P&O Cruises Australia
P&O Cruises Australia is a British-American owned cruise line with operational headquarters as part of Carnival Australia, based in Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia.
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Subsidiary | |
Industry | Hospitality |
Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
Area served | Australia & New Zealand |
Key people | Sture Myrmell (President P&O Cruises) |
Products | Cruises |
Parent | Carnival Corporation & plc |
Website | www.pocruises.com.au |
Footnotes / references![]() P&O House Flag |
Originally a sister company of P&O Cruises in the United Kingdom, it was previously a constituent of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company and has a direct link in history to the world's first cruise ships. As such, it is one of the oldest cruise lines in the world, and now forms part of the Carnival Corporation & plc, managed locally by Carnival Australia. It currently operates three ships, sailing from various ports in Australia and New Zealand.[1]
History
Beginnings
P&O Cruises Australia originates from the passenger division of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, a UK shipping company which operated the world's first passenger ships in the early 19th century. P&O subsequently became the first company to operate passenger routes to Australia, with the first of these voyages occurring in 1932.[2] These passenger voyages evolved into cruise holidays that helped P&O adopt its brand name into P&O Cruises, with the Australian service eventually adopting the name of P&O Cruises Australia.
80s and 90s
P&O has maintained an Australian cruising presence since SS. ‘Oriana’ was transferred to the Australian market in the 1980s.
P&O-Princess (the owner of P&O Australia prior to the 2003 merger with Carnival Corp.) acquired Sitmar Cruises in 1988 and branded the popular cruise ship ‘’Fairstar’’ under the P&O Holidays Australia banner.
In 1997, ‘’Fairstar’’ was replaced by a vintage Princess ship ‘’Fair Princess’’ which sailed with the brand until 2001.[3]
2000-present
In 2000, after various changes in the organisation of the P&O Group, the company de-merged all of its cruise ship operations.[4] A new company, P&O Princess Cruises, was created, which was independent of P&O and consisted of P&O Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises, AIDA Cruises and later, A'Rosa Cruises and Ocean Village. In April 2003, P&O Princess Cruises merged with Carnival Corporation to form Carnival Corporation & plc,[5] the world's largest cruise company, with a portfolio of eleven cruise lines at the time, including P&O Cruises Australia.
Goodwill in Australia
In October 2009, P&O offered assistance to the Red Cross in relief efforts for earthquake and tsunami victims in the South Pacific by donating 740 pillows with the promise of mattresses, more pillows and hundreds of light bulbs to be given a later date.[6]
In January 2020, Carnival Foundation, the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, and five Carnival Corporation & plc cruise line brands – P&O Cruises Australia, Carnival Cruise Line, Cunard, Holland America Line, and Princess Cruises – collectively pledged over US$1.25 million to support disaster recovery efforts from bushfires that have caused widespread devastation throughout Australia.[7]
Eviction Controversy
In March 2020 the Carnival Australia fleet including P&O Australia’s three ships (Pacific Dawn, Pacific Aria and Pacific Explorer) were ordered to leave Australian waters during the COVID-19 outbreak.[8]
This was met by a disappointed response, with P&O Australia President Sture Myrmell saying: “It is unprecedented for Australia’s home grown cruise line to be ordered to leave Australia. P&O is the only cruise line in the world to have its head office in Australia.” [9]
Fleet timeline
Since its inception, P&O Cruises Australia has not received any newbuild vessels to supply its fleet and has since used ships transferred from its sister brands. The cruise line has periodically cycled out older vessels that are replaced by newer and larger vessels transferred into the fleet.
