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| name = P&O Cruises
| name = P&O Cruises
| logo = [[File:P&O Cruises.png|200px]]
| logo = [[File:P&O Cruises.png|200px]]
| image = P&O-house flag.svg
| image =
| image_size = 150px
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = P&O House Flag
| image_caption =
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| predecessor = [[P&O (company)|P&O]]
| predecessor = [[P&O]]
| successor =
| successor =
| foundation = {{start date|1977}}<ref name="founded1977"/>
| foundation = {{start date|1977}}<ref name="founded1977"/>
| location = {{nowrap|[[Southampton]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]}}
| location = {{nowrap|[[Southampton]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]}}
| key_people = {{plainlist|
| key_people = {{plainlist|
* Paul Ludlow (President, P&O Cruises)
* Paul Ludlow (President, P&O Cruises)
* David Dingle (Chairman, Carnival UK)
* Paul Ludlow (President, Carnival UK)
}}
}}
| area_served = [[Europe]], [[Caribbean]]
| area_served = [[United Kingdom]]
| industry = [[Hospitality]] and [[transportation]]
| industry = [[Hospitality]] and [[transportation]]
| products = [[Cruise ship|Cruises]]
| products = [[Cruise ship|Cruises]]
| revenue = $1.032 billion (2018)<ref name="cruisemarketwatch">{{cite web|title=2018 Worldwide Cruise Line Market Share|url=https://www.cruisemarketwatch.com/market-share/|publisher=Cruise Market Watch|access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref>
| revenue = $467 million (2021)<ref name="cruisemarketwatch">{{cite web|title=2021 Worldwide Cruise Line Market Share|url=https://www.cruisemarketwatch.com/market-share/|publisher=Cruise Market Watch|access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>
| operating_income =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| num_employees =
| parent = [[Carnival Corporation & plc]]
| parent = [[Carnival Corporation & plc]]
| subsid =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.pocruises.com/}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.pocruises.com/}}
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
[[File:P&O-house flag.svg|150px]]<br>P&O House Flag
}}
}}


'''P&O Cruises''' is a British [[cruise line]] based at [[Carnival House]] in [[Southampton]], [[England]], operated by [[Carnival Corporation & plc#Carnival United Kingdom|Carnival UK]] and owned by [[Carnival Corporation & plc]]. It was originally a [[subsidiary]] of the [[freight transport|shipping]] company [[P&O (company)|P&O]] and was founded in 1977.<ref name="founded1977">{{cite web|title=From Liners to Leisure|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/from-liners-to-leisure?Decade=1970s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref> Along with [[P&O Cruises Australia]], another former subsidiary of P&O, it has the oldest heritage of any cruise line in the world, dating to P&O's first passenger operations in 1837.<ref name="P&Oaustralia">{{cite news|title=History of Our Fleet|url=https://www.pocruises.com.au/about/history-of-our-fleet|publisher=P&O Cruises Australia|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="oldestheritage">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises History|url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/articles.cfm?ID=3135|last=Coulter|first=Adam|publisher=Cruise Critic|date=21 December 2017|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="firstcruises">{{cite web|title=History of P&O|url=https://www.pocruises.com.au/about/history|publisher=P&O Cruises Australia|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref>
'''P&O Cruises''' is a British [[cruise line]] based at [[Carnival House]] in [[Southampton]], [[England]], operated by [[Carnival Corporation & plc#Carnival UK|Carnival UK]] and owned by [[Carnival Corporation & plc]]. It was originally a [[subsidiary]] of the [[freight transport]] company [[P&O]] and was founded in 1977.<ref name="founded1977">{{cite web|title=From Liners to Leisure|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/from-liners-to-leisure?Decade=1970s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref> Along with [[P&O Cruises Australia]], another former subsidiary of P&O, it has the oldest heritage of any cruise line in the world, dating to P&O's first passenger operations in 1837.<ref name="P&Oaustralia">{{cite news|title=History of Our Fleet|url=https://www.pocruises.com.au/about/history-of-our-fleet|publisher=P&O Cruises Australia|access-date=1 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="oldestheritage">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises History|url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/articles.cfm?ID=3135|last=Coulter|first=Adam|publisher=Cruise Critic|date=21 December 2017|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="firstcruises">{{cite web|title=History of P&O|url=https://www.pocruises.com.au/about/history|publisher=P&O Cruises Australia|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref>


P&O Cruises was [[divestment|divested]] from P&O in 2000, subsequently becoming a subsidiary of [[P&O Princess Cruises]],<ref name="P&Oprincess">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4459526/PandO-reshapes-cruise-float.html|title=P&O reshapes cruise float|last=Bennett|first=Neil|publisher=Telegraph|date=23 July 2000|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> before coming under its current ownership in 2003, following a [[Mergers and acquisitions|merger]] between P&O Princess Cruises and Carnival Corporation.<ref name="P&Odeal">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2359839.stm|title=Carnival cruises towards P&O deal|publisher=BBC|date=25 October 2002|access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref>
P&O Cruises was [[divestment|divested]] from P&O in 2000, subsequently becoming a subsidiary of [[P&O Princess Cruises]],<ref name="P&Oprincess">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4459526/PandO-reshapes-cruise-float.html|title=P&O reshapes cruise float|last=Bennett|first=Neil|publisher=Telegraph|date=23 July 2000|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> before coming under its current ownership in 2003, following a [[Mergers and acquisitions|merger]] between P&O Princess Cruises and Carnival Corporation (the combined company now operates as [[Carnival Corporation & plc]]).<ref name="P&Odeal">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2359839.stm|title=Carnival cruises towards P&O deal|publisher=BBC|date=25 October 2002|access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref>


==History==
==History==

===Origins===
===Origins===
{{Main|P&O (company)}}
{{Main|P&O}}


In 1834, [[Brodie McGhie Willcox]], a ship broker from London, and [[Arthur Anderson (businessman)|Arthur Anderson]], a sailor from the Shetland Islands, formed an association with Captain Richard Bourne, a steamship owner from Dublin.<ref name="founders">{{cite web|title=Men of Steam|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/men-of-steam?Decade=1830s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> In 1837, the trio won a contract and began transporting mail and passengers from England to the [[Iberian Peninsula]], founding the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company.<ref name="origins">{{cite web|title=First Mail Contract|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/first-mail-contract?Decade=1830s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="firstcruises"/> In 1840, the company merged with the Transatlantic Steam Ship Company and expanded their operations to the [[Orient]], becoming the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O).<ref name="peninsularoriental">{{cite web|title=Royal Charter|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/royal-charter?Decade=1840s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> In 1844, P&O expanded its passenger operations from transportation to include [[Cruising (maritime)|leisure cruising]], operating sailings from England to the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] that were the first of their kind.<ref name="firstcruises"/> By the mid-1900s, passenger shipping for the purposes of transportation was threatened by the increasing affordability of [[air travel]].<ref name="airtravel">{{cite web|title=The Threat from Above|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/the-threat-from-above?Decade=1950s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> Consequently, in the 1970s, P&O dedicated its passenger operations entirely to leisure cruising and, in 1977, relisted its passenger ships under the new subsidiary P&O Cruises.<ref name="founded1977"/>
In 1834, [[Brodie McGhie Willcox]], a ship broker from London, and [[Arthur Anderson (businessman)|Arthur Anderson]], a sailor from the Shetland Islands, formed an association with Captain Richard Bourne, a steamship owner from Dublin.<ref name="founders">{{cite web|title=Men of Steam|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/men-of-steam?Decade=1830s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> In 1837, the trio won a contract and began transporting mail and passengers from England to the [[Iberian Peninsula]], founding the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company.<ref name="origins">{{cite web|title=First Mail Contract|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/first-mail-contract?Decade=1830s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="firstcruises"/> In 1840, the company merged with the Transatlantic Steam Ship Company and expanded their operations to the [[Orient]], becoming the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O).<ref name="peninsularoriental">{{cite web|title=Royal Charter|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/royal-charter?Decade=1840s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> In 1844, P&O expanded its passenger operations from transportation to include [[Cruising (maritime)|leisure cruising]], operating sailings from England to the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] that were the first of their kind.<ref name="firstcruises"/> By the mid-1900s, passenger shipping for the purposes of transportation was threatened by the increasing affordability of [[air travel]].<ref name="airtravel">{{cite web|title=The Threat from Above|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/the-threat-from-above?Decade=1950s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> Consequently, in the 1970s, P&O dedicated its passenger operations entirely to leisure cruising and, in 1977, relisted its passenger ships under the new subsidiary P&O Cruises.<ref name="founded1977"/>


===1977–1995: Early years===
===1977–1995: early years===
[[File:03-Ponta Delgada 1984.jpg|thumb|''Canberra'' of 1961 in [[Ponta Delgada]], [[Azores]] in 1984]]
[[File:03-Ponta Delgada 1984.jpg|thumb|''Canberra'' of 1961 in [[Ponta Delgada]], [[Azores]] in 1984]]


