New era for P&O ships Adventure & Encounter under Carnival Cruise Line brand

Key changes have been revealed to P&O ships Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter ahead of merging into the Carnival Cruise Line brand from late March 2025.

In three months’ time the P&O Cruises Australia brand will cease to exist, ending an era spanning more than 90 years sailing in local waters.

The ships will sail as Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter from March 29 next year, from Sydney and Brisbane respectively, after a two-week wet dock in Singapore.

Carnival’s local spokesperson Kara Glamore tells me refurbishments to the two ships will combine familiar favourites and new “fun” elements, rather than major structural works.

“So the things that you knew and loved about the P&O ships — Byron Beach Club, the adventure park, the dining options like Luke’s Bar and Grill, Dragon Lady and Waterfront — all those are going to remain because they’re fan favourites, and we wanted to put more time and money into the soft touch enhancements that are going to bring that Carnival fun,” she says.

“So structurally, there’s not a lot, because, again, we don’t have a tonne of time, but we made sure to keep the most important things and add some of the great things that Carnival has in its franchise.”

Other popular P&O attractions Edge Adventure Park, which includes a zip-line and rock climbing wall, and theatre show Blanc de Blanc will also stay.

The new features for Adventure and Encounter include:

+ Carnival’s Fun Squad to host comedy shows, trivia, deck parties and games to create an energised atmosphere for all ages.

+ Turtles Kids Club a new childcare program for children under two, offering arts and crafts, storytime, dancing, and sensory play under the guidance of qualified childcare professionals.

+ Carnival favourites including Build-A-Bear workshops, the Conga for Kids line-dance party, 80s Rock and Glow nights.

+ Free pizza daily — unlimited slices served between 11am and 4pm.

Kara goes on to tell me the company’s intel pointed to similar customer profiles.

“They were similar in terms of the split of families and the split of couples, and then the split of just younger folks who like to travel in groups,’’ she says.

“I think their personalities were a little bit different, and Carnival was all about fun, and so we, we really wanted to lean into that fun . . . compared to another holiday a family would take, it’s incredible value that I think people are realising and we’re going to be trying to target more of those folks with that value mindset and with those that are really looking to maximise the output of their holiday.”

Carnival Adventure will sail year-round from Sydney with sister ship Carnival Splendor. Carnival Encounter will homeport in Brisbane year-round forming a seasonal partnership with Carnival Luminosa during the Australian summer season.

For Adventure and Encounter itineraries visit pocruises.com.au until March 2025; Splendor and Luminosa itineraries at carnival.com.au