Cruise Ducks Explained: Rules, Tips & How to Hide Them (With Kids)
Cruise duck on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
Cruise ducks are small rubber ducks that passengers hide around cruise ships for others to find. It’s a simple, family-friendly tradition that adds a little extra fun, connection, and surprise to your cruise vacation.
As a mom getting ready for another cruise with my kids (now 10 and 12), I’ve started encouraging them not just to look for cruise ducks—but to hide them too. It’s become one of those small things that makes a big impact on our overall cruise experience.
If you’re new to cruising or just hearing about cruise ducks for the first time, here’s everything you need to know.
What Are Cruise Ducks?
If you haven’t heard of cruise ducks before, the idea is simple: passengers hide small rubber ducks around the ship for others to find.
Some people keep the ducks as souvenirs. Others re-hide them for someone else to discover. Either way, it’s all about spreading a little fun.
What I love most is that anyone can participate. Kids, teens, adults. It doesn’t matter. It’s one of those activities that instantly brings people together onboard.
Cruise Duck Rules (What You Need to Know)
Preparing cruise ducks to cruise
Before you start hiding ducks, there are a few important guidelines to follow.
Hide ducks in public areas only
Do not hide them in pools or hot tubs
Avoid placing them in shops or restricted areas
Be respectful of the ship and crew
These aren’t official cruise line rules, but they’re widely followed across the cruising community. If you’re ever unsure, ask yourself if it would inconvenience the crew or another guest. If yes, pick a different spot.
Simple Setup, Big Impact
A duck with a cruise passport
We’re heading out on a 3-day cruise this weekend, and yes, we’re officially “getting our ducks in a row.”
We keep it simple:
our initials
the month and year
the ship name
We write it right on the bottom of each duck so if someone brings it home, they’ll always know where it came from.
Some cruisers go all-out with QR codes, email addresses, or even Facebook groups where people can post when they find your duck. You can absolutely do that, but for us, simple works best (especially when packing for a family cruise).
And without fail, at some point during every cruise, I’ll say:
“Why don’t you go look for ducks?”
It works every time.
Why Cruise Ducks Are Worth Doing
This is one of those activities that feels small—but ends up being a highlight.
Keeps kids engaged between activities
Encourages kindness and connection
Easy and low-cost
Works for all ages
It’s also a great way to fill those in-between moments onboard when you’re not rushing to your next activity.
How to Get Started with Cruise Ducks
If you want to try it on your next cruise, it’s incredibly easy to get started:
There are a few different sizes of ducks you can buy. The Lego is shown for size.
Buy small rubber ducks
If you’re planning to participate, grab a pack of mini plastic ducks ahead of time. I’ve seen the smaller ones a lot on ships recently as they are easy to pack. You can also find normal size rubber ducks, which kids especially love hiding and collecting.
Label them (name, ship, date) *Optional
Pack them in your carry-on
Pack them in your carry-on so you can start hiding right away. If you’re planning a colder itinerary like Alaska, packing looks a little different—here’s exactly what I recommend in my guide: What to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise with Kids
Hide them in public areas
We also like to add a small mark or star so we know if one of our ducks comes back around.
There are also fun ways to make it your own:
Smaller ducks make it more fun to hide and harder to find
accessories like keychains or mini gifts
even keepsake ducks like ornaments
Trading Ducks: Leave One, Take One
Our duck collection from our recent cruise.
One of my kids’ favorite parts is trading.
On some cabin doors, you’ll find small mailboxes labeled:
“Take a Duck, Leave a Duck.”
Kids love checking these throughout the day (and yes… multiple times a night). I recently bought a Magnetic Cruise Duck mailbox (linked here) for my mom’s cabin door. We going to try it on our cruise in a few weeks.
It becomes a fun social activity where they meet other kids, trade ducks, and even go searching together.
We do have one rule: they never go alone—they always go with a sibling or friend.
Yes, There’s Some Controversy
Not everyone loves cruise ducks.
I’ve seen comments saying they’re distracting, messy, or even a hazard. And I understand that perspective.
But for us, the positives have always outweighed any concerns.
On our last cruise, a woman traveling solo handed my kids a duck as we were exploring on day one. It was such a small gesture but it opened the door to a connection.
We saw her throughout the week, said hello each time, and even teamed up for trivia one night.
That’s when it clicked for me:
Cruise ducks aren’t really about the ducks.
They’re about connection.
A Duck Hunt Between Cruises
Start looking for ducks from the moment you board.
We’ve even turned cruise ducks into a shared experience across different sailings.
Friends of ours cruised the week before us and hid a duck with our last name on it. As we explored the ship, they texted us clues.
We never actually found it—but that didn’t matter.
The fun was in the searching, the guessing, and feeling connected even across two separate cruises.
The Best Part? Watching Someone Else Find One
One of my favorite moments happened at the buffet.
A young child found one of our ducks and ran over to show their parents. We all saw it happen—and just smiled at each other.
That quiet moment of knowing you created joy for someone else?
That’s what this is all about.
Right after, my son turned to my daughter and said,
“Want to go look for ducks?”
And off they went—again.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cruise Ducks
Sample Cruise Duck
Do you keep cruise ducks or re-hide them?
Either! Some people collect them, others re-hide them. Both are part of the fun.
Are cruise ducks allowed?
They aren’t officially run by cruise lines, but they’re widely accepted when done respectfully.
Where should you NOT hide cruise ducks?
Avoid pools, hot tubs, stores, or anywhere that could create extra work for the crew.
What size ducks should you bring?
Smaller ducks are easier to pack, but larger ones are fun for kids to find.
Final Thoughts: Why We Always Pack Ducks
If you’re cruising with kids or even just want to add something extra to your trip, then cruise ducks are such an easy win.
We received a duck ornament from a fellow passenger.
They keep kids engaged, create unexpected connections, and turn ordinary moments into something memorable.
And honestly, sometimes the best part of cruising isn’t the big activities.
It’s the little things, like a tiny rubber duck hidden in just the right spot.
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.
👉 If you’re new to cruising, start here:
We Booked Our First Cruise—Now What?
FreshCruiser Tip: Join in the fun and remember to have respect for the ship and other cruisers.
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