Initially, P&O Cruises operated ''[[SS Oriana (1959)|Oriana]]'' and ''[[SS Canberra|Canberra]]'' from [[Southampton]], serving the UK market,<ref name="orianauk">{{cite web|title=From Birth to Breakers|url=https://ssmaritime.com/oriana.htm|last=Goossens|first=Reuben|publisher=SS Maritime|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="canberrauk">{{cite web|title=SS Canberra – Times Are 'a' Changing|url=https://ssmaritime.com/Canberra-2.htm|last=Goossens|first=Reuben|publisher=SS Maritime|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> and ''[[SS Arcadia (1953)|Arcadia]]'' from [[Sydney]], serving the [[Australia]]n market,<ref name="arcadiaaustralia">{{cite web|title=P&O ss Arcadia 1954|url=http://www.pandosnco.co.uk/arcadia.html|last=Messinger|first=Nick|publisher=The Old Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> while ''[[SS Uganda (1952)|Uganda]]'' operated educational cruises.<ref name="ugandaeducational">{{cite web|title=Educational cruise ship service|url=http://www.ssuganda.co.uk/educ/|publisher=SS Uganda Trust|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> All of these ships had previously operated for P&O and had been transferred to the new subsidiary. In 1979, ''Arcadia'' departed the Australian fleet<ref name="arcadiaaustralia"/> and was replaced by ''[[MV Kungsholm (1965)|Sea Princess]]'', which had previously been ''Kungsholm'' for Flagship Cruises.<ref name="seaprincessvictoria">{{cite web|title=From P&O's Sea Princess, Victoria, Mona Lisa, Oceanic II and Hotel Veronca to the breakers in 2015|url=https://ssmaritime.com/Kungsholm-IV-Page-3.htm|last=Goossens|first=Reuben|publisher=SS Maritime|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> In 1981, ''Oriana'' relocated to serve the Australian market,<ref name="orianauk"/> while ''Sea Princess'' relocated to serve the UK market in 1982.<ref name="seaprincessvictoria">{{cite web|title=From P&O's Sea Princess, Victoria, Mona Lisa, Oceanic II and Hotel Veronca to the breakers in 2015|url=https://ssmaritime.com/Kungsholm-IV-Page-3.htm|last=Goossens|first=Reuben|publisher=SS Maritime|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> The same year, ''Canberra'' was requisitioned as a [[troopship]] during the [[Falklands War]],<ref name="falklands">{{cite web|title=South to the Falklands|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/south-to-the-falklands?Decade=1980s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> while ''Uganda'' was requisitioned as a [[hospital ship]].<ref name="ugandahospital">{{cite web|title=SS Uganda Trust Home Page|url=http://www.ssuganda.co.uk/index.html|publisher=SS Uganda Trust|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> ''Uganda'' departed the fleet shortly thereafter, in 1983.<ref name="ugandahospital"/> ''Oriana'' departed the Australian fleet in March 1986,<ref name="orianadeparts">{{cite web|title=Ship Fact Sheet: Oriana (1960)|url=http://www.poheritage.com/Upload/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/94073ORIANA-1960pdf.pdf|publisher=P&O Heritage|date=November 2009|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> and ''Sea Princess'' departed the UK fleet in November 1986.<ref name="seaprincessvictoria"/> With only ''Canberra'' remaining, serving the UK market,<ref name="oldestheritage"/> P&O diverged its Australian operations in 1988, acquiring [[Sitmar Cruises]], which already operated a ship in Australia.<ref name="orianauk"/> This led to the formation of [[P&O Cruises Australia]], which would oversee Australian operations, while P&O Cruises continued to oversee UK operations.<ref name="P&Oaustralia"/>
Initially, P&O Cruises operated ''[[SS Oriana (1959)|Oriana]]'' and ''[[SS Canberra|Canberra]]'' from [[Southampton]], serving the UK market,<ref name="orianauk">{{cite web|title=From Birth to Breakers|url=https://ssmaritime.com/oriana.htm|last=Goossens|first=Reuben|publisher=SS Maritime|access-date=27 July 2019|archive-date=4 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804211919/http://ssmaritime.com/oriana.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="canberrauk">{{cite web|title=SS Canberra – Times Are 'a' Changing|url=https://ssmaritime.com/Canberra-2.htm|last=Goossens|first=Reuben|publisher=SS Maritime|access-date=27 July 2019|archive-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407162405/http://ssmaritime.com/Canberra-2.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> and ''[[SS Arcadia (1953)|Arcadia]]'' from [[Sydney]], serving the [[Australia]]n market,<ref name="arcadiaaustralia">{{cite web|title=P&O ss Arcadia 1954|url=http://www.pandosnco.co.uk/arcadia.html|last=Messinger|first=Nick|publisher=The Old Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> while ''[[SS Uganda (1952)|Uganda]]'' operated educational cruises.<ref name="ugandaeducational">{{cite web|title=Educational cruise ship service|url=http://www.ssuganda.co.uk/educ/|publisher=SS Uganda Trust|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> All of these ships had previously operated for P&O and had been transferred to the new subsidiary. There were several changes over the following years. In 1979, ''Arcadia'' departed the Australian fleet<ref name="arcadiaaustralia"/> and was replaced by ''[[MV Kungsholm (1965)|Sea Princess]]'', which was formerly ''Kungsholm'' for Flagship Cruises.<ref name="seaprincessvictoria">{{cite web|title=From P&O's Sea Princess, Victoria, Mona Lisa, Oceanic II and Hotel Veronca to the breakers in 2015|url=https://ssmaritime.com/Kungsholm-IV-Page-3.htm|last=Goossens|first=Reuben|publisher=SS Maritime|access-date=27 July 2019|archive-date=28 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728004744/https://ssmaritime.com/Kungsholm-IV-Page-3.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1981, ''Oriana'' relocated to serve the Australian market,<ref name="orianauk"/> and in 1982, ''Sea Princess'' relocated to serve the UK market.<ref name="seaprincessvictoria"/> The same year, both ''Canberra'' and ''Uganda'' were requisitioned to assist in the [[Falklands War]], with the former becoming a [[troopship]] and the latter a [[hospital ship]].<ref name="falklands">{{cite web|title=South to the Falklands|url=http://www.poheritage.com/our-history/timeline/south-to-the-falklands?Decade=1980s|publisher=P&O Heritage|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="ugandahospital">{{cite web|title=SS Uganda Trust Home Page|url=http://www.ssuganda.co.uk/index.html|publisher=SS Uganda Trust|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref>


More ships departed the fleet in the following years; ''Uganda'' in 1983,<ref name="ugandahospital"/> ''Oriana'' in March 1986<ref name="orianadeparts">{{cite web|title=Ship Fact Sheet: Oriana (1960)|url=http://www.poheritage.com/Upload/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/94073ORIANA-1960pdf.pdf|publisher=P&O Heritage|date=November 2009|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> and ''Sea Princess'' in November 1986.<ref name="seaprincessvictoria"/> With only ''Canberra'' remaining, serving the UK market,<ref name="oldestheritage"/> P&O diverged its Australian operations from its UK operations in 1988, acquiring [[Sitmar Cruises]], which already operated a ship in Australia.<ref name="orianauk"/> This ultimately led to the formation of [[P&O Cruises Australia]], which would oversee Australian operations, while P&O Cruises focused on UK operations.<ref name="P&Oaustralia"/>
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===1995–2008: First newbuilds and changes of ownership===

⚫
===1995–2008: first newbuilds and changes of ownership===
[[File:MV Oriana - Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 2003.JPG|thumb|right|''Oriana'' of 1995 at [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria|Las Palmas]], [[Gran Canaria]] in 2003]]
[[File:MV Oriana - Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 2003.JPG|thumb|right|''Oriana'' of 1995 at [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria|Las Palmas]], [[Gran Canaria]] in 2003]]


