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. On many a cruise, rubber ducks can be found peeking out from random hiding places, beckoning passengers to pick them up and read their
accompanying information tags. Perhaps you'll find one hidden behind a plant by the Doe Family from Springfield or another carefully placed somewhere in the buffet by the Smiths from Greenville. What the duck, you might be wondering, is the deal with hiding ducks on cruise ships? Whether you're ready to hide ducks on cruises or want to send your kids on a hunt for cruise ducks, you'll need to get your own ducks in a row before you set sail. What began in 2018 as a cute gesture by a 10-year-old girl named Abby — who simply wanted to make other passengers smile — now spans several Facebook groups with hundreds of thousands of members. In these groups, cruisers chat about the ducks they've ordered, the best places to purchase them, clever places to hide them after they've set sail and the best ways to attach the information tags. If you find a duck, the next step is simple. Take a photo of yourself with the duck you've found and post it to the "Cruising Ducks - Original" Facebook group. Mention the name of the person who hid it. You might also choose to reach out to thank them if they have provided contact information on the card attached to the duck. Then, either keep your new friend to take home with you as a souvenir or re-hide it according to the rules. For the tags, make sure to include your name and where you're from, along with instructions for the people who find your little quackers. Standard wording is generally something like this:
"Oh, what luck. You found a duck! Keep or hide, you decide. You found a cruising duck hidden by [name] from [city, state, country]. Hide in public places only — no pools, hot tubs or stores. Take a photo, and post it in the Facebook group 'Cruising Ducks - Original.'"
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.
