Table Of Content
If simply spotting a duck is enough for you, then you can leave it alone and let someone else find it. Some people just take a photo to show they found it and then let it be. Once you find a duck, you have the option to decide what to do with it. However, other stories state that it started earlier on the Carnival Cruise Line.
Duck, duck, cruise: What to know about rubber ducks on cruise ships
But we’re pulling back the curtain on the mystery of cruising ducks, including how to find one, how to hide one, and how it all started. Cruise ducks are a fun and popular activity where passengers hide rubber ducks around the ship for others to find. To participate, you can get special duck tags and passports by joining the ‘Cruising Ducks – Original Group’ Facebook group, which offers them for download. However, there are important rules to follow when hiding your ducks to ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment. Cruising ducks originated as a fun, interactive game where passengers hide and seek small rubber ducks around the cruise ship. It gained popularity through social media and has since become a popular tradition on many cruise lines.
Hiding Places
No telling how many of these rubber/plastic ducks also end up in the Ocean. 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. The cruising ducks game is really just meant for fun, so an important element is to use the message “Keep or Hide, You Decide” on the cruise duck tag. Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald has commented on cruising ducks, and encourages the fun aboard the Carnival cruise ship fleet. On Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-Class ships, Central Park is a very popular place to find and hide cruise ducks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiding Ducks on a Cruise
Check out the files section for resources like templates you can print out, and events where others in the group may be cruising with you. Many more ideas are posted with Cruising Duck Facebook communities, so definitely check the out. Since that time, they started the Facebook group, Cruising Ducks – Original Group, which now has over 180,000 members. According to Abby’s dad Ashley, they never thought the group would get this big and that this “kindness project” would catch on as it has. When you find a duck, you can keep it as a souvenir, re-hide it in a new spot, or return it for another guest to see.
What do you put on cruise duck tags?
Also, the ducks you hide shouldn’t be placed too high or in hard-to-reach areas, so they’re accessible to most passengers without the need to move things around. It’s got to the point that even the cruise companies themselves are getting involved and even inspiring new duck designs. Have you seen the duck themed after Carnival cruise line’s brand ambassador John Heald? Always remember to be respectful of the crew members and the hard work they put into maintaining the ship and ensuring a pleasant experience for everyone on board. When hiding your ducks, make sure not to create any obstacles or problems for staff.
Cruise ducks trace their origins back to the popular hobby of geocaching, where people hide small items or trinkets for others to find. This practice has evolved within the cruise community, where travelers began hiding rubber ducks around the ship for fellow passengers to discover. 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.
Finding a couple of rubber ducks on a cruise brought out my inner child and reminded me how the little things in life could be good fun. So on our two next cruises, there are a couple of ducks I plan on hiding myself for the first time. You can hide a cruise duck on any cruise line, from Disney to Royal Caribbean to Carnival and more, from the biggest cruise ships to the smallest.
No further details about why Disney Cruise Line discourages the practice have been released or confirmed. A tag tied around the ducks’ necks often shares the name of the person or people behind the duck, as well as their sailing. This means avoiding private spaces such as restrooms, locker rooms, spa areas, and anywhere food is served, to maintain cleanliness and sanitation.
Disney Cruise Line stops guests hiding rubber ducks on board as popular trend is banned - Express
Disney Cruise Line stops guests hiding rubber ducks on board as popular trend is banned.
Posted: Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Look online and you’ll find all sorts of Facebook groups for finding ducks on cruise ships, or you might see them posted on the group of a specific cruise sailing. Most cruise lines haven’t said one way or the other on whether leaving these ducks around the ship is allowed. In fact, Carnival Cruise Line recently said that they embrace the fun to be had by hiding these little ducks. Almost all of the cruise crew know about “duck hunting” and know not to throw them away.
Not everyone will post a photo of your hidden duck, and that’s ok. This might look like a tag or card attached to the duck that normally includes a bit of information about the cruiser or family who has hidden them. Additionally, the card sometimes explains the gist of the game and suggests where to tag or post a duck photo to spread the good word. Some even have a QR code to scan, which fits a ton more information on such a tiny note. Interestingly, the idea of cruise ducks shares a connection with the painted-rocks craze, which is about hiding and finding decorated rocks. Both activities tap into the human instinct for exploration and the delight in uncovering hidden objects.
As you walk around the ship and discover rubber ducks, you can keep them as souvenirs or re-hide them for others to find. All cruise travelers know that crew members are incredibly hard-working already, and it is best to avoid giving them more work. There are now multiple Facebook groups dedicated to the activity. The Cruising Ducks - Original group page alone has more than 192,000 members. 🙈 The lido deck is a popular place for cruisers to hang out on sea days.
A duck tag is essential for bringing your cruise duck to life and sending it on its journey. The tag gives your ducky its backstory and instructions so that each finder can participate in the fun. Origami ducks come in various shapes and colors, each a small masterpiece.
Oftentimes, there will be a note attached that states the duck's origin. Firstly, never hide ducks in places like pools, hot tubs, shops, or the ocean. For example, someone might get hurt trying to get a duck from a pool or hot tub, or it could look like theft if a duck is found in a shop. Also, accidentally dropping ducks into the ocean is harmful to the environment.
However, there is a rule that cruise ducks can’t be hidden in shops, pools and hot tubs. People hide ducks on a cruise, and other cruisers look for the ducks. Sometimes this is referred to as Duck Hunting (in the sweetest way). There is a lot of debate about whether or not cruise lines approve of hidden ducks or not.
They also found a duck with a homemade sombrero and tiny guitar. 🔎 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. "Carnival Cruising Ducks," for instance, has 64,000 members, whereas "Disney Cruising Ducks" has 19,000.
If you're new to cruising, you might not be aware of the cruise duck tradition. While a relatively new phenomenon, hiding ducks on a cruise ship is a fun activity that connects cruisers from across the world. You might, for instance, find a duck hidden by a couple in West Virginia, even though you're from Los Angeles.
No comments:
Post a Comment