In the 1990s, P&O Cruises commissioned its first newbuild, the second ''[[MV Piano Land|Oriana]]'', which entered service in April 1995.<ref name="neworiana">{{cite web|title=P&O Oriana – Cruise Ship|url=https://www.ship-technology.com/projects/po-oriana-cruse-ship/|publisher=Ship Technology|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> Unlike the older [[ocean liner]]s the company had inherited from P&O, which had been designed to transport passengers from one place to another, the new ''Oriana'' was a [[cruise ship]], built purely for pleasure cruising. At 69,153 gross tons, she was one of the largest in the world.<ref name="orianasize">{{cite web|url=http://www.poships.co.uk/Oriana%201995%20History.html|title=Oriana Ship History|access-date=27 July 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121101955/http://www.poships.co.uk/Oriana%201995%20History.html|archive-date=21 November 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ''Sea Princess'' also returned to the fleet in 1995, under the new name ''Victoria''.<ref name="seaprincessvictoria"/> ''Canberra'' departed the fleet in 1997 and was replaced the same year by a second ''[[MV Columbus|Arcadia]]'', which had previously been ''Star Princess'' for [[Princess Cruises]].<ref name="canberrauk"/> In 2000, ''[[MV Aurora (2000)|Aurora]]'', a newbuild of similar design to ''Oriana'', entered service for P&O Cruises.<ref name="auroramaiden">{{cite web|title=Super-liner limps back to port|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/733395.stm|publisher=BBC|date=3 May 2000|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> However, her service suffered an inauspicious start when she was forced to abandon her maiden voyage due to mechanical problems.<ref name="auroramaiden"/> The same year, P&O [[divestment|divested]] all its cruise operations and formed the independent company [[P&O Princess Cruises]], which now owned P&O Cruises.<ref name="P&Oprincess"/> In 2002, ''Victoria'' departed the fleet<ref name="seaprincessvictoria"/> and ''[[MV Queen of the Oceans|Oceana]]'' joined, having previously been ''Ocean Princess'' for Princess Cruises.<ref name="oceanajoins">{{cite web|title=Oceana – Ocean Princess|url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/PO-Oceana2.html|last=Boyle|first=Ian|publisher=Simplon Postcards|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref>
In the 1990s, P&O Cruises commissioned its first newbuild, the second ''[[MV Piano Land|Oriana]]'', which entered service in April 1995.<ref name="neworiana">{{cite web|title=P&O Oriana – Cruise Ship|url=https://www.ship-technology.com/projects/po-oriana-cruse-ship/|publisher=Ship Technology|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> Unlike the older [[ocean liner]]s the company had inherited from P&O, which had originally been designed to transport passengers from one place to another, the new ''Oriana'' was a [[cruise ship]], built purely for pleasure cruising. At 69,153 gross tons, she was one of the largest cruise ships in the world.<ref name="orianasize">{{cite web|url=http://www.poships.co.uk/Oriana%201995%20History.html|title=Oriana Ship History|access-date=27 July 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121101955/http://www.poships.co.uk/Oriana%201995%20History.html|archive-date=21 November 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ''Sea Princess'' also returned to the fleet in 1995, now renamed ''Victoria''.<ref name="seaprincessvictoria"/> ''Canberra'' departed the fleet in 1997 and was replaced the same year by a second ''[[MV Columbus|Arcadia]]'', formerly ''Star Princess'' for [[Princess Cruises]].<ref name="canberrauk"/> In 2000, ''[[MV Aurora (2000)|Aurora]]'', another newbuild of similar design to ''Oriana'', entered service,<ref name="auroramaiden">{{cite web|title=Super-liner limps back to port|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/733395.stm|publisher=BBC|date=3 May 2000|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref> although she suffered a disappointing start when she was forced to abandon her maiden voyage due to mechanical problems.<ref name="auroramaiden"/>


The ownership of P&O Cruises changed twice in the early 2000s. In 2000, P&O [[divestment|divested]] its cruise operations and transferred them to the new independent company [[P&O Princess Cruises]],<ref name="P&Oprincess"/> and in 2003, P&O Princess Cruises merged with Carnival Corporation to form [[Carnival Corporation & plc]].<ref name="P&Odeal"/>
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In 2003, the ownership of P&O Cruises changed once again when P&O Princess Cruises [[Mergers and acquisitions|merged]] with Carnival Corporation to form [[Carnival Corporation & plc]].<ref name="P&Odeal"/> Thereafter, ''Arcadia'' transferred to the new [[Ocean Village (company)|Ocean Village]] brand.<ref name="oceanvillage">{{cite web|title=CMV Columbus|url=https://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/CMV-Columbus-724|publisher=CruiseMapper|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> ''[[Sea Princess|Adonia]]'', previously ''Sea Princess'' and a [[sister ship|sister]] to ''Oceana'', replaced ''Arcadia'' but returned to Princess Cruises in 2005.<ref name="adonia2003">{{cite web|title=Adonia – Sea Princess of P&O Princess Cruises|url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/PO-Adonia.html|last=Boyle|first=Ian|publisher=Simplon Postcards|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> ''Adonia'' was replaced the same year by a newbuild ''[[MV Arcadia (2004)|Arcadia]]'', which was allocated to P&O Cruises after having originally been intended for [[Holland America Line]] and thereafter [[Cunard Line]].<ref name="arcadiajoins">{{cite web|title=Arcadia Review|url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=356|last=Williamson|first=Jeannine|publisher=Cruise Critic|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> ''Arcadia'' was joined by ''[[MV Artania|Artemis]]'', previously ''Royal Princess'' for Princess Cruises.<ref name="artemisjoins">{{cite web|title=A great sea change|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/726194/A-great-sea-change.html|last=Vass|first=Jacqueline|publisher=Telegraph|date=12 June 2004|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref>


⚫
Fleet rotations continued. ''Victoria'' departed for the final time in 2002,<ref name="seaprincessvictoria"/> ''[[MV Queen of the Oceans|Oceana]]'', formerly ''Ocean Princess'' for Princess Cruises, joined the same year<ref name="oceanajoins">{{cite web|title=Oceana – Ocean Princess|url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/PO-Oceana2.html|last=Boyle|first=Ian|publisher=Simplon Postcards|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> and ''Arcadia'' departed in 2003.<ref name="oceanvillage">{{cite web|title=CMV Columbus|url=https://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/CMV-Columbus-724|publisher=CruiseMapper|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> ''[[Sea Princess|Adonia]]'', formerly ''Sea Princess'' and a [[sister ship|sister]] to ''Oceana'', replaced ''Arcadia'' the same year,<ref name="adonia2003">{{cite web|title=Adonia – Sea Princess of P&O Princess Cruises|url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/PO-Adonia.html|last=Boyle|first=Ian|publisher=Simplon Postcards|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> before being replaced by a newbuild ''[[MV Arcadia (2004)|Arcadia]]'' in 2005.<ref name="adonia2003"/> The new ''Arcadia'' had originally been intended for [[Holland America Line]] and later [[Cunard Line]], but was allocated to P&O Cruises by Carnival during construction.<ref name="arcadiajoins">{{cite web|title=Arcadia Review|url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=356|last=Williamson|first=Jeannine|publisher=Cruise Critic|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="arcadiavictoria">{{cite web|title=The Curious Case of the P&O Arcadia and Cunard's Queen Victoria|date=2 October 2014 |url=https://www.cruise.co.uk/bulletin/the-curious-case-of-the-po-arcadia-and-cunards-queen-victoria/|publisher=Cruise.co.uk|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref> ''Arcadia'' was joined by ''[[MV Artania|Artemis]]'', formerly ''Royal Princess'' for Princess Cruises.<ref name="artemisjoins">{{cite web|title=A great sea change|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/726194/A-great-sea-change.html|last=Vass|first=Jacqueline|publisher=Telegraph|date=12 June 2004|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref>
⚫
===2008–present: Expansion, modernisation, and COVID-19===

⚫
===2008–present: expansion and modernisation===
[[File:BRITANNIA (48013113692).jpg|thumb|right|''Britannia'' of 2015 in [[Rotterdam]], [[Netherlands]] in 2019, bearing the company's post-2014 livery]]
[[File:BRITANNIA (48013113692).jpg|thumb|right|''Britannia'' of 2015 in [[Rotterdam]], [[Netherlands]] in 2019, bearing the company's post-2014 livery]]


