P&O Princess Cruises

P&O Princess Cruises plc
Company typePublic
LSE: POC
NYSE: POC
PredecessorP&O
Founded2000
Defunct2003
FateMerged with Carnival Corporation
SuccessorCarnival Corporation & plc
Headquarters
London
,
England
Websitepoprincesscruises.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.

History

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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.

Head office

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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]

Ship ownership

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During its brief existence, P&O Princess Cruises owned a number of cruise ships:


Today

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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.

References

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  1. ^ Oliver, Mark (29 November 2005). "Profile: P&O". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Stanley McDonald, Princess Cruises founder, dies at 94". Seattle Times. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  3. ^ "From Liners to Leisure". P&O Heritage. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  4. ^ Goossens, Reuben. "From Birth to Breakers". SS Maritime. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  5. ^ "History of Our Fleet". P&O Cruises Australia. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  6. ^ The AIDA Experience
  7. ^ EC Clears Carnival and P&O Princess Merge Marinelink, 11 February 2003
  8. ^ "Contact." P&O Princess Cruises. 5 June 2002. Retrieved on 19 September 2011. "P&O Princess Cruises plc Registered office: 77 New Oxford Street London WC1A 1PP UK"
  9. ^ Macalister, Terry. "Carnival 'yes' brings £1m bonus." The Guardian 16 April 2003. Retrieved on 19 September 2011.
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