End of an Era: P&O Cruises Australia to Cease Operations in 2025

One of Australia’s iconic cruise line brands, P&O Cruises Australia, announced its forthcoming closure in March 2025, marking the end of a 90-year legacy in the country. The parent company, Carnival Corporation, revealed plans to integrate P&O’s fleet into its Carnival Cruise Line, effectively absorbing the brand.

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, confirmed the retirement of the P&O Cruises Australia brand as part of a strategic move to increase capacity for its flagship brand, Carnival Cruise Line. The transition will see the shutdown of P&O Cruises Australia but will maintain current itineraries until the official closure in March 2025.

Guests booked on Pacific Explorer cruises post-March 2, 2025, will have their itineraries canceled, with options for full refunds or credit with bonus onboard spending money. While passengers sailing in 2024 remain unaffected, crews from the Pacific Explorer are expected to be redeployed, with select head office staff facing job cuts.

Notably, Princess Cruises and Cunard had earlier withdrawn from Melbourne due to increased port fees, reflecting challenges faced by the industry. Carnival Corporation’s CEO, Josh Weinstein, emphasized strong guest demand and the strategic decision to leverage the company’s scale by integrating the P&O brand.

The transition will involve rebranding the Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventures ships under the Carnival Cruise Line banner, while Pacific Explorer will exit the fleet in February 2025. Carnival Cruise Line president, Christine Duffy, assured Australian guests of a familiar experience with upgraded features on the remaining ships.