Fleet entrants
In 2001, Princess Cruises' Sky Princess was redeployed to Australia to become Pacific Sky, the first modern ship in the fleet.[10] In 2004, Pacific Sun joined the fleet, and was quickly followed by Pacific Star in 2005. In October 2007, the oldest ship of Princess Cruises' fleet, Regal Princess, was transferred to P&O, and after one month of refurbishment, entered service as Pacific Dawn.[11]
On 30 October 2008, Carnival Corporation announced the closure of their United Kingdom-based Ocean Village brand.[12] Coinciding with this closure, both Ocean Village ships were transferred to the fleet of P&O. Ocean Village Two joined the fleet in December 2009 as Pacific Jewel.[12] Ocean Village followed in late 2010 as Pacific Pearl.[13] With this development, P&O Australia doubled its fleet to four ships, the biggest investment made by a company operating within the Australian cruise industry thus far.[14]
In May 2014, Carnival Corporation announced that its brand, Holland America Line, would transfer Statendam and Ryndam into the P&O Australia fleet in 2015 after being refurbished and tailored for Australian and New Zealand passengers.[15] The names for the two ships were revealed in July 2014 as Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria.[16]
In March 2015, Carnival Corporation and Fincantieri made an agreement for five ships to be delivered between 2019 and 2022.[17] On 30 December 2015, Carnival Corporation established that, from the agreement, the planned 4,200-passenger ship ordered would be delivered to P&O, making her the first newbuild for P&O and the largest ship to be operated by an Australian cruise company.[18] But on 15 December 2016, Carnival Corporation announced that US. brand, Carnival Cruise Line, would receive a third Vista-class vessel, meaning the original order for P&O Australia was transferred over to Carnival Cruise Line.[19] Instead, Carnival Splendor was scheduled to be transferred to P&O in late 2019 to compensate for the lost order.[20] However, in September 2017, with the news announced of Golden Princess moving to P&O Australia, Carnival Splendor was no longer scheduled to move to the Australian brand.[21]
In October 2015 it was announced that the Dawn Princess would transfer from the Princess Cruises fleet to the P&O Australia fleet.[22] She was renamed Pacific Explorer upon her debut in June 2017.[23]
In September 2017, P&O announced that Princess Cruises would transfer Grand-class ship, Golden Princess, into the fleet in 2020 to replace the much smaller Pacific Edenwhich exited the fleet in April 2019.[21][24] In September 2018, her new name was announced as Pacific Adventure, a name chosen by six P&O Cruises Australia fans on its Facebook page.[25][26] She will also have an increase in passenger capacity by 500 to 3,100. Pacific Adventure is scheduled to debut in October 2020 and be homeported in Sydney.[25][26][27]
In August 2018, it was announced that Princess was scheduled to transfer a second Grand-class vessel, Star Princess, into the P&O fleet in late-2021 to replace Pacific Jewel which departed the fleet in March 2019.[28] On 25 November 2019 it was revealed her name upon her debut for P&O was announced as Pacific Encounter.[29]
P&O Australia have since announced both ‘’Pacific Aria’’ and ‘’Pacific Dawn’’ will leave the fleet, ultimately resulting in a three ship fleet of ex. Princess ships.[30]
Fleet disposals
In 2006, Pacific Sky was sold to Pullmantur Cruises and became Sky Wonder.[31] On 30 May 2007, Pacific Star was also sold to Pullmantur Cruises.[32] She underwent refurbishment in Singapore and began sailing as Ocean Dream from 11 May 2008.
In December 2011, P&O announced Pacific Sun would make its last journey for the company on 1 July 2012 and leave the fleet shortly thereafter.[33] She was sold to HNA Group's HNA Cruises to become Henna and began operating under its new name on 26 January 2013.[34]
In March 2016, P&O announced that Pacific Pearl would leave the fleet in March 2017.[35] She joined Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) and was renamed Columbus, debuting on 9 June 2017.[36]
In March 2018, P&O announced Pacific Eden would leave the fleet in April 2019. She joined CMV and was renamed Vasco da Gama, debuting on 22 April 2019.[37]
On 22 August 2018, P&O announced Pacific Jewel would leave the fleet in March 2019 after ten years with the cruise line, with its final voyage on 24 February 2019. She was sold to new Indian cruise company, Jalesh Cruises, and became Karnika in April 2019.[38][39]
On 25 November 2019, P&O announced the exits of Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria for February 2021 and April 2021, respectively.[40][29] Following their exits and the new ships' debuts, P&O's fleet of three ships will total a guest capacity of approximately 9,000 guests.[40][29] On 28 November 2019, CMV announced that they had purchased both Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria, with Pacific Dawn scheduled to enter the fleet on 2 March 2021 for the UK market, and Pacific Aria scheduled to enter the fleet of CMV subsidiary, Transocean Tours, on 2 May 2021, for the German market.[41]
Fleet
Current fleet
Ship | Built | Builder | Entered service for P&O Australia | Gross Tonnage | Flag | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pacific Dawn | 1991 | Fincantieri | 2007 | 70,285 | ![]() | Previously Regal Princess.
