Carnival Corporation has announced that it will retire its P&O Cruises Australia brand in March 2025 and integrate its operations into Carnival Cruise Line. This strategic move is part of a series of steps aimed at increasing guest capacity for Carnival Cruise Line, which the company describes as its "highest-returning brand."
"Despite increasing Carnival Cruise Line's capacity by almost 25% since 2019, including transferring three ships from Costa Cruises, guest demand remains incredibly strong," said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation. He added that by 2025, Carnival Cruise Line will make up approximately 35% of the company's total global capacity, up from 29% in 2019.
The change will add two ships from P&O Cruises Australia's fleet, Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure, to Carnival Cruise Line. These vessels will be rebranded but will continue to cater to the Australian market. A third ship, Pacific Explorer, will exit the fleet in February 2025. Current P&O Cruises Australia itineraries will operate as planned, with guests being notified of any changes to future bookings.
"While we plan to make some technology upgrades and other small changes to the two P&O Cruises Australia ships, they will continue to be geared to the unique Australian market with a familiar feel and much of the same experiences for P&O Cruises Australia guests," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival Corporation maintains its commitment to Australia, planning to remain the largest cruise operator in the region, with 19 ships calling on 78 destinations. When the transition is complete, Carnival Cruise Line will have four ships in the South Pacific market.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Carnival Corporation. It has been fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
