Cruise Duck Hiding Places

[Nike4000]

There was a little girl, maybe 7 or 8, who was having the best time exploring the ship looking for ducks on our most recent cruise. We were relaxing in one of the lounges during the afternoon on RC's Liberty of the Seas just enjoying the quiet and reading while she was looking behind every curtain, under every chair, everywhere. Wife and I were the only people in the lounge other than her, so she wasn't disturbing anyone. She was super polite when she asked if she could check our couch cushions. She got the biggest smile when she found one hidden behind a curtain near our seats. I was so happy for her and really enjoyed watching her explore and have fun. Isn't that what cruising is about - having fun?

 

I saw her several times during the cruise, she was always keeping an eye out for ducks. I never saw her get in the way of anyone or doing it in a crowded area, it was always when a room/area was empty or off-hours. She was having all the fun!

[LHARTWICK]

Found 28 ducks on our last cruise.  We absolutely love finding them!  We re-hid most of them on our last day.  Like others have mentioned, we hid them in elevators, stairwells, and places others have mentioned.  We also gave some to kids.  On our last night, we gave one to a young lady with special needs - she was absolutely thrilled!!  I see no harm in people hiding them.  If you see one but don't want it or think it's silly, either leave it for someone else to find, or do what we did and pay it forward - make someone smile!

[mz-s]

14 minutes ago, LHARTWICK said:

Found 28 ducks on our last cruise.  We absolutely love finding them!  We re-hid most of them on our last day.  Like others have mentioned, we hid them in elevators, stairwells, and places others have mentioned.  We also gave some to kids.  On our last night, we gave one to a young lady with special needs - she was absolutely thrilled!!  I see no harm in people hiding them.  If you see one but don't want it or think it's silly, either leave it for someone else to find, or do what we did and pay it forward - make someone smile!

 

Why would you re-hide them just before the crew has to reset the ship for the next cruise?

[teknoge3k]

1 minute ago, mz-s said:

 

Why would you re-hide them just before the crew has to reset the ship for the next cruise?

 

The crew does not move the ducks. They have been instructed by Miami to leave the ducks alone. 

[mz-s]

5 minutes ago, teknoge3k said:

 

The crew does not move the ducks. They have been instructed by Miami to leave the ducks alone. 

 

I am not worried about the crew moving the damn ducks. I am worried about passengers leaving dozens of things behind on a ship during a pandemic. Certainly it's not a huge problem but it's just stupid.

[Elaine5715]

4 hours ago, mz-s said:

I agree with that. I don't know that I've ever seen one with names or addresses on it however.

Some I have found have stateroom numbers on them.  

[crazyank]

1 hour ago, teknoge3k said:

 

The crew does not move the ducks. They have been instructed by Miami to leave the ducks alone. 

Please state your source for this info.  The crew we spoke to on Vision back in June told us they had to remove and dispose of any ducks they found on turn around day. And we saw a member of the housekeeping staff with a large clear plastic trash bag of ducks, when we asked what would be done with them she said they would be disposed of.

Edited July 28, 2022 by crazyank

[teknoge3k]

6 minutes ago, crazyank said:

Please state your source for this info.  The crew we spoke to on Vision back in June told us they had to remove and dispose of any ducks they found on turn around day. And we saw a member of the housekeeping staff with a large clear plastic trash bag of ducks, when we asked what would be done with them she said they would be disposed of.

 

John Heald has posted it numerous times. I have also confirmed it with a steward that the ducks stay. Vision of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean ship. Royal and Carnival do not have the same rules.

 

 

[LHARTWICK]

20 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

Why would you re-hide them just before the crew has to reset the ship for the next cruise?

We didn't hide them on debarkation day.  We hid them on our last cruise day, which was a sea day.  We hid them in the morning.  Wow.............just hoping others would enjoy finding them like we do. People need to chill out.

[sheriday1980]

I didn't know this was a thing - my 4 year old will be so excited to look for ducks!!

 

It's just a little joy. If people don't want to participate they don't have to!

[maryann2]

48 minutes ago, LHARTWICK said:

We didn't hide them on debarkation day.  We hid them on our last cruise day, which was a sea day.  We hid them in the morning.  Wow.............just hoping others would enjoy finding them like we do. People need to chill out.

I loved finding them too. Not 28 like you though. 

[roguebandit]

Thanks for all the great suggestions on hiding the ducks!

