Shutdown: The RISE & FALL of P&O Cruises Australia!

With the announcement that P&O Australia will be shut down in 2025, this video showcases the rise and fall of P&O Cruises Australia.
Chapters:
00:00 P&O Cruises to Close
00:38 Origins of P&O
01:14 Australia and P&O
02:13 Cruising Expansion
02:52 The Jet Age
03:54 Fairstar the Fun Ship
05:51 Carnival Corp buys P&O
06:50 Peak P&O
08:09 P&O's Demise
What next:
With P&O Australia shutting in 2025, the Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure ships will be rebranded and operated by Carnival Cruise Line brand. Pacific Explorer will exit the fleet in February of 2025.
Image Support: Gavin Harper and Rob Henderson (Henderson & Cremer Collection). Alternate thumbnail of Pacific Dawn courtesy Gavin Harper.
#P&O #pocruises #pacificencounter #pacificexplorer #pacificadventure #cruisenewsupdate #carnivacruiseline #cruisenews

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

What's your favourite P&O memory?

[@debandmattchat]

We got engaged on P&O Pacific Dawn. That's probably our favourite memory.

[@midshipcinema]

Thanks, Chris. My first ever ship to visit was the gorgeous SS ARCADIA of 1954, which was permanently based out of Sydney during her final years, so the classic P&O has always held a special place in my heart. I've not been a fan since they were bought and reorganized by Carnival, however. This latest move seems to be yet another fleet consolidation to shore up the massive debt acquired during the Covid shutdown.

[@Traveltheme706]

My Dad sailed to the South Pacific on the last voyage of the Arcadia it was around 1978/9

[@FraserAtSea]

Great video! As a British cruiser, when I heard the recent news, I wanted more information and hoped it would be a matter of time before you put something like this together. A well invested 10 minutes - thanks, Chris!

[@veesmithie]

My grandparents came over from England on P&O Arcadia and I married my husband on Pacific Pearl. Lucky I have book Adventure for a New Years cruise to celebrate my 40th and say goodbye to the brand.

[@shelleydunxan2380]

My Dad was an engineer on P&O Arcadia. My parents met on board and married in England and moved to Australia in 1957. Our family saw Arcadia in Sydney many years ago before she was scrapped. Glad you get to have one more P&O cruise. 💕

[@gandjconway30]

Seems to me that Carnival is grabbing the P&O ships to restore its place as the largest cruise line by giving them one more ship than RCL. They seem clueless about the goodwill value of the P&O brand.

[@johnnyhollis9977]

💯 You have nailed it! So much of the genuinely friendly club like appeal of P&O loyal cruisers was destroyed when Carnival stuck their oar in (pun intended) and extended their own cruise brands dodgy features on British cruisers. I saw the decline over a few years and decided to give up on what was once a great traditional cruise company. Very sad!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

My parents always went cruising on Sitmar Cruises. It was so much fun to go on board to attend their bon voyage parties in their inside cabins at the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach. I remember how low the hung ceiling in their room was and it was metal with small air holes. In the 1970’s, those were the days!

[@mettahuttravels3183]

First cruise 2011 on Dawn. Had lunch wth Captain Box at his request. A lovely & informative man. Sailed around the pacific for 12 nights. Very memorable.

[@tonylarussa4046]

The Encounter and the Adventure should be returned to Princess. I cannot see them in Carnival livery.

[@SeaTravelr123]

I think they can add the whale tail to their funnel. Would be fun

[@MO-fu7vi]

Will be interesting what they look like in Carnival livery

[@robking6968]

I'm quite shocked Princess/P&O are impressed by this rebrand of these ships...

[@Techo1329]

Sailed out of Sydney on the Fairstar as the sun was setting one night in December 1994. It was storming as we sailed out through the heads and the rough seas were throwing the old girl around. Drinks were flying off the tables and people were spewing up everywhere...welcome to cruising! D deck, $950 for 9 nights including food and entertainment.

[@Dave_Sisson]

0:54 Ballaarat (with a double 'a') was an alternative spelling of the name of the Victorian city. It persisted all the way until the 1970s when it finally fell out of use.

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Thanks Dave. Funnily enough when exploring the archived minutes we noted they had intended Ballarat but the message was sent with the double a spelling in error!

[@classixuk]

Wow. That’s a bit of a shock to hear. 😮

[@joanfreestone1707]

My first memory of P & O was coming to Australia as a child in 1961 on the Himalaya. I remember the old P & O ships visiting Fremantle and being able to go on board for a look around. It seems that Cunard will be leaving our shores too which is very sad as I love Cunard.

[@holidaymail]

Booked in on the Explorer in November for our first ever cruise - now set to be our only trip with P&O

[@johnnyhollis9977]

Enjoy it whilst you can and join the exclusive folks that have cruised with the once great P&O. Have a great cruise. UK😉👍

[@holidaymail]

@@johnnyhollis9977 thanks mate 👍

[@bobjackson4720]

I worked in a power station with a number of engineers from the Canberra, I cruised on the Fairstar many years ago. I have cruised on the Pacific Dawn and recently on the Pacific Encounter. I'm sorry to hear of the demise of P & O.