The fleet expanded and modernised with the addition of the 116,017-ton newbuild ''[[MV Ventura|Ventura]]'' in 2008,<ref name="venturajoins">{{cite news|title=Helen Mirren's mission on the Ventura|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/1586000/Helen-Mirrens-mission-on-the-Ventura.html|last=Archer|first=Jane|publisher=Telegraph|date=17 April 2008|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> and her sister ''[[MV Azura|Azura]]'' in 2010.<ref name="azurajoins">{{cite news|title=Darcey Bussell named Godmother of Azura|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/32476/darcey-bussell-named-godmother-of-azura|last=Archer|first=Jane|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=23 November 2009|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> ''Artemis'' departed the fleet in 2011<ref name="artemissold">{{cite news|title=P&O confirm sale of Artemis|url=http://www.captaingreybeard.com/2009/09/po-confirm-sale-of-cruise-ship.html|last=Honeywell|first=John|publisher=Captain Greybeard|date=22 September 2009|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> and was replaced by a second ''[[Azamara Pursuit|Adonia]]'', which like ''Artemis'' had previously been ''Royal Princess'' for Princess Cruises.<ref name="adoniajoins">{{cite news|title=Shirley Bassey names cruise ship Adonia in Southampton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-13486135|publisher=BBC|date=21 May 2011|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> In 2012, P&O Cruises celebrated the 175th anniversary of the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company by staging a 'Grand Event', in which the entire fleet was assembled in Southampton.<ref name="175years">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises to mark its 175th with Grand Event|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/36367/po-cruises-to-mark-its-175th-with-grand-event|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=7 March 2011|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref> In 2014, the company introduced a new [[livery]], based on the [[Union Jack]], to emphasise its British heritage,<ref name="newlivery">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises reveals new Union Flag livery|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2014/01/16/46659/p.html|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=16 January 2014|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref> and in 2015, the 143,730-ton newbuild ''[[MV Britannia (2015)|Britannia]]'' joined the fleet.<ref name="britanniaflagship">{{cite web|title=See inside P&O Cruises' new flagship Britannia and discover why it really is such a big deal|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/travel/cruises/see-inside-po-cruises-new-5239585|last=Thompson|first=Nigel|publisher=Daily Mirror|date=27 February 2015|access-date=30 July 2019}}</ref> ''Adonia'' transferred to Carnival's new [[Fathom (cruise line)|Fathom]] brand in 2016,<ref name="adoniafathom">{{cite web|title=Carnival launches fathom, a new "social impact travel" brand|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article23081625.html|last=Sampson|first=Hannah|publisher=Miami Herald|date=4 June 2015|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref> returned in 2017,<ref name="adoniareturns">{{cite web|title=Fathom to lose only ship as Adonia rejoins P&O fleet|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/64091/fathom-to-lose-only-ship-as-adonia-rejoins-po-fleet|last=Davies|first=Phil|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=24 November 2016|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref> and then departed the fleet permanently in 2018.<ref name="adoniasold">{{cite web|title=P&O Respond And Apologise To Guests After News Of Selling Ship|url=https://www.cruise.co.uk/bulletin/po-respond-apologise-guests-news-selling-ship/|publisher=Cruise|date=27 September 2017|access-date=1 July 2018}}</ref> In 2019, the company's first newbuild, ''Oriana'', also departed the fleet.<ref name="orianaleaving">{{cite web|title=Oriana to leave P&O Cruises fleet in August 2019|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/306777/oriana-to-leave-po-cruises-fleet-in-august-2019|last=Davies|first=Phil|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=29 June 2018|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref>
The fleet expanded and modernised with the addition of the 116,017-ton newbuild ''[[MV Ventura|Ventura]]'' in 2008<ref name="venturajoins">{{cite news|title=Helen Mirren's mission on the Ventura|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/1586000/Helen-Mirrens-mission-on-the-Ventura.html|last=Archer|first=Jane|publisher=Telegraph|date=17 April 2008|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> and her sister ''[[MV Azura|Azura]]'' in 2010.<ref name="azurajoins">{{cite news|title=Darcey Bussell named Godmother of Azura|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/32476/darcey-bussell-named-godmother-of-azura|last=Archer|first=Jane|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=23 November 2009|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> ''Artemis'' also departed the fleet in 2011<ref name="artemissold">{{cite news|title=P&O confirm sale of Artemis|url=http://www.captaingreybeard.com/2009/09/po-confirm-sale-of-cruise-ship.html|last=Honeywell|first=John|publisher=Captain Greybeard|date=22 September 2009|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> and was replaced by a second ''[[Azamara Pursuit|Adonia]]'', which like ''Artemis'' had formerly been ''Royal Princess'' for Princess Cruises.<ref name="adoniajoins">{{cite news|title=Shirley Bassey names cruise ship Adonia in Southampton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-13486135|publisher=BBC|date=21 May 2011|access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref>


In 2012, P&O Cruises celebrated the 175th anniversary of the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company by staging a 'Grand Event', in which the entire fleet was assembled in Southampton.<ref name="175years">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises to mark its 175th with Grand Event|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/36367/po-cruises-to-mark-its-175th-with-grand-event|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=7 March 2011|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref>
⚫
In March 2020, P&O Cruises joined every other cruise line worldwide in suspending passenger operations as a precaution against the emergent [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="operationssuspended">{{cite web|title=Coronavirus: P&O Cruises and Cunard Are Latest Lines to Suspend Operations for 30 Days|url=https://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/po-cruises-cunard-suspend-operations-coronavirus/|last=Sullivan|first=Isabella|publisher=World of Cruising|date=16 March 2020|access-date=16 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="worldwidesuspension">{{cite news|title=Coronavirus journey: The 'last cruise ship on Earth' finally comes home|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-52350262|last=Amos|first=Owen|work=BBC News|date=20 April 2020|access-date=13 October 2020}}</ref> This led to the departure of ''Oceana'' in July 2020, as Carnival sold multiple older ships across their fleets in order to increase [[Liquid capital|liquidity]].<ref name="carnivalrightsizing">{{cite web|title=Carnival Corp. to sell 9 ships, just 5 of 9 newbuilds due 2020/21 will come by end 2021|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/carnival-corp-sell-9-ships-just-5-9-newbuilds-due-202021-will-come-end-2021|last=Kalosh|first=Anna|work=Seatrade Cruise News|date=10 July 2020|access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref> It also delayed the arrival of the 184,089-ton newbuild ''[[MS Iona|Iona]]'' from May 2020 to October 2020.<ref name="ionajoins">{{cite web|title=New Iona Delivered to P&O Cruises|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23657-new-iona-delivered-to-p-o-cruises.html|publisher=Cruise Industry News|date=12 October 2020|access-date=12 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="maidendelayed">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises Reveals Maiden Voyage of New Ship Iona Will be Delayed|url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/5232/|last=Spencer|first=Kerry|publisher=Cruise Critic|date=30 March 2020|access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref> ''Iona'' was the UK's first ship to be powered by [[liquefied natural gas]] (LNG) rather than [[fuel oil]], which was intended to make her more [[environmentally friendly]].<ref name="LNGships">{{cite web|title=Carnival Corporation to Build Three New LNG-Powered Cruise Ships with Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku|url=http://www.carnivalcorp.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=200767&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2199512|publisher=Carnival Corporation & plc|date=6 September 2016|access-date=18 October 2016}}</ref> The company resumed passenger operations in June 2021, after fifteen months, with ''Britannia'' being the first of the fleet to sail,<ref name="operationsresume">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises Welcomes First Guests as Britannia Sails|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/25328-p-o-cruises-welcomes-first-guests-as-britannia-sails.html|work=Cruise Industry News|date=27 June 2021|access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref> followed by ''Iona'' in August 2021.<ref name="ionamaiden">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises Iona leaves Southampton on maiden voyage|url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/19499199.p-o-cruises-iona-leaves-southampton-maiden-voyage/|last=Clark|first=Katie|publisher=Daily Echo|date=8 August 2021|access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref>


The company's modernisation continued with the introduction of a new [[livery]] in 2014 based on the [[Union Jack]], to emphasise its British heritage,<ref name="newlivery">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises reveals new Union Flag livery|url=https://travelweekly.co.uk/articles/46659/po-cruises-reveals-new-union-flag-livery|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=16 January 2014|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref> and the arrival of the 143,730-ton newbuild ''[[MV Britannia (2015)|Britannia]]'' in 2015.<ref name="britanniaflagship">{{cite web|title=See inside P&O Cruises' new flagship Britannia and discover why it really is such a big deal|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/travel/cruises/see-inside-po-cruises-new-5239585|last=Thompson|first=Nigel|publisher=Daily Mirror|date=27 February 2015|access-date=30 July 2019}}</ref> More departures followed; ''Adonia'' transferred to Carnival's new [[Fathom (cruise line)|Fathom]] brand between 2016 and 2017,<ref name="adoniafathom">{{cite web|title=Carnival launches fathom, a new "social impact travel" brand|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article23081625.html|last=Sampson|first=Hannah|publisher=Miami Herald|date=4 June 2015|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="adoniareturns">{{cite web|title=Fathom to lose only ship as Adonia rejoins P&O fleet|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/64091/fathom-to-lose-only-ship-as-adonia-rejoins-po-fleet|last=Davies|first=Phil|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=24 November 2016|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref> before departing permanently in 2018,<ref name="adoniasold">{{cite web|title=P&O Respond And Apologise To Guests After News Of Selling Ship|url=https://www.cruise.co.uk/bulletin/po-respond-apologise-guests-news-selling-ship/|publisher=Cruise|date=27 September 2017|access-date=1 July 2018}}</ref> and ''Oriana'', the company's first newbuild, departed in 2019.<ref name="orianaleaving">{{cite web|title=Oriana to leave P&O Cruises fleet in August 2019|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/306777/oriana-to-leave-po-cruises-fleet-in-august-2019|last=Davies|first=Phil|publisher=Travel Weekly|date=29 June 2018|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref>
⚫
In March 2022, P&O Cruises suffered a public backlash following a [[P&O sacking controversy|mass firing of staff]] by [[P&O Ferries]], another former subsidiary of P&O.<ref name="ferriessacking">{{cite news|title=P&O Cruises takes out adverts to make clear it is not related to disgraced P&O Ferries|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/p-and-o-cruises-advertising-campaign-ferries-mass-sackings-b991745.html|last=Blake|first=Elly|publisher=Evening Standard|date=31 March 2022|access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref> They subsequently embarked on an [[advertising campaign]] in national newspapers and on social media in order to clarify their separate ownership.<ref name="ferriessacking"/>