Sold to CMV and exiting fleet in February 2021.[29] |
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Pacific Aria | 1994 | Fincantieri | 2015 | 55,451 | ![]() | Previously Ryndam.
Sold to CMV and exiting fleet in April 2021.[29] |
|
Pacific Explorer | 1997 | Fincantieri | 2017 | 77,499 | ![]() | Previously Dawn Princess. | ![]() |
Future fleet
Ship | Built | Builder | Enters service for P&O Australia | Gross Tonnage | Flag | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pacific Adventure | 2001 | Fincantieri | 2020 | 108,865 | ![]() | Currently sailing as Golden Princess for Princess Cruises.[42][43] | |
Pacific Encounter | 2002 | Fincantieri | 2021 | 108,977 | ![]() | Currently sailing as Star Princess for Princess Cruises.[28] | ![]() |
Former fleet
Ship | Built | Builder | In service for P&O Australia | Gross Tonnage | Flag | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pacific Sky | 1984 | La Seyne-Sur Mer | 2000–2006 | 46,087 | ![]() | Previously FairSky, Sky Princess, Pacific Sky, Sky Wonder, Atlantic Star, and Antic. Scrapped in 2013.[31] | ![]() |
Pacific Sun | 1986 | Kockums Varv | 2004–2012 | 47,262 | ![]() | Previously Jubilee, Pacific Sun, and Henna. Scrapped in 2017.[44] | ![]() |
Pacific Star | 1982 | Aalborg Shipyard | 2005–2008 | 35,109 | ![]() | Previously Tropicale, Costa Tropicale, Pacific Star, Ocean Dream. Currently sailing for Peace Boat as Ocean Dream.[45] | ![]() |
Pacific Pearl | 1989 | Chantiers de l'Atlantique | 2010–2017 | 63,500 | ![]() | Previously Star Princess, Arcadia, Ocean Village, and Pacific Pearl. Currently sailing for Cruise & Maritime Voyages as Columbus.[36] | ![]() |
Pacific Jewel | 1990 | Fincantieri | 2009-2019 | 69,845 | ![]() |
Previously Crown Princess, A'Rosa Blu, AIDAblu and Ocean Village Two. Currently sailing for Jalesh Cruises as Karnika.[39] | |
Pacific Eden | 1992 | Fincantieri | 2015-2019 | 55,819 | ![]() | Previously Statendam. Currently sailing for Cruise & Maritime Voyages as Vasco da Gama.[46]
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References
- https://www.carnivalaustralia.com/ Carnival Australia
- "History - P&O Cruises". Pocruises.com.au. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- http://www.poheritage.com/the-collection/galleries/Photographs/Ships/FAIR-PRINCESS-in-the-Caribbean
- "P&O Spins off Cruise". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. 16 February 2000.
- "Carnival Strategy Update". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. 17 April 2003.
- "P&O Cruises assists Samoan relief effort". ETB Travel News. Etravelblackboard.com. 6 October 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- "Carnival Corporation, its Cruise Line Brands and the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation Pledge Over US$1.25 Million to Australian Bushfire Disaster Recovery". Carnival Corporation & plc. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- https://cruisepassenger.com.au/pacific-explorer-expelled-from-sydney-harbour-by-nsw-police/ PACIFIC EXPLORER EXPELLED FROM SYDNEY HARBOUR BY NSW POLICE
- https://cruisepassenger.com.au/pacific-explorer-expelled-from-sydney-harbour-by-nsw-police/ P&O Response
- "P&O Princess Cruises Q3". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. 17 November 2000.
- "Australasia's First Superliner - Pacific Dawn". www.scoop.co.nz. 1 March 2006.
- "Goodbye to Ocean Village". www.cruisecritic.com. 30 October 2008.
