By the Caribbean Journal staff

In a big environmental step, all 50 ships across the Royal Caribbean Cruises company fleet are getting rid of plastic straws, the company announced.

That will mean cruise lines including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, TUI Cruises, and Pullmantur Cruceros will all be free of plastic straws.

Last year, the company began implementing a “straws upon request” policy, and now those guests who ask for straws will only receive paper straws.

The company will also begin using Forrest Stewardship Council-certified wood coffee stirrers and bamboo garnish picks as part of a wider plastic reduction strategy.

“Healthy oceans are vital to the success of our company,” said Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “For over 25 years, our Save the Waves program has guided us to reduce, reuse, and recycle everything we can. Eliminating single-use plastics is another step in that program.”

Royal Caribbean said the next focus for the company would be to eliminate other single-use plastics like condiment packets, cups and bags.

The company is already undertaking a full “plastics audit,” with the overall plan set for completion by 2020.