An “Alpha” is a medical emergency, a “Bravo” is a fire, and “Kilo” is a request for all personnel to report to their emergency posts, which happens in the event of, say, a necessary evacuation. Be wary of “Echo,” which is called if the ship is starting to drift, or “Oscar,” which means someone's gone overboard.

Cruise ships have a fascinating "hidden language" of codes and symbols used by crew and savvy passengers. For the crew, codes like "Alpha" (Medical Emergency), "Bravo" (Fire), and "Oscar" (Man Overboard) allow them to communicate urgent situations over the loudspeaker without causing mass panic. A "PVI" is a "Public Vomiting Incident," while "Code Red" often signals a Norovirus outbreak. Among passengers, certain symbols have their own "subculture" meanings. The most famous is the upside-down pineapple, which is a discreet signal for those in the "swinging" or partner-swapping lifestyle. Placing a pineapple sticker or magnet on a cabin door indicates a "lifestyle" party is underway. Other symbols include duck-themed items (for "Cruising Ducks," a game where passengers hide small rubber ducks for others to find) and door banners which often indicate special milestones like "50th Anniversary" or "First Cruise," helping the community celebrate together.