I hate those straws too! Nasty! Last time I brought a small box of plastic straws with me. I'd rather some nice reusable ones but I don't want to carry them around all day.
So do they email you these offers? I'm cruising in 11 days YAY! I would be willing to do some gambling if I might get offers for free cruises. We get $25 to play for being platinum.
This will be cruise number 22 and they first time I was offered an upgrade. They offered to upgrade to a balcony for $170 more for the cruise for both of us. Seeing as we paid $80 a person for an inside to begin with. Yes, I will take the balcony!
Make sure you go to the ARRIVECAN website and fill it out. You WILL have to have it prior to checking in. It will ask for an address. Put the address of the cruise port you are entering in Canada. Just good the address.