When P&O Australia was absorbed into Carnival Cruises last year, the industry held its breath. Would the budget-friendly family product that Australians loved survive the rebrand intact?
Cruise Monitor contributor Jade Stewart tested the answer by cruising Byron Beach Club twice – once under P&O in August 2024, and again under Carnival in November 2025. Same ship (Pacific Encounter/Carnival Encounter). Different branding. Here’s what changed.
The Byron Beach Promise
Byron Beach Club is the premium tier on these ships. Pay extra for a mini-suite or suite, and you get priority embarkation and disembarkation, exclusive pool and lounge access at the front of the ship, and various in-room perks like a pod coffee machine, robes, flip flops and a pillow menu.
For families, the room setup alone justifies the cost – king bed for parents, pull-out double sofa for kids with a pull-down bunk over it, instead of the two bunks you get in standard balcony cabins.
What P&O Did Well
Under P&O, Byron Beach had a surprise element with their food deliveries.
Snack baskets arrived every few days filled with chocolates, chips, and nuts. Fresh cut fruit and canapés appeared in your room after day trips – I’ll never forget returning from a sweltering excursion on Kirawina Island (PNG) to find a fresh cut fruit platter waiting. We gorged on that while spreading out enjoying the air-conditioned comfort of our room.
Angelo’s restaurant was exclusively for Byron Beach members at breakfast. Quiet, spacious, and window seats guaranteed.
The exclusive pool and lounge area was never crowded, and it was a great touch to be able to order food and get it delivered from Luke’s Burgers and the Pizzeria. There is a small bar onsite with access to nibbles as well. We sipped, snacked and soaked up the serenity to our hearts content.
Priority boarding existed, though execution was inconsistent – staff weren’t always clear on processes, and disembarkation was chaotic with general passengers trying to join the priority line.
What Carnival Changed
Step onto Carnival Encounter now and you’ll find the core experience intact, with some strategic adjustments.
What stayed: Priority embarkation and disembarkation (now better executed), same rooms, canapes on arrival, coffee pod machines, robes/flip flops, exclusive Byron Beach pool access, food and drink delivery to the pool area.
What’s gone: Ongoing fresh fruit deliveries, snack basket surprises, wine in room on arrival and exclusive Angelo’s access.
What’s new: Improved priority boarding processes, white wristbands to alert staff that you have Byron Beach Club access, and funky new flip flop colours.
The big change: Angelo’s is now open to all passengers for breakfast, but Byron Beach members get their own designated section with prime window seating.
The Smart Move
Opening Angelo’s to everyone was the right call. The main restaurant at breakfast had become overwhelmed – long waits, frustrated passengers, and general chaos. Angelo’s is massive and there is room for everyone. Byron Beach members keep their premium space, but now all passengers have better breakfast options.
Bonus change
The Trattoria on Deck 7 now does fresh free pizza from 11am. First day chaos at the Pantry for lunch? Skip it like I did and grab a quiet pizza instead.
The Verdict
Did we lose some luxury touches? Yes. The surprise snack baskets and fresh fruit deliveries were genuinely missed.
The core value proposition remains strong. The exclusive pool area alone – quiet, spacious, never crowded – justifies the upgrade. Add priority boarding, better family room configurations, and dedicated breakfast space, and Byron Beach Club still delivers.
For passengers who loved P&O and worried Carnival would gut the experience – the things that mattered most survived. For first timers weighing whether to upgrade – if you value space, priority access, and a quieter onboard experience, Byron Beach Club is worth the investment.
The brand changed. The experience? Still special.
Booking Byron Beach Club
This is done at the time of booking and certain suites are allocated as Byron Beach Club access.
Disclosure: The Writer went as a full paying passenger on these cruises, and the opinions and words are a true representation of their experience and have not been endorsed.
