Deb & Matt Chat on YT: PERFECT Cruise RECOVERY Port Vila Vanuatu

After a huge New Year’s Eve at sea, Day 5 of our Voyager of the Seas New Year’s cruise slows things down as we arrive in Port Vila 🇻🇺.

Join us on a New Year’s Day walking tour of Port Vila, Vanuatu, as we explore the Mummas Markets and areas impacted by a recent natural disaster. This Vanuatu travel experience highlights the resilience of the Vanuatu island community. Discover things to do in Vanuatu and see the local life on Efate Island.

While Deb and Grandma head ashore on the Discover Vila shore tour booked through Royal Caribbean, Matt takes a slower start to the day — recovering onboard with the New Year’s Day Main Dining Room brunch before heading ashore for a short visit.

This episode covers both sides of a port day:

👀The Discover Vila shore excursion
🔍Vanuatu National Museum & sand art
🙏Port Vila War Memorial
🗣️A local perspective on Vanuatu’s tourism recovery following the December 2024 earthquake
🛥️Cruise tenders and temporary dock arrangements
🏪Duty-free shopping (including perfumes… and LEGO 👀)
❔What Port Vila is really like during a cruise visit
🚢Back onboard Voyager of the Seas, we cover:
🍹A must-know Royal Caribbean drinks package tip
🍜Tastes of Asia night in the Main Dining Room
😋Guest food reviews
✨A delayed and underwhelming Dancing Under the Stars deck party
Ending the day on a high note with jazz in the Star Lounge

This is a balanced, honest New Year’s Day cruise vlog — recovery, fun, frustrations, and real conversations.

👇 Question for you:
Do you prefer a full shore tour day, or a slower port day with time onboard?

📌 Chapters below
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🔔 More South Pacific cruise vlogs coming on Deb & Matt Chat

00:00 Intro
00:27 Brunch Special Menu
02:01 Port Vila Shore Excursions
02:33 Discover Vila Shore Tour
03:26 Vanuatu National Museum
04:44 Vanuatu Sand Art
07:48 Port Vila War Memorial
10:26 Vanuatu Earthquake Recovery
10:52 Port Vila Cruise Tenders
11:48 Local Shore Tours
14:00 Port Vila Cruise Visit
16:18 Duty Free in Port Vila
17:19 Duty Free Perfumes
17:45 Duty Free LEGO
21:47 Port Vila Temporary Cruise Tender Dock
22:40 Voyager of the Seas Port Day
25:28 MUST KNOW Royal Caribbean Drinks Package
27:01 Royal Caribbean Tastes of Asia Night
30:29 Voyager of the Seas Main Dining Room
31:51 Guest Food Review
34:38 Deck Party – Caribbean Night Dancing Under the Stars
35:16 FRUSTRATION!
36:52 Star Lounge – Jazz