Royal Caribbean has officially banned rubber duck hunts in the Central Park areas aboard its Oasis-class and Icon-class ships.
A Necessary Move
The cruise line says the move is necessary to protect the live plants that make up the signature garden featured on ships like Oasis of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.
Each Central Park contains more than 20,000 live plants and trees, maintained by an onboard team of horticulturalists. But according to ship staff, passengers hiding and searching for small rubber ducks have been damaging the greenery.
In some cases, guests were seen trampling flower beds or reaching into plant arrangements, damaging and causing stress to the vegetation.
Guests Weigh In
In response, Royal Caribbean has posted signs in the parks reading, “This is a duck-free zone,” asking guests to refrain from hiding rubber items among the plants. The ban is focused specifically on Central Park. Duck hunts remain allowed in other public spaces, as long as guests avoid pools, spas, retail areas, and confined corridors.
The tradition of hiding rubber ducks began as a passenger-led activity and grew in popularity across social media. It was particularly embraced by families with young children.
Some guests have expressed disappointment, but many understand the reason behind the new policy. As one cruiser wrote on Reddit, “The ducks were cute, but the plants are permanent.”
Central Park made its debut in 2009 with the launch of Oasis of the Seas, marking the first time a cruise ship featured a full-scale outdoor garden with real trees, shrubs, and flowerbeds.
Designed as an escape from the bustling onboard atmosphere, the space spans multiple decks and includes walking paths, specialty dining, and live music. Guest can even have Central Park facing balcony staterooms.
Since then, the concept has been expanded to other Oasis-class ships and adapted for Royal Caribbean’s new Icon-class.
