Carnival Cruise Line has taken a firm stance against certain cabin door decorations. The move has raised eyebrows among frequent cruisers and sparked conversations about the balance between personal expression and maintaining a family-friendly environment.
A Popular Cruise Tradition Faces Limits
Decorating cabin doors has long been a cherished tradition for cruise passengers. From birthday celebrations to themed designs, these decorations help guests personalize their experience and make their rooms easier to locate.
However, Carnival has cracked down on specific decorations with hidden meanings, such as the upside-down pineapple. According to CruiseHive, the pineapple symbol has become widely recognized as a signal for swinging or other adult behaviors.
Beyond its suggestive meaning, the upside-down pineapple has led to pranks where mischievous cruisers place the symbol on others’ doors, causing uninvited and awkward encounters for unsuspecting guests.
Carnival Cruise Line Responds
Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, addressed the new policy directly, confirming the ban in an online discussion with passengers.
“Thank you for mentioning that, those are definitely no longer allowed on the ships and they will be removed from any cabin door,” Heald wrote. “Thank you for reminding me to mention that.”
Reports from CruiseHive indicate that the restrictions don’t stop with pineapples. Other symbols with secret meanings, such as pink flamingos, unicorns, and garden gnomes, are also included in the ban.
While Carnival’s policy is clear, its enforcement appears less consistent. Passengers have shared experiences of spotting banned decorations, including upside-down pineapples, still displayed on cabin doors during recent cruises. Some guests noted that symbols in orientations like right-side up or sideways have gone unnoticed by cruise staff.
Guidelines for Door Decorations
Despite the ban on certain symbols, passengers are still welcome to decorate their cabin doors under Carnival’s updated rules. Decorations must be fire-retardant, removable, and affixed with non-damaging materials like Command Strips. Adhesives or glues that could harm the door’s surface are strictly prohibited.
Carnival Cruise Line’s full decorating guidelines are available here.
Should Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and others replicate this ban? Share your thoughts with Disney Dining in the comments.
Do NOT ban door decorations, regardless of the perceived meaning‼️ My wife and I are not members of the “upside down pineapple” group, however for those that are and other groups, they should be able to decorate as they wish WITHOUT other folks discriminating against them. Whether it’s unicorns, rainbows, hippos, or any other decoration fills have paid for their vacation fun