Format: cruise news today

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Floating Cities, Carnival Changes & MSC’s New Mega Ship

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 Floating Cities, Carnival Changes & MSC’s New Mega Ship

Posted by | Jun 10, 2026 | |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE! 🚢

We’ve got another fun week of cruise news, opinions and plenty of community chat.

🗞️ Tonight’s Cruise News

🚢 Freedom Ship returns
The concept of a permanent floating city is back. This certainly brings a new meaning to the idea of living seaside. Could people really live on a ship full time? Is this even a ship?

🎫 Carnival introduces new Sail & Sign cards
A fresh look for one of cruising’s most recognisable items and another step in Carnival’s loyalty evolution.

📱 John Heald changes his social media role
Carnival’s legendary Brand Ambassador is stepping back from his full-time online presence.

🌏 MSC World Asia countdown begins
MSC continues its mega ship expansion with new attractions and experiences.
⚡ PLUS…

🎤 30 Second Quick Questions are back!

One question. Thirty seconds. No time to overthink the answer!

And of course we’ll have all the usual cruise banter, live chat and viewer questions.

💬 Tonight’s discussion:

👉 Would you live permanently on a floating city?

👉 Do cruise loyalty programs matter?

👉 Is John Heald the most influential personality in cruising?

👉 Are cruise ships becoming the destination?

👍 Like & Subscribe

🔔 Turn on notifications

📺 Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

Read More
Deb & Matt Chat on YT: The Truth About This Interior Cabin 🚢 Carnival Encounter Room 5236 Review

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: The Truth About This Interior Cabin 🚢 Carnival Encounter Room 5236 Review

Posted by | May 8, 2026 | |

After spending our cruise in Interior Cabin 5236 aboard the Carnival Encounter, it’s time for our full end-of-trip cabin review.

In this honest cabin review, we break down:
✅ what worked well
❌ what challenged us
😴 the bedding and pillows
🔊 the noise issues
🚿 bathroom practicality
📍 cabin location on Deck 5
⚠ maintenance concerns
🥤 fridge performance and storage

This is the REAL review after actually living in the cabin for the cruise — not just first impressions.

If you’re considering booking an interior cabin on Carnival Encounter, especially Cabin 5236 or nearby rooms, this video should help you decide whether it’s the right fit for your cruise.

👇 Let us know:
What’s the BIGGEST thing you look for in a cruise cabin?

🚢 Part of our full Carnival Encounter Australia Day cruise series:
✔ Embarkation day
✔ Daily cruise vlogs
✔ Cabin tours
✔ Dining reviews
✔ Honest cruise experiences

Subscribe to follow along!

00:00 Intro
00:10 Carnival Encounter Cabin 5236 Review
00:31 Bedding Comfort Review
01:34 Pillows & Sleep Quality
03:34 Fridge Performance
05:38 Maintenance Issues
06:21 Bathroom Review
08:27 Cabin Location on Deck 5
09:37 Noise Problems 🚨
10:43 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up

#CarnivalEncounter #CruiseCabinReview #CruiseTips #CarnivalCruise #CruisingAustralia

Read More
Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 New Itineraries, Rising Fees & Is Aussie Cruising in Trouble?

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE 🚢 New Itineraries, Rising Fees & Is Aussie Cruising in Trouble?

Posted by | Apr 15, 2026 | |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE 🚢

This week we’re breaking down some of the biggest cruise industry updates — from new itineraries and ship changes to rising costs and what’s really happening in the Australian cruise market.

🗞️ This week’s cruise news:

🇯🇵 Princess Cruises expands Japan & Asia season
A huge new deployment with ships homeporting in Tokyo and dozens of itineraries across Asia

🇫🇯 Fiji Princess to be retired after grounding
Following a recent incident, the ship will be removed from service and replaced with a new vessel

💸 MSC raises gratuities
Passengers will see higher daily service charges, with more increases expected across the industry

⛽ Fuel surcharge concerns return
Cruise executives warn rising fuel costs could impact pricing and future cruise fares

🇦🇺 CLIA report: Record demand BUT warning signs
Australians are cruising in record numbers — but the industry warns Australia is losing ships and competitiveness

🌏 StarCruises boosts Asian itineraries
New flexible itineraries and extended port stays across Asia for 2026

💬 Join us LIVE as we break it all down!

