<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-12-27</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001125259</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CARNIVAL PLC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CUK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001553147</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Thamm Michael Olaf</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CARNIVAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3655 N.W. 87TH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33178</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>CEO - Costa Crociere</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-12-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>66.59</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>67630.531</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents a sale of shares to satisfy the tax obligation on the release of vested Performance Restricted Stock Units previously reported on December 29, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The transaction was conducted in British Pounds.
The sale price of GBP48.63 was converted into US$ at the December 27, 2017 conversion rate of GBP1 = USD1.3369.  This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $66.04 to $66.765. The price reported above reflects the average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes shares acquired pursuant to the dividend reinvestment feature of the reporting person's brokerage account.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael O. Thamm</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-12-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
