When a tourist noticed “cute little pineapples” attached to cruise ship doors, other passengers warned her. Even though they’re frequently viewed as artistic homages to tropical fruits, their connotation can drastically alter depending on the situation – cue the upside-down pineapple.
Pineapple symbols and decorations are usually valued for their aesthetic qualities. Pineapples are well-known in popular culture for being connected to Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants,” in which the protagonist resides in a pineapple beneath the sea.
However, TikToker Dominique (@blogionistatravels) found that pineapples had a more provocative significance when taken on adult cruises. Sharing her first cruise trip on social media, Dominique posted a video of herself in several cabin doors covered in stickers of pineapples.
The 15-second video, which was posted in September 2022 and has had 21 million views, features Dominique strolling through a cruise ship corridor. observing the highly detailed door decorations. “When you’re on your first cruise and you see that everyone has these little cute pineapples on their door,” the woman wrote as the video’s caption.
Many people responded to the video, some of them with amusing and sage advice. A TikTok member commented, “It looks like a kind old lady who thinks people just decorate with pineapples on cruises and want to decorate,” in reference to the welcoming photo with the butterfly. Someone else joked, “I’m still waiting on the cruise name, of course, for a friend.”
Pineapples on cruise doors serve a purpose beyond just aesthetics. Pineapples are a well-known symbol of interest in swinging, claims Cruisehive. These patterns, which are frequently exhibited inverted, serve as a code for wife-swapping and swinger parties.
Swingers employ other indicators besides pineapples. Many use subliminal cues, such switching their wedding bands from their left to their right hand or donning black rings. There are swingers cruises specifically designed for adults only, for people who would rather be transparent about their inclinations.
It is evident that not everyone is aware of the hidden implications behind these decorations, as one commentator suggested, “Baby just keep walking.”
It serves as a lighthearted but educational reminder of the various and even surprising customs that cruise passengers may encounter.
The innocuous pineapple, a symbol so often associated with tropical vacation vibes, can take on a more adult-oriented meaning in the cruise ship context. This unexpected revelation highlights the importance of being aware of cultural symbols and their nuanced interpretations, especially when exploring new travel experiences.