⚫
In March 2020, P&O Cruises joined every cruise line worldwide in suspending passenger operations as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="operationssuspended">{{cite web|title=Coronavirus: P&O Cruises and Cunard Are Latest Lines to Suspend Operations for 30 Days|url=https://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/po-cruises-cunard-suspend-operations-coronavirus/|last=Sullivan|first=Isabella|publisher=World of Cruising|date=16 March 2020|access-date=16 June 2020|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919013352/https://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/po-cruises-cunard-suspend-operations-coronavirus/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="worldwidesuspension">{{cite news|title=Coronavirus journey: The 'last cruise ship on Earth' finally comes home|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-52350262|last=Amos|first=Owen|work=BBC News|date=20 April 2020|access-date=13 October 2020}}</ref> This led to the departure of ''Oceana'' in July 2020, as Carnival sold older ships across its fleets in order to increase [[Liquid capital|liquidity]].<ref name="carnivalrightsizing">{{cite web|title=Carnival Corp. to sell 9 ships, just 5 of 9 newbuilds due 2020/21 will come by end 2021|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/carnival-corp-sell-9-ships-just-5-9-newbuilds-due-202021-will-come-end-2021|last=Kalosh|first=Anna|work=Seatrade Cruise News|date=10 July 2020|access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref> Operations would not resume until fifteen months later, in June 2021.<ref name="operationsresume">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises Welcomes First Guests as Britannia Sails|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/25328-p-o-cruises-welcomes-first-guests-as-britannia-sails.html|work=Cruise Industry News|date=27 June 2021|access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref>
''Arvia'', a sister ship to ''Iona'', joined the fleet in December 2022.<ref name="arvia2022">{{cite news|title=P&O Cruises Reveals Name of New Ship, Arvia|url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/5891/|last=Coulter|first=Adam|publisher=Cruise Critic|date=18 February 2021|access-date=18 February 2021}}</ref>

The company continued to expand with the addition of the 184,089-ton newbuild ''[[MS Iona|Iona]]'' in 2020,<ref name="ionajoins">{{cite web|title=New Iona Delivered to P&O Cruises|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23657-new-iona-delivered-to-p-o-cruises.html|publisher=Cruise Industry News|date=12 October 2020|access-date=12 October 2020}}</ref> although her maiden voyage was delayed until the following year by the pandemic,<ref name="maidendelayed">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises Reveals Maiden Voyage of New Ship Iona Will be Delayed|url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/5232/|last=Spencer|first=Kerry|publisher=Cruise Critic|date=30 March 2020|access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="ionamaiden">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises Iona leaves Southampton on maiden voyage|url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/19499199.p-o-cruises-iona-leaves-southampton-maiden-voyage/|last=Clark|first=Katie|publisher=Daily Echo|date=8 August 2021|access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref> and her sister ''[[MS Arvia|Arvia]]'' in 2022.<ref name="arvia2022">{{cite news|title=P&O Cruises Reveals Name of New Ship, Arvia|url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/5891/|last=Coulter|first=Adam|publisher=Cruise Critic|date=18 February 2021|access-date=18 February 2021}}</ref> These became the first ships built for the British market to be powered by [[liquefied natural gas]] (LNG), rather than [[fuel oil]], in an effort to make them more [[environmentally friendly]].<ref name="LNGships">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises takes delivery of its new LNG-powered flagship|url=https://maritimemag.com/po-cruises-takes-delivery-of-its-new-lng-powered-flagship/|publisher=Maritime Magazine|date=13 October 2020|access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref><ref name="LNGships2">{{cite web|title=Carnival Corporation to Build Three New LNG-Powered Cruise Ships with Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku|url=http://www.carnivalcorp.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=200767&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2199512|publisher=Carnival Corporation & plc|date=6 September 2016|access-date=18 October 2016}}</ref>

⚫
In March 2022, P&O Cruises suffered a public backlash following a [[P&O dismissal controversy|mass firing of staff]] by [[P&O Ferries]], another former subsidiary of P&O.<ref name="ferriessacking">{{cite news|title=P&O Cruises takes out adverts to make clear it is not related to disgraced P&O Ferries|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/p-and-o-cruises-advertising-campaign-ferries-mass-sackings-b991745.html|last=Blake|first=Elly|publisher=Evening Standard|date=31 March 2022|access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref> They subsequently embarked on an [[advertising campaign]] in national newspapers and on social media to clarify their separate ownership.<ref name="ferriessacking"/>

== Controversies ==
On 23 November 2023, it was reported that P&O Cruises, alongside [[Cunard Line|Cunard]], has taken steps to implement a "fire and rehire" strategy for over 900 crew members based in the UK, if staff did not accept new terms of salary reductions and the adoption of new working conditions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-23 |title=Cruise giant Carnival UK accused of plan to fire and rehire 900 crew |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67516276 |access-date=2023-11-25}}</ref> [[Carnival Corporation & plc|Carnival UK]] had notified the authorities that it was considering redundancies, by submitting a Form HR1 to the [[Insolvency Service|UK government’s Insolvency Service]], just a day after starting talks with the union over reducing workers' hours and pay.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Topham |first1=Gwyn |last2=correspondent |first2=Gwyn Topham Transport |date=2023-11-23 |title=P&O Cruises and Cunard threaten to fire and rehire more than 900 UK staff |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/23/po-cruises-and-cunard-prepares-to-fire-and-rehire-more-than-900-uk-staff |access-date=2023-11-25 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The [[Trade union|union]] representing the workers at P&O, [[Nautilus International]], criticised Carnival UK saying the move suggested that Carnival "never had any intention of 'meaningful negotiation'".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-23 |title=Cruise giant Carnival UK accused of plan to fire and rehire 900 crew |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67516276 |access-date=2023-11-25}}</ref> A day later Carnival UK rescinded the HR1 form and the threat of the use of a "fire and rehire" strategy following urgent talks with Nautilus, saying both parties were “committed to engaging in meaningful consultation”.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Topham |first1=Gwyn |last2=correspondent |first2=Gwyn Topham Transport |date=2023-11-24 |title=Cruise firm Carnival UK withdraws threat to fire and rehire more than 900 staff |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/24/cruise-firm-carnival-uk-withdraws-threat-to-fire-and-rehire-more-than-900-staff |access-date=2023-11-25 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>


==Golden Cockerel==
==Golden Cockerel==
Line 69: Line 82:


