Celebrity Cruises vs P&O Cruises

The core difference

Celebrity Cruises and P&O Cruises are both premium cruise lines with strong identities, loyal followings, and good reputations in their respective markets. They occupy roughly similar price territory — above mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival, below ultra-luxury operators like Silversea and Regent. Both offer speciality dining, both have modern flagship ships alongside older fleet members, and both attract a predominantly couples-oriented demographic. On paper, they look like natural competitors.

In practice, for Australian travellers, they are worlds apart — and the divide starts with geography.

Celebrity Cruises is part of the Royal Caribbean Group, positioned as the group’s premium tier between Royal Caribbean International and Silversea. Celebrity has invested heavily in the Australian market, deploying Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice from Sydney each summer season, with an expansion to four ships announced for 2027/28. Australian travellers can wake up in their own bed, drive to Circular Quay, and board a Celebrity ship without setting foot in an airport. The onboard experience is international, design-forward, and culinary-led — a modern luxury proposition built around innovative ships, Broadway-calibre entertainment, and a Daniel Boulud fine-dining partnership. The passenger base is cosmopolitan: predominantly North American on global sailings, but with a strong Australian and New Zealand contingent on Sydney departures.

P&O Cruises is Britain’s most popular cruise line, owned by Carnival Corporation and operated through its Carnival UK division alongside Cunard. All seven P&O ships sail from Southampton. The brand is unabashedly, proudly British — kettles in every cabin, fish and chips on the promenade, Marco Pierre White designing the main dining room menus, Gary Barlow curating a live music venue, and a passenger base that is 95 per cent or more British on virtually every sailing. P&O does not deploy ships to Australia. It has no Australian office. For an Australian to sail with P&O, they must fly to Southampton — a 24-hour journey — and immerse themselves in a thoroughly British holiday at sea.

This leads to the single most important clarification for Australian readers, and one I find myself making repeatedly: P&O Cruises UK is not the same as the former P&O Cruises Australia. They shared the P&O name but were entirely separate brands operating entirely separate fleets under different divisions of Carnival Corporation. P&O Cruises Australia — the line that ran Pacific Explorer, Pacific Adventure, and Pacific Encounter from Sydney — ceased operations in March 2025. Those ships were either absorbed into Carnival Cruise Line (now sailing as Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter) or sold outright (Pacific Explorer became Star Voyager under Resorts World Cruises, now based in Singapore). The onboard experience, the itineraries, the price point, and the target market of P&O Australia bore almost no resemblance to P&O UK. Australians who remember the “white ships” and the South Pacific party atmosphere will find P&O UK an entirely different proposition — more formal, more British, more traditional, and operating exclusively in Northern European and transatlantic waters.

With that essential context established, this comparison examines what each line genuinely offers and where each excels.

What is actually included

The inclusion structures differ in ways that shape the overall value equation, and both have undergone significant changes in recent years.

Celebrity’s pricing model centres on the All Included fare. This bundles the cruise fare with a Classic Beverage Package (beers, wines by the glass, cocktails with spirits up to US$12 per drink, premium coffees, and soft drinks) and basic Wi-Fi (browsing, email, and messaging). For most Australian travellers, this is the package worth considering — it adds approximately US$70 to $85 per person per day above the base cruise fare, but removes the daily mental arithmetic of signing bar tabs. An important caveat: since October 2023, Celebrity’s All Included fare no longer covers gratuities. These are now charged separately at US$18 per person per day for standard staterooms, US$19 for Concierge and AquaClass, and US$23 for suites. This effectively increased the cost of an All Included cruise by US$126 to $161 per person per week — a change that still generates frustration among loyal Celebrity cruisers.

The base fare itself includes stateroom accommodation, main dining room and buffet meals, entertainment, pool and fitness centre access, and room service (though room service now carries a US$9.95 delivery fee plus 20 per cent gratuity per order, waived only for Retreat suite guests and top-tier loyalty members).

P&O’s base fare takes a different approach. It includes accommodation, all main meals, afternoon tea, entertainment, kids’ club access on family ships, and — significantly — gratuities. P&O folded service charges into the ticket price in May 2019, which means there are no tipping conversations, no daily auto-charges appearing on your onboard account, and no awkward calculation at the end of the cruise. For Australians, who largely find tipping culture uncomfortable, this is a genuine advantage.

What P&O does not include in the base fare: drinks (alcoholic and soft), Wi-Fi, speciality dining, spa treatments, and shore excursions. However, in a major strategic shift, P&O launched all-inclusive packages in December 2025 for sailings from March 2026 onwards. The Classic Package at GBP 49 per person per day bundles a drinks package, essential Wi-Fi, and up to GBP 55 in speciality dining credit. The Deluxe Package at GBP 59 per person per day upgrades to premium drinks, streaming-capable Wi-Fi, and up to GBP 80 in dining credit. These packages represent approximately 32 to 34 per cent savings versus purchasing each component separately.

