Cruise ship worker reveals the 'secret' emergency codes you don't want to hear while out at sea

A cruise worker has revealed the "secret" code words you don't want to hear being said by staff while on vacation.

Cruises are a popular vacation choice. Credit: David Sacks / Getty

Let's be real. We all love a good vacation, and going on a cruise is a popular choice for holidaymakers.

Getting to travel to multiple locations while on a ship full of places to eat and great entertainment venues sounds like a great way to spend some downtime.

But not everything always goes according to plan, and the staff will try and deal with it as discreetly as possible.

But thanks to Lucy Southerton - who spent a decade working on the high seas with cruise giants like Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises, and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages - we can get an idea of what's going on.

She's explained all on her YouTube channel, Cruising As Crew.

There are secret code words that staff use. Credit: David Sacks / Getty

In a recent video, Lucy reacted to TikTok clips from the cruise community, diving into the secret language used onboard when emergencies strike.

From fires to medical scares, there’s a code for everything—and they’re not meant for passengers to understand.

“Guests used to come up to me and ask, ‘Why are there code names?’” Lucy shared. “Can you imagine if the captain came over the tannoy and was like, 'fire, fire, fire!'”

Cruise lines use these specific, often innocuous-sounding words to communicate quickly and clearly without causing mass chaos among passengers. As Lucy puts it: “A lot of ships use 'Bravo' but a lot of cruise lines use different code names; otherwise, they wouldn't be very... code.”

And it’s not just for fun. Emergency drills are a regular part of crew life, happening weekly to ensure everyone—from bartenders to bingo hosts—knows what to do.

Here’s a breakdown of what you might overhear—and why you should definitely not ignore it:

Bravo – This is the big one. If crew members mention “Bravo,” it means there’s a fire or similar hazardous emergency. No smoke and mirrors here—just smoke.

Oscar – Code for man overboard. Crews spring into action with rescue procedures, and time is critical.

Red Parties – Disney Cruise Line uses this term for fire emergencies, because of course they had to make it sound like something from Frozen.

Alpha – Medical emergency. Someone onboard needs immediate attention, and it’s all hands on deck (or at least in the ship’s medical center).

Charlie – Severe weather alert. We’re not talking “bring your umbrella” storms—think “batten down the hatches.”

Purell – The messiest code of them all. This means someone’s seasickness made a surprise exit—cue the cleanup crew and grab your nose plugs.

If you hear the word “Oscar,” don’t expect a movie marathon. And if “Bravo” crackles through the speaker, that’s your cue to trust the crew and maybe step away from the buffet.

Featured image credit: Joe Raedle / Getty