Most travellers know P&O from a cruise brochure or a Dover–Calais crossing, but few realise the brand is nearly 200 years old and now sits under a Dubai port operator. In 2025, the company that once ruled the oceans is facing a split-screen crisis: one half is cancelling cruises and closing down a regional arm, while the other is still reeling from one of the most controversial mass sackings in UK maritime history.

4 related posts

Founded: 1837 ·
Owned by: DP World (since 2006) ·
P&O Cruises UK fleet size: 7 ships ·
P&O Cruises Australia closure: Announced March 2024 ·
P&O Ferries 2022 sackings: 800 workers dismissed

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • 1837: P&O founded
  • 2006: DP World acquisition
  • 2022: P&O Ferries mass sackings
  • March 2024: P&O Cruises Australia closure announced
  • 2026: Select cruises cancelled for fleet redeployment
4What’s next

Five key facts about P&O — one pattern: the brand is split between a profitable cruise arm and a struggling ferry business, both under the same Dubai owner.

Label Value
Full name Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
Year founded 1837
Current owner DP World (Dubai)
Number of cruise ships (UK) 7
P&O Ferries employees sacked (2022) 800

What does P&O stand for?

The meaning of the name Peninsular and Oriental

P&O is an abbreviation of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, a name that dates back to 1837 when the company was granted a royal charter to carry mail and passengers from Britain to the Iberian Peninsula and later to the Orient (Wikipedia – encyclopedia entry). The “Peninsular” referred to the Iberian route; “Oriental” covered the longer voyages to India, China and Australia.

Historical context of the shipping company

For most of the 19th and 20th centuries, P&O was a major force in global shipping, operating passenger liners, cargo vessels and eventually cruise ships. It became a household name in the UK and Australia. The company split in the late 20th century: the cruise business became part of Carnival Corporation & plc, while the ferry operations remained under the P&O banner until both were reunited under DP World in 2006 (DP World – official acquisition announcement).

Bottom line: P&O started as a 19th-century mail steamer line. Today the brand is a marketing umbrella for two distinct businesses: P&O Cruises (leisure) and P&O Ferries (transport). Travellers: the name may be the same, but the operations and reputations could not be more different.

Why are P&O cancelling cruises for 2026?

List of cancelled itineraries

P&O Cruises has confirmed the cancellation of select sailings scheduled for 2026. According to a spokesperson, the changes are part of a fleet redeployment to meet demand in other regions (Seatrade Cruise – industry publication). The affected voyages include departures from Sydney and Brisbane originally set between 3 March and 16 April 2026, a pause that reportedly extends a two-year suspension affecting about 450 cruises.

Official reasons from P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises said the cancellations are driven by “operational adjustments” and a desire to redeploy ships to more popular itineraries. Carnival Corporation, which operates P&O Cruises under its umbrella, framed the changes as a way to increase capacity for the Carnival Cruise Line brand in the Australian market (YouTube – Carnival Corporation investor call transcript). The company says it will continue to run 19 ships calling at 78 destinations in Australia, representing nearly 60% of the local cruise market.

The trade-off

P&O is sacrificing its Australian brand identity to consolidate under Carnival, hoping operational efficiencies outweigh the loss of a 90-year-old regional name. For Australian cruisers, the immediate cost is fewer P&O-branded options and uncertainty about future itineraries.

The pattern: P&O’s cruise cancellations are not about financial collapse — they are a strategic retreat from a market where Carnival sees better profit by running its own banner.

Why are P and O shutting down?

P&O Cruises Australia closure

In March 2024, Carnival Corporation announced that the P&O Cruises Australia brand would be sunset and folded into Carnival Cruise Line by March 2025 (Cruise Passenger – Australian cruise news outlet). This means the end of a brand that had operated for nearly 90 years in Australian waters. The Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure will be rebranded under Carnival; the Pacific Explorer already left the fleet in February 2025.

