Incidents of rubber ducks mysteriously appearing on cruise ships are on the rise, sparking a quirky trend among passengers. According to Thrillist, it has become a popular game for cruise-goers to hide items, most notably rubber ducks, for future passengers to discover. These iconic yellow, duck-shaped toys have become the stars of a fun, ongoing treasure hunt at sea.
The origin of this trend can be traced back to an event in 1992 when a shipping container filled with rubber ducks was lost at sea during a storm. The ducks drifted to places like South America, Alaska, and Africa, bringing joy to those who found them. Since then, the rubber duck has become a symbol of peace and love, making its way into the hearts of cruise passengers.
Participants eagerly search for these hidden rubber ducks on cruises, and the ducks often travel from one cruise to the next, adding to the excitement. The trend has gained so much momentum that a Facebook group called Cruising Ducks, which celebrates this practice, has grown to over 300,000 members. Numerous YouTube videos showing clever hiding spots for these ducks have only fueled the movement’s popularity.
However, not everyone is thrilled about this quirky pastime. Concerns about environmental pollution caused by rubber toys falling into the sea have been consistently raised. There have also been instances of disputes with passengers boarding with luggage containing over 100 rubber ducks in an attempt to follow the trend.
A representative from the U.S. cruise line Carnival defended the trend, stating that anything is within the passenger’s freedom. At the same time, a spokesperson from Disney Cruise firmly announced their intention to strictly prohibit the practice of hiding rubber ducks in public areas on board.
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