A Princess to grace P&O Cruises

CARNIVAL Australia yesterday revealed a reshuffle of its local fleet which will see Ocean Medallion introduced to P&O Cruises following the addition of Princess Cruises’ Golden Princess in 2020 ( CW breaking news).

Carnival Australia executive chairman Ann Sherry said the Corporation was strategically realigning the Australian business to ensure it was at the cutting edge of guest expectations and had solid foundations.

“Carnival’s commitment to this market and the decision to put P&O Cruises’ guests at the heart of industry innovation through Ocean Medallion is a mark of respect for the Australian consumer,” Sherry said.

Initially Carnival Corporation planned to deploy the 113,300 GRT, 3,012-passenger Carnival

Splendor to P&O Cruises at the end of 2019 ( CW 15 Dec), but the vessel will now remain in Carnival Cruise Line’s global fleet.

P&O will instead expand its portfolio by taking Golden

Princess under its wing, which has a tonnage of 108,865 and a lower berth capacity for 2,600 guests.

In Nov 2018, Golden Princess will be the first to introduce the Ocean Medallion device and platform to Australia while it’s sailing under the Princess Cruises brand ( CW 29 Jun).

Princess Cruises won’t be left short of a ship, with the line replacing Golden Princess in serving Princess guests down under with the larger 3,000-passenger Ruby Princess.

By then, Ruby Princess will be equipped with Ocean Medallion, with the vessel set to receive the tech in Jan 2019 ( CW 29 Jun).

See left for more.