- "New tonnage to increase P&O Cruises Australia's presence in Fremantle, Brisbane and Auckland". Cruise Business Review. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
- Staff, C. I. N. (4 November 2008). "P&O Cruises Australia to Double its Fleet". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
- "Ryndam and Statendam to P&O Australia as AU Growth for Carnival Corp. Continues". Cruise Industry News. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- Staff, C. I. N. (11 July 2014). "New P&O Australia Ship Names: Aria and Eden". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "News Release - Carnival Corporation - Carnival Corporation Enters into Strategic Partnerships to Add Nine Cruise Ships to its Fleet over a Four-Year Period Starting in 2019". www.carnivalcorp.com.
- "News Release - Carnival Corporation - Carnival Corporation to Build Four Cruise Ships as Part of Memo of Agreement with Fincantieri S.p.A." www.carnivalcorp.com.
- Line, Carnival Cruise. "New 133,500-Ton Vista Class Ship To Join Carnival Cruise Line Fleet In 2019". www.prnewswire.com.
- Thakkar, Emrys (15 December 2016). "Carnival Splendor Cruise Ship Transferring To P&O Australia Fleet". Cruise Hive.
- Mathisen, Monty (27 September 2017). "Golden Princess to Transfer to P&O Australia, Splendor Staying with Carnival". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
- "CARNIVAL AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES LOCAL FLEET CHANGES AS AUSTRALIAN DEMAND FOR CRUISING CONTINUES TO GROW". pocruises.com.au. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- Ironside, Robyn (7 July 2016). "Surprising feature of P&O's newest cruise ship, the Pacific Explorer". news.com.au.
- "Pacific Eden to Exit P&O Cruises Australia". www.cruisecritic.com. 6 March 2018.
- "Golden Princess to sail as Pacific Adventure for P&O Cruises Australia". Seatrade Cruise News. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Wu, Vanessa (26 September 2018). "P&O names its newest ship, the Pacific Adventure". Cruise Passenger.
- Staff, C. I. N. (18 October 2018). "P&O Australia Announces Maiden Season for New Pacific Adventure". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
- "Star Princess to move to P&O Cruises Australia's fleet 2021". CruiseandFerry.net. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "P&O scraps two ships from fleet, reveals name of new 3,000-guest vessel". Travel Weekly. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21982-pacific-dawn-and-pacific-aria-to-leave-p-o-australia-fleet-in-2021.html
- Wright, Doug (20 May 2013). "Steam ship comes to full stop". Otago Daily Times Online News.
- "Report on the investigation of the heavy weather damage to the passenger cruise ship Pacific Star" (PDF). Marine Accident Investigation Branch: 4. 10 July 2007 – via gov.uk.
- Saurine, Angela (20 December 2011). "Sale away: Pacific Sun cruise ship to leave Australia". news.com.au.
- Covey, Claudette (28 August 2013). "China's First Luxury Cruise Ship Henna Makes Maiden Voyage". TravelPulse.
- "Pacific Pearl to leave the P&O Australia fleet". www.cruisecritic.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Fiske, David (7 March 2016). "P&O Cruises Australia's Pacific Pearl to become CMV's Columbus". World of Cruising Magazine.
- Bond, Mary (9 April 2019). "CMV announces arrival of new ship Vasco da Gama". seatrade-cruise.com.
- "Pacific Jewel to Leave P&O Cruises, Replaced with Star Princess". www.cruisecritic.com. 22 August 2018.
- Mathisen, Monty (3 December 2018). "Jalesh Cruises Introduces New Brand to India". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
- Staff, C. I. N. (25 November 2019). "Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria to Leave P&O Australia Fleet in 2021". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- Bond, Mary (28 November 2019). "CMV to add two more ships in 2021". Seatrade Cruise News.
- "Pacific Adventure Cruise Ship". P&O Cruises Australia. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Mathisen, Monty (27 September 2017). "Golden Princess to Transfer to P&O Australia, Splendor Staying with Carnival". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "HNA cruiseship Henna on last trip to breakers' yard | TradeWinds". TradeWinds | Latest shipping and maritime news. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "Peace boat arrives in Fremantle". Fremantle Ports. 24 January 2018.
- Yates-Roberts, Elly (17 April 2019). "Vasco da Gama joins the Cruise & Maritime Voyages fleet". Cruise & Ferry.net. Retrieved 20 April 2019.