Thursday, April 11, 2024

Cruise culture: Why people hide rubber ducks on ships

rubber ducks on cruise ships

Our of all the crazy changes we've seen to cruising since the re-start, cruise ducks are hands down one of the most wholesome and welcome additions to our pre-cruise planning process. It also gives you that extra bit of incentive to explore every aspect of the cruise ship rather than simply running from one place to the next. As well as being a popular activity on cruise ships, these little rubber ducks are also often used for fundraising and charity efforts.

rubber ducks on cruise ships

What To Do if You Find a Cruising Duck

Some people create their own ducks by knitting or crocheting them, while others have been creating home made keychains. It’s pretty incredible to see how creative people are getting with this cruise trend. 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. That said, you must always prioritize the safety and cleanliness of the ship and its passengers. It’s crucial not to interfere with the ship’s property or operations while placing a cruise duck.

The History Of Cruising Ducks

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The tag gives your ducky its backstory and instructions so that each finder can participate in the fun. As someone who spends too much time looking for the best cruise ducks, I can recommend and trust a few sources I have used. Sometimes the ducks are adorned with a tag or label of the person/family that placed them or the date of the cruise and the ship. It was still fun for the kids and a great lesson in doing things for others, with nothing expected in return.

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You may not want to send your kids on a scavenger hunt unless you know there is something to be found. As A Crew Member If They've Seen Any Ducks - Ok, so this is sort of cheating but many of the crew have probably seen ducks hiding in different places and left them there for guests to discover. In fact, according to some officers that I've spoken with, most crew are very aware of the cruise ducks game and have been instructed to not throw them away. You might get lucky and meet a crew member who saw one recently who can direct you to where they think it might be. For the more experienced duck fanatic, Etsy is a great platform to find even more unique and personalized cruising ducks.

Cruise ducks are small plastic or rubber ducks that cruise passengers hide in different areas of the cruise ship. You can buy traditional yellow rubber ducks or show off your personality with fun themed ducks. Passengers purchase rubber ducks, customize them with mini tags, and discreetly hide them in spots around the cruise ship. Fellow cruisers then try to locate the ducks, take pictures, and often re-hide them for the next person to experience the fun. Some of the ducks are your standard yellow rubber ducks, but many people have gotten creative with teeny tiny ducks or extra large ducks that they bedazzle to their heart’s delight. Any rubber duck you want to hide is fair game, so go ahead and add them to your cruise packing list.

The Story Behind The Cruise Phenomenon And Why People Hide Rubber Ducks

In addition to the community-driven aspect of cruise ducks, the influence of social media has given rise to an elevated sense of purpose. We’d guess that cruises during the summer and holidays when there are more kids sailing are more apt to have a greater number of ducks as it seems to be popular with families. In other words, it could be that your cruise has a lot of ducks to find or fewer than normal. 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.

Why Do People Hide Rubber Ducks on Cruise Ships: Cruise Ducks 101

Your fellow cruisers will appreciate your effort and enjoy the excitement of finding your little quacky friends hidden around the ship. Thankfully, most cruise lines have embraced the tradition of hiding and finding cruise ducks. However, as policies and practices evolve, the future of this beloved activity could be subject to change across different cruise lines. Some cruisers recall finding rubber ducks on cruises as early as 2015. Although it wasn’t until Abby’s initiative in 2018 that the activity exploded in popularity.

🙈 The lido deck is a popular place for cruisers to hang out on sea days. Since ducks love the water, why not place one near the pool or underneath a nearby lounger? Of course, you won't want to place one directly in the water, as the rocking of the ship will quickly move it! Additionally, if a young child happens to spot a duck in the water, they could endanger themselves by reaching for it and accidentally falling in.

Of course we also did it on Princess, Carnival, and our most recent voyage on Norwegian Encore during our Alaska cruise. Of course, it doesn’t take long for a cruise company to spot something they might be able to make a profit from. Many cruise ship gift shops now offer exclusive, themed cruising ducks that you can purchase. Following these guidelines will help everyone enjoy the hunt safely and respectfully. Cruise ducks are small rubber ducks that passengers buy and hide around the ship for others to find.

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. 🔎 Search the popular gathering areas, such as the atrium, lido deck, and other public venues that tend to see a lot of foot traffic. You might have to get a little creative with where you look, though. Rather than searching on top of the pool chairs, for instance, check underneath. 🔎 Begin your search early in the morning or late at night when the majority of the ship's passengers are either sound asleep or preoccupied with evening entertainment.

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. A tag tied around the ducks’ necks often shares the name of the person or people behind the duck, as well as their sailing. When sailing on Carnival Breeze in 2018 with her family, Abby brought 50 little ducks to hide around the ship.

In short, not really, but there are some common sense (and common courtesy) things to consider when hiding a duck on a cruise. Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips. When hiding you want to make it a challenge (so don’t just set it in the middle of a table somewhere), but not so hard that it won’t be found before the end of the cruise. Perhaps the nicest thing to do is to “pay it forward” with the duck. When you find it, grab it and then find a new hiding place for someone else to discover.

Many guests also choose ducks with themes to match their hometowns – cowboy ducks for Texas cruisers, for example – or to represent their favorite sports teams, careers, animals, or military branches. Some ducks are used to help raise awareness of individual causes, or to celebrate a special someone. I’ve scrolled through a few and have seen so any great ideas for ducks and tags. If you like the passport printable shown in the above photo, Dee has kindly created a printable which is available in the Cruising Ducks – Original Group Facebook community.

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