You are walking down a long hallway on a giant ship. The carpet is soft, and the lights are bright. You are headed to get some food or maybe to sit by the pool. Suddenly, you see something small and bright sitting on a ledge. You walk closer to it. It is a tiny yellow rubber duck. It has a little tag tied around its neck with a piece of string. You look around to see if someone dropped it. Nobody is there. You pick it up and read the tag. It says that you found a treasure and you can keep it or hide it again.
This is not a mistake. You just found one of the many cruise ducks that people hide on ships all over the world. These rubber ducks on cruise ships are part of a huge game. It is a game that thousands of people play every single day. People from all over the world join in. It does not matter if you are five years old or ninety years old. Everyone loves finding surprises.
In this article, we will talk about everything you need to know about this fun hobby. We will talk about what cruise ducks are and why they are so big right now. We will look at how the game started and how you can join in the fun on your next trip.
What is a Cruise Duck?
If you are new to the world of ships and sea travel, you might ask what a cruise duck exactly is. The answer is simple. A cruise duck is a rubber duck that a passenger brings onto a ship to hide for others to find.
These ducks come in all shapes and sizes. Some are the classic yellow ducks we all know from bath time.Others look like pirates or sailors or even mermaids.You might find a duck that looks like a doctor or a duck that looks like a taco. There are ducks for every holiday and every job.
The most important part of what cruise ducks are is the tag. Almost every duck has a tag. This tag usually tells you a few things:
- The name of the person who hid it
- Where are they from
- The name of the ship
- The date of the trip
- A request to post a photo online
These tiny toys turn the whole ship into a giant treasure map. It makes walking from your room to the dining room a lot more fun.
Why Do People Hide Ducks on Cruises?
You might wonder why people hide ducks on cruises in the first place! It seems like a lot of work to buy ducks and bring them in your bag. But the reason is very simple. It is about making people smile.
When you find a duck, it feels like a little win. It is a happy moment on your day. People who hide them say they love the feeling of giving a gift to a stranger. They like to think about the kid or the adult who will find their duck and feel happy.
Another reason why people hide ducks on cruises is the sense of group fun. There are huge groups on the internet where people talk about their ducks. They share pictures of the ducks they bought. They show off the tags they made. It helps people feel like they are part of a big club.
The game is also a great way to meet new people. If you see someone looking under a bench or peering into a plant, they might be finding ducks on cruise ships. You can stop and talk to them. You might make a new friend because of a small plastic toy.
The History of the Game
How did this start? It did not start with the ship companies. It started with the passengers. The story goes that a young girl named Abby and her family who started it several years ago. They wanted to do something nice for others while they were on their trip. They brought some ducks and hid them around the ship.
They also started a group on Facebook called Cruising Ducks. At first, it was small. But then more people saw the ducks. They joined the group and started doing it too. Now that group has hundreds of thousands of members.
It grew because it is an easy thing to do. It does not cost a lot of money. You do not need special skills. You just need a duck and a tag. Now you can find ducks on cruise ships almost every time you go on a trip. It has become a big part of the culture of being at sea.
Hiding Ducks on Cruises: The Basic Rules
Even though this is a fun game, there are some rules you should follow. These rules keep the game safe and keep the ship clean. If you want to start hiding ducks on cruises, you should know these things.
Where Not to Hide Ducks?
The most important rule is to keep the ship safe. You should never hide a duck in a place where it could fall into the ocean. Ducks are made of plastic, and we do not want plastic in the water.
- Do not put ducks on the railings of the ship.
- Do not put them on your balcony where the wind can blow them away.
- Avoid lifeboats or any safety gear.
- Do not put them inside the pools or hot tubs.
- Keep them out of the shops on the ship because workers might think they are for sale.
Great Hiding Spots
The best spots are places where people will see them, but where they are a little bit tucked away.
- Inside the leaves of a fake plant.
- On a shelf in the library.
- Near the elevators.
- On a ledge in the hallway.
- In the corner of a lounge area.
