P&O offered its first pleasure voyage in 1844 and has more than 100 years experience of cruising in the modern style. Its operations were substantially extended by the acquisition of Princess Cruises in 1974 and Swan Hellenic in 1983 and the absorption of Sitmar in 1988.
Princess Cruises Inc has its headquarters in Los Angeles and is marketed in North America, the UK and Europe. Princess Cruises is one of the three leading operators in the North American and UK markets, offering summer cruises to Alaska, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
In other seasons, cruises are operated in the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal and to Australia, South America, the South Pacific, the Orient, India, Mexico, Canada and New England.
P&O Cruises (UK), based in London and Southampton, operates the Oriana, Victoria and Arcadia, with Aurora joining the fleet in Spring 2000.
Oriana, the first ship to be purpose-built for the British cruise market, combines the latest technology with outstanding passenger facilities, comfort and ambience.
Swan Hellenic Cruises, based in London, has for many years offered specialised cruises in the Mediterranean and on the Rhine, Main, Mosel and Danube. All cruises are escorted by expert lecturers.
The introduction of a new purpose-built ship, Minerva, in 1996 will enable a number of new itineraries to be offered including cruises to Scandinavia and the Baltic in the summer and to the Gulf, the Indian coast and the Far East in the winter.
P&O Australia offers cruises in Australian, Pacific and Asian waters. P&O Holidays owns 50 per cent of Spice Island Cruises in Indonesia.
