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Exhibit 5.3
[Letterhead of Dickinson, Cruickshank & Co]
19th June 2003
Carnival Corporation
Carnival Place,
3655 N.W. 87th Avenue,
Miami,
Florida 33178-2428
Dear Sirs
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3/F-3 in connection with Carnival Corporation's Senior Convertible Debentures due 2033
- 1.
- We are a firm of Isle of Man advocates duly qualified to advise on Isle of Man law.
In connection with the above-captioned Registration Statement on Form S-3/F-3 ("Registration Statement") filed by Carnival Corporation, Carnival plc and P&O Princess Cruises International Limited ("POPCIL") on 19th June 2003, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, we have been asked to provide this opinion on:
- (i)
- the P&O Princess Deed of Guarantee between Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc (under its then name P&O Princess Cruises plc), dated as of April 17, 2003 (the "Carnival plc Guarantee"); and
- (ii)
- the P&O Princess Cruises International Limited Deed of Guarantee among Carnival Corporation, Carnival plc and POPCIL, dated as of June 19, 2003 (the "POPCIL Guarantee").
In this opinion references to the "Documents" are references to the Registration Statement, the Carnival plc Guarantee and the POPCIL Guarantee.
- 2.
- The Assumptions
In rendering the opinion stated below we have, with your permission, made the following assumptions:
- 2.1
- that each party to the Documents is duly incorporated and organised, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or the jurisdiction of its principal place of business and has full power capacity and authority to enter into the Documents and to exercise its rights and perform its obligations thereunder, and all corporate and other action required to authorise the execution of the same and the performance of its obligations thereunder has been or will be duly taken;
- 2.2
- that all acts, conditions and things required to be done, fulfilled or undertaken under any law (including any and all authorisations and consents of any public authority of any jurisdiction) other than that of the Isle of Man in respect of the lawful execution delivery or performance of the Documents and in order to ensure that they are binding upon and enforceable against the parties have been or will be done, fulfilled, undertaken or obtained;
- 2.3
- insofar as any obligation under the Documents is to be performed in any jurisdiction outside the Isle of Man its performance will be legal and effective in accordance with the law of that jurisdiction;
- 2.4
- that by entering into the Documents the parties thereto will not be in conflict with or in breach of their constitutional documents or in breach of or otherwise in violation of any provision of the laws of the jurisdictions in which they are respectively constituted and established;
- 2.5
- that none of the parties to the Documents by entering into the Documents will be in breach of any other agreement to which it is a party;
- 2.6
- that no circumstances exist which would justify the setting aside of the Documents by reason of fraud, misrepresentation, mistake or undue influence;
- 2.7
- that the definitions of "Carnival Corporation & plc Remaining Consolidated Assets", "Guarantor Remaining Consolidated Assets" and "Significant Asset Transfer" in the POPCIL Guarantee can be satisfactorily and clearly interpreted by the accountants of the Group who are making the relevant GAAP determination.
The making of each of the above assumptions indicates that we have assumed that each matter the subject of each assumption is true correct and complete in every particular. That we have made an assumption in this opinion does not imply that we have made any enquiry to verify an assumption. No assumption specified above is limited by reference to any other assumption.
- 3.
- The Opinion
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set out below, we confirm our opinion that the Carnival plc Guarantee and the POPCIL Guarantee constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of Carnival plc and POPCIL, enforceable against Carnival plc and POPCIL, respectively, in accordance with their terms.
- 4.
- Qualifications
The opinion expressed above is subject to the following qualifications which are not to be limited by reference to each other:
- 4.1
- The Courts of the Isle of Man would determine in their discretion whether or not any provision of any document may be severed from the other provisions thereof on account of invalidity illegality or unenforceability in order to save the other provisions thereof.
- 4.2
- Where any obligation of any person is to be performed in any jurisdiction outside of the Isle of Man, such obligation may not be enforceable under the law of the Isle of Man to the extent that the performance thereof would be illegal or contrary to public policy under the laws of that foreign jurisdiction.
- 4.3
- The courts of the Isle of Man might not give effect to any indemnity for legal costs incurred by a litigant as costs will be in the court's discretion.
- 4.4
- The effectiveness of any term exculpating a party from a liability or duty otherwise owed may be limited by law.
- 4.5
- Whilst an Isle of Man court has power to give judgment expressed as an order to pay in a currency other than pounds sterling, it may decline to do so in its discretion.
- 4.6
- Our opinion is subject to any limitations arising from bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, court schemes, moratoriums and similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.
- 4.7
- Enforcement may be limited by general principles of private international law and of equity. Equitable remedies are available only at the discretion of the court and are not available where damages are considered to be an adequate remedy.
- 4.8
- A foreign judgment could not form the basis of an action in the Isle of Man without a re-trial or re-examination of the matters thereby adjudicated upon if such judgment were obtained by fraud or in a manner contrary to natural justice or if the enforcement were contrary to Isle of Man public policy. Enforcement may be withheld if the relevant judgment is not a final and
2
Yours faithfully
/s/ Dickinson, Cruikshank & Co
DICKINSON, CRUICKSHANK & CO
3
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