[@robertbarnier45]

My family had a great trip on the Canberra before she was scrapped. Loved it. P & O has old ships but they sure know how to run them. I don’t enjoy Carnival cruises. Aussie Bob

[@bishopkinlyside8477]

My first cruise was on the Oriana, and then I had five other cruises on the fair star the fun ship

[@kaamkmca]

Always sad to see the end of a popular ship. Most sad to see the end of a most popular cruise line! Safe the memories!

[@direwolf4849]

I traveled on the P&O Fair Stars second last Cruise, we returned to Sydney with fanfare, helicopters and media. I’m guessing it was filmed early for obvious reasons…… I was in my early 20s affectionately known as The fun ship but we all had a different name 😂

[@Kaidhicksii]

I was shocked and even a little sad when I saw the news in my email yesterday. What I'm just wondering is why P&O Australia is being absorbed into Carnival Cruise Line and not back into its parent company, P&O Cruises.

[@johnnyhollis9977]

Yep, Everything Carnival touches goes into freefall standardised quality downgrading! 🙄

[@chuckm6486]

Very informative. However, I still don't understand why. Part of what I don't understand is the relative independence of the many Carnival Corporation cruise line subsidiaries. Did P&O Australia make a decision on its own that it could not trade at a reasonable profit? Or did Carnival Corporation decide that the Carnival brand had better economics? And then, given the demise of P&O Australia and Carnival Cruises adding ships that sort of 'trespass' on Costa Cruises' Italian formula, are we looking at a single brand future with many historic house flags about to fall?

[@JohnAlwynJones]

It was a Carnival Corporation US decision and I think heralds the merger into Carnival Cruise Lines of other brands including I think P&O UK although they say not. The decision-makers led by Jos Weinstein do not understand or care about the heritage of P&O Australia or any other Carnival brand. It is all about maximising profit and return on shareholder investment.

[@johnnyhollis9977]

This has been going on for sometime. Sadly you are probably right, Standardisation across the board and you will enjoy it!

[@johnnyhollis9977]

The P&O Oriana was more like a fast naval cruiser to look at, built for speed. However she was much loved and had loads of passenger space and the last ship to share the excellent basket stern. Fantastic for inclement weather activities. She could visit more ports in a standard 14 day cruise principally because of her speed which gained her to be the holder of the Golden Cockerel standard. Not the most luxurious appointed ship but will always hold a place in my heart for some great experiences.

[@Duchess_of_Cadishead]

My parents, me and my 4 siblings came to Australia in 1963 on Sitmar’s Fairsky. In 2019 my mother, youngest sister and Myself cruised around North Queensland on P&O’s Pacific Aria. She was due to be sold for scrap the following year but is apparently still sailing for a small company, possibly in Europe.

[@careerprofessional]

If you are thinking of publishing a photographic history of the P&O subsidiary Ocean Village, possibly the best cruise line ever, that would be great. We honeymooned on Ocean Village 1 in 2003 and have not stopped cruising since then.

[@michaelwhalen2469]

This is very sad news ! I’m truly sorry for you Chris, and all Australians that love P&O !😢 As a avid Traditionalist and Nautical History fan , I hate when this sort of thing happens !! I’m a die hard Cunard Loyalists , and I can’t help but wondering if such a fate is possibly in the future for Cunard !?!?!😞 I pray not !! 🇦🇺🇺🇸❤️. MikeW.

[@MO-fu7vi]

Cunard owned by carnival corporation , But Cunard is a far bigger brand name then P&O Australia

[@taniamichele9472]

My first cruise was on the Pacific jewel in June 2018 had an amazing time.

[@AussieDave04]

It's sad that P&O will no longer take me away. I will value the great memories and wonderful crew we met on the various cruises. PEARL, JEWEL and a couple of trips on ADVENTURE, will always be in our hearts. ❤🛳❤️🛳❤️

[@barryvincentredmond3973]

Always enjoyed watching the Pacific Explorer and Pacific Encounter arrive and depart port here in Cairns.P+O cruises gave passengers from the southern states the opportunity to visit and enjoy FNQ,and benefitted the local economy here as well.After 90 years its a shame that P+O operations are shutting down in Australia.

[@COLINJELY]

My first two cruises were on Dawn Princess. My third cruise was on Pacific Explorer.

[@user-dr1ej2bw9j]

You tell the story so well. You should be on documentaries.

[@mhaskard6517]

Went on Pacific Explorer June 2023 and what a tired old ship it is, the only thing holding the rust together was the paint. Cabins were tired, old and dated. Food was below average and what you got in the buffet is what the crew also got in the crew mess, maybe they got better food than the passengers. Just awful food overall. I guess a 20 plus year old ship is only what you could expect. I have also been on the SS Himayala, Fairstar(Sitmar), SS Acrcadia too back in the day too.

[@robertjohnstone3706]

P&O Fair Sea landed in Sydney January 1961 .

