As P&O Cruises Australia’s shutdown gets closer, Cruise Industry News looks at the fate of the company’s three ships.

Pacific Encounter
Capacity: 2,600 guests
Tonnage: 109,000
Year built: 2002
Fate: To be transferred to Carnival Cruise Line
Date: March 2025

The Pacific Encounter will be transferred to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet starting in March. After a tech upgrade and rebranding, the 2002-built vessel will emerge as the Carnival Encounter.

With its new name and colors, the 2,600-guest vessel is set to continue to operate its scheduled program of cruises departing from Brisbane, Australia.

Originally built for Princess Cruises as the Star Princess, the Encounter entered service in 2001 before being transferred to P&O Australia in 2022.

Pacific Adventure
Capacity: 2,600 guests
Tonnage: 109,000
Year built: 2001
Fate: To be transferred to Carnival Cruise Line
Date: March 2025

The Pacific Adventure is also set to be transferred to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in March 2025.

beset to be renamed Carnival Adventure, the 2001-built ship is set to continue sailing from Sydney, Australia, following a tech update and rebranding.

Built for Princess Cruises as the Golden Princess, the Adventure has been sailing for P&O Cruises since late 2022.

Pacific Explorer
Capacity: 1,998 guests
Tonnage: 77,000
Year built: 1997
Fate: Sold to Resorts World Cruises
Date: February 2025

Set to end its operations for P&O Australia earlier than its fleet mates, the Pacific Explorer was recently sold to Resorts World Cruises.

After concluding its final cruise for the Australia-based operator in February, the 1997-built ship is scheduled to enter a drydock in Singapore for a $50 million refurbishment.

Originally built for Princess Cruises as the Dawn Princess, the vessel will be renamed Star Scorpio for service in Southeast Asia.