Royal Caribbean is shaking it up in plastic revolution

IT was Vanessa, or Mother Turtle, as I christened her, who first pricked my conscience as to the problem of plastic in our oceans and particularly her beloved adopted island of Kuramathi in the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.

Eco warrior Vanessa wanted all straws in the island to be paper.

I was reminded of her crusade, although she had already more than persuaded me to join the Great Cause back on Kuramathi, while talking to Royal Caribbean International UK and Ireland manager Ben Bouldin on board the multi-million refurb of Independence of the Seas at the weekend.

Ben had restated Royal’s mission statement to remove plastic altogether from their ships by 2020, and earlier if possible, but had raised the problem of straws and particularly paper straws in milk shakes.

The subject of seaweed straws was raised as a possible solution, with the seaweed edible, I’m thinking kelp here.

Whatever they come up with, I’m confident our cruise companies will find it so that the inhabitants of our seas and oceans can con- tinue to live and play just as freely as those who cruise them, and that our children can go on and enjoy their milk shakes knowing they are doing their part too.

I’ll share my experience of my couple of days on Indy in the English Channel in the coming weeks but for now check out www.royalcaribbean.ie for best offers.

How about these for a taster. three nights Taste of Paris & Bruges from €1,028pp based on two people sharing, €2,056 for two guests, sail August 25 or Taste of Netherlands & Bruges from €559 per person, based on two sharing, €1,118 for two guests, sail on August 28.

And if you find yourself, standing next to this oul’ beardy bloke in the jacuzzi, mine’s a Strawberry Daiquiri.