Carnival Cruise Line and P&O Cruises Merge, Expanding to 29 Fun Ships

Carnival Corporation (CCL) has announced a major change in its operations. They detailed that the P&O Cruises Australia brand will be phased out and integrated into Carnival Cruise Line by March 2025.

This move aims to increase guest capacity for Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Corporation’s flagship and highest-booked brand.

What P&O ships are going to Carnival?

The Pacific Encounter (formerly Star Princess) and Pacific Adventure (formerly Golden Princess) ships will be rebranded and operated under the Carnival Cruise Line banner. At the same time, the Pacific Explorer will exit the fleet in February 2025.

Since 2019, the company has increased Carnival Cruise Line’s capacity by nearly 25%, adding eight new ships, including three from Costa Cruises.

Looking ahead, Carnival has placed orders for two new Excel-class cruise ships, which will join the fleet in 2027 and 2028.

Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation, emphasized the strategic importance of this move, stating, “Despite increasing Carnival Cruise Line’s capacity by almost 25% since 2019, guest demand remains incredibly strong, so we’re leveraging our scale in an even more meaningful way by absorbing an entire brand into the world’s most popular cruise line. In 2019, Carnival Cruise Line was 29% of our total capacity, and when we complete this move early next year, Carnival Cruise Line – our highest-returning brand – will make up approximately 35% of our total global capacity.”

The transition is designed to optimize Carnival Corporation’s operations in the South Pacific, where higher operating and regulatory costs have posed challenges.

Carnival plans to introduce technological upgrades and its popular HubApp to the rebranded ships as part of the integration. The app will allow guests to make online dining and excursion reservations, request food and beverage delivery, and chat with other guests.

Current itineraries will proceed as planned, and guests will be notified of any changes to future bookings.

This transition marks a new era for Carnival Cruise Line, strengthening its presence and enhancing the cruise experience for guests in the South Pacific.