Cruise ducks have been under fire lately, with one cruise line asking guests not to leave rubber ducks around the ship. It’s one of the most iconic and fun cruise traditions, but could it be in jeopardy?
Several cruise lines have pushed back against the tradition, and cruise passengers have plenty of opinions about it. Some cruisers love hiding and finding cruise ducks and would hate to see the tradition disappear, while others think cruise ducks are unnecessary and can even become a nuisance.
In this article, I’m going to share what cruise lines are saying about cruise ducks, what real cruise passengers think, and whether this popular cruise tradition should actually be banned.
What Cruise Lines Are Saying About Cruise Ducks
Cruise lines have taken very different approaches to the cruise duck tradition. While there still isn’t an industry-wide ban on rubber ducks, a few cruise lines have started putting limits on where passengers can hide them, and in Marella Cruises’ case, asking guests not to hide them at all.
Marella Cruises
Marella Cruises recently became one of the cruise lines taking a firmer stance on the cruise duck trend. In August 2026, passengers reported seeing a notice asking guests not to hide or leave rubber ducks, toys, or other novelty items around its ships or in the destinations they visit.
The cruise line kept the message lighthearted, saying: “As much as we love a bit of personality, the ducks have started to drive us quackers…”
Behind the humor, Marella gave some practical reasons for the request. According to the cruise line, objects left around the ship can create potential hazards and may ultimately have to be collected and discarded by crew members. Marella also noted that leaving plastic toys behind conflicts with its efforts to reduce unnecessary plastic and waste.
This doesn’t mean passengers are prohibited from bringing rubber ducks onboard. Instead, Marella is asking guests to stop hiding or leaving them around the ship and in ports for other passengers to discover.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line also discourages passengers from hiding rubber ducks onboard its ships. In 2024, the policy received attention after some cruisers questioned whether Disney had banned cruise ducks altogether.
The cruise line clarified that passengers can still bring rubber ducks onboard. However, guests are asked not to hide them in staterooms or public areas of the ship. Rubber ducks and other toys are also not permitted in the onboard pools.
While Disney did not provide a detailed explanation for the change, the distinction is important. Cruise ducks themselves are not prohibited. What Disney is discouraging is the popular tradition of hiding them around the ship for other passengers to find.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has not banned cruise ducks across its fleet, and hiding and finding them remains a popular activity among many passengers. However, in 2025, cruisers began noticing “duck free zone” signs in Central Park on some Royal Caribbean Oasis Class and Icon Class ships.
The signs state: “This is a duck free zone. Please don’t hide ducks in Central Park.”
In this case, the restriction seems to be about protecting the thousands of live plants and flowers found throughout Central Park. Guests searching through planters or placing ducks among the greenery can potentially damage the plants, which are carefully maintained by the ship’s horticulture team.
For now, Royal Caribbean’s approach is much more limited than the policies we’ve seen from Marella and Disney. Cruise ducks are still allowed around the ship, but Central Park is one area where passengers are being asked to keep the ducks away
One Cruise Line Pushes in the Opposite Direction
While some cruise lines are discouraging passengers from hiding rubber ducks, not every cruise line is ready to see the tradition disappear. Carnival Cruise Line has taken a very different approach and continues to support the fun behind cruise duck hiding.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line remains one of the most cruise-duck-friendly cruise lines. The company has not banned the tradition and has even featured rubber ducks on its own website as a fun item passengers can bring along and hide for other cruisers to discover.
Carnival brand ambassador John Heald has also defended the tradition when passengers have complained about it. In 2025, he wrote: “People that hide ducks for others to find do so because they love to give other people a little dollop of happiness and joy.”
His response made Carnival’s position fairly clear. While not every passenger enjoys finding rubber ducks around the ship, the cruise line appears to see the tradition as harmless fun that brings a little extra joy to the cruise experience.
In April 2026, a fake April Fools’ announcement also circulated claiming Carnival was banning cruise ducks due to environmental concerns. Heald quickly clarified that the announcement was false and that Carnival had not banned passengers from hiding ducks onboard.
For now, Carnival appears happy to let the tradition continue, making its stance noticeably different from cruise lines such as Marella and Disney.
What Real Cruisers Are Saying About Cruise Ducks
When we asked our Facebook community whether cruise lines should ban cruise ducks, we received nearly 500 responses in less than an hour. Clearly, this is a topic cruisers have some strong opinions about.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of comments were against banning cruise ducks. Many cruisers shared that hiding and finding ducks has become a fun part of their vacation, especially for families and kids.
One cruiser commented, “No, half the fun of cruising is hiding and finding ducks.” Another Life Well Cruised community member shared, “No, the little kids’ faces when finding them is priceless.”
For some cruisers, the tradition has become an even bigger part of their cruise experience. One person joked, “No, finding cruise ducks is part of my personality at this point.”
Even some passengers who don’t personally participate in the trend don’t see a reason to ban it. As one cruiser put it, “I personally don’t get it, but it doesn’t bother me and it seems like other cruisers really enjoy finding them.”
Based on the response from our community, it seems most cruisers would prefer to see reasonable guidelines around duck hiding rather than having the tradition disappear completely.
Recommended: Cruise Ducks: Tips, Rules & Everything You Need to Know
Should Cruise Ducks Be Banned?
Personally, I don’t think cruise ducks should be banned. If cruise lines are having issues with where ducks are being hidden, they can always create a few common-sense restrictions. Royal Caribbean has done this by asking passengers not to hide them in certain areas.
At the end of the day, cruise ducks are a fun tradition, especially for kids and families. They can also create some surprisingly meaningful memories.
Earlier this year, my girlfriend took her first cruise. As a new cruiser, she had no idea about the cruise duck tradition.
During our trip, she happened to find a duck hidden near one of the bars. She still has that cruise duck today, and it has become a little souvenir that reminds her of our first cruise together.
For some people, a cruise duck might just look like a small piece of rubber or plastic. For someone else, it can represent a fun moment, a surprise discovery, or even a special memory from their vacation.
That’s why I think cruise lines should focus on reasonable guidelines rather than banning the tradition altogether.
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Final Thoughts
Cruise ducks may seem like a small part of the cruise experience, but they’ve become a tradition that many passengers genuinely enjoy. While I understand why cruise lines may want to set limits on where ducks can be hidden, I don’t think the answer is to get rid of the tradition altogether.
A few simple guidelines can help prevent problems while still allowing cruisers to have fun hiding and finding ducks. For many passengers, especially kids and first-time cruisers, finding one can become a memorable little moment from their vacation.
Do you think cruise ducks should be banned on cruise ships? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy cruising!
Ethan