While some people count down the days until they jet off to a gorgeous holiday location, others prefer to spend the entire break travelling from place to place. For those who spend their summers travelling the oceans on a cruse ship, they might be surprised to know there are ‘secret codes’ crew use with one another when on the seas.
Finally, a former cruise ship worker has revealed what six of their most commonly use code words means and how it impacts you as a passenger.Taking to Reddit, he said: “The ship’s crew uses a whole bunch of slang words and phrases when talking to each other. A passenger would surely make a crew member’s day using some of them.”
Starting off, he says you might want to stay away from a crew member when they start taking about ‘bananas’ because they might be in a bad mood.
He said: “When a crew member does something wrong and gets lectured by the supervisor, we say that he got a banana.”
Adding to this, you might hear workers speaking about a ‘mamagayo’ with an exasperated look across their face.
He explained this as: “A crew member who spends time in the cabin or hiding somewhere while on duty is called mamagayo.”
Sharing a few more, he added: “Company rich – When crew members break some equipment or a tool they work with, they don’t stress too much. They would just say, ‘No problem. Company rich.’
“Lagege – When crew members are very busy, they say, ‘I’m lagege.’
“Mucho Trabaho, Poco Denaro – The ones making less money for doing more physical jobs would say this. After some time, they realise that to make more money and work less, they need to apply for another job.”
Finally, he claims crew members will instantly understand what you mean if you call them a Paisano or Paisana, saying: “It means a fellow countryman (countrywoman). You can’t go wrong using this word when talking with a crew member.”
Alongside this, he urged passengers to “be kind” to the crew serving them as they can have good and bad days onboard the ship too.
He added: “Respect the crew members. If I had to choose only one thing that could make a significant difference in your cruise, then this is the one.
“Working 10-15 hours every day for 7-9 months while being far from the loved ones is a physically and mentally draining experience.
“Providing a great service with a broad smile for all that time is not easy, so please be nice to them. They will make your vacation unforgettable.
“If you enjoy your cruise and plan to stick with the same line, book your next cruise while on the ship. That will give you more benefits like discounted cruises, onboard credit, etc.”