Cruise Ship Crew Codes: A Comprehensive Guide

Ever heard "Alpha Alpha Alpha" over the ship’s PA and wondered what it meant? Most guests will never hear these codes, but just in case you do, here’s your insider’s guide to crew lingo at sea.

Icon of the Seas at night

Disclaimer: These codes are meant for the crew, not passengers—and they are NOT standardized across cruise lines. Some vary by ship, region, or even by company policy. But based on what I’ve compiled so far, here’s the Ultimate Cruise Crew Codes Cheat Sheet.

“Alpha Alpha Alpha” = medical emergency.  Lifeguards at CocoCay = ready for anything.

Common Emergency & Crew Codes

ALPHA | Medical Emergency on the Ship

• Most common. Can be as simple as a slip and fall.

• "Alpha Alpha Alpha" is typically broadcast over the PA.

BRAVO | Fire

• One of the biggest threats to any ship. Extremely rare but always taken seriously.

CHARLIE | Security Threat

• Could mean anything from a suspicious package to passenger altercations.

CODE 7 | Muster Drill Activation

• Associated with the 7 short blasts and 1 long blast. All passengers and crew report to muster stations. You’ll learn this during your muster drill—pay attention!

CODE RED | Illness Outbreak (often Norovirus)

• When this goes into effect, sanitation protocols are increased across the ship.

CODE PURPLE | Bomb Threat or Biological Threat

CODE BLACK | Violent confrontation or possible suicide threat

CODE GRAY | Abusive or Combative Person Onboard

CODE PINK | Missing Infant (under 12 months)

CODE GREEN | Minor Onboard Issue

• Think of it like a traffic light: green = go. Not serious.

CODE BLUE | Alternative to Alpha (Medical Emergency) or Hull Damage

CODE YELLOW | Minor Concern – Nothing Serious

DELTA | Ship Damage or Pollution

• Aboard NCL, sometimes used for pollution alerts.

ECHO | High Winds or Ship Drift

• Also used for potential collision warnings on Royal Caribbean.

KILO | Crew to Emergency Stations

• Often repeated 3x. Example: "Kilo, Kilo, Kilo."

OSCAR | Man Overboard

• Confirmed code across Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.

PAPA | Oil Spill or Other Pollution Incident

SIERRA | Stretcher Required (Medical Emergency Assist)

• Often follows an "Alpha" call. Typically communicated internally.

Fire is one of the rarest but most serious threats at sea. ‘Bravo’ is the crew code to activate emergency fire response protocols—often repeated 3x.

Outlier or Rare Codes

CHARLIE ALPHA | Security Threat + Medical Emergency Combo

MIKE | Medical Emergency Code on Oceania Cruises

OPERATION BRIGHT STAR | Medical Emergency (Alternative Code)

OPERATION RISING STAR | Death Onboard

VICTORIA | Extreme Flooding (Used by Marella)

If you ever hear ‘Oscar Oscar Oscar,’ someone’s gone overboard—and the crew’s response is immediate. These rafts? They’re ready, even if we never want to see them launched.

Bonus Codes You Might Hear (or not!)

Alpha Team – Carnival Cruise Line’s code for fire onboard

Bravo, Bravo, Bravo – Fire alert on many lines without alerting passengers

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie – Security threat or helicopter ops (c-bed vessels)

Mr. MOB / Oscar – Man Overboard

Mr. Skylight – Minor emergency reported (used internally)

Purell, Purell, Purell – Vomit cleanup code on Celebrity

Red Parties, Red Parties, Red Parties – Fire alert on Disney Cruise Line

Star Code – Medical emergency on Celebrity ships

Zulu, Zulu, Zulu – Fight onboard (used by multiple lines)

Now that you know the codes, what do you do if you hear one???

What Should You Do If You Hear a Code?

Honestly? Probably nothing. These codes are for crew coordination, and most are handled before you even realize anything happened. The only exception is Code 7, which is the real deal muster drill. When you hear those 7 short blasts and 1 long blast? That’s your cue to act.

Otherwise, kick back, sip your drink, and rest easy knowing your crew has it handled like pros.

Got questions? Want help booking your next cruise adventure? Let’s Chat!