't seen any other straws confiscated 😉

People are bringing plastic, metal and silicone straws onboard.   

This has nothing to do with NCL and what they offer. The person I replied to said they got a pack of straws for a $1. I asked plastic or paper... because paper straws are not $1 at Walmart.  

 

So thanks for your insight.

 

We bring paper straws with us.. maybe others will catch on. 😉

[Sand and Seas]

12 minutes ago, ClevelandCruisin said:

This has nothing to do with NCL and what they offer. The person I replied to said they got a pack of straws for a $1. I asked plastic or paper... because paper straws are not $1 at Walmart.  

 

So thanks for your insight.

 

We bring paper straws with us.. maybe others will catch on. 😉

So sorry, I guess I still don't understand. 

I was replying to the part of your quote that said only paper is allowed:

"Why would you bring plastic on a cruise ship. Only paper is allowed"

[myjillian]

Is this topic starting to suck??? Will we have to take a straw vote on this???

[bkrickles1]

15 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Only paper straws are offered by NCL.  Haven't seen any other straws confiscated 😉

People are bringing plastic, metal and silicone straws onboard.   

Exactly! There's no rule or law against using plastic straws and they wouldn't be confiscated on any cruise ship or anywhere else for that matter.

Many people prefer plastic straws and if I used straws, I probably would prefer them too.

Until there is a law banning plastic straws, I would imagine many people will continue to use them and bring them to places (cruise ships) where they are not available. 

I was on the Escape this past July and there weren't any straws on board. No plastic or paper.

I felt bad for the people ordering any kind of frozen drink and I suppose it would be a problem for those that have sensitive teeth too.

NCL did a bad job with that on my cruise but I knew about it ahead of time (thank you cruise critic forums) and my wife brought straws with her. As I said in a prior post, she was very popular.

[RedRover96]

If I got stuck with a frozen drink and no straw, might find a spoon, better than ending up with a drink in your face???? 

[pehlibaar]

Glad I stumbled upon this thread, I had no idea there may not be a straw offered with frozen drinks. I totally understand why, but it never crossed my mind that they would not be available. Guess I'll add that to my packing list!

[PTC DAWG]

Do folk use straws at home? I never use them, and I enjoy the occasional boat drink too...

 

sail on

[thistimeplease]

48 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Do folk use straws at home? I never use them, and I enjoy the occasional boat drink too...

 

sail on

I'm definitely someone who uses a straw at home.  I always make a smoothie in the morning or a ice coffee in the afternoon and use a straw for those. 

[hawkman402]

Gonna have to take some straws.  I can't imagine drinking a mudslide through a paper straw.

[Sand and Seas]

1 hour ago, hawkman402 said:

Gonna have to take some straws.  I can't imagine drinking a mudslide through a paper straw.

Yeah, we tried a BBC and a Mudslide with the paper straw from NCL.  Tastes a little different and doesn't hold up for the whole drink.   Definitely detracts from the experience

[kitkat343]

Do the dining rooms have them for kids drinks?   Otherwise my kids will be making a huge mess, and the waiters don’t really need any extra work.  

[Sand and Seas]

1 hour ago, kitkat343 said:

Do the dining rooms have them for kids drinks?   Otherwise my kids will be making a huge mess, and the waiters don’t really need any extra work.  

My best guess is no.  We heard an adult at the table next to us on the Bliss 2 weeks ago ask for a straw and get denied.  I would think if the restaurant would have a straw for kids they wouldn't deny an adult who asked for one.  (Age discrimination???)

We were only offered one straw all week and that was with a frozen drink at a bar.  Other times we ordered frozen drinks we weren't offered the straw (but we had our own).

 

[ollienbertsmum]

On 3/15/2019 at 7:45 PM, Sand and Seas said:

Yeah, we tried a BBC and a Mudslide with the paper straw from NCL.  Tastes a little different and doesn't hold up for the whole drink.   Definitely detracts from the experience

 

I am old enough to recall the time when a straw was always made of paper and no one thought anything of it.  Sometimes you might have to ask for a second straw to complete your drink. 

 

We are offered paper straws in restaurants and the Casino in Gibraltar.  They are pretty substantial.  They are not like the paper straws of my childhood.   I have tried leaving one in a G and T - nothing wrong with the taste (doesn't taste plastic to be honest) and I am fussy about that drink.  I do select the brand when ordering.  

 

I have found that the drinks are being served with a tad less ice and therefore you can drink them from the glass without spilling.  

 

  So perhaps NCL might have to purchase paper straws of a different quality and bar staff might have to tweak the way they serve drinks.  Change can be a little hard to get used to, but humans can adapt.  Humans actually adapt much better than our marine life.  Just think how quickly we have got used to not being given plastic bags in shops.   When the change in the law was announced it was all "how is that going to work????"  - it did.  

[Sand and Seas]

I think NCL is still trying to find the right type and quantity of paper straws.  So far, reports of straws being available are not consistent across all ships.   I found some nice reusable straws (with polka dots!) in a store close to me.  Also looking  at other options.  I'll just continue to bring my own straws that I'm happy with.   The biggest problem is keeping the servers from grabbing your empty glass before you can 'save' your valuable straw

 

As for plastic bags, everything I bought onboard Bliss, Breakaway, and every other NCL ship has been given to me in a plastic bag.  I reuse them for many purposes as they are sturdy and make great book bags, shoe bags, etc.    Also, shopped in Florida before returning home and stores there still have plastic bags.  I don't think there is a state close to ours that have banned them.... yet.  

[Allen&Jane]

I just got off the Bliss a week ago.  I didn't even think about the straw issue until I saw this thread today.  Seems I was able to drink all my drinks including the frozen ones just fine without a straw. Who knew!

Edited March 23, 2019 by Allen&Jane
typo

[fabnfortysomething]

in the UK we are now so used to taking our own bags along to the supermarket the till assistant in Orlando looked at me as if I were crazy when produced my own

 

out of curiosity next time let the assistant pack as normal-I winced when she used 1 plastic bag per 2 items!

 

plastic straws I don't tend to use

 

only place still providing as standard is at Mc Donalds drive through!

[citygirl62]

I'm bringing biodegradable straws on board.  They are made from corn starch and look and feel like plastic straws.  I found out about them when investigating an eco resort in Mexico.  They aren't cheap but they are better than trying to drink out of a metal straw or a paper straw that disintegrates before you finish your drink.  I gave them to people caught unawares at the resort.  I didn't give them to the a**holes that were yelling at the bartenders.  I thought I'd keep them around but they degraded in the cupboard!  At least I know they work.