P&O Cruises Australia to Cease Operations in 2025
P&O Cruises Australia, a notable entity in the cruising industry for nearly a century, will shut down its operations early next year. The closure was announced on Tuesday by its parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc. P&O Cruises Australia will be integrated into its sister line, Carnival Cruise Line, in March 2025, citing the small population of the South Pacific and high operating and regulatory costs as reasons for the decision.
Carnival’s CEO, Josh Weinstein, stated that despite P&O’s historic presence and a dedicated team, the company needs to adjust its strategies to maintain operational efficiencies. Following the integration, the Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure ships will operate under the Carnival Cruise Line brand, while the Pacific Explorer will exit the fleet in February 2025.
The company has assured passengers that current itineraries will proceed as planned, but cruises on the Pacific Explorer after March 2, 2025, will be canceled. Impacted travelers will be contacted with refund details.
This announcement follows a recent incident involving a passenger named Shane Dixon, who died after accumulating significant gambling debts aboard the Pacific Adventure in May. The details of his death are currently under investigation.
Carnival Cruise Line will continue to service the Australian market with an increased capacity, including ships like the Sydney-based Carnival Splendor and Carnival Luminosa, alongside the newly rebranded Encounter and Adventure vessels.