Upside Down Pineapples BANNED (And Then Unbanned?) From Carnival Cruise Ships

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Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald has confirmed that upside-down pineapples are no longer permitted on Carnival ships as a door decoration, and would be removed if seen – but has then since deleted his statement.

Carnival bans upside down pineapple

John had shared a typical Facebook post on his popular page, which featured a question from a single cruiser who wanted help meeting other singles while they sailed.

In the comments, one person made a joke about an upside pineapple doing the trick, and John responded with confirmation that those are no longer allowed on Carnival ships:

"Thank you for mentioning that, those are definitely no longer allowed on the ships and they will be removed from any cabin door. Thank you for reminding me to mention that. Hope all is well"

However, just a few hours after posting this comment, John deleted it, leaving uncertainty over whether the pineapples would actually be banned.

Upside-down pineapples have long been a sign that someone is into the swinging lifestyle, and have been known to be used by swingers on cruise ships to identify each other.

The fact that Carnival still allows other door decorations, but has potentially chosen to ban upside-down pineapples specifically, shows that the cruise line is trying to discourage this behaviour on ships, or at least discourage it being advertised.

After all, the upside-down pineapple symbol is becoming more widely recognised now, and it may be that the cruise line just doesn’t want it to be really obvious that it’s happening.

No word on whether flamingoes – another symbol that is sometimes used to imply swinging – are also banned. Or not.

Of course, the pineapple is not universally known as a swinging icon either, and some people may just like to use pineapples to represent a tropical getaway.

I imagine there will be some very awkward conversations between those innocent guests and the onboard crew when the passengers go to ask why their decorations have been removed!

The decision by Carnival to ban upside-down pineapples as door decorations highlights a growing trend among cruise lines to manage the cultural signals and behaviours that can arise in the unique environment of a cruise ship.

Cruises are often viewed as spaces for relaxation, fun, and meeting new people, but they also bring together diverse groups with different social norms and expectations.

As symbols like the upside-down pineapple become more widely recognized, cruise lines are likely keen to strike a balance between maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for all passengers and managing activities that could lead to misunderstandings or complaints.

Swinging culture, while not inherently problematic, is a topic that can make some guests uncomfortable, particularly in family-friendly environments.

Cruise lines, including Carnival, have historically maintained policies to ensure their ships remain spaces where guests of all backgrounds feel at ease. This includes managing behaviours or symbols that might be misinterpreted or offensive to some passengers.

This isn’t the first time cruise lines have had to navigate the fine line between self-expression and the comfort of others. For instance, other cruise lines have occasionally updated policies on everything from guest attire to onboard conduct in response to shifting social norms.

The increased visibility of niche communities and their signals, partly driven by social media, has made these symbols more accessible to the general public, which may be prompting businesses like Carnival to take pre-emptive action.

Additionally, the removal of specific symbols like the upside-down pineapple could spark a conversation about where the line should be drawn.

Some may view this move as a necessary step to preserve the cruise experience for the majority, while others might argue that it borders on overreach, particularly if the symbol isn’t universally understood.

What do you think?

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Cruise Mummy

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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3 thoughts on “Upside Down Pineapples BANNED (And Then Unbanned?) From Carnival Cruise Ships”

  1. | Reply

    We were on a Carnival cruise and the very next week, this same ship (Sunshine, I think) was the host to an all-nude cruise. So now they’re being “prudish” about a door decoration?? And I know people will say that it’s not appropriate for a family style cruise, but how many kids really know the meaning of it?

  2. | Reply

    I’ve always been tempted to turn pineapples that I see on cabin doors upside down as I walk past. I wonder what a flamingo standing on an upside down pineapple would signify, answers on a postcard please LOL

  3. | Reply

    Apparently they changed from Pineapples to Bananas and Peaches 🤣

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