President of Carnival Cruise Line, Christine Duffy, chats with Karryon about the sunsetting of P&O Australia, the rise of CCL Down Under and what both mean for cruise holidaymakers.
The era of P&O Australia has officially ended, with the recent takeover of Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter (now called Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter) by Carnival Cruise Line (CCL).
But according to Carnival’s President, Christine Duffy, this isn’t just a simple rebranding: it’s a strategic move to supercharge the brand and Aussie cruising experience.
“It’s a real positive,” she tells Karryon, highlighting how CCL will now be the only global cruise line operating year-round from both Sydney and Brisbane with four ships.
Most significantly, the consolidation allows Carnival – a brand known for its focus on fun – to leverage its considerable scale, a crucial factor in Australia’s high-cost operating environment.
“Australia is… probably close to the most expensive place for us to operate,” Duffy explains.
“It was becoming more and more difficult for POA as a brand and so… the ability to leverage the size and scale of Carnival Cruise Line and support POA is what’s enabling us to keep four ships here year-round.”
For Aussie cruisers, this translates to a wider range of itineraries and sailing dates – and better value.
In addition, CCL’s global reach also opens up new sales channels in North America, potentially boosting tourism and benefiting the entire Australian travel ecosystem.
“Currently, 50 per cent of the guests that sail on Carnival Cruise Line in Australia come from North America,” Duffy notes. So, expect that to rise.
What’s changing?
But what about the P&O experience that Aussies know and love? Duffy assured that the transition is about enhancement, not erasure.
“We are retaining some of the things that we know that our Aussie guests love,” she says, mentioning favourites like the Byron Beach Club, the Edge zip line and celebrity chef Luke Mangan’s specialty dining.
Moreover, Carnival Cruises has invested heavily in upgrading the ships, adding their award-winning app, a VIP loyalty program and family-friendly features like Dr Seuss at Sea.
“We think this is definitely going to be an enhanced experience for the guests who have sailed on P&O in the past,” Duffy states.
Crucially, the heart of the P&O experience – the crew – is staying put. According to the CCL boss, a commendable 96 per cent of P&O crew have transitioned to Carnival, ensuring a familiar and welcoming atmosphere.
“I believe hardware is one thing; what really makes the difference is the crew,” she stresses.
“We’ve added staff through our Fun Squad; we’re introducing Dr Seuss at Sea.
“It’s much more growth opportunities for our team as well.”
New journeys
The shift also opens up exciting new itinerary options. With four ships, Carnival Cruise Line can now cater to diverse preferences, from short weekend getaways to longer, more exotic voyages.
Specifically, Duffy mentions plans for “a number of sailings out of Melbourne” plus an “exciting Asian itinerary in ’27, where the ship will leave from Singapore and go to Thailand and Vietnam”.
Additionally, she flags the appeal of shorter itineraries, especially for those new to cruising.
“We’re adding a lot more short itineraries, which we know is what guests want,” Duffy says.
“So we’re really keeping a really nice mix, which you can do when you have four ships. So something for everyone.”
CCL’s commitment to the Australian market is evident.
“We are doubling down… but we’re trying to do it in a way that is sustainable,” Duffy says, acknowledging the challenges of operating in Australia but highlighting the long-term potential.
“We think all of that is a demonstration of the commitment we have to this market.”
The strong crew retention and positive feedback so far suggest that the transition is also being well-received.
“With 96 per cent of the crew signing on with Carnival, we take that as a sign of great confidence and trust that this is a real positive,” Duffy stated.
On the horizon
Looking ahead, the CCL President expresses optimism for future growth.
“I hope we’re having a conversation in the future that says… that it’s been so successful that we’re going to grow or bring bigger ships,” she says.
“And again, it will really be determined by how well we perform and the demand that we have from consumers who want to cruise”.
“But… in the times that we’re in, [cruising] is great value; it’s an incredible vacation experience.
“Multi-generational travel is only growing and I was speaking with someone earlier who told me she just took her 80-year-old grandmum on a Carnival Cruise, and it was fantastic,” she says.
Carnival Cruise Line will be hoping to hear more stories like that.
For more on CCL, visit www.carnival.com.au.
Last Friday, Carnival Adventure sailed into Sydney Harbour to mark its official launch and the end of the renowned P&O Cruises brand in Australia. Read about that here.
