Why Marella Bans Cruise Ducks? Marella Cruises has asked passengers to stop hiding rubber ducks around its ships and destinations while also telling guests to leave their cabin doors free of decorations.
The new warning was included in a printed newsletter given to passengers onboard. Marella says toys, novelty items, and other personal belongings left around the ship can become safety hazards and may have to be removed and disposed of by the crew.
The cruise line also pointed to its efforts to reduce plastic and waste, saying that leaving unwanted objects around the ship does not fit with those efforts.
If you’re wondering whether dogs are allowed on cruise ships, here’s what you need to know about [bringing a dog on a cruise].
Table of Contents
Marella Also Wants Plain Cabin Doors: Marella Bans Cruise Ducks
The cruise duck warning comes alongside a separate request concerning cabin door decorations.
Marella is asking guests not to add flags, banners, posters, stickers, or magnets to cabin doors or public areas. The cruise line says keeping these areas clear helps maintain the appearance of the ship and supports safety.
For passengers who enjoy decorating their doors for birthdays, anniversaries, or other celebrations, this could be a noticeable change.
Can You Still Bring a Cruise Duck After Marella Bans Cruise Ducks
Yes, the issue is hiding them around the ship.
Marella’s message does not appear to prohibit passengers from bringing rubber ducks onboard. Instead, guests are being asked not to leave or hide ducks, toys, or other personal items around the ship or at destinations.
The popular cruise duck tradition involves passengers hiding labelled rubber ducks for other cruisers to discover and either keep or hide again. The trend has grown significantly through social media.
Interestingly, Marella itself still features ducks in some organized onboard entertainment, including games such as “Hook a Duck.”
What This Means for Marella Passengers
For anyone sailing with Marella, the message is simple:
- Do not hide rubber ducks around the ship.
- Do not leave toys or novelty items behind.
- Do not decorate cabin doors unless specifically permitted.
- Keep personal items inside your cabin rather than leaving them in public areas.
Marella is not the only cruise line to place restrictions on cruise ducks. Disney Cruise Line, for example, has long prohibited guests from hiding items such as rubber ducks in staterooms or public areas because of safety concerns.
For now, however, this is a Marella Cruises policy, not an industry-wide ban on cruise ducks.
The cruise duck can still come on vacation. Marella just doesn’t want it hiding around the ship
The Bottom Line: Marella Bans Cruise Ducks
Marella Cruises has asked passengers to stop hiding cruise ducks, toys, and other novelty items around its ships and destinations. It has also asked guests to keep cabin doors free of personal decorations such as magnets, banners, posters, stickers, and flags.
The cruise line says the items can become hazards, may need to be removed by the crew, and do not fit with its efforts to reduce plastic and waste.
For now, this is not a blanket ban on owning or bringing a rubber duck onboard.
But if you’re sailing with Marella, your duck is probably better off staying in your cabin rather than going on a ship-wide hiding mission.
And yes, that may be one less thing for cruise passengers to hunt for on their next vacation.
FAQs: Marella Bans Cruise Ducks
1. Does Marella Cruises ban cruise ducks?
Marella Cruises has asked passengers not to hide rubber ducks or other items around its ships or destinations.
2. Can I bring a rubber duck on a Marella cruise?
Yes. The guidance is about hiding or leaving ducks around the ship, not simply bringing one onboard.
3. Can I decorate my Marella cruise cabin door?
Marella is asking passengers not to decorate cabin doors with items such as magnets, banners, posters, stickers, or flags.
4. Why is Marella stopping passengers from hiding ducks?
The cruise line says items left around the ship can create safety issues, require crew cleanup, and contribute to waste.
5. Is cruise duck hiding banned on all cruise lines?
No. Cruise duck policies vary by cruise line. Marella’s restrictions apply to its own ships and destinations.
