P&O Cruises: Famous cruise ship brand is to be shut down just weeks after Daily Mail Australia revealed how one passenger plunged to his death after running up huge casino debt on board

The iconic cruise line brand P&O Australia is being shut down just weeks after Daily Mail Australia revealed a passenger leapt to his death after accruing a massive casino debt during a trip. 

On Tuesday P&O's parent company Carnival Corporation announced the famous brand will close in March next year, after 90 years cruising from Australia. 

In a statement, Carnival Corporation said it will 'sunset' the P&O Cruises Australia brand and merge the Australia operations into Carnival Cruise Line, which they claim is 'the most popular cruise line in the world'. 

The closure is blamed on 'the strategic reality of the South Pacific’s small population and significantly higher operating and regulatory costs'.

Carnival Corporation said the closure of P&O Australia is due to a strategic move 'designed to increase guest capacity for Carnival Cruise Line, the company’s flagship brand and the highest-returning brand in Carnival Corporation’s global portfolio'.  

The P&O Cruises cruise ships Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure ships will be rebranded and operated by Carnival Cruise Line brand.

Pacific Explorer will exit the fleet in February 2025.

Carnival Corporation advised current itineraries will operate as usual, and passengers will be notified in the coming days of any changes to future bookings.  

Following the closure of P&O Australia next year, Carnival Cruise Line will have four ships in the market, including Sydney-based Carnival Splendor and Carnival Luminosa sailing seasonally from Brisbane, in addition to their new sister ships Encounter and Adventure.