Cruise Ducks: Simple Fun for all
Cruise duck on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
As a mom getting ready for an upcoming cruise with my kids (now 10 and 12), I’ve started encouraging them not just to search for cruise ducks—but to hide them too. It’s a newer tradition for us. It adds even more joy to the overall cruise experience.
If you haven’t heard of cruise ducks before, it’s a simple tradition where passengers hide small rubber ducks around the ship for others to find. Some people keep them, others re-hide them—but it’s all about spreading a little fun. Hiding ducks isn’t just about finding something cute on board. There’s so much more. After you read some of our experiences, you may consider joining in on your next cruise. If you haven’t cruised before, this is also for you! I love how cruisers of any age can participate.
A simple rule to follow is to hide the ducks only in public places with no hiding in pools, hot tubs or stores.
Simple Setup, Big Impact
We’re heading out on a 3-day cruise this weekend, and yes—we’re “getting our ducks in a row.” We keep it simple: our initials, the month and year, and the ship name written on the bottom of each duck. That way, if someone brings one home, they’ll always know where it came from.
Some cruisers go all-out and add QR codes, email addresses, or a Facebook group for people to post when they find one. You totally can, but I like to keep things easy—especially when packing for a family cruise.
A simple rule to follow is to hide the ducks only in public places with no hiding in pools, hot tubs or stores.
And if we find ourselves in a lull or between planned events, I’ll say something I’ve now said on every cruise: “Why don’t you go look for ducks?” It works every time.
Yes, There’s Some Controversy
I’ve seen comments online where people say cruise ducks distract from the overall cruise experience, are a hazard and even make the ship look messy. I understand that perspective, but any doubts I had were erased after a moment on our last cruise.
On day one, a woman traveling solo handed my kids a duck as we walked around the exploring the ship. It was such a small gesture—but it opened the door for a new connection. For the rest of the week, we greeted her whenever we saw her. One night, we even joined forces for trivia. It reminded me: cruise ducks aren’t just for kids—they’re for kids at heart.
She didn’t hide the duck. She shared a kind moment—and it made my kids feel seen, welcomed, and excited right from the start.
A Duck Hunt Between Friends
We’ve even turned duck-hiding into a connection between cruises. Some friends of ours cruised the week before us and hid a duck with our last name on it. As we searched the ship, they texted us clues. It added a whole new level of fun—even though we never actually found it. Someone else likely did. And that’s okay.
The fun wasn’t in the finding—it was in the looking, the guessing, and the shared experience that spanned two different cruises.
Preparing cruise ducks to cruise
The Best Part? Seeing Another Kid Find One That You Hid!
On a recent cruise, we were eating at the buffet when a young child found one of our ducks and ran excitedly to tell their parents. Our whole family saw it. We just smiled at each other, sharing that quiet satisfaction of having created a fun moment for someone else. After watching this, my son turned to my daughter and said, “Want to go look for ducks with me?” And just like that, it was another moment that I won’t forget as off they went together and teammates in a cruise duck hunt.
If you decide to have your kids hid the ducks, it’s a chance for kids to learn about giving, not just receiving. Searching or hiding the ducks keeps them engaged between activities while cruising. That’s what cruise ducks are really about—connection, kindness, and joy in the little things.
FreshCruiser Tip: Join in the fun and remember to have respect for the ship and other cruisers.