==Fleet==
==Fleet==

===Current fleet===
===Current fleet===
{| class="wikitable sortable "
{| class="wikitable sortable "
Line 79: Line 93:
| {{MV|Arcadia|2004|2}} || align="Center" |2005 || align="Center" | [[Fincantieri]] || align="Center" | 2005 ||align="Center" | <span style="display:none">05</span> 84,342 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} || || [[File:Arcadia departing Tallinn Port of Tallinn 27 June 2017.jpg|Arcadia departing Tallinn Port of Tallinn 27 June 2017|200px]]
| {{MV|Arcadia|2004|2}} || align="Center" |2005 || align="Center" | [[Fincantieri]] || align="Center" | 2005 ||align="Center" | <span style="display:none">05</span> 84,342 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} || || [[File:Arcadia departing Tallinn Port of Tallinn 27 June 2017.jpg|Arcadia departing Tallinn Port of Tallinn 27 June 2017|200px]]
|-
|-
| ''[[MV Ventura|Ventura]]''|| align="Center" |2008 ||align="Center" | [[Fincantieri]] || align="Center" | 2008|| align="Center" | <span style="display:none">07</span> 116,017 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} || || [[File:Ventura at Funchal 2 2016 (cropped).JPG|200px]]
| ''[[MV Ventura|Ventura]]''|| align="Center" |2008 ||align="Center" | Fincantieri || align="Center" | 2008|| align="Center" | <span style="display:none">07</span> 116,017 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} || || [[File:Ventura at Funchal 2 2016 (cropped).JPG|200px]]
|-
|-
| ''{{MS|Azura||2}}'' || align="Center" |2010 || align="Center" | [[Fincantieri]] ||align="Center" | 2010|| align="Center" | <span style="display:none">06</span> 115,055 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} || || [[File:9424883 Azura 2010.jpg|200px]]
| ''{{MS|Azura||2}}'' || align="Center" |2010 || align="Center" | Fincantieri ||align="Center" | 2010|| align="Center" | <span style="display:none">06</span> 115,055 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} || || [[File:9424883 Azura 2010.jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
| {{MV|Britannia|2015|2}} || align="Center" |2015 ||align="Center" | [[Fincantieri]] || align="Center" | 2015|| align="Center" | 143,730 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || || [[File:Britannia arrival-1.jpg|200px]]
| {{MV|Britannia|2015|2}} || align="Center" |2015 ||align="Center" | Fincantieri || align="Center" | 2015|| align="Center" | 143,730 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || || [[File:Britannia arrival-1.jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
| {{MS|Iona||2}} || align="Center" |2020 ||align="Center" | [[Meyer Werft]] || align="Center" | 2020|| align="Center" | 184,089 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || || [[File:IONA (49962467851).jpg|200px]]
| {{MS|Iona||2}} || align="Center" |2020 ||align="Center" | Meyer Werft || align="Center" | 2021|| align="Center" | 184,089 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||Joint largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market with Arvia<ref name="jointlargest">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises officially welcomes new ship Arvia to its fleet – a "symbol of optimism" for the future of the industry|url=https://www.carnivalcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/po-cruises-officially-welcomes-new-ship-arvia-its-fleet-symbol|publisher=Carnival Corporation & plc|date=15 December 2022|access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref> || [[File:P&O Iona, Cadiz Spain (52534525715).jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
| {{MS|Arvia||2}} || align="Center" |2022 ||align="Center" | [[Meyer Werft]] || align="Center" | 2022|| align="Center" | 185,206 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
| {{MS|Arvia||2}} || align="Center" |2022 ||align="Center" | Meyer Werft || align="Center" | 2022|| align="Center" | 185,581<ref>[https://classdirect.lr.org/assets/LRV45426 Lloyd's Register: Arvia]</ref> || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||Joint largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market with Iona<ref name="jointlargest"/> || [[File:MS Arvia.jpg|200px]]
|}
* Joint largest cruise ship ever built for P&O Cruises and the UK market<ref name="newship2022">{{cite web|title=P&O Orders New Ship for 2022 Delivery|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/18448-p-o-orders-new-ship-for-2022-delivery.html|publisher=Cruise Industry News|date=25 January 2018|access-date=1 July 2018}}</ref>
* Construction started on 22 February 2021<ref name="arviasteelcut">{{cite web|title=P&O Cruises Cuts Steel For New Cruise Ship, Arvia|url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/5903/|last=Coulter|first=Adam|publisher=Cruise Critic|date=22 February 2021|access-date=23 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.noz.de/lokales/papenburg/artikel/2459023/schwimmteil-fuer-kreuzfahrtschiff-verlaesst-meyer-werft-dock|title=Schwimmteil für Kreuzfahrtschiff verlässt Meyer-Werft-Dock|date=2021-10-25|accessdate=2021-10-25|language=german}}</ref>
* Originally planned for the first half of 2022,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.meyerwerft.de/de/image_press/mw_navigator_07_rz_web_ds.pdf|title=Building Overview MEYER Group|access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref> but delayed to December 2022 as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23332-p-o-updates-newbuild-delivery-schedule.html|title=P&O Updates Newbuild Delivery Schedule|date=4 August 2020|access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
* Entered service on 23 December 2022]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kemble |first1=Harry |title=P&O Cruises boss insists ‘vast majority’ enjoyed Arvia debut |url=https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tour-operators/po-cruises-boss-insists-vast-majority-enjoyed-arvia-debut |website=Travel Weekly |publisher=Travel Weekly |access-date=16 January 2023}}</ref>
* The naming ceremony will take place off the island of Barbados on 16 March 2023<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clifton |first1=Paul |title=Southampton-based cruise ship Arvia set for Barbados naming |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-63869928 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC News |access-date=15 January 2023}}</ref>


