People Are Hiding Rubber Ducks All Over Cruise Ships, But Not Everyone’s Loving It

You’re halfway through your cruise, slightly sunburnt, cocktail in hand, when something catches your eye behind a fake plant in the atrium.

A tiny rubber duck. Wearing sunglasses. Just… chilling.

No, you haven’t had one too many piña coladas — this is 100% a thing.

Welcome to the cruise duck craze — the bizarre (but surprisingly charming) trend where cruise passengers hide rubber ducks all over the ship for others to find. It’s like Pokémon Go, but with plastic birds and a lot more buffet stops.

Some say it’s a brilliant way to spread joy on the high seas. Others reckon it’s just a floating landfill waiting to happen.

Yep — the cruise duck wars have begun.

So… What Even Are Cruise Ducks?

At first glance, it sounds like a weird fever dream: people sneaking aboard cruise ships with suitcases full of rubber ducks… just to hide them in random places.

But that’s exactly what’s happening.

Cruise ducks are little plastic or rubber ducks that passengers stash all over the ship — behind cushions, under lounge chairs, next to elevators — for others to find. Most come with tiny tags saying where they’re from, why they’re there, or just offering a cheerful message.

If you find one, you’ve got options: keep it as a souvenir (trophy, obviously), or re-hide it for someone else to discover. Either way, you’re now officially part of the duck game.

And yes, there are entire Facebook groups like Cruising Ducks – Original Group (with over 310,000 members) dedicated to this. People post photos of the ducks they’ve hidden or found, share travel stories, and show off their most creative duck outfits.

Also, the hashtags #CruiseDucks and #CruisingDucks are all over Instagram. There’s even a free app called Sea Ducks, which lets you track ducks, leave clues, and battle it out on a ship-wide leaderboard. 

How Did This Madness Start?

Like most strange internet-born trends, it all started with a kid, a holiday, and a brilliant idea.

Back in 2018, 11-year-old Abby Davis boarded the Carnival Breeze with 50 rubber ducks and a plan: to hide a few every day of the cruise. Her dad, Ashley, helped her sneak the ducks into sneaky little spots around the ship — no big mission, just a bit of fun.

But what happened next was wild.

People loved it. Word spread. Photos popped up online. And before long, Abby’s cute idea had spiralled into a full-blown global cruise tradition. Her duck-hiding antics led to the creation of the Cruising Ducks – Original Group on Facebook, which now has more members than some small towns.

And just like that, a trend was born.

Since then, thousands of cruisers have joined the flock, hiding ducks on ships all over the world. Some even take their ducks on multiple cruises, documenting their journeys.

Not Everyone’s Happy About It

Back in November, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, proudly introduced Ducky the Duck as part of the phenomenon, describing it as a “brilliant and fun addition” to their ships.

Now, you’d think this would be an innocent bit of fun, but some passengers aren’t having it. Heald recently took to Facebook to share his confusion about the anti-duck brigade.

“People that hide ducks for others to find do so because they love to give other people a little dollop of happiness and joy,” he wrote. “I understand that it’s not for everyone, but I don’t get why some folks are adamant that we ban this cruise phenomenon immediately.”

Heald even asked his followers for feedback: “Why do people keep writing to me, saying they want them banned? Thoughts, please?”

Facebook Fans Quack Back

As you can imagine, the duck defenders came out in full force. One follower shared how finding ducks during a cruise made her smile during a tough time battling cancer. Now, she hides them herself to spread the joy.

Jennifer chimed in with a live-and-let-live attitude: “It brings others joy; it doesn’t affect me, so go right ahead. It’s not like there are ducks everywhere. They are ‘hidden.’”

Another follower summed it up with, “Some people cannot be happy. They have to find something to complain about. I personally don’t hide ducks, but when I find one, it makes me smile!”

The overwhelming sentiment? If you don’t like the ducks, just ignore them and move on. As one commenter put it: “Ducks are fine. Ban people that complain about stuff that doesn’t impact them.”

Where Cruise Lines Stand on the Duck Debate

Disney Cruise Line recently became the first major cruise brand to put a stop to the duck-hiding fun. One guest wrote to Disney after being told not to hide ducks while she was sailing, and a company spokesperson later confirmed the ban. According to them, guests are “discouraged from hiding rubber ducks or any items in public areas or cabins.”

