P&O Princess Cruises PLC
Encyclopedia
P&O Princess Cruises plc (stock symbol in London
and NYSE: POC) was a shipping company that existed between 2000 and 2003, operating the P&O Cruises
, Princess Cruises
, P&O Cruises Australia
, A'Rosa Cruises
, AIDA Cruises
and Ocean Village
branded cruise line
s. The company was formed from the de-merged passenger services of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) and operated until 2003 when it was re-listed as Carnival plc following a merger with Carnival Corporation. Its registered office was in the City of Westminster
, London
.
in 1837. In 1844, the company began operating passenger services which were the forerunner of modern cruise holidays
, and as such it became recognised as the world's oldest cruise line
.
In 1974, P&O acquired Princess Cruises
, a North American
cruise line founded in 1966 by Stanley McDonald
.
In 1977, P&O de-merged its passenger services division to form P&O Cruises
and P&O Cruises Australia
In 1999, P&O acquired the Germany cruise line, AIDA Cruises
.
In 2000, P&O de-merged its cruise ship operations, forming a new company, P&O Princess Cruises Ltd. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange
, making it completely independent of the P&O Group. The company operated the P&O Cruises
, P&O Cruises Australia
, Princess Cruises
and AIDA Cruises
brands.
In 2001, talks were held with Royal Caribbean
and Festival Cruises
to discuss a possible merger.
In 2001, P&O Princess Cruises PLC launched the Ocean Village
and A'Rosa Cruises
brands.
In 2003, P&O Princess Cruises PLC merged with Carnival Corporation to form Carnival Corporation & plc
. As a result of the merger, P&O Princess Cruises PLC was re-listed as Carnival PLC, becoming the UK holding company of the Carnival Group. As Carnival PLC, the company largely retained the P&O Princess executive team and shareholder body, with executive control of the groups activities in the UK and Australia.
, London
. After P&O accepted a takeover from Carnival Corporation in 2003, the company planned to close the P&O head office in London. P&O Princess offered the 25 employees there a relocation to the P&O Cruises offices in Southampton
or dismissal from the company.
, P&O Cruises Australia
, Cunard Line
and Ocean Village
. with additional responsibility for the UK sales and marketing of Princess Cruises
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and NYSE: POC) was a shipping company that existed between 2000 and 2003, operating the P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton, England, and operated by Carnival UK. Originally a constituent of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, P&O Cruises is the oldest cruise line in the world, having operated the world's first...
, Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States. Previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC and accounts for approximately 19% share...
, P&O Cruises Australia
P&O Cruises Australia
P&O Cruises Australia is a British-American owned cruise line with corporate headquarters at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operational headquarters in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, A'Rosa Cruises
A'Rosa Cruises
-History:A'Rosa was established in 2001, as a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC. The company was created to serve the German cruise market, alongside the AIDA Cruises fleet, which had been acquired by P&O in 1999. A'Rosa was modelled loosely on the AIDA concept, and began life with three ships...
, AIDA Cruises
AIDA Cruises
AIDA Cruises is a British-American owned German cruise line based in Rostock, Germany.Originally founded as Deutsche Seereederei with a ship called Völkerfreundschaft , the company entered the cruise industry in the 1960s and was later acquired by P&O Princess Cruises PLC in 2000...
and Ocean Village
Ocean Village
Ocean Village was a British-American owned cruise line, based in Southampton, England. Designed to offer and alternative cruise experience, Ocean Village was founded by P&O Princess Cruises PLC, which later merged with Carnival Corporation to form Carnival Corporation & PLC...
branded cruise line
Cruise line
A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships. Cruise lines have a dual character; they are partly in the transportation business, and partly in the leisure entertainment business, a duality that carries down into the ships themselves, which have both a crew headed by the ship's captain,...
s. The company was formed from the de-merged passenger services of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) and operated until 2003 when it was re-listed as Carnival plc following a merger with Carnival Corporation. Its registered office was in the City of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
History
P&O Princess Cruises PLC originated from the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), founded in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1837. In 1844, the company began operating passenger services which were the forerunner of modern cruise holidays
Cruising (maritime)
Cruising by boat is a lifestyle that involves living for extended time on a boat while traveling from place to place for pleasure. Cruising generally refers to trips of a few days or more, and can extend to round-the-world voyages.- History :...
, and as such it became recognised as the world's oldest cruise line
Cruise line
A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships. Cruise lines have a dual character; they are partly in the transportation business, and partly in the leisure entertainment business, a duality that carries down into the ships themselves, which have both a crew headed by the ship's captain,...
.
In 1974, P&O acquired Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States. Previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC and accounts for approximately 19% share...
