Carnival Closes P&O Cruises Australia: 92 Years of Tradition End in 2025
Carnival Corporation has announced that it will integrate P&O Cruises Australia into Carnival Cruise Line Australia by mid-2025. Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure will be reflagged as Carnival Adriatic and Carnival Encounter.
06. April 2026
An era is ending: Australia's oldest cruise line, P&O Cruises Australia (founded in 1932), will be dissolved by Carnival Corporation in 2025 and integrated into Carnival Cruise Line Australia. The two Pacific sister ships will be reflagged.
What happens to the ships?
- Pacific Encounter (formerly Star Princess) → Carnival Encounter
- Pacific Adventure (formerly Golden Princess) → Carnival Adriatic
Both ships will remain in Australia and continue to sail from Sydney and Brisbane. The Australian crew will be retained, but the onboard experience will be adapted to Carnival standards (the Fun Ship concept, Guy's Burger Joint instead of P&O-specific restaurants).
Background
Carnival is merging two separate brands in the same market — gaining efficiency in marketing and logistics. P&O Cruises UK remains independent.