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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-01-19</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>Group CEO - Costa Crociere</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-01-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>167045</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>316816.207</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) made pursuant to the 2014 Carnival plc Employee Share Plan. Grant of RSUs represent a hypothetical interest in Carnival plc ordinary shares. The RSUs will vest on a 3-year pro-rata basis on the anniversary dates of the grant. The RSUs will accumulate dividend equivalents and may only be settled in shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The grant was approved by the Compensation Committee as a total value to be received in the form of RSUs.  The Compensation Committee also approved that the number of RSUs were determined by dividing the value by the closing price on date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael O. Thamm</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-01-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
