P&O Cruises Grand Event

Celebrating 175th Anniversary

Seven Ships Meet in Southampton

Marking its 175 years of history, P&O Cruises' Grand Event features all seven ships meeting in Southampton on 3 July. The occasion will be marked with a Red Arrows' fly-by, a visit by Royalty, HRH The Princess Royal, and a spectacular "daytime pyrotechnics" display as each ship leaves port.

The P&O  story began in 1837 when the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company was awarded the British Government contract for a weekly mail service to the Iberian Peninsula. 

This will be a first in the history of the company  that all seven ships are together in their homeport of Southampton, England.          

About 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 passenger ships in the early 19th Century. It is the sister company of, and retains strong links with P&O Cruises Australia.

P&O Cruises was de-merged from the P&O group in 2000, becoming a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, which subsequently merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003, to form Carnival Corporation & plc.

P&O Cruises currently operates seven cruise ships with a total passenger capacity of 14,970 and a 5% market share of all cruise lines worldwide. Its most recent vessel MS Adonia joined the fleet in May 2011.