Cruise ship duck hiding has generally been an unofficial activity.
Passengers have embraced the idea of hiding ducks on ships. Many get into it, buying plastic ducks and in some cases decorating them before hiding them all around the ship.
Sometimes, passengers also attach cards with social media information so people can share pictures of the ducks they find.
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It's a phenomenon that takes place on every family-friendly cruise line, but it's become a truly major thing on Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line ships.
Both companies have allowed cruisers to hide ducks but have not really set rules for it. It's not exactly an encouraged practice, but it's tolerated and quasi-legal.
Basically, you can hide ducks as long as you don't disrupt the ship, break anything or hide them in places that put other people in danger.
Now, however, Royal Caribbean has shared a new holiday-season video in which the cruise line gets in on the duck-hiding action.
Think you can find these cruise ducks? Drop a comment to accept the challenge 💬 pic.twitter.com/Mq8njXvJcK
— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) December 26, 2024
Royal Caribbean hides holiday ducks
Royal Caribbean posted a video on its X page, showing cruise members hiding holiday ducks on one of its ships. The ducks are decorated for the Christmas season, and based on the video they're not being hidden all that well.
Many of them appear to be placed out in the open, ideally for kids to find them, although some adults do join in.
Some people keep the ducks and bring them home. Others will give them to crew members or rehide them on the ship for other people to find.
Responses to the video seemed positive.
"Definitely looking for the ducks when we get on Icon," Mess shared.
Royal Caribbean did not share any details as to how long it will be hiding ducks or whether it's going to be doing so on every ship.
"On Oasis now. I’ll be on the lookout," says Hooked on Royal.
Duck hiding and hunting on Royal Caribbean ships has become so popular that a Facebook group, Royal Caribbean Cruising Ducks, has been created to support it. The introduction for the group, which has more than 57,000 members, explains how its creators see duck hunting.
"Quack and welcome to the Royal Caribbean Cruising Ducks group specifically for Royal Caribbean Ships!" it says. "We are just a fun-loving bunch of Quacky Cruisers that found a cute and entertaining way to have a blast on cruises and to brighten others' days.
"This group was created for passengers who want to join in the fun, specifically on Royal Caribbean ships."
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People in the private group share photos of ducks they find, ducks they plan to hide, and their reasons for taking part in the growing activity.
Many passengers hide ducks because of the joy it brings kids to find them. Others enjoy decorating the ducks, while one group member said they took part in memory of a deceased grandchild.
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