 

Someone asked how the ducks got started and here's what I found on the internet:

Duck History

While references to cruising ducks date back to 2015, the popularization of this phenomenon is mostly credited to an 11-year-old girl named Abby. With a goal of making others smile, Abby attached notes to 50 ducks, which she hid during her 2018 cruise aboard the Carnival Breeze.

[TrqoisWtrs]

21 hours ago, teknoge3k said:

John Heald has posted it numerous times.

Exactly.  I have even seen duck hunting listed in the daily activities.  And for those who are anti-duck, don't go in Cherry on Top.😀

 

[Elaine5715]

22 hours ago, teknoge3k said:

 

John Heald has posted it numerous times. I have also confirmed it with a steward that the ducks stay. Vision of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean ship. Royal and Carnival do not have the same rules.

 

 

Like most whose contact with the actual working members of an industry is limited, John's responses are pure public relations.  He knows if he posted anything negative about the ducks, he would get a ton of complaints.  Can't count how many times he posts something that is contrary to written policy making crew cannon fodder.  He gets to be a hero, while crew gets to be a zero.  He told one poster who wasn't  Platinum (preCovid) but wanted Priority Boarding , just tell them "John Heald said it was ok".

[Bobbiegentry]

I suppose there will be those among us!!

[sgttami]

I found a duck on my slot machine a few years ago and left it there because I thought it was someone's lucky charm for gambling and they left it behind.

 

Since learning about the ducks I've seen more each cruise but don't collect or participate in hiding any.

 

I couldn't be bothered packing stuff like that but if it's fun for you, enjoy it!

[TNVolnteerCruiser]

On 7/30/2022 at 1:28 PM, Bobbiegentry said:

I suppose there will be those among us!!

I choose to be Cindy Lou Who and will happily hide and hunt ducks.  I believe it brings joy on both sides.

[Old Fart Cruisers]

I've seen some people are leaving 'chicks' instead of ducks in the elevators, hallways and between slot machines in the casino.  I find this practice just as bad as leaving the ducks all over the place. 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess I should have said these slobs are leaving parts of 'chicks'

 

 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2022 by Old Fart Cruisers

[habsfan4ever]

We’ve got a little duck friend that joined our family off the Panorama in March 2020. He’s looking forward to his new home in August on the Magic. 
 

[Dippy Dawg]

On 7/27/2022 at 3:27 PM, Old Fart Cruisers said:

 

How about hiding them at home before you leave for the cruise?

How about letting people enjoy their vacation the way they see fit and if you don't like a particular activity then don't participate.

[IntrepidFromDC]

I don't do the rubber ducky thing, but I'm happy for people who find joy in it, both the generous hiders and lucky finders.  I would recommend taking note of a few tables in MDR with kids at dinner-time.  Next night, arrive early and place ducks on the floor under the table.  Kids will find them easier than most adults.  This way you actually get to watch the joy on the kids' faces when they find them.

[Old Fart Cruisers]

22 minutes ago, Dippy Dawg said:

How about letting people enjoy their vacation the way they see fit and if you don't like a particular activity then don't participate.

 

I never said they can't enjoy their vacation the way they see fit.  The OP asked  for any ideas on good places to hide those stupid rubber ducks.  I gave a perfectly good suggestion.  If you don't agree with my idea of a good place to leave them you don't have to participate. 

 

 

 

Edited August 9, 2022 by Old Fart Cruisers

[Despegue]

On 7/28/2022 at 10:05 PM, mz-s said:

 

I am not worried about the crew moving the damn ducks. I am worried about passengers leaving dozens of things behind on a ship during a pandemic. Certainly it's not a huge problem but it's just stupid.

You do realize that you can not get Covid from touching items do you?

And what pandemic? Move on.

[john91498]

Interesting...didn't know this was a thing as we found several ducks on our last cruise. One of the ducks had the owners stateroom on it and we returned it. The owner was a little girl and she was very excited to get the duck back. She asked where we found it and we told on a stairwell on deck 3. 

Never seen a little girl so happy to get a duck back... 

[Knights on the Beach]

We haven't taken any ducks to hide (yet?) but my husband is good at finding them. He'll bring them to me, I take a picture and then we usually rehide them. On our last Mardi Gras cruise, the bartenders at Red Frog Tiki were getting a kick out of hiding the found ducks around their bar. They kept asking us if we found any more ducks so sometimes the bartenders got them and sometimes we gave them to little kids (after asking their parents if it was OK). 

 

As far as people putting names and addresses on the ducks, we mostly saw names and city/states not full addresses. I think it's cool seeing how far some people have traveled with their ducks.