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It’s pretty incredible to see how creative people are getting with this cruise trend. On a couple of my recent sailings, I won some inexpensive mini-ducks by playing a claw game in the arcade, and I used spare hair ties to attach my business card to them. Hiding them also kept the young daughter of one of my travel companions busy for an afternoon. Take a photo of yourself with the duck you've found and post it to the "Cruising Ducks - Original" Facebook group.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiding Ducks on a Cruise
I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible. If you choose to re-hide the duck, join the Cruising Ducks Facebook group, post a picture of yourself with your treasure and explain where you found it. Then update the tag and hide it again for the next lucky passenger to come across it. You can hide it on the cruise you’re currently on, or hold on to it for hiding on a future cruise. Similarly, Royal Caribbean encourages passengers to hide ducks, as long as it’s done in public areas. If the ducks you buy don’t come with tags, there are plenty of tag templates available online.
Types of Cruise Ducks: A Guide for Cruisers
You should also add the #cruisingducks and any other hashtags you want to use to trace its journey. For instance, you might give your duck a name like #daisythecruiseduck. Some people create their own ducks by knitting or crocheting them, while others have been creating home made keychains.
Cruising Duck Game Rules
They also include the general rules of rehiding, which are generally, “Keep or hide, you decide. "I have a hidden talent in finding hidden ducks," said Bryan Villella, owner of an Orland-based Dream Vacations franchise. A tag tied around the ducks’ necks often shares the name of the person or people behind the duck, as well as their sailing. There are now multiple Facebook groups dedicated to the activity.
Cruise Ducks Frequently Asked Questions
You might, for instance, find a duck hidden by a couple in West Virginia, even though you're from Los Angeles. Recently, Disney Cruise Line has put a stop to the tradition of hiding cruise ducks on their ships. This came to light when Shirley from Florida wrote to Disney after being told she couldn’t hide ducks during her cruise. Adrianna, an official panelist, confirmed that guests are discouraged from hiding rubber ducks or any items in cabins or public areas on the ship. After you’ve hidden your rubber duck, it’s a joy to think about who might find it. The act of hiding and seeking cruise ducks creates a shared experience of surprise and delight, bringing together the community of cruisers in a unique and playful way.
Cruise culture: Why people hide rubber ducks on ships - USA TODAY
Cruise culture: Why people hide rubber ducks on ships.
Posted: Fri, 09 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
One thing that I noticed, and that frankly surprised me as I researched this trendy activity, is that many people shared ducks that had an extra special meaning. Cruisers who’ve found ducks onboard cruises post their photos as well. At a minimum, the tag should tell the duck's finders that they can either keep or re-hide the duck and the places that are off-limits. It should also encourage them to share the ducks they find online. You can also choose to include additional information, such as a QR code or your e-mail address.
What do you put on cruise duck tags?
As of now, were not aware of any cruise line adding rubber ducks to their list of prohibited items. Some passengers feel so strongly against the scavenger hunt that they suggest cruise lines ban ducks altogether. Some cruise staff even get involved, joining the hunt or helping to hide ducks in creative locations. Most cruise lines have embraced the phenomenon, adding claw machines where passengers can win a little duck to hide on the ship. And don’t worry; there are plenty of places to hide your duck on the cruise ship. My favorite hiding places are the tops of signs, plants, sculptures, and bookshelves.
Rubbers Ducks on Cruise and Links to Fundraising Activities
In other cases, the ducks are decorated with the ship’s name and the sailing date, making them great souvenirs. 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? Remember, participating in the cruising duck tradition is all about having fun, making connections, and creating unforgettable memories.
Is there sample wording for my cruising duck tags?
You might find themed scavenger hunts or even special meetups for passengers to exchange rubber ducks, share stories, and make new friends. So, the next time you find yourself on a cruise, join in the fun and share the joy of discovering and hiding cruising ducks with others. You should also always be aware that while adults enjoy finding ducks ... This means that you should hide ducks in places where kids can find them or adults can spot and queu their children to look in a certain spot. Additionally, it should go without saying that you must avoid anything with an adult context when it comes to your duck's passport or design. The easiest way to join in the fun is simply to become a duck hunter yourself and the tradition is even more fun when you practice catch and release.
You might also choose to reach out to thank them if they have provided contact information on the card attached to the duck. If you are a frequent cruiser, it could be fun to take your found treasure on one of your upcoming cruises. You don’t have to supply a new tag – you can keep the original one. "The only thing that bugs me is when travel agents hide them with their cards, advertising their agency. That goes against most cruise lines' 'no solicitation' policy."
Most of the ducks will have a homemade tag attached to them, with instructions about how to post your details to this Facebook group and information about the person who last hid it. Sometimes the tag will also include contact info, so you can keep in touch with the previous duck discoverer, if you like. Critics have several complaints about the cruise ducks phenomenon. Some worry that if too many ducks are hidden, it could lead to clutter and a messy ship environment. Concerns also extend to environmental impact, fearing that ducks might be accidentally thrown into the ocean, contributing to plastic pollution. Others worry that commercialization could ruin the activity’s charm, with an increasing number of people adding business cards to the ducks.
Currently it is a realtively small number of people on each ship that are hiding the ducks and most of the people searching for them are simply looking for good natured fun. However, things can change and I'm sure there will be someone who tries to ruin the party for everyone. 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. Carnival Cruise Line, where this trend is extremely popular has truly embraced it.
Long-time cruisers and cruise-selling advisors understand there's a whole world of cruise traditions and customs out there. One of the most fun – and not yet widely known (despite a Facebook group several hundred thousand large) – is that of the Cruising Duck. Those little plastic duckies that come in all colors, designs and themes and are hidden around cruise ships for others to find.
That’s not to say everyone gets creative when placing their plastic friends. Some wind up in places like elevator corners or stairwells, looking for all the world as if they were dropped instead of hidden. Abby’s adventure, however, seems to have kicked things into high gear and started a movement, the main purpose of which is simply to make other people smile. The more you embrace the quirky nature of this scavenger hunt and the community it has inspired, the more you will get out of it. The best way to find out about these is to join a specific cruise group for the cruise you are going on.
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