Dressed in sailor uniforms, cowboy hats, or painted in vibrant colors, rubber duckies – typically found in children’s baths – are now embarking on global adventures as part of a fun scavenger hunt taking over cruise ships.
If you’re setting sail this summer, keep an eye out for these whimsical rubber ducks hidden in various spots on board – from behind potted plants to perched on door knobs or signs. This quirky trend has taken hold among seasoned cruisers, affectionately referred to as “quackers.”
The cruising duck craze traces back to 2018 when a 10-year-old girl started hiding toy ducks for fellow passengers during a family cruise. Her parents established the original “Cruising Ducks” Facebook page, which has since grown into a large online community.
With nearly 275,000 members, the Facebook page sees around 100 daily posts about hiding, finding, decorating, and celebrating these rubber ducks. Specific cruise line spinoff pages also boast tens of thousands of enthusiasts.
Participating in the game is simple: hide a duck and find a duck. Once discovered, players can opt to re-hide the duck or keep it as a memento. Many lucky “quackers” share their findings on Facebook for the original owners to enjoy.
“It’s not just for kids to find,” says Kelly May, a 60-year-old from Huntington Beach, California, who joined the duck-finding craze in 2022. “When I found my first one, it was a yippee moment.”
