The Secret Flamingo Code: What That Pink Bird on Your Cruise Really Reveals About Passengers’ Wild Side

Ever wondered what it would be like to swap the comfy confines of your home for the endless horizon of a cruise ship? Sounds dreamy, right—until you realize these floating cities come with some seriously quirky side effects. Sure, most of us hop on board to escape the usual grind and maybe the dreaded sea legs—but here’s a curveball: some cruisers aren’t just chasing sunsets; they’re diving into a lifestyle of swinging and partner swapping that’s as colorful as the onboard décor. From upside-down pineapples sending spicy signals to inflatable pink flamingos making cameo appearances, the sea is stirring up more than just waves. So, if you think you know cruise culture, think again—it’s a whole new world out here, and apparently, what you wear could say more about your vacation plans than you bargained for. Intrigued? LEARN MORE.

When it comes to popular holidays, cruise ships are seemingly moving their way up the list.

Spending your life at sea might seem like some people’s worst nightmare, especially given how scary they can be at night, but some folks love it so much they’ve decided to sell their homes and build a life on board.

Most of us stick to just holidaying on them, to avoid the sea legs problem, but anyone who has ever stepped foot on a cruise ship will be well aware of some of the strange things you might see.

It seems as if some folks are now embracing the life of ‘swinging’ while at sea, with some ‘spicy’ ships even designed for that exact purpose of swapping partners, which might seem strange to you or me but you only need to stick Channel 4 on these days to comprehend just how many people do it.

Swinging signs are more common than you might think (Getty Stock)

It turns out that there are some distinct signs to suggest that people might well be up for swinging, which includes an upside-down pineapple, something which left one lad in a particularly prickly situation after he made a poor choice of shirt when on board.

And now, Cody Candee, CEO of travel luggage firm Bounce.com has revealed that a pink flamingo, presumably of the inflatable variety, is reportedly used by passengers on major lines including Royal Caribbean, Disney, Norwegian and Carnival as another sign of potential partner swapping ventures.

He said: “Many people are already aware of the upside-down pineapple as a well-known sign for swinging or ‘wife swapping’ when displayed on a cabin door or an item of clothing.

“However, as the symbol becomes more widely recognised, many cruise lines are cracking down on the use of this symbol on cabin doors. Other discreet symbols, such as pink flamingos, are gaining popularity as an alternative code for the same lifestyle.”

These are the things you might need to know for your next spicy trip (Getty Stock)

If you’re struggling to get hold of a pineapple or flamingo, then even something as innocent as a blue ring could also suggest you’re welcome to a new experience or partner, according to Cody.

He adds: “So, if you’re not looking for love on your trip, you might want to reconsider your choice of accessories.”

While some of you might have a reaction similar to the lad on TV who threw up at the idea of seeing his partner sleep with someone else, if you’re looking to engage in some voyeurism on your next sea voyage, then now you know how to get involved.