P&O also offers three fare types — Select Price (most flexible, choose your cabin, includes a choice of one perk on 7+ night sailings), Early Saver (P&O assigns the cabin, lower price, possible upgrade), and Saver (lowest price, non-refundable, all choices made by P&O). This tiered structure provides more pricing flexibility than Celebrity’s simpler base-versus-All-Included model. P&O’s Select Price fare on cruises of seven nights or more includes a choice of one bonus: onboard spending money, free car parking at Southampton, or return coach travel to Southampton — benefits that are clearly oriented toward UK-based passengers.

The net comparison for Australian travellers: Celebrity’s All Included fare bundles drinks and Wi-Fi but excludes gratuities; P&O’s base fare excludes drinks and Wi-Fi but includes gratuities. The total daily spend at sea is likely comparable when you add P&O’s all-inclusive package to the base fare. The crucial distinction is that Celebrity sails from Sydney — eliminating the need for return flights to England.

Dining and culinary experience

Both lines take dining seriously, but the culinary philosophies reflect their broader brand identities — Celebrity as an internationally minded design-led line, P&O as a proudly British operation anchored by household-name chefs.

Celebrity’s dining programme is anchored by Daniel Boulud, the French-American chef who holds multiple Michelin stars and is widely regarded as one of the finest chefs in the world. Boulud serves as Celebrity’s Global Culinary Brand Ambassador, designing menus for Luminae (the exclusive restaurant for Retreat suite guests) and Le Voyage, his signature restaurant available on Celebrity Beyond, Ascent, and Xcel. Le Voyage charges approximately US$125 per person for dinner and US$200 for the tasting menu — among the most expensive dining experiences at sea, but widely regarded as genuinely exceptional.

Edge-class ships offer up to 29 dining venues across complimentary and surcharge categories. The main dining room is split into four themed restaurants — Normandie, Tuscan, Cosmopolitan, and Cyprus — sharing the same rotating menu but each with distinct decor and ambience. The Oceanview Cafe buffet, Spa Cafe, and poolside grills are all included. Beyond these, speciality dining carries meaningful surcharges: Fine Cut Steakhouse at approximately US$55, Eden Restaurant at approximately US$75, Le Petit Chef (an immersive animated projection dining experience) at approximately US$60, and Raw on 5 sushi bar at a la carte prices. A 20 per cent gratuity is automatically added to all speciality dining bills.

Celebrity’s newest ship, Celebrity Xcel (launched November 2025), replaced the Eden venue with The Bazaar — a three-storey multi-sensory space featuring rotating destination-inspired festivals with new culinary concepts. This evolution signals Celebrity’s commitment to dining as experience, not merely sustenance.

P&O’s dining programme is built around British celebrity chef partnerships that resonate powerfully in the UK market. Marco Pierre White — arguably Britain’s most famous chef — has designed menus for the main dining rooms across the fleet and created dedicated restaurant concepts including White’s Restaurant, the Ocean Grill, and Cafe Bordeaux. Atul Kochhar, the Michelin-starred pioneer of Indian fine dining in Britain, created the Sindhu restaurant concept (Indian-British fusion) available fleet-wide and the East restaurant (pan-Asian fusion) on Iona and Arvia. Olly Smith, a beloved British wine expert, curates The Glass House wine bar on every ship. P&O also runs Food Hero sailings where celebrity chefs appear in person for masterclasses, Q&A sessions, book signings, and exclusive Chef’s Table dinners.

The Cookery Club on Britannia is a fully equipped teaching kitchen where guests take hands-on cooking classes — a bookable experience that adds genuine interactive enrichment. This concept has no direct equivalent on Celebrity.

The surcharge comparison strongly favours P&O for budget-conscious diners. Where Celebrity charges US$55 to $125 for premium speciality dinners, P&O’s surcharges run GBP 15 to 35 — roughly a third to a quarter of the cost. Sindhu by Atul Kochhar is available a la carte from GBP 5.50 for starters and GBP 9 for mains. The Glass House serves starters from GBP 2.75 and mains from GBP 8. A couple could enjoy a complete speciality dinner with wine on P&O for less than a single cover charge at Le Voyage. For travellers who want to explore beyond the main dining room without running up a significant bill, P&O makes premium dining genuinely accessible.

That said, Celebrity’s dining peaks reach heights that P&O does not attempt. Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud and the immersive Eden experience operate at a culinary and theatrical level that belongs alongside the best restaurants at sea. P&O’s celebrity chef partnerships are excellent — Marco Pierre White and Atul Kochhar are genuinely accomplished — but the dining experience is calibrated for accessible British enjoyment rather than gastronomic ambition.

Included dining venues on P&O’s Excel-class ships also deserve mention: The Quays food hall offers three complimentary street-food counters including Hook Line & Vinegar (fish and chips), Asian Fusion, and Roast. This kind of casual, recognisably British fare — elevated but not precious — typifies P&O’s approach to feeding its guests well without pretension.

Suites and accommodation

The accommodation range on both lines serves different philosophies — Celebrity offers breadth from budget interiors to palatial suites, while P&O offers solid mid-range options with a suite product that delivers comfort without the dedicated exclusive facilities Celebrity provides.

