Carnival Cruise Line Bans A Controversial Icon To Keep Trips Family-Friendly

The pineapple is sweet and tasty, and it's also a potent symbol: For centuries, placing a pineapple outside your front door — or even the likeness of a pineapple — was a sign of hospitality. The tropical fruit was once rare in North America: To even have a pineapple was a status symbol, so just imagine the generosity of offering one to others. Even today, you'll find pineapple sculptures and finials around old houses and inns, especially in historic coastal towns.

Then there's the upside-down pineapple, which also represents warmth and friendship plus quite a bit more. The inverted version, with its spiky, green leaves facing down, indicates that the person behind the door may be a swinger. No, not someone who loves jazz dancing from the 1940s, but a free spirit who seeks out more –– let's say, "romantic" –– adventures, sometimes beyond the bounds of matrimony. The act is simple: Turn a pineapple on its head and leave it in a public place. Better yet, use a facsimile of an upside-down pineapple and hang it from a door handle. The signal is loud and clear for savvy passersby. Someone, married or not, is looking for fun, adult company. And it's gained some popularity on cruise ships.

Carnival Cruise Line put the kibosh on these symbols because the company takes pride in its family-friendly atmosphere. Indeed, Carnival is considered one of the best cruise lines to book for a family vacation. As a result, "items displayed during the cruise should not contain any message that may be considered offensive or contain nudity, profanity, sexual innuendos/suggestions," according to their official FAQ page. This includes the images of pineapples standing on their heads.

The ban makes sense for a mainstream brand like Carnival: Everyone should feel welcome on their cruises. Nobody likes to be censored, but as the upside-down pineapple symbol becomes more well-known, parents may feel uneasy about their children spotting them on stateroom doors. This goes for other symbols as well. "In addition," the Carnival FAQ adds, "decor should not promote negative ethnic or racial commentary, hatred, or violence in any form." On another note, there have been reports of upside-down pineapples being put on others' doors as a practical joke, which could lead to a lot of confusion –– or worse.

So what are people to do if their idea of fun is more inclined to be "adults only?" Frankly, there are many reasons why someone might be seeking a shipboard fling, so surely there is a market for that, right? For starters, there are plenty of ways to enjoy cruising alone, whether or not it results in a romantic rendezvous. Also, there are plenty of adults-only voyages out there, including Virgin Cruises, one of the best-known lines for adults. Finally, there are cruises tailored to all kinds of adult passengers, from LGBTQ+ cruises to clothing-optional swingers' cruises, which are specifically designed for the upside-down-pineapple demographic. Carnival may not like the innuendo, but plenty of other lines embracing forbidden fruit.