When Irish-born singer Robbie Dolan boarded one of P&O’s traditional Melbourne Cup cruises in 2022, no one would have expected his sojourn would led to a Melbourne Cup win two years later.
While on board one of P&O’s regular themed cruises, the former The Voice contestant happened to have a chance encounter with Sheila Laxon, who ended up being to co-trainer for Melbourne Cup 2024 winner Knight’s Choice.
“She was there, and I thought ‘wow, it’s Sheila Laxon. I’d better grab a seflie,'” claims Dolan, who was the surprise winner of the Race that stops the Nation on Tuesday, November 5 at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
“Now, [two] years later, who’d have thought we’d win a Melbourne Cup together?”
It’s but one of many chance encounters that have made P&O’s themed cruises the stuff of legend in the Australian market over the past few years. Now, with P&O becoming part of sister Carnival Cruise Line in 2025, there has been speculation as to whether or not Aussies will be witnessing the death of themed cruises.
In March 2025, P&O’s Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter ships will transition to cruise under the Carnival banner, respectively becoming Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter.
But a reflag doesn’t necessarily mean Carnival Cruise Lines will abandon one of it’s sister’s defining features.
Next year, Carnival Adventure and Carnival Splendour will carry over 7000 guests to the Melbourne Cup, which is almost 10 per cent of the event’s total attendance. The race benefits heavily from having these emblematic themed cruises heading to Melbourne (usually from Brisbane) so fans of the cup need not worry about their themed fun going anywhere.
This year’s Melbourne Cup cruise on board Pacific Encounter was routinely sold out with a number of notable guests, including legendary two-time Melbourne Cup winner Peter Cook as well as other jockeys who’ve bested the competition before such as Jim “Pumper” Cassidy and Corey Brown.
“Looking ahead, P&O Cruises will continue to bring this level of talent and unique experiences to Melbourne Cup voyages under Carnival Cruise Line as Carnival Adventure, alongside Carnival Splendour in 2025 and 2026,” a representative for Carnival Cruise Line confirmed to Cruise Passenger.
Bookings are open now to these themed cruises, which hopefully means we can also look towards the continuation of P&O’s other successful themed cruises like the comedy cruise and 80s-themed interaries.