Celebrity’s The Retreat is a genuine ship-within-a-ship concept that sets the line apart in the premium segment. Every suite category — from the entry-level Sky Suite at approximately 395 to 451 square feet to the extraordinary Iconic Suite at 2,580 square feet — includes access to Luminae (the exclusive Daniel Boulud restaurant), the Retreat Lounge (a private lounge with dedicated bar and concierge), and the Retreat Sundeck (an outdoor sanctuary with pool, hot tub, and cabanas). All Retreat guests receive butler service — packing and unpacking, spa and dining reservations, in-suite breakfast, daily canape service, and Butler Chat messaging from anywhere on the ship. Premium Beverage and Wi-Fi packages, unlimited speciality dining, and a complimentary stocked minibar replenished daily round out the inclusions. The Iconic Suite, of which only two exist per Edge-class ship, features two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a veranda hot tub, and a forward-facing position with panoramic views. This is a luxury-line experience delivered at premium-line pricing.

Celebrity also offers mid-range differentiation that P&O lacks. AquaClass staterooms are spa-focused cabins with complimentary access to the SEA Thermal Suite, exclusive Blu restaurant (health-conscious cuisine for breakfast and dinner), personal spa concierge, and yoga mats in the room. Concierge Class adds priority boarding, dining preferences, and dedicated concierge service. These options create a meaningful upgrade path between standard balcony cabins and full suites.

Standard stateroom sizes on Celebrity Edge-class ships start from 181 square feet for interiors, with veranda cabins featuring the signature Infinite Veranda — floor-to-ceiling glass that opens to transform the room into an open-air space. The Infinite Veranda is a genuine design innovation that has no equivalent on P&O.

P&O’s suite product is comfortable and well-appointed but more traditional. Suite categories vary by ship, ranging from standard suites at 382 to 698 square feet to Penthouse Suites on Aurora at up to 937 square feet with a split-level design. Suite benefits include butler service, complimentary room service from the main dining room menu at all times, daily canapes, whirlpool bath, luxury toiletries, champagne on arrival, and a Nespresso machine. These are genuine perks, but P&O does not have a dedicated suite restaurant, suite lounge, or suite sundeck. All passengers dine in the same main restaurants regardless of cabin category. The exclusivity factor of Celebrity’s Retreat has no P&O equivalent.

P&O’s most interesting mid-range accommodation is the Conservatory Mini-Suite, exclusive to Iona and Arvia. At approximately 274 square feet including the balcony, it features bi-folding doors (rather than sliding) that fully open to create an indoor-outdoor living concept. Opinions divide — some guests love the design, while others on certain Deck 8 cabins on Iona report limited sea views and privacy concerns. The Conservatory Mini-Suite receives most suite benefits but not butler service, whirlpool bath, complimentary room service, or exclusive restaurant access.

Standard P&O balcony cabins on the Excel-class ships are notably compact — a common complaint among guests, with some cabins measuring as small as 142 square feet. This is smaller than Celebrity’s entry-level veranda on Edge-class ships.

Pricing and value

Headline fare comparisons between Celebrity and P&O are misleading for Australian travellers because they ignore the elephant in the room: flights.

P&O’s base fares are genuinely affordable by cruise industry standards. A 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton on Britannia starts from approximately GBP 107 per night per person for an inside cabin, or roughly GBP 131 per night for a balcony — well below most premium competitors. Longer sailings offer even better per-diems: a 14-night Spain and Canary Islands itinerary from Southampton can start from approximately GBP 79 per night. The 100-night world cruise on Arcadia was priced from approximately GBP 108 per night for an inside cabin. These are entry-level fares — the Early Saver or Saver rates — but they demonstrate P&O’s affordability within the British market. Gratuities are included. Adding the Classic all-inclusive package brings the daily cost to approximately GBP 156 to 180 per night with drinks, Wi-Fi, and dining credit — still competitive.

Celebrity’s All Included pricing runs higher. A 7-night Mediterranean sailing on an Edge-class ship starts from approximately US$150 to $220 per night for an interior, US$200 to $350 for a balcony, before the All Included add-on of approximately US$70 to $85 per person per day. Gratuities add US$18 to $23 per day. Australian-market promotional pricing for local sailings has been seen from approximately A$155 per night on Celebrity Solstice and A$200 per night on Celebrity Edge.

For Australians, the total cost calculation changes dramatically. P&O’s lower cruise fares must be weighed against the cost of return flights from Australia to Southampton — typically A$1,500 to A$3,000 per person in economy, potentially more in peak season. A couple flying from Sydney to Southampton adds A$3,000 to $6,000 to the holiday cost before stepping aboard. This single factor often eliminates P&O’s fare advantage entirely.

Celebrity, by contrast, sails from Sydney. No flights, no jet lag, no lost days in transit, no luggage anxiety. For Australian coastal and New Zealand itineraries, Celebrity’s door-to-ship simplicity represents a form of value that no fare comparison captures.

P&O’s speciality dining surcharges are substantially lower than Celebrity’s — GBP 15 to 35 versus US$30 to $125. A couple who dines at two speciality restaurants on a 7-night cruise will spend roughly GBP 60 to 70 total on P&O versus US$120 to $250 on Celebrity. Over a longer sailing, the savings compound meaningfully.

