Do you only associate pineapple with being a nutritious snack on a warm summer day? If so, it might be worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the significance of an upside-down pineapple on a cruise before unintentionally finding yourself in a slightly uncomfortable situation.
Swinging, also known as wife swapping or partner swapping, is practiced when a couple involved in a committed relationship invites a third party to participate in their activities “behind closed doors,” so to speak. The external party can be either a single person or another couple.
The fact that an upside-down pineapple is associated with swinging is widely known online, and numerous sources attempt to warn parties unfamiliar with this association of this specific symbol. You will even find merch with an upside-down pineapple on several popular e-commerce sites, including Amazon.
Although some cruises are aimed explicitly at swingers so they can meet other swingers, it is not unlikely that some couples may seek out other swingers on a regular cruise ship as well. The symbolism of the upside-down pineapple will probably go unnoticed by most couples who aren’t familiar with its meaning. Nevertheless, the swinging community often uses this symbol hoping to identify others with similar interests. Here, we will explore the world of the upside-down pineapple, including its origin, meanings, and implications.
Upside Down Pineapple Meaning on a Cruise Ship
Upside-down pineapples are associated with various meanings that are discussed further below.
For some couples that embrace the swinging lifestyle, an upside-down pineapple is a way of showing other couples that they are interested in swinging with them. This swinger symbol may be found on the cruise cabin door to signify that a swinging party is taking place inside. Some couples indicate that they are searching for a third party by wearing pineapple clothing or an upside-down pineapple pin on their clothes. Other manifestations of this symbol other than upside-down pineapple on cruise ship cabin doors may be something as subtle as a pineapple doormat or an upside-down pineapple badge.
Although an upside-down pineapple is strongly associated with swinging, it does carry some other more family-friendly meanings as well. An upside pineapple often acts as a symbol of good fortune.
Moreover, pineapples have long been known as symbols of wealth, as only the elite could afford real pineapples long ago. People used to associate upside-down pineapples with royalty in the past because this tropical fruit was so rare and difficult to come by. Today, an upside-down pineapple often means a person is inviting you into their home.
The Origin of The Upside Down Pineapple Symbol
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact time at which the upside-down pineapple became a secret symbol for swinging. However, there are still some explanations regarding how it is used as an identifier of a swinger party, as well as its usage in pop culture.
It is still unclear whether the upside-down pineapple symbol was first used in Hawaii or Europe. It is, however, clear that the symbol was used to indicate hospitality before any other meaning came into play.
As pineapples are Hawaii’s official national fruit, the pineapple fruit has always been connected to traditional Hawaiian hospitality. Hawaii also gave rise to the much-loved upside-down pineapple cake recipe.
To our knowledge, pineapples first became associated with swinging when swingers started placing pineapple upside down in their trolleys when doing grocery shopping in hopes of finding other swingers that are familiar with the symbolism.
Furthermore, the next step in the evolution of an upside-down pineapple as a swingers symbol occurred when swingers started putting an upside-down pineapple on the mailboxes in front of their homes to indicate that a swinger party was taking place inside.
The connection between swinging and the upside-down pineapple eventually started manifesting on cruise ships. Cruise ship swinging is more popular than you might think, and swingers often place an upside-down pineapple on their doors if they are looking to engage in partner swapping. Other swingers passing a room with an upside-down pineapple symbol on the door then know that a swinger party is going on. If they want to engage in adult fun, all they have to do is knock.
Although there are also other symbols relating to swinging, the upside-down pineapple was officially accepted as one of them back in 2017. However, this symbol has long existed in this context on cruise ships, as the first swinger’s cruise occurred in 2008.
How Common are Upside Down Pineapples on a Cruise Ship
It is not uncommon for people to notice some pineapple decor on any typical cruise. Such pineapples are likely not swinger symbols but rather carry other meanings, as pineapple is a symbol of good fortune as well.
As swinger-specific cruises are continuously becoming more prevalent, upside-down pineapples as symbols for swingers are not so common on regular cruise ships anymore. In fact, you are more likely to come across pineapple upside-down cake than a swinging party.
Online dating sites for swingers are also easy to access, so many swinging couples would rather opt for that method to find other interested couples than display an upside-down pineapple on a normal cruise.
Therefore, don’t be too taken aback when you come across a person wearing pineapple print clothing, as many popular prints feature this tropical fruit purely for decorative ends.
What About Wearing Pineapple Clothing?
If you’re wondering if you can never wear pineapple clothing again, please don’t stress too much! Although swingers use the upside-down pineapple symbol to “out” themselves as swingers, this is certainly not the case with every person who decides to wear clothes with pineapples on them. In fact, many people wear pineapple prints simply because it is joyful, and they don’t even know about its secret symbol.
