Why do cruise ships honk in port?

There are various reasons why cruise ships blast their horns, ranging from a simple salutation to other passing ships to a warning of potential danger or an emergency. For the most part, however, most horn blasts are to communicate with other passing ships what direction the ship plans on going.



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Horns can warn boats away from ships, structures and areas where they might run aground. And mariners can use the sounds along with their charts to navigate when their view is impaired by fog, smoke and heavy rain.

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Five Short Blasts - This is the DANGER signal. Remember, that when you approach another vessel and hear either one or two short blasts, and you both understand their signal and can safely let them do it, then you are required to respond with the same signal in response.

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In This Article…
  • Different Codes Amongst Cruise Lines.
  • Emergency Codes. Alpha. Bravo. Brightstar or Operation Brightstar. Delta. Kilo. Echo. Sierra/Sierra Team. Oscar. Code Green/Code Yellow. Operation Rising Star. PVI. Code Pink. Code Gray. Red Party. Zulu. Code Red. Papa. Code 7. Code Purple. Code Black.


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The lowest deck In the lowest part of a cruise ship, there's a whole lot of noisy stuff so you may hear the hum of the engine, the blast of the bow thrusters and the clanging of the anchor chain. Depending on the ship, you may also feel vibrations that could make the hangers in your wardrobe rattle!

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Decorating your cruise door is a fun way to personalize your stateroom and add some personality to your cruise experience. However, it's important to be safe and mindful of your fellow passengers by avoiding offensive or inappropriate decor and choosing fire-safe materials.

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One Prolonged Blast - This means you are leaving a dock or departing your slip. It signals to others a change in status and that you are getting underway. A prolonged blast is also sounded when a vessel is approaching a bend in a river where vessels coming from another direction cannot be seen.

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According to maritime regulations, four long blasts of a ship's horn indicate that the ship is getting ready to depart.

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Lower decks It's a smart idea to select a stateroom below the waterline in addition to a mid-ship stateroom, which is typically distributed over multiple floors. This is due to the fact that this section of the ship, which is also its lowest and most central, is the most stable in choppy seas.

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Cruise ships usually have designated areas for singles and couples, so be sure to check out those spots first. You should also take advantage of any onboard activities or events that might bring people together – such as pool parties or karaoke nights – and don't forget to dress your best!

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Midship staterooms on the lowest passenger deck are the most excellent spot to be on a cruise ship in this instance because you don't feel the vessel sway as much.

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Charlie, Charlie, Charlie is the code for a security threat aboard Royal Caribbean ships and the code for upcoming helicopter winch operations aboard c-bed accommodation vessels. Code Blue usually means a medical emergency. Delta, Delta, Delta is the code for a possible bio-hazard among some cruise lines.

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This is the abandon ship signal used at Celebrity Cruises. Kilo, Kilo, Kilo on Royal Caribbean is a general signal for crew to report to emergency stations. Mr Mob means man overboard. Man overboard can also be signaled with three prolonged blasts on the ship's whistle and general alarm bell (Morse code Oscar).

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Code Red: Outbreak of norovirus or other illness. It means the ship must undergo deep cleaning and sick passengers should stay in their rooms. Code Green and Code Yellow indicate less severe problems.

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