Because cruises are a shared environment, passengers seem to be more involved in what each other is doing than when it comes to land-based vacations. This makes sense when the behavior of others really affects you.
Unruly children splashing in the pool or running around the pool area create a negative environment for other passengers. Someone who smokes in an area where smoking is not permitted exposes people to secondhand smoke, which can lead to asthma and other respiratory problems.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line Addresses Major Pool Deck Controversy
It's perfectly reasonable to be angry at the person who leaves their stuff on a pool chair and then disappears for hours. Someone who does that is being inconsiderate, violating cruise line rules, and causing there to be fewer chairs for other passengers.
However, in many cases, some cruise passengers become angry at the actions of other passengers that do not affect them. The most famous example is people who become angry at what other people wear to dinner.
While rules in the main dining room (MDR) on Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships may require men to wear long pants and collared shirts, the fact that someone violates those rules doesn't affect your meal. You may need to look away occasionally and make sure you have the right background for photos, but a man wearing shorts and a T-shirt doesn't change your experience.
Hiding ducks on a cruise ship often falls into the “it doesn't affect other people” category, as long as the people hiding and hunting them are respectful. That hasn't stopped some passengers from getting upset about the practice and calling for it to be banned.
Image source: Pixabay
Carnival brand ambassador shares an experience with a duck
Carnival brand ambassador John Heald has been sailing with his wife and daughter on the Mardi Gras. It's been a working vacation for him as he keeps answering questions on his facebook page and can't stop doing his job when people recognize him on board.
He shared an interaction at Mardi Gras that took an unexpected turn.
“I wish you could have seen it. It was 7:40am and I took a break from answering questions to go get my coffee. The lady came running towards me walking very, very fast and I could see she had a medium sized duck in her hand. She was yelling my name over and over,” he wrote. “I smiled and said, 'That's for me,' thank you very much.”
Unfortunately, that's when the M. Night Shyamalan-worthy twist came along.
“He came up to me and spent the next three minutes telling me that 'the duck thing had gotten out of hand' and that other cruise lines had done the right thing by banning them,” she added.
Heald let her speak and listened to her entire argument.
“I explained to her that it was just a bit of fun and if the other cruise lines want to cancel that fun, that's their business. She told me we were 'ignorant.' I got a cold coffee,” he shared.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or first) cruise.
Carnival passengers speak out in favor of ducks, says Heald
More than 1,500 people commented on Heald's post. The vast majority of them supported the idea of hiding ducks on boats.
“It's funny how many people feel they have the right to tell other people what to do. If you see a duck and you don't like it, just leave it alone. Just keep walking and enjoy your walk. It's possible,” Joey Thibodeaux posted.
Some shared stories about the joy it brought their son to find a duck.
“My 5 year old daughter who was having a hard time boarding was very upset and wanted to go to bed but couldn't yet… She found a little purple duck near an elevator and immediately started laughing and smiling and the whole day was saved by the tiniest duckling,” Brandi Brown wrote.
Several passengers expressed their appreciation for Heald's patience and tolerance.
READ ALSO: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise
“God bless her. Hahaha. I love you so much John for having to deal with this. And even though other cruise lines have 'banned' them, you will still find them,” Nikki Natvig shared.
“My God, John has a heart of gold and duck feathers. I couldn't do a job where people complained to me about such mundane and insignificant issues. I'm sure I'd go mad,” added Sandie Hay.
Related: Get the best cruise tips, deals and news from our cruise experts.
