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The cruise lines have adopted new safety and health protocols to ensure safe cruising for passengers and crew. As cruises are suspended, we hear the terms “warm and cold lay up” of cruise ships. Along with some major changes on cruise ships, we have seen new cruise line policies the have resulted in more cruise lingo – more words and explanations we just don’t know.
Insider secrets
For example, instead of saying “A” for the letter A, the term “Alpha” is used. This system is widely used in various industries, including aviation, military, and maritime, to facilitate effective and unambiguous communication. This past year saw possibly the most incidents of someone going overboard as any year in the last two decades.
Understanding Cruise Ship Terminology

On most cruise ships, you’ll be given a cruise card which will act as your room key, ID and your method of payment when on your cruise. The muster drill is a mandatory safety drill which is done prior to sailing. Note, it’s not “mustard” drill, as you just may hear from other passengers. Now, let’s wrap up our discussion and summarize the importance of “Alpha Alpha” on cruise ships. Now that we understand the meaning of “Alpha Alpha” and its role in the context of cruise ship safety, let’s explore the origins and deeper significance of this term. Knowing these codes can also help passengers understand announcements made by the crew during an emergency.
Echo
Code Zulu Zulu Zulu is a warning to crew members there is a fight incident onboard. Sometimes the code “Bright Star” or “Fallen star” is used to signify someone has died. The code Mr Mob stands for “Man Overboard.” Someone has fallen overboard. The crew uses the code “Delta, Delta, Delta” to signal to each other there has been or there is the possibility of a biohazard. This code originates from the abduction (and murder) of a child in the early 1980s, Adam Walsh, which also resulted in a Code Adam missing child safety program. A code will be the crew contacting maintenance to clear up a mess that could be hazardous to passing guests, for example, if someone slips on a wet floor.
Helicopter used to evacuate pregnant passenger from Disney cruise ship
Codes aren’t standardised across cruise lines, so the meaning if the code “Delta” depends on who you’re sailing with. It often means damage to the ship, but a former Norwegian Cruise Line employee wrote on the Cruise Critic Message Board that NCL uses the “Delta” cruise code to inform of pollution. A code blue is usually used to signify some sort of medical emergency onboard the ship. Jean is a West End and Broadway actress who now has her own one woman show called Royal Mistresses, which she performs at guilds and on ships. She now presents TV and is known by many cruisers for her Doris Visits port guides.
It’s important to note that the use of “Alpha Alpha” may vary slightly between different cruise lines or even ships within the same cruise line. While “Alpha Alpha” is typically used to refer to the first muster station, other letters of the phonetic alphabet may be used to designate additional muster stations on larger ships. In this case, “Alpha Alpha” represents the letter A, which is the first letter of the alphabet.
thoughts on “21 Secret Codes On Cruise Ships Explained”
The muster station is the designated area where passengers are to assemble in the event of an emergency or evacuation. As I was researching for my next cruise adventure, I stumbled upon some intriguing information about the hidden communication system used on board. It’s fascinating to know that cruise ships have their own secret codes for meaningful communication and safety protocols.
Oscar
And if you hear the term Delta used after any type of incidents such as a collision, high winds or dangerous seas then you can assume that there has been some damage to the ship. Delta and the phrase Priority 2 means that there is a leak in the ship. And a call over the loudspeaker of Kilo means that all crew members are to report to their emergency post.
Such action includes maneuvering the ship to safety to dodge an accident. “Delta, Delta, Delta” is often used by crew members as a secret alert that there’s been an accident that caused damage to the ship. It may indicate physical damage to the ship’s hull or pollution. There are often additional special offers that can add to the experience. Credit card programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards®, American Express Membership Rewards and Capital One Miles reward member spending with points for every dollar. These points can then be spent like cash to offset the cost of a trip, helping members purchase airfare, hotels, rental cars and cruises at a discount.
If you hear both, it’s a security threat caused by a medical emergency. Welcome to High Seas Cruising, your resource for exploring the exciting world of cruise ship travel. We provide expert advice, insightful reviews, and comprehensive guides to help seasoned and novice cruisers create their ideal sea journeys. Whether you desire adventure, luxury, or exploration, High Seas Cruising is your compass to unforgettable cruise vacations. This is another code for a medical emergency on a cruise ship. “Charlie Alpha” combines the meanings of those two individual codes.
Nine cruise code words you never want to hear - New Zealand Herald
Nine cruise code words you never want to hear.
Posted: Thu, 21 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
When it comes to sailing the high seas, there are plenty of options for relaxation, adventure and fun in the sun. Whether you're looking for a party boat or a refined, small-ship experience, the cruise industry has something for you. For cruises to resume, it was imperative that the CDC lift the no sail order. This is lifted and cruisers have resumed with strict guidelines for safety and health.
A code Kilo or specifically “Kilo, Kilo, Kilo” on Royal Caribbean ships signifies to crew to get to assigned emergency posts. The code “Charlie, Charlie, Charlie” is used if there is a security threat onboard the ship. Crew members will take care of the dead person’s body, which will be stored in the cruise ship’s morgue until the vessel reaches land. Usually, this alarms other medical team members to let them know that they must assemble to aid a passenger having an urgent medical emergency. In most cases, it’ll be a stroke, seizure, heart attack, and the like.
Codes used when someone has died onboard vary by the cruise line. A much-publicized incident without codes might also create panic and urgency for some people, who might immediately start worrying and looking for their loved ones. I don’t know if Code Baby Ruth is 100% genuinely used, but if it is, it is to raise awareness among staff that there is a “poo” in the pool.
“Code Alpha” or “Alpha, Alpha, Alpha” is one of the most common secret codes you’ll hear the broadcast on a cruise ship. Ever wondered what those strange—and sometimes downright funny—codes that a cruise ship captain uses to communicate with crew members mean? Maybe you’ve heard the crew saying weird things that didn’t make sense. Research which of your existing loyalty rewards programs offer partnerships with cruise lines.
For instance, Alpha Alpha Alpha is the code for a medical emergency on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships. You should be briefed on this during your muster drill as it’s important that you to take action. Put on warm clothing, gather any medication you need and head straight to your assigned muster station for further information. In this article, I’ll reveal the meanings of some of the most common secret cruise codes, so you’ll no longer be kept in the dark about what’s going on on board your cruise ship.