Type Public Founded 2000 | Website poprincesscruises.com Predecessor P&O | |
Fate Merged with Carnival Corporation, 2003 Successor Carnival Corporation & plc Headquarters London, United Kingdom, England, United Kingdom | ||
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 lines. 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.
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History
P&O Princess Cruises originated from the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), founded in England 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 launched the Ocean Village and A'Rosa Cruises brands.
In 2003, P&O Princess Cruises 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.
Head office
The P&O Princess head office was in City of Westminster, 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.
Ship ownership
During its brief existence, P&O Princess Cruises owned a number of cruise ships:
Today
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. with additional responsibility for the UK sales and marketing of Princess Cruises.