Duck Hunting on a Carnival Cruise! …wait, What?
By: Greg and Beverly Wise, Golf the Wise Way
Yes… Duck Hunting on the Carnival Cruise fleet has become quite fun and entertaining for kids young and old alike.
Now… don’t pack the shot gun! That isn’t what this is all about.
“It is amazing to see the smile on a child’s face when they find a rubber duck. I was sitting 5-feet from the duck they found, and I never saw it!” said Jeanne from Ocala, Florida on the Carnival Dream.
How it Started
The tradition began in 2018 with a young lady, just 10-years-old. She brought a supply of her own rubber ducks and hid them with a small note for others to find.
How to Participate
Passengers can bring their own ducks on board… or search for your treasures… and the re-hide for others to find.
Carnival Cruise Line realizes that this is a popular activity on their ships. Earlier this year, Carnival put out a statement about “Not attaching a business cards or contact me at…” information on the ducks you are hiding. I can TOTALLY agree with this policy. So, word from the Wise… Don’t mess this up for others as they have fun searching on their vacation.
You won’t find ducks in retail stores onboard, or any gym locker rooms or restrooms. “PUBLIC SPACES ONLY.”
What to do with your Ducks
“Keep or Hide, You Decide” is the way people like to say it.
Well… this one is simple! Keep them and take them home as probably the “Best Souvenir” as a remembrance of your cruise… or the next best thing is to “hide them again, for others to find.” It’s fun to watch older people find a duck… re-hide the duck and then the next day find it again. Sort of like the old saying… I am old enough to hide my own Easter Eggs… wait and hour and then try to find them! 😉
Where to share your finds
Like big game hunters… passengers share their catch on Facebook or other Social Media sites. We found on Facebook a group called Carnival Cruising Ducks. To give you a little bit of a scope of hiding ducks – they have 70,000 members. You have to join to share or see what is happening, and you get asked a series of questions just to be allowed into the group.
Keeping Fun Involved
Following along the “FUN” side of a cruise. We are on a cruise beginning November 11 out of Port Canaveral on the CARNIVAL GLORY… and in honor of “Veterans Day…” and our “LOVE OF GOLF.” All of our ducks that we will be hiding will be military ducks.
But that isn’t all… we have one main duck… “Arnie Duck.” So… I guess you could say we are bringing on “Arnie Ducks – Army.” I hope you find one.
From the words of Arnold Palmer himself…
“The cheers of the crowd that day will always be among my greatest memories. I know the support of Arnie’s Army had as much to do with my winning the championship as the shots I played.”
HAPPY HUNTING!
Carnival’s Role
Carnival understands the importance of Hunting Ducks on board their cruise ships… and after all… they are the “Fun Ships.”
The cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, announced the new character on Facebook November 6, 2024. “I would like to introduce you to a brilliant and fun addition to the ships. Coming soon to your cruise you’re going to see the continuation of the duck phenomenon,” he began.
“Here with Carnival Jubilee Hotel Director Pierre and Hotel Director and Director of Guest Operations Greg please meet ummmm… Ducky the Duck,” Heald added, sharing a picture of the furry crew member.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Greg and Beverly Wise have been traveling the world, playing and writing about their golf experiences as “Golf the Wise Way,” and submitting to numerous publications.
Greg has played golf for more than 60 years and truly believes that “a picture is worth a thousand words…” so, Beverly and Greg both excel in getting the right photos to enhance their stories.