Currency also matters. P&O prices in GBP; Celebrity’s Australian website prices in AUD. At the time of writing, the Australian dollar buys approximately 0.50 British pounds, making GBP-denominated fares feel expensive to Australian travellers. Celebrity’s AUD pricing removes the exchange-rate variable for domestic sailings.

The bottom line on value: P&O is the cheaper cruise on a per-diem basis. Celebrity is often the cheaper holiday for Australians when total cost — including flights, transfers, accommodation before and after the cruise, and currency conversion — is calculated honestly.

Spa and wellness

Both lines offer full-service spas with thermal facilities, but the access models differ.

Celebrity’s spa is operated by Canyon Ranch, a well-established American wellness brand. On Edge-class ships, The Spa features the SEA Thermal Suite — eight distinct therapeutic spaces including a Turkish hammam with body polish service, simulated rain showers, a Crystal Room, Salt Room, Infrared Sauna, and Float Room with zero-gravity loungers. This is one of the more extensive thermal facilities in the premium cruise market. However, complimentary access is restricted to AquaClass guests. Everyone else pays for a day pass, with week-long passes available. Solstice-class ships feature the Persian Garden with heated stone loungers and aromatic showers, also restricted to AquaClass guests.

The fitness centre and group classes — yoga, Pilates, cycling, and Mind/Body Connection sessions — are complimentary for all guests. Treatments include Canyon Ranch signature facials, a full range of massage therapies, acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, and speciality tables. All treatments carry surcharges, with a 50-minute massage typically starting from US$139 upwards.

P&O’s Oasis Spa operates across the fleet, with the largest facilities on Iona and Arvia. The Thermal Suite includes heated loungers, sauna, a sensory steam room with salt brine solution, experiential showers, and a hydrotherapy pool with massaging jets — a solid facility, though less extensive than Celebrity’s SEA Thermal Suite. Day passes run GBP 39, with weekly passes at GBP 129.

P&O also offers The Retreat on Iona and Arvia — an adults-only outdoor wellness area on Deck 18 with two infinity whirlpools, private cabanas, day beds, hammocks, and complimentary smoothies and fruit platters. Day passes cost GBP 40, with 7-night passes at GBP 145. This is separate from the spa and provides a peaceful outdoor escape on ships that can carry 5,200 passengers — a welcome sanctuary.

The gym is complimentary with free classes in meditation, HIIT, and functional training. Yoga, Pilates, and spin classes carry a modest surcharge of GBP 14 to 15 per session, or GBP 29 for a three-class pass.

Treatment pricing on P&O is generally comparable to Celebrity in absolute terms — a Swedish massage runs GBP 89 to 189 depending on duration, and facials start from GBP 99. The weaker Australian dollar makes these feel expensive when converted.

Neither line offers complimentary thermal suite access to all guests — a distinction worth noting for travellers who may be comparing either line to Viking, which includes its Nordic-inspired thermal suite for every passenger.

Entertainment and enrichment

The entertainment philosophies of these two lines reflect their brand identities perfectly — Celebrity is internationally polished, P&O is unabashedly British.

Celebrity delivers Broadway-calibre production entertainment. The Theatre on Edge-class ships hosts original shows with professional choreography, high-flying acrobatics, mind-bending visual effects, and music that draws from the Broadway and West End repertoire. Productions like Arte and Cosmopolitan are designed to rival land-based theatre. Celebrity Xcel debuted the line’s most ambitious entertainment programme to date, including immersive shows, expanded live music, interactive games, and dance parties.

Eden on Edge, Apex, Beyond, and Ascent is a three-storey glass-wrapped venue that transitions from “chillful” mornings to “playful” afternoons to “sinful” evenings — part restaurant, part bar, part immersive performance space designed around the Fibonacci golden spiral concept. On Xcel, The Bazaar replaced Eden with rotating destination-inspired festivals bringing a local market energy aboard. Multiple bars feature live pianists, ensembles, and bands. The Martini Bar’s flair bartenders are a Celebrity signature. Every mainline ship has a casino. The atmosphere is social and dynamic without being raucous.

P&O delivers entertainment that is firmly rooted in British popular culture. The headline venue is the SkyDome on Iona and Arvia — a retractable glass-roof entertainment space that hosts acrobatic shows, aerial acts, physical theatre, outdoor cinema screenings on the SeaScreen, late-night DJ sets, and themed events. It is a genuinely innovative and versatile space that has no direct equivalent on Celebrity.

The most distinctive P&O entertainment offering is “Greatest Days — The Official Take That Musical,” performed exclusively aboard Arvia. This is a full theatrical production adapted from the West End musical “The Band,” featuring Take That songs. Gary Barlow’s 710 Club on Iona and Arvia is an intimate live music venue curated by the Take That frontman, with several performances daily by a resident band. These offerings are quintessentially British and will resonate powerfully with UK passengers. For Australian travellers, the appeal depends entirely on familiarity with Take That’s cultural significance in Britain — which, to be frank, is considerably greater than their profile in Australia.

P&O also offers the Cookery Club on Britannia (hands-on cooking classes with celebrity chefs), escape rooms on Iona and Arvia, Ben Shephard’s Play family entertainment venue on Iona (developed with the British TV presenter), and traditional British deck activities including pub quizzes, cricket, and bingo. The Headliners Theatre hosts West End-style production shows across the fleet.

