If you’ve cruised recently, chances are you’ve seen a small rubber duck peeking out from a railing or plant. That little toy is part of a tradition that began in 2018, when a young girl named Abby hid a few ducks just for fun.
Since then, the cruise duck-hiding trend has exploded into a worldwide tradition. Passengers hide small, tagged ducks around the ship for others to find, keep, or re-hide on future voyages. The game now spans nearly every major cruise line, turning sea days into fun scavenger hunts for all ages.
Lately, people online have been wondering what happens to cruise ducks that aren’t found — a question that recently popped up in two lively Reddit threads on Royal Caribbean’s subreddit. It’s a small mystery that’s caught plenty of attention — so what really happens to the ducks no one finds?
The Surprising Fate of Cruise Ducks You Never Found
On most cruise ships, the truth is simple: unfound ducks are usually left right where they were hidden. With only an hour or two between sailings, crew members are busy cleaning, restocking, and preparing cabins for thousands of new guests — not hunting for tiny toys tucked behind railings. As one Redditor joked, there’s simply no time for “duck patrols.”
Because of that, most ducks stay put, waiting for the next wave of passengers to find them. Cruisers have shared countless stories online of spotting ducks weeks or even months later, still tagged from earlier sailings — one even dated four months prior, proof that these little stowaways can last through multiple voyages unnoticed.
Many ducks include tags reading “Keep or Re-hide — Your Choice,” which encourages finders to keep the game going. Some even record each new discovery on the tag itself, turning the duck into a tiny travel journal that traces its journey from ship to ship. This pass-it-on spirit has become the heart of the tradition, keeping it alive and ever-evolving with each sailing.
Of course, many people couldn’t resist having fun with the question. In the Reddit threads that inspired this piece, some of the top comments were pure humor — one person joked about crew members “gathering them in a circle, lighting candles, and performing a Royal Caribbean séance,” while another simply replied, “Believe it or not, straight to jail.”
Beneath the jokes, though, a consistent truth emerged: as one Redditor summed it up, “They do nothing. Guests on the next cruise will hunt for them.” Funny myths aside, the reality is that most unfound ducks simply wait patiently for the next wave of cruisers to find them — and the game sails on.
What Cruise Crew Do When They Find Hidden Ducks
Most crew members simply leave unfound ducks where they are. There’s no official policy about what to do with them, and with turnaround days packed with cleaning, restocking, and inspections, small rubber toys aren’t a priority.
Unless a duck is clearly in the way, it’s usually left untouched. Some crew even enjoy the tradition, quietly collecting one or two as souvenirs or gifts for their kids, while others may re-hide them in easier-to-find spots for the next group of passengers.
Ducks tucked behind décor, nestled among plants, or hidden in out-of-the-way corners often survive for several voyages, waiting to be found. In most cases, their fate comes down to timing and luck — they’re either discovered by the next batch of guests or adopted by a smiling crew member before the next cruise begins.
The Sad Truth About Cruise Ducks That Don’t Make It
Of course, not every duck lasts forever. Those left in risky or off-limits areas — like buffets, wiring channels, or near pool equipment — are removed during safety or sanitation checks. Damaged or dirty ducks are also discarded, and a few have been discovered in odd spots like behind panels or inside maintenance spaces.
This has even sparked some light environmental debate among cruisers. Some worry that leaving plastic ducks behind contributes to waste, while others argue the impact is minimal compared to the scale of a cruise ship.
Most ducks are made of rubber or vinyl, so they’re unlikely to end up overboard, but moderation and mindful placement keep the tradition sustainable. When done responsibly, the duck-hiding trend stays safe, fun, and friendly to both people and the planet.
Some call it heartwarming, others call it annoying — see why cruise ducks have everyone talking.
Not Every Cruise Line Approves — The Hidden Rules of Cruise Ducks
Not every cruise line treats the duck-hiding craze the same way. Most don’t care as long as it’s harmless, but a few have drawn the line with surprising rules about where ducks can and can’t go.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean generally welcomes the cruise ducks tradition, allowing passengers to hide and find ducks across most areas of its ships. The one exception is Central Park on Oasis- and Icon-class vessels, where duck hiding is banned to protect the live plants that fill the space.
Any ducks found there are removed by crew to prevent damage during searches. Outside of that, it’s very much a “play at your own risk” situation — guests are free to join the fun as long as they’re respectful of the ship’s spaces and fellow passengers.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line takes a stricter approach to the trend. According to planDisney, guests aren’t permitted to hide items like rubber ducks in staterooms or public areas, and any that Cast Members find are removed for safety and cleanliness.
Passengers who discover a duck are welcome to keep it, but they’re asked not to re-hide it onboard. Still, ducks continue to appear on Disney ships, suggesting that the tradition quietly lives on beneath the radar.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line has fully embraced the Cruising Ducks craze, with Brand Ambassador John Heald often sharing photos of passengers’ duck finds on his social media. The tradition fits perfectly with Carnival’s playful atmosphere, and guests love joining in on the lighthearted fun.
That said, the line recently issued a friendly warning after some passengers started attaching fake “free drink” tags to their ducks, causing confusion when others tried to claim prizes that didn’t exist. Carnival made it clear that hiding ducks is still welcome — just skip the pranks and misleading labels.
Read more: Carnival’s jumped on the duck-hiding trend, and it’s stirring up more debate than you might think.
It Started as a Joke—Now Thousands of Cruisers Are Hooked
It’s easy to see why the duck-hiding tradition has stuck around — it’s all about joy, connection, and shared surprise. Families often bring bags of ducks to hide around the ship, and even adults who start out just watching soon find themselves caught up in the hunt.
For many, especially those cruising with kids, the simple act of finding or hiding a duck becomes a highlight of the trip. It turns an ordinary sea day into a scavenger hunt that gets people exploring decks they might otherwise skip and striking up conversations with strangers who’ve also joined the game.
Even though some ducks get lost, tossed, or swept up during cleaning, the spirit behind it remains pure fun. It’s a reminder that cruising isn’t just about fine dining or flashy tech — it’s also about the small moments that bring people together.
Duck Etiquette: How to Hide (and Find) Responsibly
Like any good cruise tradition, the duck-hiding trend works best when everyone plays responsibly. Hiders should always keep safety and respect in mind — avoid placing ducks near food stations, plants, or machinery,and ideally, each one should be labeled with the ship name, date, and a short note like
“Keep or Re-hide.”
A few ducks per voyage is plenty; bringing hundreds can create clutter or extra work for the crew. Stick to washable rubber or vinyl materials that are easy to clean and won’t leave residue, and always follow your cruise line’s posted policies.
Equally important are the “don’ts.” Avoid prank tags, fake coupons, or anything that looks like an official promotion. Don’t hide ducks in cabins, near lifeboats, electrical panels, or other restricted areas. After placing or finding a few, keep the fun going by sharing clues or photos in cruise Facebook groups.
To Conclude
In the end, most unfound cruise ducks stay right where they were hidden, waiting to be discovered on the next sailing. Some are picked up by crew — kept as small souvenirs or removed if they’re in unsafe spots — but there’s no official “duck policy.” With quick turnarounds between cruises, staff rarely have time to collect them all.
A few ducks do get discarded during cleaning, yet many survive for weeks or even months, passed between guests who re-hide them on future voyages. The reality is simple: unfound ducks don’t go far. They wait quietly for the next curious cruiser to come along — and that’s exactly what keeps the tradition alive.
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