If you go on a cruise meant explicitly for swingers to find like-minded people, you can safely assume what this symbol means, but on a typical cruise ship, chances are pineapples on clothes don’t mean anything significant. Assuming otherwise may put you in some pretty awkward positions.
It is completely understandable to feel uncomfortable if you’re not really into the swinging lifestyle. The thought of being confronted with participating in a swinger party when you’re just rocking your pineapple shorts is not very attractive. So if you truly want to avoid such encounters, you may want to avoid wearing clothes with any upside-down pineapple prints.
However, there is nothing wrong with wearing your favorite pineapple shirt, even if you’re not trying to convey the secret code to others. Swingers aren’t so eager that they’ll automatically assume everyone wearing pineapple print is down for some adult fun. In fact, they often view subtlety as a cornerstone of their swinging lifestyle. They are also quite skilled at identifying when the upside-down pineapple you’re wearing actually carries that meaning or if it’s just a fashion choice.
Also, note that pineapple is only associated with swinging when it is turned upside down, so you likely won’t encounter any awkward situations if there are upside pineapples on your clothes. Even so, there is no reason to feel uncomfortable when the pineapples are upside down, as this has become a popular pattern for clothes in recent years.
Pineapple clothes are similar to having a pineapple tattoo. Although it could refer to your swinging nature, this is certainly not always the case. A pineapple tattoo, just like a pineapple shirt, could simply represent your love of nature and tropical elements.
Other Symbols Swingers Use
Swingers identify one another in many ways other than just the upside-down pineapple symbol. Many other symbols are used to indicate the swinging lifestyle both on and off cruise ships, and we will explore some of them below.
The Swing
The swing logo consists of a swing and a circle, which represents the entire swinging community.
The symbol has a black outline with a red background. Swinging is mysterious, and the black outlines express this notion. The red color stands for the intense feelings swinging inspires.
Although the swing icon is inextricably linked to the swing community, it is not utilized by everyone who identifies as a swinger. Swinging has become less stigmatized, but people still prefer to keep their relationships out of the public eye.
Pampas Grass
Despite Pampas Grass being an Instagram aesthetic obsession at the moment, it is much more than just a pretty plant. Pampas grass has been connected with swinging since the 1970s. Swingers once used to grow them on their front porch to indicate their involvement in the community.
Because the secret meaning of the plant became public knowledge, people who weren’t into swinging stopped buying it, and those who were stopped using it because the secret code was no longer covert.
Black Ring
A person wearing a black ring on any of their right fingers, excluding their middle finger, may be signaling that they are looking for a hookup partner. However, most of the time, it signifies that the wearer is looking to strike up a conversation with a fellow cruiser.
Garden Gnomes
While most people see garden gnomes as whimsical lawn decorations, their presence might indicate that your neighbors want to swap partners.
Based on research, we can say that the presence of an upside-down pineapple symbolizes the likelihood that a couple is involved in the swinger scene. In contrast, the presence of a garden gnome is extremely common and cannot be used to infer anything.
Unicorns
A unicorn is a single woman who is attractive to both partners in a relationship and also wants to have some adult fun. It is a concept created to describe a woman who is bisexual.
Finding such a woman on a cruise ship is generally as uncommon as finding a unicorn, and this is what inspired the name. Unicorns may identify with unicorn apparel and accessories.
Wristband
Before the advent of online platforms and applications, swingers could easily find other members of the community; swingers used to wear wristbands to accomplish this. Wristbands and black rings were frequently worn together to emphasize the message.
Such wristbands often displayed a symbol that represents the swinging community, such as the swing.
Anklet
Anklets are worn by both genders, but they are associated with swinging. Swingers wear anklets to signal that their partners are fine with them having other relationships. In some instances, women wore ankle jewelry with symbols, such as the ace of spades or the letter Q. Such women are referred to as hot wives, but they are hard to come by.
Other jewelry choices associated with swinging may include switching a wedding ring to the right hand and wearing a toe ring or a thumb ring.
In Closing
We hope you now have a better understanding of what an upside-down pineapple means on your cruise ship. If you already own a pineapple t-shirt, don’t worry about it too much. Chances are swingers won’t approach you out of the blue on cruise ships if you don’t radiate obvious signals. That being said, many cruisers are well-aware of the symbolism of an upside-down pineapple and might shoot you a little smile when you wear it. Either way, just enjoy your cruise, and don’t overthink it. Who knows, maybe you’ll fancy hanging an upside-down pineapple on your own cruise ship door one day.
