One of the most famous cruise liners to sail around Australia will be no more, with the shock announcement that P&O Cruises Australia will cease to exist from early 2025.
The family-friendly cruise brand will wind up operations after almost a century of voyages, its parent company Carnival Cruises announced on Tuesday.
The P&O Australia brand will instead be folded into Carnival Cruise Line, which has sailed across the South Pacific since 2013.
While the Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure ships, which are currently under the P&O banner, will carry on sailing under the Carnival name, the Pacific Explorer ship will no longer operate in Australian waters.
A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise said current itineraries booked with P&O Cruises Australia will “operate business as usual” and guests will be “notified in the coming days” of any changes to future bookings as a result of the announcement.
Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & plc said the operating costs and the South Pacific’s “small population” had weighed in on the decision.
“P&O Cruises Australia is a storied brand with an amazing team, and we are extremely proud of everything we have accomplished together in Australia and the broader region,” Mr Weinstein said.
“However, given the strategic reality of the South Pacific’s small population and significantly higher operating and regulatory costs, we’re adjusting our approach to give us the efficiencies we need to continue delivering an incredible cruise experience year-round to our guests in the region.”
P&O Cruises Australia will continue operations until March next year before Carnival Cruises absorbs P&O customers on board one of their ships: the Sydney-based Carnival Splendour and Carnival Adventure, and Brisbane-based Carnival Encounter and Carnival Luminosa.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Christine Duffy — president of Carnival Cruise Line — travelled in from America ahead of the announcement, warning there would be job losses as a result of the decision.
“This is not an easy decision for the company to shut down or sunset the P&O Australia brand,” she said.
“We will continue to maintain an office here in Sydney. We don’t want to get into the numbers of people this impacts.”
Ms Duffy said there will be no immediate changes to the way passengers typically enjoy and experience a P&O ship, with “the same crew, the same entertainers, the same themed cruises and the same dining,” she said.
It is understood alongside the rebrand, some of the biggest updates for passengers will be technology upgrades and other small changes to the ships.
“The most notable change will be the availability of our popular HubApp, enabling guests to make online dining and excursion reservations, request food and beverage delivery, and chat with other guests, among other features,” Ms Duffy explained.
“P&O Cruises Australia guests will also be invited to participate in Carnival’s loyalty program and promotional offerings specific to Carnival ships sailing in the region.”
It is understood that Carnival’s long-standing company executive Peter Little will
continue to lead the team in Australia.
As a much loved brand — especially among families — social media users were quick to share their saddness at the cruise brand’s closure.
“RIP P&O,” one wrote.
“So many memories on those ships,” another added.
“End of an era...Going on one this Friday better make the most of it,” another added.
“So sad to see the end of P&O - and especially sad to likely see the end of super cheap cruise prices.”
What happens to current P&O Australia bookings
It’s perhaps the biggest question on the lips of many P&O cruisers who have bookings lingering in the next year or two.
What does this mean for current and future guest bookings made with P&O?
According to Carnival Cruises, business is “operating as usual and “there are no changes to any itineraries in 2024.”
While Pacific Explorer is leaving the fleet in February 2025, it is understood all guests with bookings that are affected are being notified this week.
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“A small number of itineraries will be impacted on Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure as we transition the ships into Carnival Cruise Line operations,” the statement read.
“Our valued guests will be notified in coming days of any changes to bookings as a result of this announcement.”
A spokesperson from Carnival Cruises confirmed that guests booked to travel on the impacted itineraries have been offered a full refund or they can choose a Future Cruise Credit with bonus on-board spending money (value depend on length of cruise booked).
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2024-06-04 03:11:15Z
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