The enrichment gap is less pronounced than the entertainment one. Both lines offer destination speakers and informational lectures. Celebrity’s Discoveries Enrichment Series brings world-renowned experts aboard, while P&O invites destination speakers and runs interactive seminars. Neither matches the depth of a dedicated enrichment programme like those offered by Viking or Cunard, but both provide meaningful context for the ports being visited.

The dress code reflects each line’s cultural positioning. Celebrity has Smart Casual most evenings with one to three Evening Chic nights per cruise — cocktail attire expected, tuxedos welcome but not required. P&O maintains traditional British Formal Nights (called Gala Evenings) where black tie, tuxedo, evening gown, or cocktail attire is expected in the main dining rooms. P&O has one to four Gala Evenings depending on cruise length. In practice, both lines are more relaxed than they sound — 76 per cent of P&O cruisers report the dress code is not strictly enforced — but P&O’s Formal Nights skew closer to a traditional British black-tie dinner than Celebrity’s Evening Chic, which feels more like a stylish cocktail party.

Fleet and destination coverage

The fleets reflect different scales of ambition and different geographic strategies.

Celebrity operates 16 ocean ships across three classes. The five Edge-class vessels (2018 to 2025) are the flagship product at 130,818 to 141,420 gross tonnes, carrying 2,918 to 3,260 guests. These are the ships that define modern Celebrity — the Magic Carpet, Infinite Verandas, Eden (or The Bazaar on Xcel), and the Retreat suite experience. Five Solstice-class ships (2008 to 2012) at approximately 122,000 gross tonnes carry around 2,852 to 3,046 guests. Four Millennium-class ships (2000 to 2002) at 90,940 gross tonnes are the oldest in the fleet and, despite refurbishment, show their age. Celebrity Flora serves the Galapagos with 100 guests. A sixth Edge-class ship (Celebrity Xcite) is under construction for 2028, and Celebrity is building a river fleet of 20 ships planned by 2031.

Celebrity’s deployment spans the globe: Caribbean (up to nine ships from Florida), Mediterranean (seven ships for European summer), Alaska (three ships from Seattle and Vancouver), Australia and New Zealand (two ships for 2025/26, four announced for 2027/28), Asia (two ships covering 49 destinations), Northern Europe, South America, Antarctica, and the Galapagos year-round.

P&O operates seven ships, all sailing from Southampton. Iona and Arvia are the Excel-class flagships — at 184,089 and 184,700 gross tonnes respectively, they are physically larger than any Celebrity ship, carrying up to 5,200 passengers each. Both are powered by liquefied natural gas. Britannia (2015, 143,730 GT, 3,647 passengers) is the mid-fleet workhorse. Ventura (2008) and Azura (2010) are the mid-size options. Arcadia (2005, adults-only) and Aurora (2000, adults-only) are the smaller, more intimate vessels. P&O has no confirmed new-build orders as of early 2026.

P&O’s destination coverage centres on what is accessible from Southampton: Norwegian Fjords (a signature programme, April to September), Mediterranean (14-night roundtrips or fly-cruise from Malta and Palma), Canary Islands and Iberia (autumn and winter), Caribbean (fly-cruise from Barbados, expanding to three ships by 2027/28), British Isles short breaks, and annual world cruises. P&O does not serve Alaska, Asia, the South Pacific, or the Galapagos.

For Australian travellers, the destination comparison is straightforward. Celebrity gives you access to Australian waters, New Zealand, the South Pacific, and the Great Barrier Reef from Sydney — plus the full global fleet for international fly-cruise holidays. P&O gives you Northern European itineraries (fjords, Baltic, Iceland) and Mediterranean sailings from Southampton, plus Caribbean fly-cruises from Barbados. These are excellent but require flying to the other side of the world to access them.

Where each line excels

Celebrity excels in:

• Ship design and innovation. The Edge-class vessels are among the most architecturally ambitious cruise ships afloat. The Magic Carpet, Infinite Verandas, and Eden/The Bazaar have no equivalents on P&O. These ships feel like contemporary design hotels at sea.
• The Retreat suite experience. Butler service, Luminae with Daniel Boulud menus, the exclusive Retreat Lounge and Sundeck, unlimited speciality dining, and Premium Beverage and Wi-Fi packages create a ship-within-a-ship that delivers luxury-line value at premium pricing.
• Australian presence and accessibility. Ships sailing from Sydney, AUD pricing, a dedicated Australian website, and an expanding local deployment make Celebrity the practical default for Australian cruisers.
• Dining variety and ambition. Up to 29 venues on Edge-class ships, a Daniel Boulud partnership that rivals land-based fine dining, and theatrical experiences like Eden and Le Petit Chef push Celebrity’s culinary offering to heights P&O does not attempt.
• Entertainment breadth. Broadway-style production shows, multiple live music venues, casino gaming, immersive venues like Eden and The Bazaar, and social events give Celebrity a livelier evening atmosphere.
• Cross-brand loyalty. The Captain’s Club transfers across Royal Caribbean and Silversea through the Points Choice programme — a significant advantage for Australian travellers who sail with any Royal Caribbean Group brand.