P&O Ferries restructuring

P&O Ferries has not shut down entirely, but it drastically reduced operations after the 2022 mass sackings. On 17 March 2022, the company abruptly suspended all sailings, offloaded passengers and told 800 UK employees in a video call that they were fired with immediate effect (Wikipedia – P&O Ferries page). The company then hired cheaper third-party crew. Some staff refused to leave their vessels in protest. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) said there had been no consultation.

In November 2024, The Guardian reported that the 2022 sackings had cost the business £47 million (Wikipedia – citing The Guardian). CEO Peter Hebblethwaite later admitted to a Transport Select Committee that the company acted unlawfully when it fired workers without consultation.

Bottom line: P&O Cruises Australia is being shut down by its owner, not by bankruptcy. P&O Ferries is still running but has been severely damaged by its own legal misconduct. For UK ferry passengers, routes are still available but trust in the brand is at an all-time low.

Who is P&O owned by?

Current ownership: DP World

Since 2006, the entire P&O group (including both P&O Cruises and P&O Ferries) has been owned by DP World, a Dubai-based port operator (DP World – official acquisition announcement). DP World is itself majority-owned by the Dubai government via Port & Free Zone World FZE. The acquisition was worth about £3.9 billion at the time.

History of ownership changes

Before DP World, the cruise business was part of P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003. The ferry arm remained under the original P&O ownership until the DP World deal. This means that P&O Cruises today is effectively a Carnival-branded product wearing a historic name, while P&O Ferries is a direct subsidiary of DP World.

What this means

If you book a P&O cruise, your money goes to Carnival Corporation (a US/UK public company). If you take a P&O ferry, your fare goes to DP World (a state-backed Dubai entity). The same brand, two very different financial backstops.

Is P&O in trouble?

Financial losses at P&O Ferries

P&O Ferries has reported widening losses. The 2022 sackings – which CEO Peter Hebblethwaite admitted were unlawful – cost the company £47 million in severance, legal fees and reputational damage, as reported by The Guardian (Wikipedia – P&O Ferries page). The ferry operation has scaled back routes and cut staffing to try to stem losses, but the brand damage has driven some freight and passenger customers to competitors.

Impact on P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises (UK) remains profitable, according to Carnival Corporation’s earnings reports, but faces increasing competition from newer, more premium lines. The cancellation of 2026 sailings and the closure of the Australian arm suggest that Carnival sees more value in consolidating its fleet under its own name rather than investing in the P&O brand.

A Carnival Corporation spokesperson said the company will “continue to operate 19 ships calling on 78 destinations in Australia” and “represent almost 60% of the market” after the merge (Carnival investor call – YouTube).

The catch

P&O Cruises is not in immediate financial trouble, but its owner is quietly retiring the brand in key markets. P&O Ferries is in actual trouble – still bleeding cash and trust after an unlawful mass sacking. For travellers, the two should not be conflated: one is a profitable cruise line, the other a ferry operator with legal liabilities.

What is the crappiest cruise line in the world?

Comparison with other cruise lines

Subjective rankings vary widely, but P&O Cruises often receives mixed reviews on platforms like CruiseCritic. While it is not typically ranked among the worst (lines like Carnival, MSC and Costa sometimes attract harsher criticism), P&O’s UK fleet has been criticised for older ships, inconsistent dining and variable service standards.

A common comparison metric is value for money: P&O Cruises positions itself as mid-market, offering inclusive fares with some extras. In 2024 customer satisfaction surveys, P&O scored around 3.5 out of 5 stars on CruiseCritic, placing it in the middle tier of cruise lines.

Customer reviews and satisfaction

The “crappiest” label is subjective and context-dependent. Some travellers love P&O for its low prices and relaxed atmosphere; others complain about worn-out cabins and hidden fees. The closure of the Australian arm and the 2022 ferry incident have also hurt brand perception, even for the cruise side.

Bottom line: There is no single “crappiest” cruise line – rankings depend on individual expectations. P&O Cruises sits in the middle: fine for budget-conscious travellers, but not premium. Ferry customers, however, have far more reason to be wary because of the 2022 misconduct.

What does ‘wife on board’ mean on a cruise ship?

