Mickey Arison, chief executive of Carnival, said 47% of P&O Princess shareholders were in favour of delaying a vote to approve the Princess merger with Royal Caribbean, as one of the most bitter takeover battles draws to a close.

Arison said he had the support before an extraordinary general meeting for Princess shareholders, to decide whether to back a merger agreement already signed by Princess, the world's third largest, and Caribbean, the world's second largest, cruise operator. He added that 29% of his commitment came in written irrevocable commitments and the remaining 18% came in the form of oral commitments.