P&O Cruises Australia

What happened to P&O Cruises Australia?

P&O Cruises Australia folded into Carnival Cruise Line in March 2025, ending the brand’s standalone operation in the Australian market. The legacy of P&O Australia now lives on within the Carnival fleet, ensuring travellers who previously loved these sailings are seamlessly directed to Carnival alternatives.

Instead of trying to book a cruise under the retired P&O Australia brand, travellers can browse the closest current options through Carnival Cruises. This is the perfect path if you want a similar casual Australian style cruise holiday with local departures and familiar short break itineraries.

Popular former P&O ships now sailing under Carnival

The P&O Cruises Australia fleet had three ships at the time of the transition announcement. Two continue to sail today under Carnival Cruise Line branding, and one was retired. Here is the current status of each.

Carnival Adventure (formerly Pacific Adventure)

Pacific Adventure officially became Carnival Adventure in March 2025. The ship continues to sail Australian itineraries with primary departures from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, plus occasional sailings from Auckland and Singapore depending on the season. Itineraries focus on Australia, the South Pacific, New Zealand and short break favourites such as Moreton Island and the Great Barrier Reef. With a length of 290 metres and capacity for around 2,600 guests, Carnival Adventure remains the closest direct successor to the Pacific Adventure experience that loyal P&O cruisers knew.

Carnival Encounter (formerly Pacific Encounter)

Pacific Encounter transitioned to Carnival Encounter in March 2025. The ship is based in Brisbane year-round, making her the dedicated Queensland home-port cruise ship. Itineraries focus on the South Pacific, the Queensland coast and the Great Barrier Reef, with seasonal New Zealand sailings included. For former P&O guests who loved easy Brisbane departures and tropical island holidays, Carnival Encounter is the clearest replacement path.

Pacific Explorer (retired)

Pacific Explorer was the third major ship in the P&O Australia fleet and did not transition to Carnival. The ship sailed her final P&O voyage in early February 2025, then left the fleet entirely. She was subsequently sold to Resorts World Cruises, so Pacific Explorer no longer operates under P&O Cruises Australia, Carnival Cruise Line or any related Australian cruise brand. Travellers searching specifically for Pacific Explorer will not find current sailings on this ship.

Cruises from Former P&O Departure Ports

All six departure ports that P&O Cruises Australia served continue to operate under Carnival Cruise Line and partner cruise lines through Cruise Guru. Each port is still bookable, and the type of itineraries that defined P&O sailings is still available, just under different ship and brand names. Here are the six departure ports former P&O guests will recognise.

Sydney: Carnival Adventure operates year-round from Sydney, with seasonal Carnival Splendor departures adding longer Australian and South Pacific options. Sydney remains the busiest departure port for former P&O cruisers, with cruises from Sydney covering short breaks, family holidays and longer regional sailings.

Brisbane: Brisbane is the year-round home port for Carnival Encounter, plus seasonal Carnival Luminosa departures. Its itineraries focus on the South Pacific, Queensland coast and New Zealand, making cruises from Brisbane the closest equivalent to P&O’s old Queensland operation.

Melbourne: Carnival Adventure has seasonal departures from Melbourne, with itineraries covering the South Pacific, New Zealand and Tasmanian routes. Victorian travellers who used to board P&O ships locally can continue to do so through cruises from Melbourne.

Adelaide: Adelaide hosts selected Carnival Adventure departures, particularly during peak Australian cruising season. South Australian travellers familiar with the former P&O homeport will find current sailings through cruises from Adelaide.

Auckland: Auckland continues to serve as an occasional departure port for Carnival Adventure and other cruise lines, with trans-Tasman crossings and South Pacific island sailings on offer through cruises from Auckland.

Singapore. Singapore remains the regional home port for South-East Asia itineraries, including longer voyages that connect to Australian sailings. For travellers who previously booked P&O’s international departures, cruises from Singapore cover the same regional routes today.

Destinations Former P&O Guests Will Still Enjoy

The destinations that defined P&O Cruises Australia are still served by Carnival cruise line. Many of the same itinerary lengths, ports of call and holiday styles are now bookable on Carnival Adventure, Carnival Encounter and partner ships. Here are the five destination categories former P&O guests are most likely to be looking for.

Short cruises from Australia: Quick three to five night escapes and weekend getaways from major Australian home ports. These were among the most popular P&O sailings, and short cruises from Australia remain widely available across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth-Fremantle departures.