P&O excels in:

• Adults-only ships. Arcadia and Aurora offer a guaranteed child-free cruise experience. This is unique in the mainstream and premium market and is a genuine differentiator for couples seeking peace. While approximately 20 select sailings from December 2026 will welcome families, the vast majority of the programme remains adults-only.
• Gratuities included. No tipping conversations, no daily auto-charges, no end-of-cruise surprises. The fare covers service charges, and the experience is cleaner for it.
• Affordable speciality dining. Surcharges of GBP 15 to 35 make premium restaurants accessible to every passenger, not just those prepared to spend US$75 or more per cover. A couple can dine at Sindhu by Atul Kochhar or The Glass House by Olly Smith for less than a single cover charge at Celebrity’s Le Voyage.
• British celebrity chef programme. Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar, and Olly Smith are household names who deliver consistent, accessible quality. The Cookery Club on Britannia adds a hands-on interactive element.
• The SkyDome. This retractable-roof entertainment venue on Iona and Arvia is genuinely innovative — it transitions from open-air cinema to acrobatic theatre to late-night DJ venue, and has no direct equivalent on any Celebrity ship.
• Southampton convenience for UK-bound travellers. For Australians already planning a trip to England, adding a P&O cruise from Southampton requires no additional flights — just a train from London Waterloo.
• Lower base fares. Starting from approximately GBP 79 per night on longer sailings, P&O offers some of the lowest per-diem rates in the premium market.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Celebrity

13-Night New Zealand Holiday Cruise (Celebrity Edge, roundtrip Sydney, December). Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound, and seven New Zealand port stops on Celebrity’s flagship Edge-class ship. The combination of innovative design and spectacular fjord scenery makes this one of the strongest premium New Zealand itineraries available from Australia.

110-Night Grand Voyage — Alaska to Asia (Celebrity Solstice, departing 13 September 2026). An epic repositioning voyage covering 55 unique destinations across 15 countries and 65 days ashore, routing from Alaska through the Pacific to Australia and New Zealand, then through Southeast Asia to Hong Kong for New Year’s Eve. Overnights in Phuket, Halong Bay, and Auckland. No repeated ports. This is one of the most ambitious long-haul itineraries in the premium market.

9-Night Australia Wine Journey (Celebrity Edge or Solstice, from Sydney). Hobart, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, and Melbourne — a domestic itinerary that plays to Celebrity’s culinary strengths. Overnight stays in Adelaide and Cairns are available on 2026/27 season departures.

18/19-Night Tahitian Treasures (Celebrity Edge, Sydney or Auckland to Tahiti). South Pacific island-hopping on an Edge-class ship, reaching destinations few premium lines access from Australian homeports. Departures in October 2025 and April and September 2026.

7-Night Galapagos Outer Loop (Celebrity Flora, 100 guests, roundtrip Baltra). All-inclusive — flights from Quito, hotel accommodation, guided excursions, meals, drinks, tips, snorkelling gear, and wetsuits. With 11 naturalist guides aboard and a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating, Flora offers one of the finest Galapagos experiences available on any cruise line. Requires connecting flights from Australia to Ecuador.

P&O

7-Night Norwegian Fjords (Iona, from Southampton, summer). The quintessential P&O experience — Geirangerfjord, Olden, Bergen, and Stavanger aboard the line’s largest and most modern ship. The SkyDome under the midnight sun is a highlight unique to P&O. For Australians visiting England in summer, this is the most accessible P&O itinerary to add to a UK holiday.

100-Night World Cruise (Arcadia, departing January annually). The “Epic World Explorer” routes through 28 ports across six continents, with overnight calls in Cape Town, Sydney, and Honolulu. As an adults-only sailing on P&O’s more intimate ship, this attracts loyal devotees. Australian travel agents actively sell world cruise segments — Australians could board in Sydney for the Pacific and Asian legs.

14-Night Caribbean Fly-Cruise (Arvia, from Barbados, winter). St Lucia, Grenada, Martinique, St Kitts, St Maarten, and Tortola on P&O’s newest ship, with air-inclusive packages from the UK. Australians would need to arrange their own flights to Barbados, but the itinerary itself is strong and the price point is competitive.

14-Night Canary Islands and Iberia (Britannia, from Southampton, autumn). Madeira, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Lisbon with access to the Cookery Club and Marco Pierre White menus. A classic British autumn-escape itinerary that pairs well with a pre-cruise stay in London.

75-Night Grand Voyage (Aurora, departing January). A smaller-ship, adults-only extended voyage that represents traditional P&O cruising at its most refined. Aurora, at just 1,874 passengers, offers a more intimate and classic feel than the newer Excel-class megaships.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Celebrity

Celebrity Edge — The ship Australian travellers should prioritise. Three consecutive Australian seasons from Sydney have established Edge as the line’s local flagship. The Magic Carpet, Infinite Verandas, Eden, and the Retreat deliver the full Celebrity design experience. Book this ship for Australian and New Zealand itineraries without needing to leave the country.

