In a significant expansion of its Australian operations, Carnival Cruise Line has officially welcomed two new ships to its fleet, strengthening its position as Australia’s leading cruise operator. The Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, previously operating under the P&O Australia brand, are now preparing to embark on their maiden voyages from Sydney and Brisbane respectively.
The integration marks a historic milestone for Carnival Cruise Line, as these additions bring their global fleet to an unprecedented 29 ships, the largest in the company’s 53-year history. The vessels have undergone extensive reimagining to incorporate Carnival’s signature entertainment features while preserving some of P&O’s most popular elements.
Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, led a special celebration in Sydney to welcome Carnival Adventure into the fleet. A similar celebratory event is scheduled in Brisbane for Carnival Encounter. The expansion demonstrates Carnival’s commitment to the Australian market, with the cruise line expecting to host more than 500,000 guests from its Australian homeports this year.
Passengers aboard both ships will benefit from Carnival’s industry-leading HubApp, enabling them to make dining and excursion reservations, communicate with other guests, and explore onboard activities through their personal devices. The ships will offer a diverse range of experiences, including comedy shows, 80s Rock and Glow nights for adults, and family-friendly activities such as Build-A-Bear workshops, Seuss at Sea, and Camp Ocean.
“Doubling the fun in our Australia homeports enables us to deliver more sailing options, offer more variety and deepen our partnerships in the Sydney and Brisbane communities,” stated Duffy, highlighting the strategic importance of this expansion.
