Are passengers really SELLING straws on NCL ships???

[shof515]

7 hours ago, ColinIllinois said:

 

this is me when i drink any alcoholic drink 😞 😞 😞 . i always need to drink non-alcoholic drinks 😞 😞 😞

[cincicruisers]

We were on the Bliss a few weeks ago.  They did not have any straws.  I brought some with me.  I gave a lot of straws out.  It was very funny and I was very popular.

[sandycruzr]

You can purchase a collapsible folding straw on ama$$$ for a few dollars   It comes in a case that is slightly larger than a tic tac container.  

Please consider giving up the use of straws.  As others have pointed out, they are devastating to our environment at home and marine life truly suffers. 

Also, I drank ALOT of pina colada’s without straws of any kind...just takes a little practice..and boy, I had a great time

practicing!🤣

[Sand and Seas]

2 hours ago, cincicruisers said:

We were on the Bliss a few weeks ago.  They did not have any straws.  I brought some with me.  I gave a lot of straws out.  It was very funny and I was very popular.

We returned from the Bliss 10 days ago.  Only once were we offered the paper straw with our BBCs.  (We did bring our own straws).  

Heard a couple at the table next to us in a restaurant ask for a straw for their soda and were denied.  Not sure which bars had straws.  Just rare to see onboard except for those of us who had brought our own.

[Njkrewzer]

Our marine life has a MUCH bigger problem dealing with lost/discarded commercial fishing gear than a plastic straw. The great pacific garbage patch is made up mostly of this, not the straw from your pina colada. I will drink from a plastic straw til the death of me, I just make sure to throw them out in a proper receptacle, whether on land or at sea. Some people feeling "guilty" about having a pack in their home or cabin seems downright silly. Oh well, different strokes I guess

[Von & John]

5 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Probably unsweetened iced tea.......

....I have the same reaction.😵

 

My reaction like that is to the Sweetened Tea Variety...

Good thing most Southern places will provide the unsweetened when requested 🙂

[ollienbertsmum]

6 hours ago, sandycruzr said:

You can purchase a collapsible folding straw on ama$$$ for a few dollars   It comes in a case that is slightly larger than a tic tac container.  

Please consider giving up the use of straws.  As others have pointed out, they are devastating to our environment at home and marine life truly suffers. 

Also, I drank ALOT of pina colada’s without straws of any kind...just takes a little practice..and boy, I had a great time

practicing!🤣

 

I agree wholeheartedly.  Plastic straws are not the only thing in the oceans that impact marine life, but stopping using them is one thing that can help.   When it comes to the environment I think we should do as much as we can to protect it.  

 

On our last cruise on the Epic (October 2018) there were no straws.  I did not see anyone asking for them.  We do not have straws in restaurants and bars at home - there was no fuss, everyone just praised any establishments that made the change and got used to it.  I think the drink has to be made with slightly less ice and it works.  

 

However I know that some people are still used to drinking through a straw and so I think that it is silly that NCL (and many other establishments who have reacted to the environmental impact) say that they are taking away the straws before stocking up on alternatives such as paper ones.  Paper straws are readily available at home and they are robust and  long lasting.  They are nothing like the thin paper straws we had when I was a child.  

 

A little bit more promotion about why they have taken away the straws may have helped too.   It may be helpful to put up some posters or a promotional table with samples of drinks without straws as you board.  If cruisers ask for a straw and the barserver says "we have stopped giving them"  the cruiser could respond by thinking it is simply an economy drive  "cheapskate NCL again".  If they promote the change as the appropriate response to the environmental impact to the ocean it would be seen that going to Walmart to stock up and give out to fellow passengers is not really an environmentally sound action.   

[thistimeplease]

Plastic straws are now on my packing list for any trip I take, love my frozen drinks.

[geneticfreak]

A paper straw is not an acceptable replacement for a plastic straw. They are twice as fat and taste funny. People just latch on to ridiculous stories they hear on the agenda driven news and make huge social issues out of them when they are in fact non-isssues. The war on plastic straws is so hypocritical. “Straws are the devil, but don’t you dare take away my plastic cup.”

[takeadip]

17 hours ago, Outerdog said:

I'll take "Things That Didn't Happen" for $1000, Alex.

 

Im thinking more about this....and thinking my neighbor may be telling a tall tale...think about it...when was the last time you had any spare change on you while strolling around the ship? aside from heading to the casino? most people leave their valuables in the tiny safe in their stateroom. I would say many dont walk around with a bunch of small bills in their pockets unless they are the same people who choose to "tip" with cash only.

 

Am i right...?

 

If my wife and i ran into a guy selling straws we would have to ask the seller to:

hang here a minute while i go back to my stateroom and retrieve my wallet.

Hope i have small bills in said wallet.

Walk back down to food area and locate the seller to buy the straws from him.

hope he has 4 dollars change on him cause i only carry $5 bills as my lowest denomination.

hope the straws are individually wrapped as to not spread the neuro virus

you see how this gets complicated.