The move sparked a bit of outrage online, with some cruisers vowing to switch lines just to keep hiding their tiny plastic stowaways. But it’s also a reminder that policies can change, especially if the trend starts to cause problems.

Bottom line? Most cruise lines are still fine with cruising ducks, but if you plan to take a flock onboard, it’s worth checking the rules before you go.

The Rules (Yes, There Are Rules)

Personally, I think it’s a bit of fun, and if you want to join in on the fun, there are actual rules.

1. No dodgy duck drops.
Don’t chuck your duck in the pool, hot tub, gift shop, or (seriously) the ocean. It might sound fun at the time, but it’s a safety hazard, a hygiene nightmare, or straight-up bad for the environment.

2. Food and ducks do not mix.
The buffet might be the happiest place on the ship, but hiding a duck near the salad bar? Not cool. Keep ducks away from restaurants, drink stations, and anywhere someone might mistake them for a garnish.

3. Respect the no-go zones.
That means no hiding in private areas like cabins you haven’t booked, spas, locker rooms, or toilets. Public places only, and keep it reachable. If someone needs to climb the walls or tip furniture to get to it, your duck’s gone too far.

4. Keep it family-friendly.
A seven-year-old could find your duck, so leave the innuendos at home. Tags should be kind, positive, and safe for little eyes.

Basically, don’t be that duck-hider. Play nice, keep it clean, and let the good vibes roll.

Where Are People Even Getting All These Ducks?

You’d be forgiven for thinking there’s some kind of secret duck dealer lurking in cruise ports, but the truth is much simpler – people are bulk-buying rubber ducks online.

Amazon, eBay and Etsy are loaded with options. You can get pirate ducks, chef ducks, superhero ducks, cowboy ducks, ducks dressed for Christmas, and even one shaped like a slice of pizza. 

Some cruisers go all out, turning duck decorating into an art form. There are glitter-covered ducks, ducks with tiny hats, ducks wearing crochet costumes, and even ones with handmade tags explaining their backstory. The popular Facebook group Cruising Ducks – Original Group offers free tag templates too, so you can add details like where your duck’s from or a message for whoever finds it.

And it’s not just passengers fuelling the trend. When I was on the Regal Princess, there was actually a rubber duck grab machine in the arcade. A whole claw machine — just ducks.

Tips for Finding Them

If you’re reading this thinking, I want in on the duck action, good news — it’s easier than you’d think to join the hunt. You just need a bit of curiosity, decent eyesight, and maybe a competitive streak.

Start by giving the ship a proper explore. Walk around different decks, peek behind cushions in lounges, check window sills, browse the library shelves — basically, channel your inner detective and get nosy. Some of the best ducks are hidden in plain sight.

Timing helps too. Early mornings and late evenings are prime duck-hiding hours, so your chances go up if you’re up for a sunrise stroll or a post-buffet wander. And don’t be afraid to revisit the same spot – what wasn’t there at 10 am might suddenly appear by lunch.

Before your cruise, check Facebook groups or cruise forums for your specific sailing. People sometimes post clues or even photos of where they’ve hidden ducks. The Sea Ducks app is also worth a look; it lets hiders leave clues, hunters track their finds, and even has a leaderboard if you’re feeling competitive.

And one more tip: if you’re stuck, ask the crew. Some of them love the duck hunt as much as the passengers and might just point you in the right direction.

Cute or Cringe: The Final Verdict

Love it or loathe it, the cruise duck craze doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

For some, it’s a harmless bit of fun – a way to connect with fellow passengers, make someone smile, and turn a regular cruise into a light-hearted scavenger hunt. For kids (and plenty of adults), finding a duck feels like winning a tiny, rubbery lottery.

For others, it’s just more plastic cluttering up the ship and clashing with the idea of a luxury getaway. And fair enough if you came onboard for peace, quiet, and a towel animal or two, being ambushed by a googly-eyed duck might not be your thing.

But whether you’re a die-hard duck hider or just rolling your eyes from the sidelines, there’s no denying this trend has made waves.

So next time you’re on a cruise, keep your eyes peeled. You might just find a small yellow surprise staring back at you from the bookshelf.

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