👉 Are cruise prices about to rise again?
👉 Is Australia losing its place as a cruise destination?
👉 Would you cruise Asia over the South Pacific?

👍 Like & Subscribe for weekly cruise news
📺 Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel

Key topics this week include:
Cruise news 2026, Cruise price increases, Cruise gratuities increase, Princess Japan cruise season 2027 and 2028 , Fiji Princess Retirement, Cruise Industry in Australia, clia report australia cruise, cruise fuel surcharge and More Asian cruises 2026, cruise updates live

Read More
Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE: Carnival Encounter Issues, Royal Caribbean Changes & More

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE: Carnival Encounter Issues, Royal Caribbean Changes & More

Posted by | Mar 11, 2026 | |

Welcome back to Deb & Matt Chat LIVE for another week of cruise news, industry updates and live discussion with our cruise community.

Tonight we’re covering several major cruise industry stories including:

🚢 Carnival Encounter controversy
Passengers returning from the ship’s dry dock are reporting incomplete renovations, leaks in cabins and areas of the ship still resembling a construction site.

🥤 Royal Caribbean quietly removes a popular drink package perk
The Coca-Cola souvenir cup will no longer be automatically included with premium drink packages, meaning guests must now pay extra if they want Freestyle machine access.

🛳 Celebrity Solstice returns from dry dock
The ship has received new venues including Sunset Park, Trattoria Rossa and Fine Cut Steakhouse as part of a major modernization program.

💎 Regent Seven Seas sees strong demand for Australia
The ultra-luxury line says its upcoming Australian winter season is almost sold out and may expand operations down under.

🏆 CLIA Cruise Industry Awards announced
Australia and New Zealand’s top cruise travel agents were honoured at the industry’s biggest awards night in Sydney.

⚓ New incentives to attract cruise ships to NSW ports

🏰Disney Adventure Arrives in Singapore
5 years of Disney Magic awaits cruisers from Singapore on the newest and biggest ship in the Disney fleet, Disney Adventure. Recently christened by the ships godparent – Robert Downey Jr.

PLUS we’ll share our experiences, answer questions and discuss what these stories mean for cruisers in Australia.

Join the conversation LIVE!

👍 Like
💬 Comment
🔔 Subscribe

Read More
Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE: Royal Caribbean Leak, Disney Farewell & Norwegian Drama

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Cruise News LIVE: Royal Caribbean Leak, Disney Farewell & Norwegian Drama

Posted by | Feb 18, 2026 | |

Tonight on Deb & Matt Chat Wednesday Live, we’re breaking down a huge week in cruise news — including a major Royal Caribbean deployment leak for Australia’s 2027–28 season.

Here’s what we’re covering:

🚢 A Royal Caribbean “oopsie” that revealed which ships are coming to Australia for 2027–28
🏰 Disney Cruise Line says farewell to Australia as Disney Wonder departs
🇦🇺 A new ultra-luxury winter season for Australia with Seven Seas Navigator from Regent Seven Seas Cruises
⚓ Federal inspectors board Carnival Encounter after allegations — Carnival says “no deficiencies found”
💰 Activist investor Elliott pushes for major changes at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
🛳 Norwegian orders multiple new ships through 2037, including 227,000-ton vessels
🚢 Carnival Encounter enters dry dock

This is one of the most significant weeks for Australian cruising in 2026 — and we’re unpacking what it all means for future deployments, ship sizes, luxury cruising and market direction.

Join us LIVE from Australia 🇦🇺

👍 Like
🔔 Subscribe
💬 Jump into the chat

Read More

Recent Comments

No comments to show.