After welcoming just one new ship to its fleet in 2024, 2025 is gearing up to be an exciting year for Carnival Cruise Line as the cruise giant prepares for two new ships.
Two former P&O Australia ships—Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure—are set to join Carnival's fleet as Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure in March.
Pacific Adventure embarked on her final cruise for P&O on Monday, March 10. As she departed from the Sydney Harbor, she was met with a send-off complete with fireworks and fireboats.
The ship will visit Eden and return to Sydney on March 14, marking the end of P&O Cruises in Australia after over 90 years.
Pacific Encounter's time with P&O was cut short as a result of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which kept Encounter at sea and unable to return to Brisbane on time for the final departure.
Though the ships have yet to undergo a brief refurbishment to add classic Carnival features onboard, P&O's website has already been redirected to Carnival's.
Before operating for P&O, Pacific Adventure and Encounter sailed for Princess Cruises as Golden Princess and Star Princess. They were transferred to P&O in 2021.
As Grand Class cruise ships, Adventure and Encounter measure around 109,000 gross registered tons (GRT), making them roughly the same size as Carnival's Conquest Class.
“As we expand our fleet to four ships in Australia and enrich our overall deployment plan, our 2026/27 itineraries significantly increase the options available for the Carnival experience from Sydney and Brisbane,” said Fred Stein, Vice President of Itinerary Planning.
“Guests interested in a cruise from Australia are bound to find the perfect itinerary, whether they’re looking to explore a new region or revisit key vacation destinations – all showcasing the diverse beauty of the South Pacific.”
Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure will set sail for the first time under the Carnival brand on March 29, 2025. Existing P&O bookings on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter will be moved over to Carnival's booking system starting in March.
Carnival’s signature “Fun Ship” experience
Sailing under the Carnival brand means guests can expect the signature “Fun Ship” experience that Carnival is known for.
From lively deck parties to family-friendly activities and hilarious comedy shows, Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure will offer the same atmosphere that has made Carnival "the world’s most popular cruise line."
Onboard, guests can expect to be entertained by Carnival's iconic Fun Squad, which will host events like daily trivia, games, deck parties, and more. You'll want to pack your best outfits for Carnival's theme nights including the 80s Rock-N-Glow Party, Silent White-Hot Night, and Elegant Night.
The Turtles Kids Club will also give parents with children under two a well-deserved break with age-appropriate activities like storytime, arts and crafts, and sensory play.
And who doesn't want to enjoy free pizza? There's nothing quite like snacking on a hot slice of pizza between events on a sea day! Carnival Encounter and Adventure will offer unlimited complimentary pizza daily between 11:00am and 4:00pm. Pizza is available outside these hours for an extra cost.
However, the branded ships will also retain certain P&O favorites, including the exclusive retreat Byron Beach Club, Edge Adventure Park, Luke Mangan’s specialty restaurant, Luke’s Bar & Grill, Angelo’s, and Dragon Lady.
This means that Carnival Adventure and Encounter won't be getting a Swirls soft-serve. As such, New Zealand Natural will continue to be offered onboard for an extra cost.
Similarly, neither ship will receive a Guy's Burger Joint. Instead, cruisers aboard Adventure and Encounter can enjoy Luke’s Bar & Grill, which serves burgers, salads, and hot dogs, for an additional price.
“P&O fans will recognize many of their favorite dining and entertainment options, while experiencing the added fun and flair that Carnival is famous for around the world,” said VP of Guest Experience Deborah Cogin.
VP of Sales and Marketing Kara Glamore added, “This transition presents a unique opportunity to combine the best of P&O Cruises Australia and Carnival Cruise Line as the brand expands its footprint in Australia.”
Read more: 10 lessons learned after trying Carnival for the first time
When will Carnival get a brand-new ship?
The last brand-new Carnival ship to enter service was Carnival Jubilee in December 2023. Since then, all "new" ships have been bought or acquired from other lines, such as Costa or P&O Australia.
Unfortunately, the next new Carnival ship isn't expected to join the fleet until 2027. The fourth Excel Class ship was ordered in February 2024 and was the cruise line's first new order in five years.
The unnamed ship is being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and will measure around 180,000 gross registered tons (GRT).
A fifth Excel Class ship will enter service one year later in 2028. As of now, this is the last planned ship for Carnival's Excel Class before they introduce their largest class yet.
Little has been revealed about Carnival's next project; however, they'll directly compete with some of the largest cruise ships in the world, namely Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class and MSC Cruises' World Class, as they will measure around 230,000 GRT.
Comparatively, Carnival's Excel Class ships come in at around 180,000 GRT.
Read more: How Carnival is stuffing more people on its new cruise ships
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
