Cracking the Cruise Dress Codes that Might Surprise You

As a rookie cruiser some twenty years ago, I was concerned, as most new cruisers are, that I needed to be appropriately dressed for my holiday at sea. I purchased beautiful ballgowns for me, and a tuxedo for John to wear on gala nights (dress codes were really ‘formal’ back then), and made sure we packed suitable smart clothes for other evenings plus some lovely tropically-inspired resort wear.

What I wasn’t aware of in my naïveté was the unspoken ‘hidden’ adult-themed codes and symbols that are prevalent on cruise ships. If only I knew then, what I have learned since, I might have avoided those sideway glances and “nudge, nudge. wink, wink” moments that in retrospect I’m sure we must have invoked from time to time. With my pineapple print sun dresses and John’s prancing flamingo swim shorts, I don’t know whether to be grateful or offended that we weren’t actually propositioned

I feel, therefore, that it is my duty to prepare you, dear readers (well those of you not in the know), so that you don’t make an unintentional cruise-wear faux pas. Here is an outline of cruise-insider dress ‘codes’, with code being the operative word. Beware of the tropical pineapple and flamingo, they may not be your friend (or they may find you new friends, depending on your perspective). In an adult-only context on cruise ships, these symbols, particularly on clothing, can take on more playful and suggestive meanings.

The Humble Pineapple 🍍

Pineapple-related clothing or accessories, especially upside-down pineapples, are popular symbols used by couples or individuals to subtly indicate that they are secretly interested and/or actively looking to participate in ‘swinging’ or partner-swapping. Yes, you read that correctly!

Some people are more blatant and hang the symbols on their cabin door meaning “swingers welcome”. Oh, and this isn’t just limited to party cruises - on a recent Cunard cruise on Queen Mary 2, the adjacent cabin to ours proudly displayed a double pineapple door mat outside their cabin door stating “Everyone Welcome”. We didn’t take up the invitation, although we did keep an interested eye open, but I don’t think they had any takers on that particular voyage.

Pretty Flamingos 🦩

Whilst being a popular feature on tropical clothing, pool inflatables and even towel clamps, Flamingos can also sometimes symbolise a desire for casual relationships or flirtatious interactions among passengers. In the USA, they have long been used as a “welcome to our home” symbol when planted on the front lawn. Well now, that welcome has got a whole lot warmer and when worn/displayed onboard, can be seen as sending a discrete message that the owners perhaps follow an alternative lifestyle. That said flamingos are less well known as a secret code than the ubiquitous upside-down pineapple - so if your intention is to, well grab some attention from like minded swingers, then you might want to stick with the fruit.

Of course cruise ships are not all the centre of debauchery (well, ok they can be, especially if you are on that all inclusive drinks package), but they are seemingly a good place to meet like-minded people. There are even so called “lifestyle cruises” specifically for swingers, most notably in the USA, but if you are on a regular cruise and want to find passengers of a similar persuasion, then look for the symbols on cabin door, or clothing and use this as a conversation-starter. What’s the worse that could happen, right?