Cruise Ducks: Tips, Rules & Everything You Need to Know

Table Of Content

• What To Do if You Find a Cruising Duck
• Carnival Ship Finishes Dry Dock, Brings New Features to Guests
• Why do people hide rubber ducks on cruise ships?
• ducks found by our family. We hid about 80 ourselves. Such a fun time hunting for ducks!
• Where to hide rubber ducks?
• Cruising Duck Game Rules
• Here’s What It Means if You See a Rubber Ducky on a Cruise Ship

This fun game is entirely unofficial, but finding and hiding ducks on cruise ships can be a fun activity during your next cruise, especially for kids. It’s similar to Jeep ducks, another hide-and-seek activity with toy ducks. There are several theories online about how the practice of hiding mini rubber ducks onboard cruise ships began. Some sites claim the practice of hiding ducks on ships dates back to at least 2015. Recently, Disney Cruise Line has put a stop to the tradition of hiding cruise ducks on their ships.

What To Do if You Find a Cruising Duck

The more you embrace the quirky nature of this scavenger hunt and the community it has inspired, the more you will get out of it. New and seasoned cruise duck enthusiasts can join these groups, participate in discussions, or ask questions. With platforms like Facebook and Instagram, enthusiasts have found a resourceful way to connect and share their passion for these adorable ducks.

Carnival Ship Finishes Dry Dock, Brings New Features to Guests

Cruisers often bring rubber ducks on cruises in an effort to have a bit of fun by hiding them throughout the ship. The ducks usually have information cards attached to them bearing the names of the people who hid them and where those passengers are from. As cruising ducks have gained popularity, there are a few ready to go cruise ducks sets available as well. In cruise duck facebook groups, people will post photos of their cruise ducks, tags and passports as they get ready for their upcoming cruise.

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Why do people hide rubber ducks on cruise ships?

Social media groups dedicated to the ducks continue to drive interest in the game, and finding even one duck can be a source of delight for folks of all ages. Similar to the painted rocks scavenger hunts, the hide-and-seek of ducks can add even more fun to every cruise sailing. Many cruise ships now offer claw games, where the prize is, you guessed it, a rubber duck. Drop us an anchor below to share the most creative cruise duck you’ve ever found. There are often social events on board various cruise ships that center around these delightful little toys.

Another fun twist to finding a cruise duck might be to post photos of your duck with you on all future cruises to share with fellow cruise duckers, or with friends and family at home. Cruise ducks come in a delightful variety of themes and styles, from festive rubber ducks dressed as Santa Claus to elegant ducks adorned with top hats. There are several types of cruise ducks, including Pirate, Christmas, Chef, Captain, Mermaid, Halloween, and Easter themed ones, to name a few. For those who prefer something simpler, plain cruise ducks are also an option.

If you find a duck, you can either keep it or re-hide it for someone else to find. Be sure to follow any rules or guidelines provided, and remember to avoid hiding ducks in areas like pools, hot tubs, or stores. One of the most popular ways my fellow cruisers engage with each other is through Facebook groups. Until I found a rubber duck hiding on a cruise ship, I didn’t realize the fun of it all.

My in-laws were happy to get my kids involved in that, and I was too. 🙈 Cabin hallways can be a great place to hide a duck, as many staterooms have small shelves outside of them. You can also consider creating custom ducks with your charity’s logo or message, which can be sold as souvenirs during your event. Abby’s adventure, however, seems to have kicked things into high gear and started a movement, the main purpose of which is simply to make other people smile.

Here’s What It Means if You See a Rubber Ducky on a Cruise Ship

While there are no official policies about cruise ducks, in general, crew members enjoy finding them and may keep or hide the ducks again themselves. Exciting to find and cheerful to share, cruise ducks come with a “hide or keep, you decide” philosophy. Some passengers love to re-hide ducks to bring joy to other passengers, while some collect ducks as whimsical vacation souvenirs.

Tips for Finding Cruise Ducks

They hid 7 ducks per day, and as the cruise went on they started to spot people who were clearly looking for the ducks. This one fun little cruise activity gave birth to the cruising ducks craze we see today. So, the next time you find yourself on a cruise, join in the fun and share the joy of discovering and hiding cruising ducks with others. As a seasoned cruise duck enthusiast, I’ve picked up a few tricks for hiding ducks cleverly and creatively onboard a cruise ship. 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.

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The story behind cruise ducks and how to hide your own.

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You can hide it on the cruise you’re currently on, or hold on to it for hiding on a future cruise. At a minimum, the tag should tell the duck's finders that they can either keep or re-hide the duck and the places that are off-limits. It should also encourage them to share the ducks they find online.

You can sell the ducks to passengers, and the proceeds can go to a chosen charity. Some participants get creative, preparing “passports” for their ducks that include information like the ship they are on, cruising dates, and where they are from. This not only adds to the fun but also fosters a sense of community among the cruise duck fans. What started as a playful tradition has now blossomed into a cherished activity aboard cruise ships worldwide. Moreover, the use of hashtags plays a significant role in connecting people on a global level.

Regardless of its origins, this tradition has become even more popular since the cruise restart in 2021. Remember that not everyone has internet while cruising or social media (Facebook or Instagram). 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. On a previous cruise, my in-laws found a duck in a face mask hammock with a tiny face mask over its bill.

They are purposely placed by passengers for others to find on all types of cruises—not just the best family cruises or themed cruises. The ducks are almost like secret cruise ship code words, but in a cute, plastic way. There’s a meaning behind them that you’re probably going to become obsessed with. Trust me—I’ve been there, done that, and participating in this tradition is something you won’t want to miss on your next cruise.

Remember, participating in the cruising duck tradition is all about having fun, making connections, and creating unforgettable memories. They even use the hashtag #cruisingducks to make it easier for duck hunters to share their finds. 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.