Hiding rubber ducks on cruise ships has become so popular that there's now a Facebook group devoted to it. It's a simple idea that seems to bring joy to a lot of people that others have some issues with.
Basically, some people, before their cruise buy a quantity of rubber ducks that they plan to hide on the ship after they board. In some cases, people simply hide the ducks as is. In others, they decorate the duck and sometimes add a card with social media contact information in order for people to share where they found the ducks.
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Kids, especially younger ones, like finding the ducks and collecting them. Adults participate too with many either gifting their found ducks to children or crew members or in some cases, hiding them again.
It's a bit like the hidden Mickeys at Disney World except they're removable and not permanent. Kids get an added bit of fun which their parents are likely appreciative of as it gives them a chance to relax a little bit or occupies their children during downtime onboard.
Some passengers, however, consider the ducks wasteful and believe that people may damage parts of the ship while hiding them. Others simply like to complain about kids actually acting like kids while onboard and seem generally against the idea of having fun.
Duck hiding has become controversial enough that people have called for it to be banned while other passengers have briskly defended it. Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald recently sharded his cruise line's strong stand on the issue.
Carnival supports cruise ship ducks
Heald often uses his Facebook page to shoot down rumors or bad reporting across the internet. It's often difficult to separate what's speculation and what's actual news on some of the social media sites that cover the cruise industry.
The brand ambassador, however, has dedicated a lot of posts to making sure his followers know what's actually happening.
"I read a few posts this morning, saying that myself, and indeed the cruise line have banned people from hiding ducks. I don’t know where this nonsense comes from so let me say this is simply and respectfully as I can, please. Hiding Ducks. I support it. Carnival supports it," he wrote.
Heald has been vocal in his support for the duck-hiding phenomenon in the past. In this post, he basically told people who don't like it to simply look away.
"It brings fun and happiness to many — not everyone — but many. Enjoy hiding them - enjoy finding them. Or indeed, ignore them," he added.
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Carnival passengers speak out on ducks
Heald's post, as they often do, generated a lot of feedback with nearly 4,000 reactions and about 1,000 comments. Most were supportive of duck hiding.
"I don't understand people getting worked up over the hiding and finding of ducks. People enjoy themselves participating and it brings smiles to their faces," Pam De Marco wrote.
Support, however, was not universal as some passengers have seen others cross the line when it comes to hiding ducks.
"Pam De Marco it’s not an issue when it’s just that. But when people block access ways for lengths of time digging or hiding AND tear lights apart in front of the elevators to hide them it’s a problem," posted Mike Rougeau. "I personally witnessed both on our last cruise in October."
Duck hunting is not just an activity for kids, according to some posters.
"One of my wife's favorite sea day activities is "duck hunting". She loves it sooo much, she's actually talked two friends into cruising with that as a selling point. Not the ONLY one, mind you, but still," shared Jay Damron.
Most commenters, whether they participate or not, see duck hunting as harmless and fun for the people who partake.
"I do not understand the reasoning behind hiding ducks, have never seen/ found any, but there is no harm, let them hide them," Catherine Lynn Tran wrote.
Others simply like seeing other people be happy.
"It’s fun. We have found them. We have planted them. The best experience we had was watching a group of teenagers put little ones in the shoes of the young children swimming on the Lido deck. The sheer joy on the face of these kiddos when they saw them in their shoes was a very precious thing," posted Debi Schwartz.
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