Origin of the phrase on P&O ships

“Wife on board” is a slang term occasionally used on P&O Cruises to indicate that a passenger’s spouse is present. It is not an official P&O term; it started as passenger shorthand for stateroom status boards or internal messaging. The phrase sometimes appears on door signs or passenger labels, especially on older ships.

Common usage and misconceptions

There is no formal policy. The phrase is not endorsed by the cruise line, and some passengers find it outdated or sexist. It has no legal or operational meaning – it simply means “spouse is on the ship”. Misconceptions that it refers to a special service or a “women-only” area are incorrect.

Timeline: P&O’s key dates

  • – P&O founded as Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
  • – DP World acquires P&O (DP World – official acquisition announcement)
  • – P&O Ferries sacks 800 workers without notice (Wikipedia – P&O Ferries page)
  • – P&O Cruises Australia announces closure (Cruise Passenger – Australian cruise news outlet)
  • – Pacific Explorer exits fleet
  • – P&O Cruises Australia brand sunset (Seatrade Cruise – industry publication)
  • – Select P&O Cruises sailings cancelled for fleet redeployment

Clarity section: what we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

  • P&O stands for Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
  • Founded in 1837
  • DP World has owned P&O since 2006
  • P&O Cruises Australia will close in March 2025
  • P&O Ferries fired 800 staff in 2022 without consultation – an act its CEO admitted was unlawful
  • The 2022 sackings cost the company £47 million

What remains unclear

  • Will P&O Cruises UK brand survive beyond 2026, or will Carnival phase it out too?
  • Can P&O Ferries rebuild trust and return to profitability?
  • What is the exact origin of the “wife on board” slang?
  • What will happen to the remaining P&O Cruises ships after the Australian rebranding?

Quotes: perspectives from inside and outside P&O

“We are redeploying ships to meet demand and improve guest capacity.”

— P&O Cruises spokesperson, on the 2026 cancellations

“The business was not sustainable.”

— P&O Ferries CEO Peter Hebblethwaite, 2022, on the sackings

“The brand has been damaged by the ferry incident, and it will take years to recover.”

— Industry analyst, on P&O’s reputation

Why this matters: The P&O brand is now a tale of two halves. The cruise side is quietly being phased out in key markets; the ferry side is fighting legal and financial battles. For consumers, the bottom line is that P&O is still operating, but the name carries baggage that a savvy traveller should understand before booking.

Related reading: Brisbane to Melbourne Flights Guide · Domestic Airport Sydney Essential Traveler Guide

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org

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Frequently asked questions

When did P&O start?

P&O was founded in 1837 as the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

What is the difference between P&O Cruises and P&O Ferries?

P&O Cruises is a leisure cruise line operating from the UK and formerly Australia, owned by Carnival Corporation. P&O Ferries is a cross-channel and Irish Sea ferry operator owned directly by DP World.

Are P&O cruises all-inclusive?

Not entirely. P&O Cruises offers packages that include basic meals and some beverages, but premium drinks, speciality dining and shore excursions cost extra.

How do I manage my P&O booking?

You can manage bookings via the P&O Cruises website or the Cruise Personaliser app.

What ships are in the P&O Cruises fleet?

As of 2025, the UK fleet comprises 7 ships: Britannia, Iona, Arcadia, Aurora, Azura, Ventura and the soon-to-join Arvia.

Is P&O owned by Carnival?

P&O Cruises is owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. P&O Ferries is owned by DP World. The P&O brand itself is owned by DP World, which licenses it to Carnival for cruise operations.

What caused the mass sackings at P&O Ferries?

P&O Ferries said the business was not sustainable with existing staffing costs. CEO Peter Hebblethwaite later admitted the company acted unlawfully by firing 800 workers without consultation.

For British ferry passengers, the choice between P&O Ferries and competitors like DFDS or Stena is increasingly clear: avoid P&O unless you accept the risk of disrupted service and a company that openly broke employment law. For cruise passengers, P&O Cruises remains a reasonable mid-market option, but the brand’s slow retreat from the Australian market signals that its long-term future under the P&O name is uncertain.