The Delightful Reason People Are Hiding Rubber Ducks On Cruise Ships

If you’ve been on a cruise in the last few years, you might have noticed some stowaways: little rubber ducks nestled in plants, on banisters and doorframes, and peeking out from hard-to-reach spots in elevators and bathrooms.

 The whimsical bath toys are popping up all over the place on cruise ships thanks to a massive, unofficial game of hide-and-seek… and everyone is invited.

“It’s really nice to see someone pick it up, look at it for a second, realize what they have and do a happy dance,” avid cruise duck scavenger Bill Brodie told The New York Times, adding that it’s like watching “a kid who found a treasure chest.”

This tradition, which is especially popular with multigenerational groups, has become a beloved side quest for cruisers of all ages. And for the more than 275,000 members of the Cruising Ducks Facebook group, who often refer to themselves as “quackers,” it’s much more than a fad. It’s a fun and easy way to spread a little joy and create community on the high seas. 

“It’s not just for kids to find,” frequent cruiser Kelly May told the Times. “When I found my first one, it was a yippee moment.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, however, the cruise duck tradition is believed to have begun with a kid. According to legend, it started in 2018 when a 10-year-old girl named Abby hid toy 50 ducks for fellow cruisers to find during a family vacation. Her parents are credited with creating the original Cruising Ducks Facebook page.

The rules, if you can call them that, are simple. Participants hide whimsical little ducks around the ship for others to discover. The ducks come in all colors and attire are often outfitted with tags displaying the name of the ship, sailing date, and instructions for sharing it on social media. 

“Cruising ducks are a creative, cheerful, and fun way for many passengers to add enjoyment to their cruise vacations,” Cruise Hive’s Melissa Mayntz writes. “Whether you bring ducks aboard to hide, prefer to be a duck finder and keep the ducks you seek, or re-hide every quirky duck you come across, everyone can be a part of this oceangoing scavenger hunt.”

Happy hunting, y’all!