The letters used to spell out the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, established way back in 1837, three years before Cunard, to carry the mails and passengers between England, the Iberian Peninsula and soon onto the British Empire east of Suez. The firm fully merged with the Orient Line (not Orient Lines) in 1961 and in 1974 bought the fledgling Princess Cruises, becoming P&O-Princess Cruises. By this time the firm’s transportation role had withered away and it became a full-fledged cruise company separated from the ferry, container and logistics operations. Then in 2003, Carnival Corporation bought line outright.
Fleet
The first new and true British cruise ship, the
1814-passenger Oriana, was completed in 1995 and two larger new ships followed,
Arcadia (1814p) and Aurora (1874p), as well as two transfers from Princess
Cruises, Artemis (1200p ex-Royal Princess) and Oceana (2004p ex-Ocean
Princess). The Ventura is under construction. P&O Cruises (Australia) operate the Pacific Sky, Pacific Star and Pacific Sun but Americans are unlikely
to cruise in them.
Itineraries
The majority of sailings are from Southampton, though
fly-cruise is also available for the Mediterranean and the Caribbean
itineraries. Two ships usually make annual around-the-world cruises, and in the
recent past North Americans often joined in Florida or California but less so
now with so many other cruising options.
Dining and Decor
Good British fare and lunchtime curries cater to the middle
class passenger from Great Britain. The décor is done in various styles to give
the many public spaces a different sort of atmosphere depending on the use –
pub, genteel after-dinner imbibing, cabaret and concerts, reading and formal
and informal dining.
Programs
P&O is mass market cruising with lots of activities and
not a lot of enrichment, except on the longer cruises.
Onboard Experience
P&O is based in Southampton, England catering to the
British middle-class market in atmosphere, food and entertainment, with some
English-speaking Europeans in the mix and few North Americans. If wishing to
sample P&O, a large dose of Anglophila helps. Three of the five ships
attract lots of families during the school holidays, while the Arcadia and Artemis are reserved for adults only (no one under 18).
Competitors
For adults in a British atmosphere, Fred. Olsen would be the
primary competitor, then the QE2 and soon to be Queen Victoria.
