Major Australian cruise line shuts down
After almost a century of voyages, one of Australia's most trusted cruise lines is shutting down.
In a shock statement on Tuesday, P&O Australia announced it will cease to exist from early 2025, with the family-friendly cruising company wrapping up operations.
The cruise liner’s parent company Carnival Cruises announced the shocking news in a statement, which read, “In March 2025, the company will sunset the P&O Cruises Australia brand and fold the Australia operations into Carnival Cruise Line, which has served the South Pacific since 2013 and is today the world’s most popular cruise line."
“When the transition is complete next year, the Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure ships will begin sailing under the Carnival Cruise Line brand while the Pacific Explorer will exit the fleet at that time.”
A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise said those who are booked on a currently available itinerary 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, said the increasing operating costs and the South Pacific’s “small population” had weighed in on the decision to close up shop.
“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.”
According to news.com.au, P&O Cruises Australia will continue setting sail as planned until March next year before Carnival Cruises absorbs P&O customers and redistributes keen travellers on different Carnival ships.
Ahead of the announcement, president of Carnival Cruise Line Christine Duffy warned there would be major 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 told The Daily Telegraph.
“We will continue to maintain an office here in Sydney. We don’t want to get into the numbers of people this impacts.”
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