When you hide a duck, you want it to be found. Do not hide it so well that nobody will ever see it. The fun is in the finding.
The Do's and Don'ts
| Do This | Do Not Do This |
|---|---|
| Use a tag with your info | Hide ducks in the water |
| Take a photo when you find one | Hide ducks in the buffet food |
| Hide them in public areas | Put ducks on safety equipment |
| Be kind to other hunters | Hide them in the ship stores |
| Keep the duck or hide it again | Throw ducks overboard\ |
Finding Ducks on Cruise Ships
If you are the one doing the finding, there are a few things you should know. Finding ducks on cruise ships is exciting. When you see one, your heart might jump a little.
What to Do When You Find One
First, you should check the tag. The tag will tell you what the owner wants. Most of the time, it will say "Keep or Hide." This means you have a choice. If you really love the duck, you can take it home with you. It is your prize. If you want to keep the game going, you can hide it again in a new spot.
Many tags ask you to take photos. They might give you the name of a group on the internet. People love to see where their ducks end up. It is fun for the person who hid it to know that someone found it and liked it.
Being a Good Duck Hunter
If you are duck hunting on cruise ships, you should be polite. Do not run in the hall. Do not push other people out of the way. If you see a group of kids looking for ducks, let them find some. Some people try to find as many as they can. They might find ten or twenty ducks in one week. While this is fun, try to leave some for others. The joy of the game is for everyone on the ship.
Preparing Your Ducks for the Trip
If you decide you want to bring rubber ducks on cruise ships, you need to get ready before you leave home. This part of the process can be just as much fun as the trip itself.
Buying Your Ducks
You can buy ducks in many places. Many people buy them online. You can get a bag of fifty or one hundred ducks for a low price.
Think about the time of year. If you cruise in October, you might want to get ducks that look like ghosts or pumpkins. If it is December, maybe ducks with Santa hats. If you are going to a place with a lot of sun, maybe wear sunglasses.
Making Your Tags
Your tag is how you talk to the person who finds your duck. You can make them on your computer or write them by hand.
What should your tag say?
- A Greeting: Something like "Oh, hello! You found a cruise duck!"
- Your Info: Your name and where you live.
- The Trip Info: The name of the ship and the dates you are there.
- Instructions: Tell them to keep it or hide it.
- Social Media: Mention the Facebook group "Cruising Ducks" so they can post a photo.
Many people use a little plastic bag to keep the tag dry. You can use a hole punch and some ribbon or a rubber band to attach the tag to the duck. Make sure it is on tight, so it does not fall off.
Packing Your Ducks
Ducks can take up a lot of room in your suitcase. Some people use big bags that pull the air out to make them flat. But rubber ducks do not flatten well.
You might want to put them inside your shoes or in spaces between your clothes. Some people bring a whole separate bag just for their ducks. It shows how much people love this hobby.
Duck Hunting on Cruise Ships: Tips for Success
If you want to be great at duck hunting on cruise ships, you need a plan. You do not just walk around and hope to see one. You have to look in the right way.
Look High and Low
People hide ducks at different heights. Kids might hide them low to the ground. Adults might put them on a high shelf. You have to move your eyes up and down as you walk.
Check the New Spots
The best time to look is in the morning. People often go out late at night or early in the morning to hide their ducks. If you are up early, you might find the best ones.
Check the areas that people do not use as much. A quiet corner in a lounge or a small hallway near the back of the ship can be a gold mine for ducks.
Look at the Plants
The fake plants on ships are the most common place for ducks on cruise ships. People love to nestle them in the leaves. It makes the duck look like it is hiding in a jungle. Just be careful not to hurt the plant while you are looking.
The Community of Cruise Ducks
One of the best things about this obsession is the community. It is not just about toys. It is about people.
Online Groups
There are many groups on social media for this hobby. The biggest one is on Facebook. People post pictures of their ducks months before their trip. They ask for advice on where to buy the best ducks. They share stories of the ducks they found.
When you are on your ship, you can check these groups. Sometimes people will give hints. They might post a photo of a duck and say, "I just hid this near the coffee shop on deck five!" Then it becomes a race to see who can get there first.
