Carnival’s April Fool's Joke Riles Up Cruise Passengers

April Fool's is no joke when you're easily gullible. Every social media post has you second-guessing what's real and wondering just how creative people can get with their pranks. 

Although Carnival Cruise Line is known for its fun-filled vacations and laid-back atmosphere, it teased passengers with what appeared to be a sudden letter banning duck hunting aboard its ships. The notice, printed on official Carnival letterhead and signed by the cruise line's president, has circulated widely on social media.

"At Carnival Cruise Line, we are committed to providing a fun, safe, and environmentally responsible vacation experience for all of our guests. As part of our ongoing efforts to protect the oceans and destinations we visit, we continuously review onboard activities and traditions," the letter begins.

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"After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that the popular activity of hiding and finding cruise ducks aboard our ships will no longer be permitted, effective immediately."

According to the letter, this "decision" comes as part of Carnival's ongoing commitment to sustainability, with the ducks having unintended environmental impacts. 

Continuing on, "We understand this may come as disappointing news to those who have enjoyed participating in this activity. However, we encourage guests to take part in the many other exciting and environmentally friendly activities available onboard, designed to create lasting memories while preserving the beauty of our planet." 

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Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, signed off on the letter, which made it seem official. However, attentive readers noticed that directly below her signature, in bold font, were the words "April Fools!" 

"My initial thought was how does a plastic duck interfere with marine life sustainability"

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Carnival passengers were quick to share their thoughts about the letter online. Although many picked up on the joke, others expressed how sad they would be if it were true. 

"I’m actually sad if this is real. We’re going on our first cruise in June!" Kristen Merrill commented on a Facebook post. 

Amber Matthews added, "I was about to cry as we just bought the cutest ducks for our cruise this month."

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Word of the joke got back to John Heald, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, who cleared the air once and for all. 

"[P]lease ignore this 100%. You can absolutely continue to hide the ducks. Somebody posted this as an April 1 joke. Hide the ducks, enjoy doing so," he said. 

What is cruise duck hunting?

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Hiding ducks on a cruise ship is a fun activity that connects cruisers from all over. For example, you could find a duck hidden by a family from England, even though you live in Miami!

Essentially, hunting for ducks on a cruise is like participating in a scavenger hunt. However, you do not get any hints — unless you're part of a specific Facebook group. 

To prepare, guests will either purchase or craft ducks to hide around the ship. There's usually a small note attached that states where the duck came from, too. 

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Then, cruisers will hide the ducks around the ship in public lounges, elevator banks, etc. When a duck is found, someone may share a photo online. Other times, they may leave the duck in a new hiding spot.