- Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter are spending their last weekend at Melbourne’s Station Pier
- Work being done includes training crew, rehearsing shows, adding carpet, new Carnival logos and more.
- In a poll of more than 1000 P&O cruisers, they declared “prices” is what they’ll miss most.
Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter – or is it Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter now? – are moored side by side at Melbourne’s Station Pier as they undergo their final makeover and start a new life as part of the Carnival Cruises fleet.
But the biggest thing on the minds of fans of the former P&O Australia vessels is whether those “Fun-believable deals” being promised by Carnival will see big jumps from the P&O prices, as little as $399 for an Elivis Presley tribute Cruise just a short time ago.
A Facebook page dedicated to P&O cruises ran a survey on what cruisers will miss the most as the P&O brand waves goodbye. With more than 1000 participants voting, the top answer was unsurprising: ‘prices’ as #1.
So are prices on the rise? Only the first couple of months of cruises are listed on the Carnival website, and its possible that these cruises are already mostly booked out, thus driving up the prices, but the initial offerings are looking a bit more pricey.
Previous P&O Australia prices often started from about $88.5 a day for a short-break cruise, or $83 for a 10-day cruise. However, the prices on Adventure and Encounter’s first cruises are going up.
Nothing yet is available for less than $100 a day, with most cruises falling more in the $135 – $165 per day range. Hopefully for budget cruisers this number will drop as more and more cruises are released, and the offerings for future seasons become bookable.
But for now, this is already a concern for Aussie cruisers.
That said, it is worth mentioning, that the other budget line in Australia, Royal Caribbean, has also seen its prices shooting up lately, comfortably leaving Carnival as the cheapest option for Aussies looking to keep costs down on their cruise.
Furthermore, Carnival is generally considered to offer more amenities than P&O, with lots of free activities, the free pizza bar and more.
Right now Carnival is undertaking a range of activities, from adding Carnival logos around the ship to training stuff, with 96% of the P&O crew set to stay on with Carnival.
Furthermore, the team is installing HubApp compatibility onboard, adding new carpet across the ship and the cast of the onboard shows are hard at work, rehearsing for their premieres in just over a week’s time.
Finally, the ship is also getting some general maintenance and repairs, making sure its nice and ready for the thousands that will be getting onboard at the end of March.
What else will P&O cruises miss the most as the line moves on?
What else did P&O cruises express that they’ll miss as the last P&O ships turn to Carnival? There were a range of nostalgic answers as cruisers acknowledged the unfortunate end of P&O.
P&O’s shows and their Gatsby Night came in equal second place, each getting 10% of the vote.
P&O’s refreshment package came in fourth, with The Waterfront and The Blue Room coming in next. Although it should be noted, for at least until the ships drydock, The Waterfront will remain on Adventure and Encounter, it isn’t yet clear if the menu will remain the same.
Other answers like themed cruises, entertainment staff, ‘blanco night’, sail & sign cards and Melbourne departures also drew votes from reflecting cruisers.
Two Cheers for the Drinks packages
It has also been confirmed that the new Carnival ships will have the Carnival Cheers package, rather than the old P&O drinks packages. However, this hasn’t stopped some P&O tragics from being disappointed with the change.
It should also be noted that the price of packages already booked with P&O won’t be changed.
Debbie Warry Johnson said: “We love the refreshment pack. I was hoping Carnival would seriously consider keeping it. My husband doesn’t drink alcohol. I am dammed if I am paying $220 a day for two of us. Looks like we are paying as we go.”
However, other cruises are already saying they feel they get better value from the Carnival packages.
Stacey Bakey said: “I purchased the refreshments package for myself before the changeover and my partner is going to get his alcohol package and the kids cheers package from carnival, as it actually worked out better.”
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If Carnival claimed merger was about efficient operations then why are prices going up ? Seems counter to reasoning.
i have had one cruise with carnival last december over christmas . and it will be the last cruise iwill take on carnival entertainment was very poor no piano bars just a million kids running around will there parents where at the bar drinking . no paper menue in the resturant or wine list
Just reflecting on the reasons that were given by Carnival Corp. on the merger. My understanding that much was made about combining for greater efficiencies. If so logic follows that if a more efficient operation is now in order then costs should be controlled. Hence it is an oxymoron that on the one hand the merger was to streamline operations but simultaneously have essentially the same ships running at a higher cruise pricing. VERY ODD CORPORATE LOGIC INDEED. My understanding of economics tells me that economies of scale brings lower cost structures. So in theory the cost of cruising should have little or no pricing increases beyond inflationary impacts, but who am I to point out such folly ideas. Time will tell if the reasons given prove to be a misleading furphy.
Did 3 Comedy cruises from Melbourne (that is of course when ships cruised from here) and thoroughly enjoyed them all with P&O. The only boo from me and others was the big spectacular production show that had a note at the end of the blurb “$30 pp”. I flatly refused to go and so did countless others. Blew up in P&O’s face. No complaints re Explorer’s Dining Room, food and service both excellent. Happy memories indeed ☺
what’s so special about sydney! can get around by ferry or train.
the last 2 cruises were from Brisbane
had to pay $65. taxi to the port, on way
back via tunnel paid $80. with toll fee
brisy spread out could do with more rail.
I think we should all be grateful following the Covid 2 year “financial hit” on Cruise Lines, that we can all still enjoy cruising now.
If I look back over the past 35yrs in cruising, nothing stays the same.
Yes prices go up however we enjoy better amenities, food, service and entertainment.
Like in life we are experiencing a problem with “cost of living”
They don’t say that we are “the Lucky Country” for nothing
Let’s all chill and ENJOY!
It is sad that the much hyped move to be under carnival will actually bring a reduction in cruising options, a much poorer more expensive drinks package and the loss of the much loved and patronised theme cruises.
Then, just to sweeten the deal, they substancially increase prices.
Is this really the great deal that te billboards and promotions promised?
More difficult cruise ships for Brisbane. Why is Sydney so special. Queensland has just as much up here.
Strange that Carnival have dropped the themed cruises (Country, 80’s, 90’s etc) and are going to replace them with short break cruises. A 3 night themed cruise is in reality a short break but with the added fun of a theme,
We have sailed on a number of the themed cruises such as 80’s Country and Elvis, all of which were a fantastic way to spend a few days at sea along with great entertainment through the day and night.
It will be interesting to see if this change will result in the same level of interest as the themed cruises do.