Celebrity Solstice — Celebrity’s other Australian-season ship and the one many local cruisers will know best. Solstice is a more traditional Celebrity experience at 122,000 gross tonnes with a lower price point than Edge. Some long-time loyalists actually prefer the Solstice-class layout and atmosphere. A solid choice for a first Celebrity sailing at a gentler price.

Celebrity Xcel — The newest and most ambitious ship in the fleet (November 2025). The Bazaar replaces Eden, and the entertainment programme is the most extensive Celebrity has produced. Currently sailing Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale — not yet deployed to Australia, but worth considering for a fly-cruise holiday.

Celebrity Ascent — The best Edge-class ship for Mediterranean sailings. Same design innovations as Edge but newer, with the extended hull of the second-generation Edge class.

Celebrity Flora — An entirely different product: 100 guests in the Galapagos on a purpose-built all-suites expedition vessel. If the Galapagos is on your list, this is among the finest ways to experience it.

P&O

Iona or Arvia — If sailing P&O, book one of the Excel-class ships. The SkyDome, 710 Club, expanded dining options, and modern public spaces represent P&O at its best. Arvia has “Greatest Days — The Official Take That Musical” and Freedom Dining (no set times); Iona was refurbished in October 2025. Both carry 5,200 passengers — expect lively, busy ships.

Britannia — The mid-fleet sweet spot at 3,647 passengers. Recently refurbished for her tenth anniversary with updated public spaces aligned to the Iona/Arvia aesthetic. Home to the Cookery Club — P&O’s unique hands-on cooking school.

Arcadia — The adults-only ship most likely to appeal to Australian couples. At 2,094 passengers, it is more intimate than the larger ships. The adults-only guarantee (for most sailings) removes the uncertainty of sailing during UK school holidays. Also the world cruise ship — segments through Australian waters may be bookable.

Aurora — The smallest and most traditional ship in the fleet at 1,874 passengers. Adults-only for most sailings. Split-level Penthouse Suites are the largest in the P&O fleet. Best suited for travellers seeking old-fashioned, unhurried British cruising. At 26 years old, she shows her age but rewards with character.

Avoid Ventura and Azura as first P&O experiences unless the itinerary is irresistible. Both are mid-size ships from 2008 and 2010 respectively, and while Azura was refurbished in March 2025, they represent an older P&O product that does not showcase the line at its current best. For a fair comparison with Celebrity’s Edge class, sail Iona or Arvia.

For Australian travellers specifically

This is the section that matters most, because it addresses the fundamental question: why would an Australian choose between these two lines?

Celebrity Cruises has committed to Australia in tangible, growing ways. Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice deploy from Sydney each summer season, with 17 sailings ranging from 4-night getaways to 14-night explorations. Seven of those 17 itineraries focus on New Zealand. The 2026/27 season adds overnight stays in Adelaide and Cairns, deepening the domestic itinerary quality. Most significantly, Celebrity has announced its largest-ever Australian deployment for 2027/28 — four ships, doubling current capacity. The dedicated Australian website prices in AUD, and Celebrity is bookable through major Australian travel agency networks. The line is represented on the Qantas Cruises platform. For Australian travellers, Celebrity is a convenient, well-supported, locally relevant premium cruise option that requires no international flights for domestic and regional sailings.

P&O Cruises UK has no direct Australian presence. No ships depart from Australian ports. There is no Australian sales office. The brand is designed, marketed, and priced for the British consumer. For an Australian to sail P&O UK, they must fly to Southampton or a fly-cruise embarkation port, navigate GBP pricing (approximately half the value of AUD at current exchange rates), and accept that they will be one of very few non-British passengers aboard.

This is not necessarily a negative. For Australians planning a UK or European holiday, adding a 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton or a 14-night Mediterranean roundtrip is a practical and rewarding extension. P&O’s world cruise segments passing through Australian waters offer another point of access. And for Anglophile Australians who genuinely enjoy British culture — the afternoon tea ritual, the Gala Evening tradition, the pub quiz on the pool deck, the Marco Pierre White menus — P&O delivers an authentic British holiday experience that no other cruise line replicates.

But the practical barriers are real. Return flights from Sydney to London cost A$1,500 to $3,000 per person. The transit takes 24 hours or more. Jet lag on arrival in Southampton is significant. Currency conversion works against the Australian dollar. The P&O booking process is oriented toward UK consumers, with perks like free car parking at Southampton and coach transfers that have no relevance to Australians. And the onboard experience — 95 per cent British passengers, British entertainment, British cultural references, GBP onboard accounts — requires a willingness to be a visitor in someone else’s holiday tradition rather than a local customer being catered to.

The loyalty question further favours Celebrity for Australians. Celebrity’s Captain’s Club transfers status to Royal Caribbean International and Silversea Cruises through the Points Choice programme launched in January 2026. Given that Royal Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise lines in Australia — with ships homeporting from Sydney — this creates a loyalty ecosystem that covers mainstream, premium, and ultra-luxury cruising for Australian passengers. An Australian who sails Royal Caribbean from Sydney, then upgrades to Celebrity, can carry their status forward and eventually access Silversea. P&O’s Peninsular Club offers no cross-brand matching within Carnival Corporation. Nights on P&O earn no credit toward Cunard, Princess, Carnival, Holland America, or any other Carnival brand. For Australian frequent cruisers building lifetime loyalty, Celebrity’s Royal Caribbean Group ecosystem is a materially better proposition.