Australia cruises: Coastal and circumnavigation routes including Tasmania, the Kimberley and longer Australian voyages. The full range of Australia cruises currently includes itineraries from three nights up to multi-week circumnavigations.

South Pacific cruises: Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Noumea and the wider Pacific islands. These are the classic former P&O routes and continue to be the most popular itineraries on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter. South Pacific cruises make up the largest share of current sailings, with Fiji cruises available as a dedicated destination option.

New Zealand cruises: Fjordland, Auckland, Wellington, the Bay of Islands and major New Zealand ports remain accessible via trans-Tasman sailings. Current New Zealand cruises range from shorter Tasman crossings to longer 14-night circumnavigations.

Asia cruises: Singapore home-port departures and South-East Asia itineraries for travellers who used to book P&O’s international sailings. Asia cruises include destinations across Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and beyond.

What’s Familiar and What’s Changed Under Carnival

Former P&O guests often want to know how similar the onboard experience will feel. The honest answer is that many of the features that defined a P&O Australia cruise have carried over, while the ship names, branding, systems and loyalty programme have changed.

Onboard features that carried over

EDGE remains available on both Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, with activities such as Flying Fox, rock climbing and Walk the Plank available on the current Carnival EDGE program. Byron Beach Club, an exclusive area for eligible suite and selected mini-suite guests, also continues onboard both ships. Familiar dining venues including Waterfront, Luke’s Bar & Grill, Angelo’s and Dragon Lady have also been retained. For many former P&O guests, the overall feel should remain familiar, with a casual, family-friendly Australian cruising style and itineraries focused on Australia, the South Pacific and New Zealand.

What’s changed under Carnival

The most visible changes are the ship names and onboard branding. Pacific Adventure now sails as Carnival Adventure, while Pacific Encounter now sails as Carnival Encounter. The Carnival Hub app is now part of the onboard experience, helping guests view daily activities, dining options, deck plans, account details and guest-to-guest chat. Carnival has also highlighted dining and excursion reservations as part of the updated onboard digital experience.

Loyalty programme details

Past cruises taken with P&O Cruises Australia do not convert into Carnival’s VIFP Club loyalty programme. Instead, Carnival advises that past P&O Australia cruises count towards Princess Cruises’ Captain Circle programme. Going forward, cruises on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter earn Carnival VIFP points, and existing VIFP members can access their loyalty perks on these ships.

Frequently asked questions for P&O Cruises Australia

Has P&O Cruises Australia merged with Carnival?

Yes. P&O Cruises Australia folded into Carnival Cruise Line in February 2025, and the standalone P&O Australia brand no longer operates as it once did. The old P&O Australia operation has officially been sunset and completely replaced by Carnival branded alternatives.

Are the popular P&O ships still sailing today?

Yes. The two biggest former P&O Australia ships still sailing under this transition are Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter, now operating as Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter. Both ships are currently active, bookable products featuring fantastic Australian based itineraries.

Which ports do the former P&O ships sail from?

Carnival Adventure sails from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Auckland and Singapore, while Carnival Encounter is based in Brisbane. Those are the key ports former P&O guests are most likely to recognise when looking for similar domestic and international departures today.

What happened to my P&O loyalty points and status?

Past cruises taken with P&O Cruises Australia before the March 2025 transition do not convert into Carnival VIFP points. Instead, those past P&O Australia cruises count toward Princess Captain Circle points. Going forward, cruises on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter earn Carnival VIFP points, and existing VIFP members can easily access their VIFP perks on those sailings.

Will the onboard experience feel different under Carnival?

It should feel familiar in many ways, but there are changes. Several recognisable P&O era features remain onboard, including Edge Adventure Park, Byron Beach Club and a number of familiar dining venues. At the same time, the ships now operate with Carnival systems and benefits such as VIFP access and Carnival’s broader brand framework. In practice, that means former P&O guests can still expect a fun, casual Australian style cruise holiday, but under Carnival branding rather than P&O Australia branding.

Contact Cruise Guru for Former P&O Australia Cruise Alternatives

If you were searching for P&O Cruises Australia, the best next step is to compare the closest live alternatives now available under Carnival Cruise Line. Our team can help match the right ship, departure port and itinerary, whether you want a quick local getaway, a South Pacific island holiday or a longer regional sailing. All eligible bookings are covered by the Cruise Guru Price Guarantee for added confidence.

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