, a North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
cruise line founded in 1966 by Stanley McDonald
Stanley McDonald
Stanley B. McDonald is the founder of Princess Cruises, one of the largest cruise lines in the World.-Career:Born in Canada and educated at Roosevelt High School in Seattle and the University of Washington, Stan McDonald joined the United States Navy Air Corps.After World War II, Stan McDonald...
.
In 1977, P&O de-merged its passenger services division to form P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton, England, and operated by Carnival UK. Originally a constituent of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, P&O Cruises is the oldest cruise line in the world, having operated the world's first...
and P&O Cruises Australia
P&O Cruises Australia
P&O Cruises Australia is a British-American owned cruise line with corporate headquarters at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operational headquarters in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
In 1999, P&O acquired the Germany cruise line, AIDA Cruises
AIDA Cruises
AIDA Cruises is a British-American owned German cruise line based in Rostock, Germany.Originally founded as Deutsche Seereederei with a ship called Völkerfreundschaft , the company entered the cruise industry in the 1960s and was later acquired by P&O Princess Cruises PLC in 2000...
.
In 2000, P&O de-merged its cruise ship operations, forming a new company, P&O Princess Cruises Ltd. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
, making it completely independent of the P&O Group. The company operated the P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton, England, and operated by Carnival UK. Originally a constituent of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, P&O Cruises is the oldest cruise line in the world, having operated the world's first...
, P&O Cruises Australia
P&O Cruises Australia
P&O Cruises Australia is a British-American owned cruise line with corporate headquarters at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operational headquarters in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States. Previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC and accounts for approximately 19% share...
and AIDA Cruises
AIDA Cruises
AIDA Cruises is a British-American owned German cruise line based in Rostock, Germany.Originally founded as Deutsche Seereederei with a ship called Völkerfreundschaft , the company entered the cruise industry in the 1960s and was later acquired by P&O Princess Cruises PLC in 2000...
brands.
In 2001, talks were held with Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a Norwegian and American cruise line brand based in Miami, Florida and owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. With 42 ships in service under 5 different brands and one more under construction, it controls a 25.6% share of the world cruise market...
and Festival Cruises
Festival Cruises
Festival Cruises was a Greece-based cruise line that operated between 1994 and 2004. It was founded in 1992 by the Greek entrepreneur George Poulides using second-hand ships...
to discuss a possible merger.
In 2001, P&O Princess Cruises PLC launched the Ocean Village
Ocean Village
Ocean Village was a British-American owned cruise line, based in Southampton, England. Designed to offer and alternative cruise experience, Ocean Village was founded by P&O Princess Cruises PLC, which later merged with Carnival Corporation to form Carnival Corporation & PLC...
and A'Rosa Cruises
A'Rosa Cruises
-History:A'Rosa was established in 2001, as a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC. The company was created to serve the German cruise market, alongside the AIDA Cruises fleet, which had been acquired by P&O in 1999. A'Rosa was modelled loosely on the AIDA concept, and began life with three ships...
brands.
In 2003, P&O Princess Cruises PLC merged with Carnival Corporation to form Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc , is a American-British Company, and the world's largest cruise ship operator. It is a dual listed company, with headquarters at Carnival Place in the Miami suburb of Doral, Florida, USA, and at Carnival House in Southampton, England, UK...
. As a result of the merger, P&O Princess Cruises PLC was re-listed as Carnival PLC, becoming the UK holding company of the Carnival Group. As Carnival PLC, the company largely retained the P&O Princess executive team and shareholder body, with executive control of the groups activities in the UK and Australia.
Head office
The P&O Princess head office was in City of WestminsterCity of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. After P&O accepted a takeover from Carnival Corporation in 2003, the company planned to close the P&O head office in London. P&O Princess offered the 25 employees there a relocation to the P&O Cruises offices in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
or dismissal from the company.
Ship Ownership
During its brief existence, P&O Princess Cruises PLC owned a number of cruise ships:- A'Rosa Blu - A'Rosa Cruises and Princess Cruises (as Crown Princess)
- AIDAcaraAIDAcaraAIDAcara is the first cruise ship in the fleet of German cruise company AIDA Cruises.-History:...
- AIDA Cruises - AIDAauraAIDAauraAIDAaura is the third ship operated by the German cruise line AIDA Cruises. AIDAaura was built in 2003 by the German shipyard Aker MTW in Wismar. She is identical to AIDAvita.-External links:* *...
- AIDA Cruises - AIDAvitaAIDAvitaAIDAvita is the second ship in AIDA Cruises' fleet. AIDAvita was built in 2002 by the German shipyard Aker MTW in Wismar. She is identical to AIDAaura.-External links:* *...
