By Ryan Taibel, formerly Vice President Sales and Partnerships at Carnival Cruise Lines
- The Pacific Adventure is on her last cruise for P&O Australia before she and her sister ship Pacific Encounter are absorbed into the Carnival Cruise Lines fleet.
- Hundreds have been saddened by the loss of the only major Australian cruise brand.
- In this piece, Ryan Taibel, suggests it represents the “slow and steady Americanisation of Aussie culture”.
- Do you agree? Tell us in the comments below.
Last night, Pacific Adventure sailed out of Sydney for the last time, officially marking the end of P&O Cruises Australia’s 92-year legacy.
Having spent 14 years working for P&O, I can’t help but feel heartbroken. Sure, most cruisers won’t lose too much sleep – there’s no shortage of options now, with plenty of brands operating in our waters.
But for P&O’s thousands of loyalists – the ones who cruised multiple times a year – it’s a massive loss. And let’s not forget those of us who worked shoreside or onboard, plus the countless suppliers who kept the brand running behind the scenes.
Yet, this feels bigger than just the closure of a cruise line. When Carnival Corporation announced in June 2024 that P&O would be folded into Carnival Cruise Line, it felt like another chapter in a larger trend: the slow and steady Americanisation of Aussie culture.
A bit of context…
I grew up in the U.S. and moved to Australia in 2000. Here are just a few of my first impressions of Sydney in the early 2000s:
- Drinks trolleys were a thing. At Merrill Lynch, every Friday afternoon, a trolley full of booze would make the rounds. Good luck finding that in a corporate office today!
- Burgers were… confusing. Egg and beetroot on a burger infused with minced onion? Now, American-style burger joints dominate major cities and regional towns.
- The NFL was basically a rumour. I watched the 2001 Super Bowl alone in my apartment on SBS (the only way to watch it back then). Now, Super Bowl Monday is practically a public holiday, and in 2026, the NFL is coming to Melbourne for a regular-season game at the MCG.
So where does P&O fit into this?
Let’s be honest: P&O was never the best cruise line – it was the most Australian one. The food was hit or miss, the NPS scores were unpredictable, and yes, the toilets clogged more than they should have. But people kept coming back because the experience was distinct, authentic, unpolished, and undeniably Aussie.
Post-pandemic, the cruise market in Australia had shifted with brands like Virgin Voyages and Disney Cruises investing heavily in the Australian market, alongside entrenched, industry-leading brands such as Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean fighting it out for a bigger share of this market.
And just like with burgers, the NFL, and the disappearance of drink trolleys, Australians started embracing these international cruise brands over their homegrown one.
Yes, there were other business factors at play. But I don’t think the influence of Americanisation gets enough credit for pushing P&O to the brink.
What do you think?
Is this just the natural evolution of a mature cruise market, or is it part of a bigger cultural shift happening in Australia?
Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear them!
Related Posts
-
P&O Australia is to close and be merged into Carnival Cruise Line
-
There are billboards plastered across Sydney, celebrating the absolving of P&O Cruises into Carnival Australia’s…
P & O crew were like family. Carnival crew did not have the same warmth or Aussieism.
Have sailed on both & loved P & O for so many reasons but mainly for the fabulous crew.
Hope the crew from P & O that get to continue with Carnival don’t change & lose their uniqueness.
P& O will be missed by so many. It’s not stuck up cruising its Aussie cruising that they represented.
We’re sad to be losing P&O. I’ve enjoyed several cruises with P&O, as well as Cunard, and more recently Carnival. P&O staff were always efficient, friendly, and helpful and the cruises were excellent value for money with drink and data packages and great duty free offers. Thank you P&O, for the great cruises and fabulous times. We salute you !!!
Glad to see them go
They were a horrible cruise line
Of late no proper dining room with proper table service and street stall type food only
Yuk
Have cruised on multiple cruiselines and P&O were my least favourite. BUT I did sail 4 times over the years with them.
I also introduced cruising to quite a few people on a Christmas in July cruise in 2013 on the Pearl. We had the best time – all 14 cabins of us!
I will miss P&O….
Very sad and angry to see P&O go and why would anyone prefer Americanisation, it’s so loud and overpowering. Won’t be able to cruise anymore as it’s too expensive from Perth now. There are other states besides NSW and QLD.
Shaw Savill, CTC (Russian), Sitmar, P&O were the opening salvos of Cruising on the east coast of Australia. If you didn’t cruise on the Fairstar then you missed out on an Australian tradition. Oh the memories.
Cruised P& O many times since retiring, along with a few of the ‘upper market’ lines and always felt that I received value for my $$’s from P & O, also Xcellent service from very friendly staff @ all levels…(Hopefully none of these quality staff are unemployed!) as for the Americanisation factor’, I am confident the during Trumps term, Australia will become far less Americanised (thanx to the arrogance & actions of their new leader)!! MANY THANKS P&O FOR THE MANY FOND MEMORIES..
It will never be the same. Sailed on carnival in feb 2024 .seems to many americans on the splendour . Wasnt the same. We as australians loose every aussie companies. The stops arent even the same anymore .not enough choices.
Thanks p.o for my cruise in May 23 loved it .. great staff great food had the best time .. can’t wait for my next cruise in may 26 …
You know they might change the paint, put a few new activities on board and dress a bit different BUT if the ships retain their existing crew then the PO vibe will remain strong.
To be frank, P&O ships aren’t on my list of ones I’d like to cruise on. One would hope that Carnival might be able to change that. The other big problem is the comparatively high berthing charges, particularly in Sydney which has already lost Cunard and Virgin home berthing.