The onboard atmosphere

The atmospheric difference between these lines is the factor that determines whether a traveller rebooks — and it runs deeper than amenities or pricing.

Celebrity’s atmosphere is modern, international, and gently glamorous. Edge-class ships feel like contemporary luxury resorts — sculptural interiors, floor-to-ceiling glass, and public spaces that reward exploration. The Martini Bar buzzes with energy. The pool deck is lively. Evening Chic nights create a sense of occasion without the rigidity of traditional formal dinners. Eden transitions from calm to immersive as the day turns to evening. The passenger demographic on Australian sailings is a comfortable mix of Australian and New Zealand couples, international visitors, and a smaller contingent of families. The average age sits around 50-plus, dropping during school holidays. Service is consistently praised — crew described as “flawless” and willing to go to extraordinary lengths. Real tablecloths at every dinner service, not just formal nights, reflects Celebrity’s attention to detail. The overall tone is upscale without being stuffy — sophisticated cocktail party rather than rigid formality.

P&O’s atmosphere is warm, social, and thoroughly British. The culture aboard is familiar holiday — think a quality British seaside hotel transplanted to sea. Afternoon tea is a daily ritual. Pub quizzes draw enthusiastic crowds. Fish and chips at Hook Line & Vinegar, full English breakfasts, and Sunday roasts anchor the dining experience. The entertainment references British pop culture, television personalities, and musical heritage that may feel like another language to Australian visitors. Gala Evenings carry a nostalgic sense of occasion — the captain’s party, the champagne reception, the dining room dressed for celebration. The adults-only ships Arcadia and Aurora create a quieter, more refined version of this British atmosphere, attracting mature couples who have been sailing P&O for decades.

The passenger base difference is pronounced. Celebrity on Australian sailings will have 30 to 40 per cent Australian and New Zealand guests alongside an international mix. P&O will have 95 per cent or more British nationals. An Australian aboard P&O will be a novelty — conversational currency, certainly, but also a cultural outsider navigating references to EastEnders, Strictly Come Dancing, and the Great British Bake Off. Some Australians find this charming and culturally enriching. Others find it isolating. If you have spent time in the UK and enjoy British culture, P&O will feel like a warm embrace. If you are expecting an international premium cruise experience calibrated to your tastes, you may feel like a guest at someone else’s family reunion.

The Iona and Arvia experience is notably different from the rest of the P&O fleet. At 5,200 passengers, these ships are among the largest in the world built for the British market, and the atmosphere is livelier, younger, and more resort-like than the traditional P&O ships. The SkyDome, the 710 Club, and the expanded dining options create a modern holiday feel. Arcadia and Aurora, by contrast, offer a quieter, more traditional British cruise experience suited to couples who prefer calm to spectacle.

The bottom line

For most Australian travellers weighing Celebrity Cruises against P&O Cruises UK, the decision comes down to a single, inescapable practical reality: Celebrity sails from Sydney and P&O does not.

This is not a minor convenience factor. It eliminates A$3,000 to $6,000 in flights for a couple. It removes 48 hours of travel and jet lag. It means boarding a ship where 30 to 40 per cent of fellow passengers are fellow Australians, where AUD pricing applies, and where the onboard culture is internationally attuned rather than calibrated exclusively for British tastes.

Choose Celebrity if you want a design-forward premium cruise from an Australian homeport, with innovative ships, internationally appealing entertainment, and a loyalty programme that connects to Royal Caribbean and Silversea. Choose it for the Retreat suite experience, which delivers genuine luxury-line exclusivity at premium pricing. Choose it for the growing Australian commitment — four ships by 2027/28. Choose it for Daniel Boulud’s Le Voyage, the Magic Carpet at sunset, and the Infinite Veranda that turns your stateroom into an open-air retreat. Accept that add-on costs accumulate — speciality dining, gratuities since October 2023, premium Wi-Fi upgrades — and that the experience varies meaningfully between the newer Edge-class ships and the older Millennium and Solstice classes.

Choose P&O if you are planning a UK or European holiday and want to add an affordable, distinctly British cruise from Southampton. Choose it for the adults-only sailing guarantee on Arcadia and Aurora — something Celebrity simply cannot offer. Choose it for Marco Pierre White and Atul Kochhar menus at surcharges a fraction of Celebrity’s. Choose it for gratuities included in the fare and the SkyDome under a Norwegian midnight sun. Choose it if you are an Anglophile who relishes British culture, Gala Evenings, and the warmth of a British holiday crowd. Accept that you will fly 24 hours to get there, that the passenger base will be overwhelmingly British, that the ships prioritise capacity and comfort over design innovation, and that the P&O loyalty programme offers no cross-brand value within the Carnival Corporation family.

And above all, understand that P&O Cruises UK is not a continuation of P&O Cruises Australia. They shared a name, but virtually nothing else. If you sailed with P&O Australia and are looking for the same experience under a different flag, your closest options are now Carnival Cruise Line from Australian ports — or Celebrity, which occupies a higher position in the market but offers the Australian homeport convenience that P&O UK never will.