===Previous fleet===
===Former fleet===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Ship || Built|| Builder || In service || [[Gross tonnage]] || Flag || Notes || Image
! Ship || Built|| Builder || In service || [[Gross tonnage]] || Flag || Notes || Image
|-
|-
| {{SS|Arcadia|1953|2}} || align="Center" |1954 || align="Center" |[[John Brown & Company]] || align="center" |1977–1979 || align="center" | 29,734 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
| {{SS|Arcadia|1953|2}} || align="Center" |1954 || align="Center" |[[John Brown & Company]] || align="center" |1977–1979 || align="center" | 29,734 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
* ''Arcadia'' for [[P&O (company)|P&O]] from 1954 to 1977
* ''Arcadia'' for [[P&O]] from 1954 to 1977
* [[Ship breaking|Scrapped]] in 1979
* [[Ship breaking|Scrapped]] in 1979
|| [[File:P&O ship SS Arcadia docked in Vancouver in 1974.jpg|200px]]
|| [[File:P&O ship SS Arcadia docked in Vancouver in 1974.jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
| {{SS|Uganda|1952|2}} || align="Center" |1952 || align="Center" |[[Barclay Curle]] || align="center" |1977–1983 || align="center" | 14,430 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
| {{SS|Uganda|1952|2}} || align="Center" |1952 || align="Center" |[[Barclay Curle]] || align="center" |1977–1983 || align="center" | 14,430 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
* ''Uganda'' for the [[British India Steam Navigation Company]] from 1952 to 1972, [[P&O (company)|P&O]] from 1972 to 1977, and the [[Royal Navy]] from 1983 to 1985
* ''Uganda'' for the [[British India Steam Navigation Company]] from 1952 to 1972, P&O from 1972 to 1977, and the [[Royal Navy]] from 1983 to 1985
* Scrapped in 1992
* Scrapped in 1992
|| [[File:SS Uganda Helsinki Harbour 1980s.jpg|200px]]
|| [[File:SS Uganda Helsinki Harbour 1980s.jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
| {{SS|Oriana|1959|2}} || align="Center" |1960 || align="Center" |[[Vickers-Armstrong]] || align="center" |1977–1986 || align="center" | 41,910 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
| {{SS|Oriana|1959|2}} || align="Center" |1960 || align="Center" |[[Vickers-Armstrong]] || align="center" |1977–1986 || align="center" | 41,910 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
* ''Oriana'' for [[P&O (company)|P&O]] from 1960 to 1977
* ''Oriana'' for P&O from 1960 to 1977
* Floating hotel and museum from 1986 to 2004
* Floating hotel and museum from 1986 to 2004
* [[Capsizing|Capsized]] in 2004 and scrapped in 2005
* [[Capsizing|Capsized]] in 2004 and scrapped in 2005
Line 116: Line 126:
|-
|-
| {{SS|Canberra||2}} || align="Center" |1961 || align="Center" |[[Harland and Wolff]] || align="center" |1977–1997 || align="center" | 49,073 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
| {{SS|Canberra||2}} || align="Center" |1961 || align="Center" |[[Harland and Wolff]] || align="center" |1977–1997 || align="center" | 49,073 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
* ''Canberra'' for [[P&O (company)|P&O]] from 1961 to 1977
* ''Canberra'' for P&O from 1961 to 1977
* Scrapped in 1997
* Scrapped in 1997
* Held the Golden Cockerel trophy from 1986 to 1997<ref name="canberrauk"/>
* Held the Golden Cockerel trophy from 1986 to 1997<ref name="canberrauk"/>
|| [[File:03-Ponta Delgada 1984.jpg|200px]]
|| [[File:03-Ponta Delgada 1984.jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
| [[MV Kungsholm (1965)|''Sea Princess''<br />/''Victoria'']] || align="Center" |1965 || align="Center" |[[John Brown & Company]] || align="center" | 1979–1986 (as ''Sea Princess''),<br>1995–2002 (as ''Victoria'') || align="center" | 27,670 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
| [[MV Kungsholm (1965)|''Sea Princess''<br />/''Victoria'']] || align="Center" |1965 || align="Center" | John Brown & Company || align="center" | 1979–1986 (as ''Sea Princess''),<br>1995–2002 (as ''Victoria'') || align="center" | 27,670 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
*''Kungsholm'' for [[Swedish America Line]] from 1966 to 1975 and Flagship Cruises from 1975 to 1978
*''Kungsholm'' for [[Swedish America Line]] from 1966 to 1975 and Flagship Cruises from 1975 to 1978
* ''Sea Princess'' for [[Princess Cruises]] from 1986 to 1995
* ''Sea Princess'' for [[Princess Cruises]] from 1986 to 1995
Line 131: Line 141:
|-
|-
| [[MV Columbus|''Arcadia'']] || align="Center" |1988 || align="Center" |[[Chantiers de l'Atlantique]] || align="center"|1997–2003 || align="center"| 63,500 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
| [[MV Columbus|''Arcadia'']] || align="Center" |1988 || align="Center" |[[Chantiers de l'Atlantique]] || align="center"|1997–2003 || align="center"| 63,500 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
* ''Star Princess'' for [[Princess Cruises]] from 1989 to 1997
* ''Star Princess'' for Princess Cruises from 1989 to 1997
* ''Ocean Village'' for [[Ocean Village (company)|Ocean Village]] from 2003 to 2010
* ''Ocean Village'' for [[Ocean Village (company)|Ocean Village]] from 2003 to 2010
* ''Pacific Pearl'' for [[P&O Cruises Australia]] from 2010 to 2017
* ''Pacific Pearl'' for [[P&O Cruises Australia]] from 2010 to 2017
Line 138: Line 148:
|| [[File:Arcadia Station Pier (cropped).jpg|200px]]
|| [[File:Arcadia Station Pier (cropped).jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
| [[MS Charming|''Adonia'']] || align="Center" |1998 || align="Center" |[[Fincantieri]] || align="center" |2003–2005 || align="center" | 77,499 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
| [[MS Charming|''Adonia'']] || align="Center" |1998 || align="Center" | Fincantieri || align="center" |2003–2005 || align="center" | 77,499 || align="Center" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} ||
* ''Sea Princess'' for [[Princess Cruises]] from 1998 to 2003 and 2005 to 2020
* ''Sea Princess'' for Princess Cruises from 1998 to 2003 and 2005 to 2020
* ''Charming'' for Foresee Cruises since 2020<ref name="foresee">{{cite web|title=New hull art added to the former Sea Princess by the new operator Foresee Cruises|url=https://crew-center.com/new-hull-art-added-former-sea-princess-new-operator-foresee-cruises|publisher=Crew Center|date=2 February 2021|access-date=17 February 2021}}</ref>
* ''Charming'' for Foresee Cruises since 2020<ref name="foresee">{{cite web|title=New hull art added to the former Sea Princess by the new operator Foresee Cruises|url=https://crew-center.com/new-hull-art-added-former-sea-princess-new-operator-foresee-cruises|publisher=Crew Center|date=2 February 2021|access-date=17 February 2021}}</ref>
|| [[File:P&O Adonia now Sea Princess (recropped).jpg|200px]]
|| [[File:P&O Adonia now Sea Princess (recropped).jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
| [[MV Artania|''Artemis'']] || align="Center" |1984 || align="Center" |[[Wärtsilä]] || align="center"|2005–2011 || align="center"|44,348 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} ||
| [[MV Artania|''Artemis'']] || align="Center" |1984 || align="Center" |[[Wärtsilä]] || align="center"|2005–2011 || align="center"|44,348 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} ||
* ''Royal Princess'' for [[Princess Cruises]] from 1984 to 2005
* ''Royal Princess'' for Princess Cruises from 1984 to 2005
* ''Artania'' for [[Phoenix Reisen]] since 2011
* ''Artania'' for [[Phoenix Reisen]] since 2011
|| [[File:Cruiseship Artemis near Vlaardingen NL.jpg|200px]]
|| [[File:Cruiseship Artemis near Vlaardingen NL.jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
| [[Azamara Pursuit|''Adonia'']]|| align="Center" |2001 || align="Center" |[[Chantiers de l'Atlantique]] || align="center"| 2011–2016,<br>2017–2018 || align="center"| 30,277 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} ||
| [[Azamara Pursuit|''Adonia'']]|| align="Center" |2001 || align="Center" | Chantiers de l'Atlantique || align="center"| 2011–2016,<br>2017–2018 || align="center"| 30,277 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} ||
* ''R Eight'' for [[Renaissance Cruises]] from 2001 to 2003
* ''R Eight'' for [[Renaissance Cruises]] from 2001 to 2003
* ''Minerva II'' for [[Swan Hellenic]] from 2003 to 2007
* ''Minerva II'' for [[Swan Hellenic]] from 2003 to 2007
* ''Royal Princess'' for [[Princess Cruises]] from 2007 to 2011
* ''Royal Princess'' for Princess Cruises from 2007 to 2011
* ''Adonia'' for [[Fathom (cruise line)|Fathom]] from 2016 to 2017
* ''Adonia'' for [[Fathom (cruise line)|Fathom]] from 2016 to 2017
* ''Azamara Pursuit'' for [[Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.#Azamara Club Cruises|Azamara Club Cruises]] since 2018
* ''Azamara Pursuit'' for [[Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.#Azamara Club Cruises|Azamara Club Cruises]] since 2018
|| [[File:MV Adonia departing Southampton.jpg|200px]]
|| [[File:MV Adonia departing Southampton.jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
| [[MV Piano Land|''Oriana'']] || align="Center" |1995 || align="Center" |[[Meyer Werft]] || align="Center" | 1995–2019 || align="Center" | 69,153 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} ||
| [[MV Piano Land|''Oriana'']] || align="Center" |1995 || align="Center" | Meyer Werft || align="Center" | 1995–2019 || align="Center" | 69,153 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} ||
* ''Piano Land'' for Astro Ocean since 2019<ref name="astroocean">{{cite web|title=Astro Ocean Takes Over Piano Land as Ship Sails for China|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21397-astro-ocean-takes-over-piano-land-as-ship-sails-for-china.html|publisher=Cruise Industry News|date=17 August 2019|access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref>
* ''Piano Land'' for Astro Ocean since 2019<ref name="astroocean">{{cite web|title=Astro Ocean Takes Over Piano Land as Ship Sails for China|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21397-astro-ocean-takes-over-piano-land-as-ship-sails-for-china.html|publisher=Cruise Industry News|date=17 August 2019|access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref>
* Held the Golden Cockerel trophy from 1997 to 2019<ref name="orianacockerel"/>
* Held the Golden Cockerel trophy from 1997 to 2019<ref name="orianacockerel"/>
||[[File:Oriana (2).jpg|200px]]
||[[File:Oriana (2).jpg|200px]]
|-
|-
| [[MV Queen of the Oceans|''Oceana'']] || align="Center" |2000 || align="Center" |[[Fincantieri]] || align="Center" |2002–2020 || align="Center" | 77,499 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} ||
| [[MV Queen of the Oceans|''Oceana'']] || align="Center" |2000 || align="Center" | Fincantieri || align="Center" |2002–2020 || align="Center" | 77,499 || align="Center" |{{flag|Bermuda|civil}} ||
* ''Ocean Princess'' for [[Princess Cruises]] from 2000 to 2002
* ''Ocean Princess'' for Princess Cruises from 2000 to 2002
* ''Queen of the Oceans'' for [[Seajets]] since 2020<ref name="seajets">{{cite web|title=P&O's Former Oceana Acquired By Greek Ferry Operator|url=https://www.cruisecapital.co.uk/oceana-acquired-by-greek-ferry-operator/|last=Bailey|first=Jordan|publisher=Cruise Capital|date=22 July 2020|access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref>
* ''Queen of the Oceans'' for Seajets since 2020<ref name="seajets">{{cite web|title=P&O's Former Oceana Acquired By Greek Ferry Operator|url=https://www.cruisecapital.co.uk/oceana-acquired-by-greek-ferry-operator/|last=Bailey|first=Jordan|publisher=Cruise Capital|date=22 July 2020|access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref>
|| [[File:MV Oceana entering Charleston harbor. (32498102711) (cropped) (cropped).jpg|200px]]
|| [[File:MV Oceana entering Charleston harbor. (32498102711) (cropped) (cropped).jpg|200px]]
|-
|-

Latest revision as of 04:13, 7 October 2024

This article is about the British cruise line. For the Australian cruise line, see P&O Cruises Australia. For the separately-owned ferry line, see P&O Ferries.

P&O Cruises
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryHospitality and transportation
PredecessorP&O
Founded1977 (1977)[1]
HeadquartersSouthampton, England, UK
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
  • Paul Ludlow (President, P&O Cruises)
  • Paul Ludlow (President, Carnival UK)
ProductsCruises
Revenue$467 million (2021)[2]
ParentCarnival Corporation & plc
Websitewww.pocruises.com
Footnotes / references

P&O House Flag

P&O Cruises is a British cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton, England, operated by Carnival UK and owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. It was originally a subsidiary of the freight transport company P&O and was founded in 1977.[1] Along with P&O Cruises Australia, another former subsidiary of P&O, it has the oldest heritage of any cruise line in the world, dating to P&O's first passenger operations in 1837.[3][4][5]

P&O Cruises was divested from P&O in 2000, subsequently becoming a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises,[6] before coming under its current ownership in 2003, following a merger between P&O Princess Cruises and Carnival Corporation (the combined company now operates as Carnival Corporation & plc).[7]

History

[edit]

Origins

[edit]
Main article: P&O

In 1834, Brodie McGhie Willcox, a ship broker from London, and Arthur Anderson, a sailor from the Shetland Islands, formed an association with Captain Richard Bourne, a steamship owner from Dublin.[8] In 1837, the trio won a contract and began transporting mail and passengers from England to the Iberian Peninsula, founding the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company.[9][5] In 1840, the company merged with the Transatlantic Steam Ship Company and expanded their operations to the Orient, becoming the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O).[10] In 1844, P&O expanded its passenger operations from transportation to include leisure cruising, operating sailings from England to the Mediterranean that were the first of their kind.[5] By the mid-1900s, passenger shipping for the purposes of transportation was threatened by the increasing affordability of air travel.[11] Consequently, in the 1970s, P&O dedicated its passenger operations entirely to leisure cruising and, in 1977, relisted its passenger ships under the new subsidiary P&O Cruises.[1]

