On many tours, rubber ducks can be found peeking out of random hiding places, beckoning passengers to pick them up and read their accompanying information tags. Maybe you’ll find one hidden behind a plant by the Doe family of Springfield or one carefully placed somewhere on a buffet by the Smiths of Greenville.
What is a duck, you may ask, is it a contract to hide ducks on cruise ships?
As a duck hider, let me show you this famous beach game. Whether you’re ready to hide ducks on a cruise or want to send your kids on a duck hunting trip, you’ll need to get your ducks in a row before you set sail.
Cruise ship rubber ducks, he explained
Cruisers often bring rubber ducks on cruises in an attempt to have a little fun by hiding them throughout the ship. Ducks usually have information cards attached to them with the names of the people they have hidden and where those passengers are from.
What started in 2018 as a good deed by a 10-year-old girl named Abby – who just wanted to make other passengers smile – has now grown to include several Facebook groups with hundreds of thousands of members. In these groups, cruisers discuss the ducks they’ve ordered, the best places to buy them, the smartest places to hide them after they’re gone and the best ways to attach information tags.
The largest group I’ve been able to find – yes, I’m a member – is Cruising Ducks – Original, which encourages people to share photos of ducks they plan to hide and ducks they’ve found on board. Think of it a bit like geocaching, but easier – and with ducks.
What to do when you find cruise ship ducks
If you find a duck, the next step is easy. Take a picture of yourself and the duck you found and post it to Cruising Ducks – The Original Facebook Group. Say the name of the person you hid. You may also choose to reach out to thank you if you provide contact information on a card attached to the duck.
Then, keep your new friend to take home as a souvenir or re-hide them according to the rules below.
Rules for hiding ducks on cruises
It may sound silly, but there are rules for hiding rubber ducks on cruises. The first is that you should never put it in a pool or hot tub. You wouldn’t want an excited child or a drunk passenger to fall in and drown or hurt themselves while trying to pick it up.
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Second, don’t hide the ducks from any of the stalls on board. If someone finds it hidden there and tries to take it with them, it may appear that they are stealing something.
Third, do not place ducks where they may fall into the water. It’s a big no-no to throw anything into the ocean, even by accident.
When choosing ducks, the sky is the limit. I have seen everything from small ducks to hundreds of feet long. You can find simple, classic yellow ducks in bulk online or you can choose to go out and buy custom ones in a color or design that suits your personality. You can also choose to order simple ones and decorate them yourself with feathers, glitter or paint. Really, anything goes thematically.
Some participants even choose to change it up a bit by hiding other duck-themed toys or items, such as duck key chains, hand-crocheted ducks, duck-shaped Hot Wheels cars or mini LEGO kits.
On my most recent sailing trip, I won some inexpensive ducks by playing a game of claw in the onboard arcade, and I used spare hair ties to attach my business card to them. It was a last minute development, but boy, was it fun. The disguise also made the young daughter of one of my companions busy in the afternoon.
On the tags, be sure to include your name and where you are from, as well as instructions for the people receiving your little ones. Common terms usually look like this:
“Oh, good luck. You found a duck! Keep or hide, you decide. You found a walking duck hidden [name] from [city, state, country]. Hide in public places only – no pools, hot tubs or shops. Take a picture, post it to the Facebook group Cruising Ducks – Original.”
At the very least, the tag should tell duck finders that they can keep or re-hide the duck and areas that are not allowed. It should also encourage them to share the ducks they find online. You can also choose to enter additional information, such as a QR code or your email address.
Cruise lines that have banned cruises
For reasons unknown, several cruise lines have recently dropped duck hides. In particular, Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line have asked passengers to avoid hiding rubber ducks on cruises. Although there are no hard consequences to hide anyway, it is good to be aware of these line policies.
Bottom line
When hiding ducks, make sure you stick to the rules. If you find a duck, or keep it or re-hide it, be sure to post a photo according to the instructions attached to this article.
Hiding rubber ducks on cruise ships is a fun way to bond with other passengers on your next cruise, and a fun pastime for days at sea. Whether you find a duck and contact the people who hid it or hide your own flock so that others can reach you, it can help you make new friends from all corners of the world.
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