[@robertbarnier45]

I liked the explorer & the Aria was a lovely uncrowned small ship. We need more small ships. Aussie Bob

[@bee17167]

Love P&O lots of happy times with friends and family still find it hard to believe they are always full every cruise can't understand why they are closing shop?

[@dropbear6740]

So really all that is happening is P&O will be under a different name Carnival, will there be any difference in cost of cruise and ships size

[@geoffmorris189]

We were on Pacific Explorer last week and it definitely needs to be put out to pasture. It's old, rust everywhere, paint peeling and an odour of sewerage

[@Traveltheme706]

Thats the old Dawn Princess its infamous for that sewerage smell god only knows why

[@Kni0002]

Some parts of the ship is pretty tacky and I avoided. But had a fun holiday back in 2019.

[@JackisKeV]

Sailed once on p&o out of Brisbane in mid 2010s. Ship was tired, fittings old and tattered, and it was the most expensive I’ve ever paid for a cruise anywhere in the world. The shut down in 2024 clearly was coming for some time. 😢

[@johnnyhollis9977]

It's poor management and greed for profits, There is simply no justification on letting down a loyal cruise customer base in that way.

[@WallaseyanTube]

Has there been any explanation as to why Carnival has made this decision?

[@TonyG737]

What a shame on my first trip to Australia i was working on the SS Oronsay in 1971 /2 and we used to sail on cruises down to Fiji great fun and saw a different type of cruise sailing with Aussies instead of in the Mediterranean or Alaska. And of course a few VB’s.

[@WallaseyanTube]

I would have thought it would have been a better option to rebrand with the Orient Line name to distinguish the brand from the UK P&O operations. Orient Line used to share the Australia run with P&O and was equally well known.

[@stephenokell5752]

P&O used to be the premier cruise line but these days no longer. They are barely entry level! The food is very ordinary as is the service. I prefer to cruise with Princess based on my last 6 cruises.

[@richarddeason1845]

My view point is Big mistake by carnival I feel the carnival corp wants the carnival brand the biggest cruise line in the world Look at costa cruise line - carnival took three ships and move to carnival cruise They look like the cruise line is trying to stay the biggest line in world Right now we have msc/ royal Caribbean growing with new ships

[@Mustang00007]

The best P & O ship..Aurora travelled on it 4 times, half world twice.And other cruises. Will be travelling on the Queen Anne in Jan 2025.

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Aurora is my favourite P&O UK ship too!

[@brober]

Sad . End of an iconic brand.

[@lukes5533]

Very sad announcement for Australian cruisers. We are losing lots of ships at the moment due to lack of ports to dock and other reasons. Unfortunately the reduced amount of ships will only drive up prices with less choices in a cost of living crisis.

[@dianacarragher5845]

This so sad it is part of our social and maritime history I worked for P&O head office in Sydney & married a fellow P&O er 51 years It makes me angry that the parent company can disgard our history because they can they should have build us a couple new smaller ships.

[@douglachman7330]

There is a shortage of qualified and / or experienced staff to operate the ships.😊

[@ianwallace16]

What was once the pinnacle of cruising is now the bottom of the ocean.im not surprised one bit of their demise.

[@cruises_only_thanks]

What a shocking loss this is.

[@AudreyMealiff]

Oh gosh, this makes me sad.

[@downtoearth1950]

Businesses come and go, where is the Gigantic East India Company?

[@fredwalsh4108]

Tried P&O once that was enough kids running up and down hallways all night long adults as drunk as skunks, not fir us

[@tobyweiss1010]

It's an Australian story so often repeated in so many industries and products, where an Australian icon is just lost to international operators. I suspect the Australian cruise market is seen as a nuisance rather than an asset for the two big players. (Carnival and Royal Caribbean). They can make fortunes by sailing out of the USA and northern hemisphere ports so sending valuable ships down here is not of any great interest. Carnival are running the hideous Carnival Splendor at the moment and now they'll simply change the logos on the two tired old (ex Princess) ships and save some money by only having one office to run. The Australian cruise market is in an ongoing decline and it's only going to get worse.

[@Kni0002]

I’m not going near a Carnaval branded ship, they look so ugly and seem too American… Paying in usd and tipping on ships off the coast of Australia sucks. P and O never had these annoying quirks

[@jayng153]

DO NOT travel with Carnival. They are completely out of touch with the Aussie market. After traveling with P&O three times it thought I would try Carnival. It was BIZARRE. From the cheesy names of pubs and ship areas, to the Americanization of every aspect on board (particularly the food 🤢)...it simply isn't 'Australian'. Obviously P&O has been operated by Carnival for a number of years, however in my opinion it was their only saving grace. I have not tried Royal Caribbean yet however Carnival staff will treat you like a dumb American and you will feel completely insulted by the whole experience.

[@robertbarnier45]

Agree

[@Kni0002]

Cunard was also is pretty good, owned by Carnaval.. sadly they are cutting back ships from Australia too

[@Jayson971]

Was never Australian always controlled by the UK never had any Australian staff on the ships