Marella Cruises has recently officially prohibited an unusual but popular tradition among many cruise fans: the hiding of rubber ducks on board. In a humorously worded newsletter sent to passengers on several ships of the TUI brand, it is stated: "So kindly ask that toys, novelty items and other personal bits aren’t left or hidden around the ship or at our destinations." The background for this decision includes safety risks posed by scattered items as well as environmental concerns in the fight against plastic waste.travelandleisure.comPlease provide the text you would like to be translated from German to English.

Other traditional customs are also coming under scrutiny: Marella additionally points out that public areas and cabin doors should not be decorated with flags, banners, stickers, or magnets. Such decorations could disturb the aesthetic of the ship or hinder safety measures such as evacuation routes in case of an emergency.travelandleisure.comIt seems like there was an error in your request. Please provide the specific text you would like translated.

The reaction marks no single action: Disney Cruise Line officially prohibits the hiding of rubber ducks in cabins or public areas. Crew members apparently regularly remove found ducks – a practice that is also confirmed through the customer forum planDisney.plandisney.disney.go.comI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that.

Royal Caribbean navigates in a differentiated manner: On Oasis and Icon class ships, certain areas like "Central Park," a green deck, have been designated as a no rubber duck zone. This measure is intended to protect the local plant life, which has been damaged by seekers.royalcaribbeanblog.comI'm sorry, but you haven't provided any text to translate. Please provide the specific text you would like to have translated from German to English.

A tradition comes to light – why it is so appealing

The origin of this trend lies in family fun: Since around 2018, cruise passengers have been hiding small rubber ducks on board, often lovingly labeled with names, ship, and date. Whoever finds them may keep them or re-hide them. The fun spread through social media – in particular, a Facebook group with over 300,000 members contributes to its popularity.The text you provided appears to be a URL and does not contain any content to translate. If you have another text that you would like to translate from German to English, please provide it, and I'll be happy to assist you!Please provide the text you would like translated from German to English.

But the logistical and environmental concerns have prompted the industry to take action. Detached rubber ducks can become a tripping hazard on boardwalks, be left behind in technical rooms, or be carelessly thrown overboard. For the crew and the environment, this presents an unwanted problem.cruiseescapes.co.ukPlease provide the text you would like to have translated from German to English.

For travel-loving LGBTIQ+ individuals or any other readership group, this has quite practical implications: The joy of communal, creative actions like Duck-Hide-and-Seek is restricted by new rules. Those who want to continue experiencing this tradition can maintain it privately within their own cabin or participate in approved activities, such as organized games.

This step by Marella is part of a larger trend where cruise companies weigh the freedom for individual customs against operational safety and sustainability. Whether other traditions will be similarly regulated, such as decorations in private rooms or other community symbols, remains open – the industry is increasingly moving towards a clearly structured coexistence.