Meeting Other Cruisers
You will see people wearing shirts that say, "I hide ducks." Or they might have a bag with a duck on it. This is a great way to start a conversation. You can ask them if they have had any luck finding ducks on cruise ships.
Many people make lifelong friends this way. You start by talking about plastic ducks, and you end up sitting together at dinner. It helps make a giant ship feel like a small town.
What Do Ship Companies Think?
You might wonder if the workers on the ship like ducks. For a long time, the ship companies did not say much about it. But as it got more popular, they had to pay attention.
Most of the big ship lines like Carnival cruise lines and Royal Caribbean cruise lines are fine with it. They know it makes the guests happy. They just ask people to follow the rules. They do not want ducks in the water, and they do not want ducks to block any safety signs.
Sometimes the crew members even join in. A room steward might find a duck in a hallway and move it to a fun spot. Some crew members have their own collection of ducks in their rooms. It brings a bit of fun to their workday, too.
However, if a duck is left in a place that is on the way, the crew will pick it up and throw it away. That is why it is important to hide them in good spots.
Why Is This an Obsession?
Why do people call it an obsession? Because for some people it is more than just a game. It is a big part of why they love to travel by ship.
The Thrill of the Hunt
There is something in our brains that loves to find things. It is like an egg hunt at Easter, but it lasts for a whole week. That feeling of spotting a bit of yellow in a sea of blue and grey is very exciting.
The Creative Part
People spend hours making their ducks look special. They might dress them up. They might paint them. They make very pretty tags with glitter and ribbons. This creative work is a big part of fun.
The Story
Every duck has a story. On the tag you might see that a duck was hidden by a family celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Or maybe it was hidden by a kid who is on their very first trip. When you find that duck you become a part of their story.
Different Kinds of Ducks You Might Find
When you are duck hunting on cruise ships, you will see that not all ducks are the same. Some are very rare and special.
The Special Ducks
- Handmade Ducks: Some people knit or crochet little ducks. These are very special because they took a lot of time to make them.
- Large Ducks: Most ducks are small. But once in a while, you might find a giant duck. These are hard to hide and very exciting to find.
- Themed Ducks: You might find a duck that matches the place you are visiting. If you are in Alaska, you might find a duck dressed like a bear. If you are in Caribbean, you might find a duck with a tiny straw hat.
- Non-Duck Animals: Sometimes people hide other things. You might find a rubber pig or a tiny dinosaur. These are still called cruise ducks in the game.
Tips for Your First Duck Adventure
If you are going on a trip soon and want to try this, here is a short guide to get you started.
- Start Small: You do not need to bring one hundred ducks. Start with ten or twenty.
- Get Good Tags: Make sure your tags are strong. If the tag falls off, the duck is just a toy with no story.
- Involve the Family: If you have kids, let them help hide the ducks. They will love it.
- Join the Group: Find the Facebook group for your specific ship and date. Many people make a group just for one sailing.
- Have Fun: Do not worry too much about finding ducks. Just keep your eyes open and enjoy the surprises.
How to Get Started Now
You do not have to wait for your trip to start. You can order your ducks today. You can start designing your tags. You can talk to other people online.
The fun of a trip starts long before you get to the ship. Planning your duck hiding is part of that excitement.
Final Checklist for Duck Hiders
- Buy a variety of fun ducks.
- Print or write your tags.
- Attach tags securely.
- Pack them in your suitcase.
- Learn the ship map to find good hiding spots.
- Get your camera ready to take photos of your ducks in their new homes.
Final Checklist for Duck Hunters
- Join the Facebook groups for your trip.
- Learn to look at plants and on ledges.
- Be ready to share your finds online.
- Decide if you will keep or re-hide what you find.
- Always be polite to other guests and the crew.
The world of cruise ducks is waiting for you. It is a world of fun and friendship and tiny yellow treasures. Get ready for your next trip and join the obsession. It is the best way to add a little extra magic to your time at sea.
