Royal Caribbean announces duck ban on-board over environmental concerns

Royal Caribbean is taking a stand against rubber ducks. The cruise line's Oasis of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world, boasts an open-air atrium called 'Central Park', which is full of lush greenery. This space has become popular among passengers for hiding rubber ducks as part of a duck scavenger hunt.

This seemingly harmless activity is in fact threatening the delicate landscape of the plants. A sign in the green space stated, "Please help us protect the plants. This is a duck free zone. Please don't hide ducks in Central Park" as per a Facebook post.

A comment on the post notes that this information has been posted on the Royal Caribbean blog as well. One passenger wrote, "So sad. My son loves hiding and searching for ducks in Central Park but we also have a strict rule of not touching the plants." While another added, "When I was on Oasis in April, I did see people digging in the dirt looking for those little ducks."

This rule is not surprising as hunting for cruise ducks has become a popular pastime among children on board, who might dig into a flower bed if they spot a duck.

Where else are passengers not allowed to hide ducks?

Ducks should not be hidden in shops, pools, hot tubs, and green spaces like Central Park. Passengers must also avoid hiding the ducks in stairwells and anywhere ducks could fall overboard into the sea.

Can passengers hide ducks in other areas of the cruise?

Yes, passengers are allowed to hide rubber ducks in most other public spaces.

The architectural innovation of Oasis of the Seas

Oasis of the Seas came out 15 years ago, and marked the dawn of a new era for the cruise line. It was the first cruise ship to have distinct neighborhoods, an open-air park, and more.

Royal Caribbean didn't just plant some greenery on the top deck to create Central Park. Instead, the cruise line had to completely restructure the model of a traditional cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean succeeded at building what seemed like a real oasis on a ship-dotted with winding walkways, thousands of tropical plants, and restaurants and bars. Central Park is maintained with care and diligence by an expert team of horticulturalists.

The new rule to ban ducks from Central Park is thus an attempt to protect the green space which is one of the cruise ship's most impressive features.