If you have ever wandered down a cruise ship hallway and noticed a door decorated with an upside down pineapple magnet, you might have done a double take. While it may look like just another quirky cruise door decoration to the untrained eye, seasoned cruisers know it can mean something a little more adventurous.
What Does an Upside Down Pineapple Mean?
The upside down pineapple has become a subtle, and sometimes not-so-subtle, symbol of the swinger lifestyle, particularly in cruise and resort communities. While it does not always signal that someone is looking to mingle in that way, it has become widely recognized as code for “open to swinging.” For some people, it is just a fruit. For others, it is an invitation.
Related: What Do Upside Down Pineapples Mean on a Cruise? Everything Cruisers Need to Know
Cruise Lines Are Taking Notice
With door decorations becoming a topic of conversation for both safety and appropriateness, some cruise lines are starting to crack down.
Carnival Cruise Line recently clarified its policy:
“Items displayed during the cruise should not contain any message that may be considered offensive or contain nudity, profanity, sexual innuendos or suggestions.”
That language does not specifically mention pineapples, but if the implication is there, it could fall under that category.
Norwegian Cruise Line took things a step further a few years ago, banning all door decorations and citing fire safety concerns. According to their official policy:
“Yes, Norwegian Cruise Line does not allow any door decorations, including paper or magnetic ones. This is due to fire safety concerns…”
Yet many cruisers report still seeing decorated doors on NCL sailings. In fact, when I was recently onboard Norwegian Encore I was sailing in the studio cabins, there was one room with upside down pineapple decorations and whiteboards with room schedules.
What Cruisers Are Saying:
We asked our Life Well Cruised Facebook community of avid cruisers what they thought and over 500 of you chimed in with strong, and sometimes hilarious, opinions!
Many community members took a lighthearted view of the situation. One cruiser said, “Just keep the pineapple upright and we’re good, LOL.” Another joked, “Now I regret Googling that.”
Many felt that it is really not a big deal, with one commenter saying simply, “It’s a fruit.” Someone else added, “What happens behind the pineapple-decorated doors is none of my business. I’m on vacation. That’s up to the cruise line.”
Another person put it bluntly: “Imagine being triggered by a door decoration.”
Some cruisers leaned into the peace and love vibe: “I haven’t seen any pineapple people fighting or getting kicked off a ship. Make love, not war.”
Of course, not everyone was in favor of the trend. One commenter wrote, “Heck no. At least we know who to avoid!”
So Should They Be Banned?
This issue brings up the question of how to balance freedom of expression with maintaining a respectful and family-friendly environment on board.
Some cruisers argue that if decorations are tasteful and do not contain profanity or explicit messages, cruise lines should allow them, including pineapples. Others feel that coded messages of a sexual nature do not belong on cabin doors where children or teens might ask questions that cruise lines are not prepared to answer.
Then there is the safety concern. Norwegian’s blanket ban on decorations is technically based on fire prevention, not morality.
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Final Thoughts on Should Cruise Lines Ban Upside Down Pineapple Door Decorations?
As cruise lines work to maintain a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone, expect policies to continue evolving, especially as symbols like the upside down pineapple become more widely recognized.
Do you think door decorations should be banned on cruise ships? Please let me know in the comments below.