1977–1995: early years

[edit]
Canberra of 1961 in Ponta Delgada, Azores in 1984

Initially, P&O Cruises operated Oriana and Canberra from Southampton, serving the UK market,[12][13] and Arcadia from Sydney, serving the Australian market,[14] while Uganda operated educational cruises.[15] All of these ships had previously operated for P&O and had been transferred to the new subsidiary. There were several changes over the following years. In 1979, Arcadia departed the Australian fleet[14] and was replaced by Sea Princess, which was formerly Kungsholm for Flagship Cruises.[16] In 1981, Oriana relocated to serve the Australian market,[12] and in 1982, Sea Princess relocated to serve the UK market.[16] The same year, both Canberra and Uganda were requisitioned to assist in the Falklands War, with the former becoming a troopship and the latter a hospital ship.[17][18]

More ships departed the fleet in the following years; Uganda in 1983,[18] Oriana in March 1986[19] and Sea Princess in November 1986.[16] With only Canberra remaining, serving the UK market,[4] P&O diverged its Australian operations from its UK operations in 1988, acquiring Sitmar Cruises, which already operated a ship in Australia.[12] This ultimately led to the formation of P&O Cruises Australia, which would oversee Australian operations, while P&O Cruises focused on UK operations.[3]

1995–2008: first newbuilds and changes of ownership

[edit]
Oriana of 1995 at Las Palmas, Gran Canaria in 2003

In the 1990s, P&O Cruises commissioned its first newbuild, the second Oriana, which entered service in April 1995.[20] Unlike the older ocean liners the company had inherited from P&O, which had originally been designed to transport passengers from one place to another, the new Oriana was a cruise ship, built purely for pleasure cruising. At 69,153 gross tons, she was one of the largest cruise ships in the world.[21] Sea Princess also returned to the fleet in 1995, now renamed Victoria.[16] Canberra departed the fleet in 1997 and was replaced the same year by a second Arcadia, formerly Star Princess for Princess Cruises.[13] In 2000, Aurora, another newbuild of similar design to Oriana, entered service,[22] although she suffered a disappointing start when she was forced to abandon her maiden voyage due to mechanical problems.[22]

The ownership of P&O Cruises changed twice in the early 2000s. In 2000, P&O divested its cruise operations and transferred them to the new independent company P&O Princess Cruises,[6] and in 2003, P&O Princess Cruises merged with Carnival Corporation to form Carnival Corporation & plc.[7]

Fleet rotations continued. Victoria departed for the final time in 2002,[16] Oceana, formerly Ocean Princess for Princess Cruises, joined the same year[23] and Arcadia departed in 2003.[24] Adonia, formerly Sea Princess and a sister to Oceana, replaced Arcadia the same year,[25] before being replaced by a newbuild Arcadia in 2005.[25] The new Arcadia had originally been intended for Holland America Line and later Cunard Line, but was allocated to P&O Cruises by Carnival during construction.[26][27] Arcadia was joined by Artemis, formerly Royal Princess for Princess Cruises.[28]

2008–present: expansion and modernisation

[edit]
Britannia of 2015 in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 2019, bearing the company's post-2014 livery

The fleet expanded and modernised with the addition of the 116,017-ton newbuild Ventura in 2008[29] and her sister Azura in 2010.[30] Artemis also departed the fleet in 2011[31] and was replaced by a second Adonia, which like Artemis had formerly been Royal Princess for Princess Cruises.[32]

In 2012, P&O Cruises celebrated the 175th anniversary of the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company by staging a 'Grand Event', in which the entire fleet was assembled in Southampton.[33]

The company's modernisation continued with the introduction of a new livery in 2014 based on the Union Jack, to emphasise its British heritage,[34] and the arrival of the 143,730-ton newbuild Britannia in 2015.[35] More departures followed; Adonia transferred to Carnival's new Fathom brand between 2016 and 2017,[36][37] before departing permanently in 2018,[38] and Oriana, the company's first newbuild, departed in 2019.[39]

In March 2020, P&O Cruises joined every cruise line worldwide in suspending passenger operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[40][41] This led to the departure of Oceana in July 2020, as Carnival sold older ships across its fleets in order to increase liquidity.[42] Operations would not resume until fifteen months later, in June 2021.[43]

The company continued to expand with the addition of the 184,089-ton newbuild Iona in 2020,[44] although her maiden voyage was delayed until the following year by the pandemic,[45][46] and her sister Arvia in 2022.[47] These became the first ships built for the British market to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), rather than fuel oil, in an effort to make them more environmentally friendly.[48][49]

In March 2022, P&O Cruises suffered a public backlash following a mass firing of staff by P&O Ferries, another former subsidiary of P&O.[50] They subsequently embarked on an advertising campaign in national newspapers and on social media to clarify their separate ownership.[50]

Controversies

[edit]

On 23 November 2023, it was reported that P&O Cruises, alongside Cunard, has taken steps to implement a "fire and rehire" strategy for over 900 crew members based in the UK, if staff did not accept new terms of salary reductions and the adoption of new working conditions.[51] Carnival UK had notified the authorities that it was considering redundancies, by submitting a Form HR1 to the UK government’s Insolvency Service, just a day after starting talks with the union over reducing workers' hours and pay.[52] The union representing the workers at P&O, Nautilus International, criticised Carnival UK saying the move suggested that Carnival "never had any intention of 'meaningful negotiation'".[53] A day later Carnival UK rescinded the HR1 form and the threat of the use of a "fire and rehire" strategy following urgent talks with Nautilus, saying both parties were “committed to engaging in meaningful consultation”.[54]

Golden Cockerel

[edit]

P&O Cruises awards the company's Golden Cockerel trophy to the fastest ship in its fleet.[13] The trophy is currently held by Aurora, which achieved a speed of 25.7 knots in April 2019.[55] It was previously held by the first Oriana until her retirement in 1986,[13] Canberra until her retirement in 1997,[13] and the second Oriana until her retirement in 2019.[56]

Fleet

[edit]

Current fleet

[edit]
Ship Built Builder Entered service Gross tonnage Flag[57] Notes Image
Aurora 2000 Meyer Werft 2000 03 76,152  Bermuda

Has held the Golden Cockerel trophy since 2019[55]

Arcadia 2005 Fincantieri 2005 05 84,342  Bermuda Arcadia departing Tallinn Port of Tallinn 27 June 2017
Ventura 2008 Fincantieri 2008 07 116,017  Bermuda
Azura 2010 Fincantieri 2010 06 115,055  Bermuda
Britannia 2015 Fincantieri 2015 143,730  United Kingdom
Iona 2020 Meyer Werft 2021 184,089  United Kingdom Joint largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market with Arvia[58]
Arvia 2022 Meyer Werft 2022 185,581[59]  United Kingdom Joint largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market with Iona[58]

Former fleet

[edit]
Ship Built Builder In service Gross tonnage Flag Notes Image
Arcadia 1954 John Brown & Company 1977–1979 29,734  United Kingdom
Uganda 1952 Barclay Curle 1977–1983 14,430  United Kingdom
Oriana 1960 Vickers-Armstrong 1977–1986 41,910  United Kingdom
  • Oriana for P&O from 1960 to 1977
  • Floating hotel and museum from 1986 to 2004
  • Capsized in 2004 and scrapped in 2005
  • Held the Golden Cockerel trophy until 1986[13]
Canberra 1961 Harland and Wolff 1977–1997 49,073  United Kingdom
  • Canberra for P&O from 1961 to 1977
  • Scrapped in 1997
  • Held the Golden Cockerel trophy from 1986 to 1997[13]
Sea Princess
/Victoria		 1965 John Brown & Company 1979–1986 (as Sea Princess),
1995–2002 (as Victoria)		 27,670  United Kingdom
Arcadia 1988 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 1997–2003 63,500  United Kingdom
Adonia 1998 Fincantieri 2003–2005 77,499  United Kingdom
  • Sea Princess for Princess Cruises from 1998 to 2003 and 2005 to 2020
  • Charming for Foresee Cruises since 2020[61]
Artemis 1984 Wärtsilä 2005–2011 44,348  Bermuda
  • Royal Princess for Princess Cruises from 1984 to 2005
  • Artania for Phoenix Reisen since 2011
Adonia 2001 Chantiers de l'Atlantique 2011–2016,
2017–2018		 30,277  Bermuda
Oriana 1995 Meyer Werft 1995–2019 69,153  Bermuda
  • Piano Land for Astro Ocean since 2019[62]
  • Held the Golden Cockerel trophy from 1997 to 2019[56]
Oceana 2000 Fincantieri 2002–2020 77,499  Bermuda
  • Ocean Princess for Princess Cruises from 2000 to 2002
  • Queen of the Oceans for Seajets since 2020[63]

References

[edit]
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