Americanisation definitely. I was a £10 Pom and came to Australia in 1969. I have sometimes said in the last few years that I didn’t pay to go to America. Australia is losing it’s language and identity. We’re definitely not the same as we were. Could someone please tell Carnival where Adelaide is? That would be much appreciated! Not holding my breath though!
As a person who loved to cruise, sadly as I live in Perth, Western Australia and Carnival home port in only Brisbane and Sydney my cruising days are over as the cost to fly across Australia is now over $1000 plus overnight accommodation as limited flights mean I must leave a day before the cruise. Also they are going totally American with 3 and 4 day cruises with a few odd 7 days. Not worth the bother. No cruise ships home port Fremantle like P& O used to for a couple of months in March/April.
I have been in on P&O the staff was excellent food and entertainment was good great customer service that’s what all you need
I am certainly against Americanisation but let’s be real here. P & O has long aimed for the lowest common denominator in cruising. We do have Aussie culture that extends a bit above yobboism.
We are long time Cruiser’s
And hope to continue this wonderful way of holidaying
Our only puzzled and sad observation is “No cruise lines departing from and returning to Adelaide
Ww have so much to offer in South Australia
The short 4 to 6 day cruises were popular with all ages
Flying interstate to board a ship makes the cruises more expensive and out of reach for those with limited time and money
We organised a 4 day cruise for 27 of our family which suited those who work
I have told many people who have never cruised about these short easy cruises and they were wanting to go
BUT now can’t
Please Carnival or any Cruise line COME BACK TO ADELAIDE
The cruise industry is also doing its cruisers a disservice by not doing any out of Melbourne . It’s very expensive to fly interstate and pay accommodations . Port charges are the excuse but after paying $50 pp to call into Bali it pales with insignificance
I have travelled with P&O many times over my 92 years.
Yes I am sad to realise how fast we are becoming “ Americanised”. We have been asleep too long.
Sad to see P&O gone. I agree it wasn’t the best cruise line especially after it “fell” under the Carnival umbrella and the ploy of using tarted-up rust bucket cast-offs from other Carnival lines added to the demise (Aria and Eden screaming examples). The whole booking process was a minefield especially for a solo passenger. It was like they didn’t want us onboard, even with the single supplement.
I managed a 4 night trans-Tasman on Explorer a few months ago mostly for the chance to travel on the former Dawn Princess.
That class/size of ship was perfect really. Explorer then was not a patch on what it had been. I gave P&O 3 out of 10 for that short trip.
The new monster ships we now have suit plenty I’m sure but I’ve tried a couple and never again.
I agree wholeheartedly. I get really annoyed when Americans think our ideas, food & inventions are second rate. Now they have a second rate leader, Australia should look to how great Australia is
It’s sad to see P&O go from Australia, even though it’s gone to carnival, I went on P&O explorer for my very first cruise from Fremantle to Exmouth in 2024
then fell in love with cruising, in February 2025 I sailed again from Fremantle to Exmouth before she finally left for Asia’ where she continues on as a floating casino the newly named “Star Voyager,” I am saddened to see the end of P&O in Australia, because for myself and many many other people for medical reasons or other reasons , they can’t fly, so does that mean the end of cruising for us? because as far as I know there’s not many ships Now that will come and sail locally, where you don’t have to fly over to wherever the ship is and fly back. That’s now not an option for so many people now.
So for those people now P&O closing down and leaving is sad because lots of people loved cruising, it was the one holiday they could go on that didn’t cost the earth because they didn’t have to include flights Ect, and for many people on low incomes being able to pay off there holiday with EziPay made it so they also could afford something special now and then.
Now that’s not an option anymore.
I think it would have been amazing if Australia had a cruise ship that toured its own country.
It seems as always things continue on in the eastern states but for those of us in Western Australia unless Fremantle is included again we’re cruises leave our shores and return to Fremantle for so many thousands of West Australians cruising is now not an option. Very sad to see
P&O become a thing of the past. Like so many other Aussie Icons closing there doors and ending another Era we are slowly losing It seems so much of what was Truly Australian.
Not happy. 92 years of experience then the powers of Carnival think they want to own P & O. So wrong. I worked in shipping for many many years and saw all the P &O sail in and out of Sydney..
So sad..
I share your thoughts very sad to see the P&O brand disappear I’m old but worked at P&Os Sydney office in Hunter Street married a fellow P&Oer the rest is history. Many Australians can trace their history back to a P&O ship in my opinion Carnival have made the wrong decision. I was on Queen Anne 2 weeks ago when she made her maiden call nothing like maritime history.
I agree it’s a big loss to Australia, having cruised on SEVERAL P@O cruises and enjoyed everyone.
Loved P&O. We have sailed on RCI and Princess, as well as P&O. We have sailed more cruises on P&O, on P&O Oriana in 1985, Pacific Jewel twice. Loved the introduction of the Edge activities on our second cruise on the Jewel. Lets hope Carnival Cruises Australia keep thevEdge activities. We have also been on Pacific Explorer a couple of times. First cruise out of Adelaide after Covid. We found the entertainment way better on P&O than on RCI.
Take me Away P&O,
Will miss the brand, sailed
4 times .
Gone like Holden.
Just leave us alone America. @#&**(())
I have done a few P&O cruises they actually started my love of cruising and I am very sad to see them go. I never had a bad experience and yes they were a little bit of Aussie coming on holidays with you, sadly we have become very americanized in most of our day to day life here but with few options now but to travel on a US ship it becomes a very expensive trip with the poor $$ exchange.