Cruise lines tighten restrictions on rubber duck hiding
The passenger pastime has raised safety, environmental and hygiene concerns aboard some ships.
Cruise lines are increasingly restricting passengers from hiding small rubber ducks around their ships, responding to concerns about where the toys may end up.
Participants typically conceal the ducks aboard a vessel, take photographs and post the images on social media. The activity, known as the Cruising Ducks movement, has expanded in recent years mainly through Facebook and TikTok.
Some cruise lines consider the practice a potential safety, environmental and hygiene issue. Crew members have reported discovering rubber ducks in swimming pools and restaurants, as well as in technical areas of ships.
The restrictions place growing limits on a social-media-driven activity that has encouraged passengers to leave the toys in locations around cruise vessels. The concerns cited by some operators focus on the presence of the ducks in public, food-service and operational spaces.