[DirtyDawg]

20 hours ago, takeadip said:

Critics,

Our neighbor just got off an NCL ship out of NYC and said during the cruise she saw (2) different passengers with a Large cup hanging from their neck full of straws with a sticker that read "Straws $1 Each"

She said the (2) passengers selling the straws would loiter around the bar/ lounge areas and walk through the buffet...

 

Could this really be happening ? or is my neighbor completely joking?

 

ill be sailing out of NYC in May so i guess we will see...

 

* sidenote...$1 seems pretty good for a straw when you need on to get to the bottom of that daqueri.

 

Best,

Mark 

 

Forget the straws, I wonder if there are passengers on the ships who will go get my drinks for me for a buck!

 

Or stand in line for those tender disembarkments.

 

Or get my bacon in the buffet at breakfast time.

 

Bacon for a buck! I'd love that!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 13, 2019 by DirtyDawg

[bkrickles1]

12 hours ago, cincicruisers said:

We were on the Bliss a few weeks ago.  They did not have any straws.  I brought some with me.  I gave a lot of straws out.  It was very funny and I was very popular.

Cruised Escape this past July which is right when they started eliminating straws.

Since I do spend some time on these great forums, I knew this ahead of time and told my wife to stock up for our trip.

She loves to drink all cold drinks with a straw (I don't use them) and we had my daughter and 2 nieces with us, so she brought a ton of them with us and kept them in her "beach" bag.

People were complaining at some of the bars, especially the bars outside and especially when frozen drinks were ordered.

My wife, liking to be popular, gave out a ton of straws all week and we all joked a couple of times that we probably could have made some serious money. Lol 

Anyway, we were happy to help some people out and someone even recognized my wife one night at dueling pianos and called her the "straw lady".

It was a great trip and we'll be packing our straws again in January when we sail Encore.

[myjillian]

I just purchased 50 Flamingo straws on e-bay for less than $5.00. With free shipping.  I plan on taking them on my next cruise and anyone who mentions how cute it is and where did I get it I'll give them one...😍 Looking forward to doing my surprise give away LOL

[NLH Arizona]

4 hours ago, geneticfreak said:

A paper straw is not an acceptable replacement for a plastic straw. They are twice as fat and taste funny. People just latch on to ridiculous stories they hear on the agenda driven news and make huge social issues out of them when they are in fact non-isssues. The war on plastic straws is so hypocritical. “Straws are the devil, but don’t you dare take away my plastic cup.”

The difference between the plastic straws and the plastic cups is that plastic cups can be recycled, but straws can not, as they jam up the recycling equipment because of their size.

[arpie05]

21 hours ago, ClevelandCruisin said:

We bought a pack of 200 on Amazon. My wife carried them around with her. We had 6 different colors for about $10.

 

We gave them out to people who asked where we got a straw. Even though we did joke about selling them for a quarter.

 You might check Walmart, Walgreens or CVS. A bag of 100 is usually $1.  I use a straw all day. Good to know to bring my own.

[ClevelandCruisin]

8 minutes ago, arpie05 said:

 You might check Walmart, Walgreens or CVS. A bag of 100 is usually $1.  I use a straw all day. Good to know to bring my own.

For paper straws or plastic?

[Vyhanek]

I plan to bring a big box of straws and hand them out now.   

[Sand and Seas]

For ease, I carry my straws in a 99ct travel toothbrush holder that fits in my purse.  I carry a combination of 6 inch and 8 inch straws.  The 6 inch work well in all of those plastic cups NCL uses out at the deck bars.   The 8 inch  for the regular glasses. 

[TPgal]

3 hours ago, myjillian said:

I just purchased 50 Flamingo straws on e-bay for less than $5.00. With free shipping.  I plan on taking them on my next cruise and anyone who mentions how cute it is and where did I get it I'll give them one...😍 Looking forward to doing my surprise give away LOL

As an employee of said location noted above -Thank you.

 

The flamingo straw idea is a good one as well, I might have time for one or two more purchases before we leave for Miami.

[DirtyDawg]

22 hours ago, All-ready2cruise said:

Cheers.... drinking wine or beer means you don't need a straw. 😉 🍺 🥂

 

Speak for yourself.  A chilled Chardonnay  can only truly be appreciated by sucking it up through a straw. Oak straws work the best.

[slugg]

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. 

 

😉

Edited March 13, 2019 by slugg

[hawkman402]

I'm thinking about a $1 per umbrella straw.  Could make a killing. Pack of 100 is $11

 

 

[hawkman402]

Just now, hawkman402 said:

I'm thinking about a $1 per umbrella straw.  Could make a killing. Pack of 100 is $11

 

 

Could easily pay for Vibe...

[Pwrmaster7]

time to get to Walmart and buy some plastic straws for my cruise next month! lol

[myjillian]

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. 

 

😉

Ahhhhhhhhhhh your so adorable...I wish you were my neighbor especially when My 75 year old husband and I are collecting the pine straw from the road and delivering to our neighbors from our little red Flyer wagon .  We give them the straw free for under their trees..... but have port charges and taxes for each destination....depending on the weather, of course.