 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| LSE: POC NYSE: POC | |
| Predecessor | P&O |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Fate | Merged with Carnival Corporation |
| Successor | Carnival Corporation & plc |
| Headquarters |
,
England
|
| Website | poprincesscruises.com |
P&O Princess Cruises plc 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 lines. The company was formed from the de-merged passenger services of the 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 London.
P&O Princess Cruises originated from the P&O, founded in England in 1837.[1] 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 1964 by Stanley McDonald.[2] In 1977, P&O de-merged its passenger services division to form P&O Cruises.[3] In 1988, P&O de-merged P&O Cruises' Australian operations, acquiring Sitmar Cruises,[4] which led to the formation of P&O Cruises Australia.[5]
In 1999, P&O acquired the Germany cruise line, AIDA Cruises.[6] In 2000, P&O de-merged its cruise ship operations, forming a new company, P&O Princess Cruises Limited.<refe=Guardi/> 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. Also in 2001, P&O Princess Cruises launched the A'Rosa Cruises brand. In 2003, P&O Princess Cruises merged with Carnival Corporation to form Carnival Corporation & plc.[7] 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 group's activities in the UK and Australia.
The P&O Princess head office was in London.[8] 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.[9]
During its brief existence, P&O Princess Cruises owned a number of cruise ships:
The company formerly known as P&O Princess 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 Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia, Cunard Line and Ocean Village. with additional responsibility for the UK sales and marketing of Princess Cruises.
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