Ships Give Plastic Straws the Heave-Ho

Cruise lines are joining a worldwide movement to eliminate plastic straws.

More than four dozen ships across the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. fleet will eliminate single-use plastic straws by 2019.

Guests currently receive plastic straws upon request, and will receive paper straws next year upon asking. The company, which includes Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises vessels, is also swapping plastic stirrers and food picks for environmentally friendly ones.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s parent company, which operates Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, announced a similar move in July, eliminating plastic straws across its 26 ships and two island destinations.

Carnival Cruise Lines offers plastic straws by request only, and the Walt Disney Company announced plans to transition to refillable amenities and reusable bags on its cruise ships.

A growing number of cities, restaurants, hotels and other groups are banning plastic straws in an effort to help the environment and curb pollution.