Cruise ducks: all about hiding ducks on a cruise ship

Table Of Content

• How does one participate in the cruise duck tradition?
• Searching for rubber ducks? Where should you look?
• Cruise Ducks: A How-To Guide for Hiders and Seekers
• Cruising Duck Facebook Groups
• If you want to hide ducks of your own on your next cruise, here are a few resources:
• What the duck? Why people hide these kiddie toys on cruises — and how you can, too
• Why Participate in the Cruise Duck Tradition?

"I've found a ton of Cruising Ducks! Even my husband is in on it. He loves finding ducks and giving them to me, as it always puts a big smile on my face." We didn’t find any ducks ourselves, though several other fellow passengers hid some too. Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.

How does one participate in the cruise duck tradition?

The first one to reach the finish line wins a prize, and the funds raised through the duck sales are donated to a worthy cause. Tags are usually attached with simple rubber bands and the tags are normally laminated or made from durable material. With that being said, here are some tips to help you maximize your efforts when it comes to hunting for those elusive ducks. Today, while there are thousands of smaller discussions happening in individual roll-call threads and cruise forums, there are more than 131,000 people in the main Cruising Ducks group on Facebook. You can also follow the hashtag #CruisingDucks on Instagram as well as other variations. Remember that not everyone has internet while cruising or social media (Facebook or Instagram).

Searching for rubber ducks? Where should you look?

Each duck is usually tagged with a note that might share where the duck came from or instructions for what to do upon finding it. It’s a fun, unspoken rule that once you find a duck, you can either keep it as a souvenir or re-hide it, allowing the fun to continue for others. Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald has commented on cruising ducks, and encourages the fun aboard the Carnival cruise ship fleet. The project was a rousing success, with one duck “hiding” in plain sight for three days before being found.

Cruise Ducks: A How-To Guide for Hiders and Seekers

Before a cruise, passengers will purchase (or craft) ducks to hide around the ship for others to find. Oftentimes, there will be a note attached that states the duck's origin. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. The traditional cruise duck is a small rubber duck, similar to the classic bathtub toy, but that’s only the beginning of the fun.

Cruising Duck Facebook Groups

The tops of signs, sitting on tables or chairs, atop a piano, in corners, or in a ship’s atrium are other popular places to hide cruise ducks. Some cruisers also choose to leave a duck in their stateroom for their attendant or future cruisers to find. If you cruise during the holiday season, you might come across Christmas cruise ducks. These festive rubber ducks are often dressed up as Santa Claus, reindeer, or snowmen, and they can add a touch of holiday cheer to your journey.

When hiding your ducks, make sure they’re visible and not tucked away somewhere inaccessible. And if you find a duck, capture a photo and share it on the Cruising Ducks Facebook group. This is a great way to connect with other players and keep a record of all your finds. Maybe you’ve seen pictures of passenger finds posted on Facebook. Or perhaps you’ve gone on a cruise and seen a little rubber duckie sitting in a corner, seemingly hidden but also out of place.

Tags will also include a Facebook group or social media hashtag to use when posting online. While the easiest way to start is with hunting for ducks onboard, many of the advisors TMR spoke with have as much – or more – fun hiding ducks. In the early Cruise Duck days, a few ducks would show up here and there, mostly on Carnival Cruise Line vessels, but they soon jumped ship, expanding to almost every major cruise line out there. The “cruise duck tags” usually contain a story about the passenger or a heartfelt message to the person who finds it.

Carnival Addresses Yet Another Cruising Duck Controversy - Cruise Hive

Carnival Addresses Yet Another Cruising Duck Controversy.

Posted: Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

What the duck? Why people hide these kiddie toys on cruises — and how you can, too

Something to remember if you do embark on hiding ducks on your next cruise, is that you may never know who found your duck (although you might). Even so, your special duck probably brought a smile to someone and could mean more than you know. That way, you can post when you find one of these cute rubber duckies, and the hider can see that they have been found.

In otherwords, when you find a duck hidden somewhere on your ship - either add your own tag or write a quick note to pass on to the next person. This keeps the fun going so other people can have the excitement of finding a duck. If you join Cruising Ducks Original Group, you’ll actually be able to download tags and passports for your cruising ducks. Before you can do this, you do have to join the Facebook Group, but it’s free and a nice group of people who really just want to contribute to the fun.

It’s a small gesture that can add a memorable twist to someone’s cruise. After you’ve spent time following these tips and hopefully finding some cruise ducks, remember to share your success and experiences with others. Posting your finds on social media or cruise forums not only spreads joy but also encourages more passengers to participate in this fun activity. If you hide a duck, consider leaving hints for others to find it.

While the trend dates back to at least 2015, most people credit the trend’s popularity to a 10-year-old girl named Abby Davis. Adam's goal is to enhance your cruising adventures with practical tips and insightful advice, making each of your journeys unforgettable. Other options to check for buying ducks are local discount or dollar stores, as well as flea markets that may have bulk toy vendors. Online auction sites like eBay may also have great deals on ducks perfect for cruising.

For example, the ‘Cruise Ducks – Original Group’ on Facebook has many you can use. If you’re feeling creative, there’s also the option to decorate or make your own ducks from scratch, although this could be too much work for some. Also, make sure that the tags or labels on your ducks are family-friendly, with no inappropriate content, as people of all ages may find them. This helps keep the game fun and suitable for everyone on board. While there are always those who hate ducks and think the practice should be banned, no cruise line has yet added “little rubber ducks” to its list of prohibited items. Some even keep ducks until their next cruise, or photograph them on different adventures at different ports of call, even on different ships as they travel the cruising world.

It is optional to put a passport on your cruising ducks but it makes the activity better since people can contact you and share your ducks on social media while tagging you to say thanks. There's nothing bad about this but if your objective is to randomly convert someone who finds your duck into a new client ... So first off, there's no regulations on packing cruise ducks in your luggage and hiding these ducks on the ship. Additionally, you should avoid hiding ducks in shops since the act of placing or picking something up could be misinterpretted.

Beyond that, you really have the flexibility to be as creative as possible. Because of the bright yellow color of the ducks, they do stick out if you leave them somewhere open. I’ve read various stories about who started this tradition and when it started.

Handcrafted ducks are a popular favorite, or basic ducks may be hand-decorated with extra bling. Many cruisers are opting for even more unique ducks with key chains, magnets, hair barrettes, or plush toys. If you’re planning your next cruise, consider joining the cruise duck movement. It’s an easy, cost-effective way to add an extra dimension of fun to your journey. Of course, as we all know, every party has that notorious pooper. Perhaps not surprisingly, given how big the whole cruising duck phenomenon has become, this particular party has attracted several varieties of complainers on Facebook.