- AIDA Cruises - Aurora - P&O Cruises
- Coral PrincessCoral PrincessThe Coral Princess is a cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises line. The vessel, along with sister ship Island Princess, was launched in 2002. The Coral Princess and Island Princess are the only two Panamax ships operated by Princess Cruises. She holds the highest paid toll to pass...
- Princess Cruises - Dawn PrincessDawn PrincessDawn Princess is a Sun class cruise ship built in 1997 in Italy operated by Princess Cruises. The ship features eight restaurants, four swimming pools, five Jacuzzis, seven lounges and bars, and two children centres. Some restaurants offer “anytime dining” where passengers can dine with whom they...
- Princess Cruises - Golden PrincessGolden PrincessGolden Princess is a Grand-class cruise ship for Princess Cruises that entered service in 2001. It is the sister ship of Grand Princess and Star Princess. It measures 109,000 gross tons and carries 2,600 passengers plus 1,100 crew members...
- Princess Cruises - Grand PrincessGrand PrincessGrand Princess is a Grand-class cruise ship owned by Princess Cruises. Built in 1998 by Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani in Monfalcone , Italy, at a cost of approximately US$450 million, she was the largest and most expensive passenger ship ever built at the time...
- Princess Cruises - Island PrincessIsland PrincessIsland Princess is a cruise ship for the Princess Cruises line. She is the sister ship to the Coral Princess and together they are the only Panamax ships in Princess's fleet. Built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique - France. The ship features a combined diesel and gas turbine electric powerplant. This...
- Princess Cruises - Ocean VillageOcean Village (ship)For other ships with the same name, see Arcadia .Pacific Pearl is the sixth cruise ship of the P&O Cruises Australia brand. She was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, at their shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and launched in 1988 as Sitmar FairMajesty...
- Ocean Village and P&O Cruises (as Arcadia) - Oceana - P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises (as Ocean Princess)
- OrianaMV Oriana (1995)MV Oriana is a cruise ship of the P&O Cruises fleet. The ship was built by Meyer Werft at their shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. At 69,000 tonnes, Oriana is the sixth largest of seven ships currently in service with P&O Cruises. She officially entered service with the company in April 1995 and was...
- P&O Cruises - Pacific PrincessPacific (ship)MS Pacific is a cruise ship owned and operated by the Brazil-based Viagens CVC. She was built in 1971 by Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany as Sea Venture for Flagship Cruises. She operated cruises between the USA and Bermuda, which had been settled by the survivors of the original Sea Venture...
- Princess Cruises - Pacific Sky - P&O Cruises Australia and Princess Cruises (as Sky Princess)
- Regal Princess - Princess Cruises
- Royal Princess - Princess Cruises
- Sea PrincessSea PrincessSea Princess is a operated by the Princess Cruises line. She has three sister ships: and Dawn Princess in the Princess Cruises fleet and Oceana in the P&O Cruises fleet.-History:...
- Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises (as Adonia) - Star PrincessStar PrincessStar Princess is a Grand-class cruise ship, operated by Princess Cruises. Star Princess is a sister ship to Grand Princess and the Golden Princess....
- Princess Cruises - Sun PrincessSun PrincessSun Princess may refer to:* MS Sun Princess , a Sun class cruise ship operating with Princess Cruises since 1995* MS Sun Princess , former name of New Flamenco...
- Princess Cruises - Tahitian Princess - Princess Cruises
- VictoriaMona Lisa (ship)MV Mona Lisa is a cruise ship that was last owned by Leonardo Shipping and operated under charter by Lord Nelson Seereisen . She was built in 1966 by the John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland as the combined ocean liner / cruise ship MS Kungsholm for the Swedish American Line. She...
- P&O Cruises
Today
The company formerly known as P&O Princess PLC continues to operate as a constituent of the Carnival Group, with executive control of the group's operations in the United Kingdom and Australia. Based at Carnival House in Southampton, Carnival PLC provides executive control of P&O CruisesP&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton, England, and operated by Carnival UK. Originally a constituent of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, P&O Cruises is the oldest cruise line in the world, having operated the world's first...
, P&O Cruises Australia
P&O Cruises Australia
P&O Cruises Australia is a British-American owned cruise line with corporate headquarters at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operational headquarters in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, Cunard Line
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
and Ocean Village
Ocean Village
Ocean Village was a British-American owned cruise line, based in Southampton, England. Designed to offer and alternative cruise experience, Ocean Village was founded by P&O Princess Cruises PLC, which later merged with Carnival Corporation to form Carnival Corporation & PLC...
. with additional responsibility for the UK sales and marketing of Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States. Previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC and accounts for approximately 19% share...
.
External links
- P&O Princess Cruises (Archive)